The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-02

aoe ana sesohdoie article from the Pennsy vanian, set
ting forth the present views of leading men OF the
democratic party upon topics which now appear likely to
agtae and conyuse the different sections of our country
From the PennsylvanIa
The Slave Question In Congress.
We recoeci reading some wears ago very able sneacb
OF John Nj. Niles, made in February OF 1886 upon the
question oil receiving petitions asking for the abolition OF
slavery IN The District OF Columbia As he is now one
OF the chiefs OF the free soil party of which the Repub
ie IS the organ in this vicinity may be well to see
now he regarded the right OF Congress TO interfere with
slavery that District While he believed that Congress
had the constitutional power legslae upon slavery In
The District he proclaimed the following sentiments
mere are 9lfer and TO my mind equally insuperable
objections 10 The abolition of slavery ia this District while
exists IN the neighborng States Are there general
principles which ought TO control the action of Congress,
except those OF constitutional think there re
principles OF higher authority and higher obligatonrle
great prime piles of justice aud moral ight These princt
pies existed before constitution, and VIII survive
less we SHAH endure forever For Congress to abolish slave
ny IN this District against the will of the inhabitants
paabe abuse Of poeer, more censurabe than violation
OF The constitution, in case not entirely free from doubt
This would be abuse OF power involving disregard
the great principles OF justice and moral right"
We have that the abolitoniss and their allies
attempt to disguise their designs regard to the abolition
OF slavery in the District OF Columbia the step that
to follow after the OF the project contained Mr.
COTS resolution. The Washington Era openly avows
!hs to be the next movements and the "Repubc" will
be- II 1T has not already been, equally candid assuming
the same ground The abolition of slavery in the Dis
trict OF Columbia long ago declared by prominent
agltator-Garrison or Thompson-to be the 'entering
wedge to the dissolution OF the Union" Mr. Niles
however, did not declare against the agitation of this
dangerous question, considered alone with reference to
the abolition OF slavery IN The District lie took broader
ground at meeting OF the citizens of Hartford, in his
own State, held early IN 1886 AT that meeting he offer
ed set of resolutions, which unanimously adopted
Among these resolutions was the following:
"Resoiysd, That no good but much evil from
agating the question slavery any FORM in the States
Immediately Interested and should deprecate
any action or preceding by Congfss regarding slavery
aDttb
petition which understand is in circulation among the
praying for the abolition OF slavery the District Co
lumba."
We direct attention to this view of the subject by one
who stands high in the affections of the present anti
slavery party. Though Mr.. Niles yielded in 1886, to
what he called the common opinonan opinion" as he
SAID, mot the result OF examnation"that Congress had
the right to eglslae relation TO slavery the District
yet he declared that If Congress did exercise this right
would violate higher authority and higher obligation
than Tie constitution itself! He siw that in the exercise
OF this power the great principles OF justice and moral
right would be tramped down VIII the Republic or
will any OF the abolition papers tell US, whether there
could possibly be sraver cause OF alarm all friends
OF the Union more exciting appeal the passions of
the South than to any anti slavery carried
through Congress in disregard of higher authority and
obligation than the constitution itsefi
Mr. Van Barren, another free soiIer the recipient of
the abolition votes at the last election did hesitate
when he came INTO the presidential chair in March of
1897, to declare himself to be 'he ineIb and ncoD
promising opponent OF any attempt the part of Con.
gress to abolish slavery the District of Columbia :"
and also that these OPINIONS have been adopted in the
lrm belief that they IN accordance with the spirit that
actua'ed the venerated fathers of the republic" If Mr.
Van Buren, has changed his views since he has this re-
Election to console hun, that his opinions in favor of the
rights OF the State and the compromises of the constiu
ton in 1886, were approved by the people while his
recent submission TO the worst opponents of the Union
has been emphacally rebuked at the bar of public
opinion.
Hon Thomas Ewing of Ohio, still living, said during
the debate in the United States Senate March s. 1916 on
the petition ash ing for the abolition of slavery in the Dis
II rAlu fh,t f al
eved that Congress possessed the power TO abolish
slavery il the District but 'hos" constituted but
ale declared he would pass such law the
plated by the petitioners if it did interfere
with the feelings of the people of The South, with the
rights OF the people secured by the act OF cesson IL would
have the eec, drive oil the present inhabitants from that
District, and people i with another population The only
To rid of the difficulty was to retrocede the Dis
trct 10 the States who gave it,"
Mr. Kent, also of the Senate said in the OF the
debate, that after much reflection he had TO
the conclusion that Congress had power to grant the
prayer of this petition and commented at length on
the deed of cesson and the constitution support OF that
position. Giving Congress legislative jurisdiction means,
that it should not be inerfered with by the States of Vir
gina and Maryland, and was intended an unrestricted
power in other respecsin support of which he cited the
opinion of Mr. Madison. and suniry decisions of the
courts
The views of Mr. Buchanan, from this State, were
frequently expressed during the course of the same de-
bate decidedly against the exercise OF the power asked
for by the petitioners who demanded that slavery should
be abolished in the District of Columbia.
And what did Sas Wright say on this subject early
IN the discussion to which have referred We ask
the Republic read the following extract from his fine
speech in the Senate on the 9th OF January, 1886:
He did purpose trouble the Senate with discus
sion upon the Proprey OF any action on the part OF Con-
gres reference the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia regard the constitutional OF
Congress that subject He had listened with pleasure
and with profit the able of The honorable
from Virginia (Mr Leigh upon the powers Of Con-
grcss He had studied the question himself, because
he able mark out his with perfect salts
faction to his own mind without examining either the con-
sntlona powers OF Congress- or the power of the State
declare his opinion that Congress ought in this
matter, but upon the impulse of the States surrounding
the District, and then in manner precisely graduated by
the action OF those States upon the same subject"
These will show that opinions upon the rights
and duties Of Congress regard to slavery the District
of Columbia are singular, but that they are those of
of the most eminent men in the country; and also,
that the of the fanatics who trying to
vve the fell spirit of disunon, by making the slavery
question in the District of Columbia the for aga-
ton forciby rebuked by at least three of those who
have received the conspicuous attentions oil the free soil
party.
The Republic is curious TO know how such proceed
ings as those which have recently taken place in the
House. if carried into effect may lead to the dissolution
of The Union We beg to refer that newspaper to ITS own
pary-to those with whom the editor ut the Republic
has heretofore acted and of those with whom he
is now acting II notorious that with the most OF these
men our bond of union has been the subject OF reproach
and of libel 1t is notorious that they have proclaimed
the constitution to be gross wrong. In their meetings.
held here and elsewhere they have not hesalel to at
tack the constitution and TO calculate the days OF our eX
istence contederacy. Long ago II was declared tha
the abolition OF saveryn the District OF Columbia would
be the entering wedge TO the dissolution of the Union.
We desire earnestly and fcrveptly not only that slavery