The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-28
-,,he Free sell Association OF the
lddre-' DtstrIet OF Colunabia.


- a. peOrle Of uf Hhed Stetes'
r.. democratic Free Soil Association
- district of Columbia deem it duty
y 81 10 the constituents OF Congress.
~ ~ redress for grievances can be OBJ
W, fom that body which is appointed
- ~ constitution to legislate for this CON.
- Congress, while it holds the des-
man, Il ,bs people of this district in its
- ~, can be reached only through its
- .-n11sibility TO the people Of the Union,
~ El 10 perform its duty here. This is
d l : responsibility than could be in.
- bv rs even il fully represented in
- ,hs senate and the House Of Repre-
~ 'r,,,;ys, We therefore confidently adj
- ourselves to the primary source OF
-, tbe People Of the Union, TO exact
4. legislation proper to promote the pros
- N the people at the seat OF the ma
6onal government. :.
The crest evil which clings to this dis
,,;,t and encumbers its progress, is the
,gs;ybt Of slavery. This fatal malady
IS the emigrant shun 1.-THE active and
Ir,sr,ri,iDg. born in it, fly away-and
80 6Kel By controlling circumstances,
!, makes supine, and incapable OF the self
pump.ed. respected, insPiriting industry
Tyii,b suimales the bosom Of the indepen-
a., free lsborer. Hence il is that the
b,o,5 bosom OF the Potomac in almost
v;tb,w ships-the great canal, reaching
4, mo the interior. almost without boats
!. sIuices, commanding the best water
,,vs, in the world, without business-and
h fine. healthy. easily enriched county
surrounding. to a great extent without man.
Occurring establishmenis-its cities, pene-
rated by large commercial channels, with
AM DoDuls,on and cultivation. The sp-
prsbsnsion thar the national government
rsslf will be called to abandon a district
falling 50 far behind in the career Of pros
Dsaty, every free section Of the Union.
blessed with the freedom of all classes,
contributes greatly to the calamity which
Congress has the power TO remedy, and
should long since have removed.
From the citations annexed 10 this paper,
uviIl appear that, session after session, Pc
llOn and memorials by the people, praying
i5r the gradual abolition Of slavery in the dis
rnct, and the instant abolition Of the slave
rsls. have been urged on Congress, but
urged IN vain. Even John Randolph, the
most oyers,rained enthusiast Of the rights
Of he Old DOmiRiOn, was scandallsed at
the shocking traffic carried on at the slave
pens-ihe SHAMELESS set up for the sale OF
human beings-under the very eyes of
Congress. lie demanded committee 10
inquire into the enormity, and pledged him.
sell, that If the abuse could not otherwise
be abaled, he would himself pursue the
matter, and drag the crimes Of the male
factors to light. But neither the strong
appeals made in the memorials Of the lead
ing citizens Of the district, nor the keen,
indignant. eloquent voice or Mr.. Randolph,
could penetrate the dull ear which mer-
cenaV Influences and political interests
turned towards them. Members Of Con-
gress and their constituents, from the South,
were purchasers in this mart; and the great
political power which certain men in the
auih welded, and who looked to still
more ambitious honors than they wore at
home, sought to increase itself by con-
cenirsuOn and control Of the whole South
em strength, as a section, in their own
hands. by exciting lealousies on the sub
lect Of slavery, in regard TO which they
assumed the championship.
By them the ban has ever been put upon
every Southern man who dares to vote an
aneliOration in the condition Of the slave,
Or the master Of the slave, in any place
over which Congress is clothed with iuris-
dlchOn' The subject is interdicted even TO.
inquiry. 4 motion in Congress on the
SUBJECT is the tOcsin Of agitation on the
part Of these peculiar guardians. Their
cry "a, that If Congress touches the topic
where 1t has rights over it, the next step
vii be TO interfere where il has no such
rghe. They have by these alarms affect
ing Southern members at home, and threat
ehng the patriotic with dissolution Of the
Onl0n, put down the right OF petition-re-
PEELED petitions, by laying even a motion
% receive them on the table. They stihed
0eoale IN this indirect way in Congress, so
successfully that the arrogance Of the South
Caolina Legislature has grown so high.
Ia' Il has al last sent an express resolution
Congress, telling II that ''the time fo'
atOak has paSsed'-a direct menace, for.
O'aaIng !! to do its duty, at the peril Of en-.
coa1Inlering the power Of South Carolina!
Ihe body Of the people Of this State,
however, are not responsible for these in
suns; They do not elect the Legislature,
NJ 20 they compose it. The constitution
y NE State creates an oligarchy foundeC
VI slavery. Every man in the State i,
ppSl0alihed TO hold seat in the House o
representatives, @USLEss SEIZED AND POS
'ls'LD' IL HIS owx RIGHT, OF A sErTLEI
AIlAoLD ESTATE or FIVE HUNDRED AcREi
LAND AID TEN NEGRoEs-oR REAL Es
an VI TIE VALUE OF ESQ STERLING
.-lAt or DEBT" This qualification is in
ueaseo' IN the case Of representative no
r Sung Jung IN The district, TO freehold estat
: I'OO sterling. A freehold qualification
: -. a's0 required to confer the right Of voting
l'O uie constitution is unaIterabIe. unles
~ q vote Of tvo-thirds Of the slavetoldin
TT'e.oider'' clear Of debt, who compose tn
aiaIuIe. An assemblage Of men, thu
, %a from the mass Of the people b,
IeI circumstances and mode Of election
o QUO wholly inaccessible, through even al
,' convention, without the consent 9
Ss ouilrds oil themselves first given, cannc
sNia 70 represent the State.
., I S a body ought not to be considere
m.u D1tlOhslng TO the masses disqualified .
1'enoers 70 SIT in Il. or a. rarraso,,o,;,,s