The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-04-07

nent seat ofGovernment The United States
until the time fixed for the removal of the
seat of Government TO the said District,
and until Congress shall otherwise BY law
provide.'
And The acl OF tho legislature OF Mary.
land, Of the 18Th December, 1871 which
is the act Of session, expressly provides
that
"The jurisdiction ofthe laws of This S,a'e
over the persons and property of indivdu-
! ais residing within the limits of the cesson
aforesaid, the county OF Washington in the
District OF Conmhia.) shall not cease or de
ter,nine until Congress shall BY law pro-
vide for the government! thereof under their
jurisdiction, in manner provided by the
eighth section of the first article OF The Con
stilution of the Government of the United
States"
In further pursuance OF these provisions:
Congress, by the act of the eth Of Februa-
ry, 1901, declared that
''The laws ofthe State of MARYLAND as
they now exist, shall be and continue in
force in that part Of the said District which
was coded by that Stale to the United States
and by them accepted, for the permanent
seat of Government Of The United States"
Now, what is the state of fact! Congress
declared that its acceptance OF a district for
the seat OF Government from Maryland
should not affect the laws therein, and Ma
ryland to make assurance doubly sure, so
provided by the graft of cession itself In
performance of this express contract be-
tween .hetwo, followed the act Of 1901.
continuing in force all the laws OF Mary
land as hey then existed, among which
Were laws sancloning slavery. Ia pursu-
ance of that contract slavery has existed
here ever since. without question as to
its cons,itnIionaIiy, until it was made by
the learned aud ingenious gentleman from
Massachusetts,
But perhaps that gentleman will an
swer that in all this Congress exceeded its
pc wers; that it had no authority to take
a gift coupled with such conditions and
that, therefore, as the taking the slave to
the free Jurisdiction liberates him, so
taking the jurisdiction to the slave gives
him equal title to freedom.
Sir, the jurisdiction aras not taken to the
slarc by the master; and, even if the argu-
ment of the gentleman We're true, the ut
most that the Government of the United
States could ask, would be to be replaced
in the condition she occupied when she
committed the error; that is, to be re-
mitted again to Philadelphia
That gentleman (Mr. Mann) also ex-
hibi,ed great deal of feeling at the sight
of slavery in this District, and desired
very much that it should be abolished, in
order that the eyes of northern gentle
man might be relieved from the revolt
ing spectacle. Sir, I would ask that
gentle man question. He and others
here think slavery nuisance; whether
it be or not, I shall not now say, but they
so declare it. Now, 7 ask that gentle
man, as a lawyer, if any one can come to
nuisance and ask fol- Its abatement? III
that gentleman, if other northern gentle
men, do not like the institution of this
District, let them remove the seat ofGov
eminent INTO free territory, and IN that
way get rid of the s'revolting spectacle
I do not know that such proposition
would be popular in Maryland; it would
undoubtedly in some measure be injurious
to her. She has an investment-,not a |
very large one, 10 be sure--in the road
which connects this city with her own
commercial emporium; yet it were bet
ter that all this We're sacriiced-yes, sir,
far better that this magnificent building
should stand silent and deserted, than
that we should be guilty OF any act OF
perfdy and bad faith. We do not SIT
here to legisate for the District of Co.
lumbia upon the opinions of the people
OF Maine or of Louisiana. We are the
local LEGISLATURE Of this District, and are
to provide the people here with just laws
suitable to their condition and their
wishes, and not in conformity merely
with the opinions of people in Massa-
chusetts or IN Mississippi. When the
people of this District ask for emancipa-
ton or needlessly resist it, when the
slaves are fitted for freedom, then it will
be time for us to bestow it upon them.
These who wish to proceed with such
headlong haste do a real injury to the
slaves. Many of them are young and
helpless; how will you in freedom furnish
them with support! Many are old and
feeble; what gentleman here will pro-
vide for these as their masters do at pres
ent?
And now, sir, I have said all that l
intend on this particular subject. l have
not protested to argue the question of
the abolition ofslavery in this District.
My friend and colleague from the 9th
district Mr.. Crisfeld) performed that
task with great ability, in speech which
he delivered in tins Hall only few days
ago. / have only spoken of it as one of
tho subiects which tbreotan our TTn;on