Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1848-10-12
P LITIC AL
TIE NICHOLSON LETTER

4 Mexican Territory. AID whit are my sentiments with
REGARD to The " lmf lrnrisn !
nave A. "li7a an ~ explicitly stated my views Of
' list question in tn Senate, hat serns almos I'M
n-rsesay Is rep.a, tucn here \, YOU relles it, how
rv-r. shall briefly rive them
" nm n1ragraah giving Gen. Casss view supo0
iEl su;jf.. pf Iha WARY
The Wi!nnt Pruvi-o has been befire the couniry
emo ZINE. |; has been repeatedly olsen Sod in Cnn
sr'7s, and ty he public press. am strongly impressed
viE "r'uu.n hat graf chang las been raing
Ar TIT pf0iir nttd np'n the suhoct-in nv well
"A o'haIs ard that ubts rsvin. themselves into
eavic ~ that the principles it nvokes should he kept
u1: II the Niiinn' LagSa,urp and left people Of
Tn 'aracy in their respective local governments
!h' whole subject is comprehensive one. and fruit
ta " mn r7nt clnsaq FENCES It would be ill-tlmed
G!scEs' il h.ir. shall assume that responsible task.
INT shall cr4tiac myself such general views,
Ee'r--77v g. I'M fir exhibit n Of my opinions.
" H7c we'll frIr-t The eqistence of slavery in the
Au'h0ra States and wish they had been saved from lis
1'r tcct HI BIT ther il is and by the of the
present generation; and deal with a great
practical question, involving The ous
qienc's We have neither The right the power to
'ocrh it whore it exists; and if had both their
80, by any means heretofore suggested might lead to
results which wise would willingly encounter.
AMI which good man could c,n'em plate without anxl-
etv.
Tho ihrlry Of cur government presupposes that It's
v7Tiaf* ccrbrrs have reserved 10 themselves the rsgu
4In 1t All police They sovereign within their
rendered t. the general government portion of their
rights IN ler give fleet the objects of the Union,
whether 'hase Concern frcign nations or the several
Sl:ss 'hcis Ives Local instu IONS if may speak.
whether they have reference to slavery any other
r .iu. domestic public, left to local authority
,.tcro i.. o. drivativr. Congress has no right to
So That rIar' shall be saveA in New York, or
Ia' ".r s.a be ~ slavery in Gorga; nor is there any
".h.r huual power but The people of those Sat,s res
i,ir-lv, which change the relations existing there
ly rlr npV wi have slavery
ii ;h,. former and abolish in Tie latter.
l. ..rI.us Respects the Territories differ from the
S'a' Some q their rights nch,atP, and they do
".' 'sss the p,cnar tributes Of sovereignty. Them
.ia m no general government is mperectly de-
A" hy fhr constitution, and it viii be found upon
i'at ~ gt Instrument The only grant Of power
o7re-'- item is conveyed in the pIrase Congress
sn1lj lave the to dispose IF ana make all needul
r' and regulations, respecting the territory and other
p-svtr .e'ai-ng the United States Certainly this
rrer..5y Il very hose. if il designed to lnclude
tIa Iralt TIE whole power Of legislation persons
Il Is things. HE expression, the 'ierritry and
o,h.r prorerf fairly cols' ruet, elaes the public
lands. sl, - arsanlIs, dnckyarI-, forts ships and
AZ the vlrous kinds Of property, which the I States
ann must pr0sse~s.
ii1 surely e simple authority dispose Of and ragu-
late ls does not extend To the unlimited power of leg
Is in to the passage of all laws, in the most general
a''a'1n Of the word. which. BY the carefully
cu lei CJ z tn1 sentence. And indeed. If This
NH1 render unnecessary anner provision Of the con
s',n'.H. uhicl grants Cnnnre,s HE power TO egs
lac. with the Of Tie States respectively. al
pieces purchased Ir the .ecciion of magazines
sen1S. dlrkyaris. Sc These being the 'pTOpert of
thn at Sa'fst he piwer To ~ he needtu rules ard
regulations cnctrang' them includes the general power
q -I~Il1. ttnn the grant OF authority to regulate he
territory and other property Of the u States is uniim
tel. wherever subjects tounl fer its operation. and its
oy-r.s' needed auxiliary provision. Ii, The OF
htni, it dies not include such power Of legislation
var lt rihar property OF The l. States. then il ,ps
4
grant the grant the other. Territory is here casSed
villa rr pety aud treated such and the object
'Hit}y enable the general government proper
ly-h Igr which, from necessity, it must be-tn
80. preserve, and dispose Of such property might
y s-ese. and which authority is essential aim its be
t jur lie lives and persons Of ctiz ms, with the
variety Of objects connected with them, cannut be
c9"r''lei by authority which is merely called into ex
Is'cnee FER The pnPsa Of making rules and regulations
,Et Zip islliln and management Of properly
Such. appears to me, would be the construction PIT
uf'n this provision of The constitution. this question
first presented for consideration, and rolled
hy 'criIus circumstances. The original ordinance Of
the cnLres II The Confederation. passed 1877, and
vhic the only act upon this subject in force al the
sinion Il ne constitution. provided complete fame Of
vp'p"n FIR ihr country north of the Ohio, while
ia,rl CONDITION. and kr lis eventual admission in Sc
r7r1.e SrtS into The Union. And the persuasion that
this ordnance cona;rel WITHIN itself all the tssary
ici's "a eXrcuiln. probably prevented any direct refer
% hr suj"ct in the constitution, further than
in Congress the rio hi t. admit the States formed
der into the UntO" However circumstances rose VIII Oh
eiaHed leL.slaOn well The territory north Of
thn Oii. OvCr other territory. both within nj with
the ,rIns Union, coded 10 the generaI governments
ani yarion~ lin a enlarged power has been
exercised avrr the I'r1tores-meauing thereby The diff
cent trriutl governments than conveyed BY The lin
ted grant referred To. How far existing necessity
may have operated in producing this islaun and thus
r1endiar hy rather violent implication, powers not
ri,recily givrn, know But certain il is that the
principle Of inteIeretce should be carried beyond tie
nes-5r, Implication, which produces it. 1t should be lin
I'D to the creation Of proper governments for
,res aclDrei settled. and the necessary provision for
thu eyciinal adm ssion into the Cniun- leaving IN the
rie21 nr, ~ the Deop'e .nhabnI them. regulate
sheif Internal ronrerns in their Ihey aye itst
Yhe i doing 50 us the people of The Stafes: and
a., cl4 ia -. al any rate. their political in
je,s'l.e. is recognized by admission into the Union
).irI THIS Temporary condition it is hardly exp-den
exercise Doubtful aud nvidi,,us antIprity
:" .4 l5s nS the intelligence # respectable portion
81 am! hose il I.Iati whatever it NAV lie
I'll! te apldiy arFruac hing lis ermuaun-an aui hn.-
I'y Wl;ci would give to Rgress dcsp.tic power nncon
c KIT IA cons tuition. over Important section,
f ,rr country. Fm. if The relation Of master aud ser
vaa, may " 5ulacd or annhIiacdby its lrgisa ion 81
may - r,itUn Of husband and wife. or parent and
eti, ana Vi any other condition ic cur institutions
I'm! lAr ba.s u onr society gnizA-Wrt would be
ta31g4i 4. tAnrGa.s sh nd undertake. prescribe lht
'-r; Y! nITriace III New York. regulate he au-
Huu.y a parents var their children in Pennsl lvana-
Aud s., i would b. VAN Ia seek jlslifynr the
iHert 5aa he national legislature in the cas- refer
iad ~ in The glnal States of the Union. Speak here
oi FIX iucrent luwer Il Congress and 40 moi Touch The
q'eSia II sGth contracts as may be formed ch nee