The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-07-25
Nor & lil anr more ldcal n rs character. aats

Nor il ii any more Ideal 10 is character,
than other property. The laws ofail coun.
tries, in reference to every thing. including
property of every kind, are local, and cannot 60
an inch beyond the, limits Of which the anlhori.
ty Of the country extends. In case of property
of every description, ifit passes beyond the all.
thority ofthe country where it is. into another,
where the same description of things are regar.
ded as property, il continues to be so there, but
becomes subject 10 be laws and regulations of
the place in reference 10 such property. But,
if il be prohibited as property, in the counlry
into which it passes, it ceases to be so, unless it
has been forced in, nrder circumstances which
placed under the protection of International laws.
Thus, one and the same principle apply in this
respect to all property in things animate or in
animate, aud rational or irrational. There can
be 20 exceptions as property every where,
and of every kind, is subject to the control of
the authority of the country. Thus far, hold,
that there can be no reasonable doubts.
Nor can there be any, that the same Princi-
Piles applies between the several States in our
system of government Slaves, or, any other
properly carried into Slate where it is also
property, continues still TO be so hut il unto
one, where i! is prohibited, it ceases to he pro-
pcrly. This is admitted too, by all. 1t is also
admitted hy all, that the general government
cannot overrule The laws ofa State, as to what
shall or shall not he property, within the limits
of its authority. The only question then is,
what Is the power Of the general government
where its authority extends beyond the limits of
the authority of,he States regarded in their sep.
arate and individual character or to make it
more specific can it determine what shall or
shall not be property in the territories or where.
ever else its authority extends, beyond that of
the states separately or to make il still more
So can it establish slavery in the territories ?
can il enact a law providing that any negro or
mulatto found in the territories of the United
States shall be slave, and be liable TO be
seized, and treated as such by whoever may
choose to do so? According to Col. Brnton's
doctrine that Congress may legslate as it
pleases upon the subject Of slavery in the terri
tories, it would have the power, but | doubt
whether. there is another individual, who would
agree with him. But fit has moi The power
to establish slavery in the territories, how can
it have the power 10 abolish il The one is
the counterpart Of the other, and where is the
provision of the constitution to be founded which
authorizes the one and lorbjs the other!
The same question may he propnlnded as 10
public and private vessels belonging to the
United States and their citizens on the high
seas for the principle, which applies to the
territories, equally applies 10 them, and to all
places, to which the authority of the general
government extends, beyond The states regard
ed separately. '
1t is, indeed great msconception of the
characlr and Object of the general govern
meni, 70 suppose that it has the power 10 estab-
lish or abolish slavery. or any other property,
where its authority extends beyond the limits of
the States regarded individually. Its authority
is but the united and joint authority of the sev.
eral States conferred upon i: by constitution,
adopted on mutual agreement, but by the
separate act Of each State, in like manner in
every respect, as each adopted itsown separate
constitution, with the single exception, that oge
was adopted wIhoM, and the other on mutnsf
agreement of all the States. 1t is then, in TACT,
the constitution of each State, as much so as
its own separate constitution, and is only the
constitution of all the States, because ii is that
of each. As the constitution made the general
government, that too is, in like manner, as much
the government of each State as its own sepa.
rate government, and only the government OF
all, because it is the government of each. So
likewise are its avs aud for the same reason.
Its authority, then, is hut The united and com
uon authority ni the several States, delegated
by each 10 be exercised for the mutual benefit
of each and all, and for the greater security of
the rights aud interests Of each and all. II was
for that purpose the States united in federal
union, and adopted common constitution and
government. With the same view, they con.
ierred upon the government whatever power it
has of regu aling and protecting what apper-
,ained to their exterior relations among them.
selves and with the rest ol the world. Each,
in brief agreed with the others, TO uute their
Joint authority and power to protect the safety
and rights and promote the interest of each by
their united power.
Such is clearly the character and object of the
general government, and Of The authority and
mower conferr on it. Its power and authority,
having for its object, the more perfect protection
and promotion of the safely and rights OF each
and al it is bound to project by their united
power the safety, The rights. the property, and
the interest of the citizens Of all, wherever its
authority extends. Tha, was the object for
comforting whatever power and authority it has,
and if it fails to fulfil that, it fails 10 perform the
duty for which il was created. It's enough for
it to know, that it is the right interest, or pro.
perty of citizen Of one of the States, to mako
it its duty 10 pro,ect it whenever it comes with.
in the sphere of its authority; whether in the
territories, or on the high seas, or anywhere
else. Its power aud authority were conferred
on it, not to establish or to abolish property, or
rights of any description, but TO protect them.
TO establish or abolish belongs to the States, in
their separate sovereign capacity-the capacity
in which they created both the general and
their separate State governments. II would be,
then, a total and gross perversion of its power