Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-02-05

a bill introduced BY another member from Ohio. 10
take the Of the nhabtan.s Of this District on
the question whether slavery within its limits should
be abolished.
The bill provided according to the admission of the
mover, that free negroes and slaves should vote
On the question lay the bill on the table the votes
stood-for, l06 against, - To this succeeded the
resolution Of member from New York in the follow
ing words
~Whereas the traffic now presentedin this metropo-
lis Of the republic il human beings chattes is con
trarv 10 natural justice and the fundamental principles
OF our political system, and is VIGOROUSLY reproac
to our country, throughout Christendom and serious
hindrance to the progress Of republican liberty among
the nations Of the earth. Therefore,
@Resolred- That the Committee Tor the District Of
Columbia be instructed to report bill, as soon as
practicable, prohibiting the slave trade in said Dis
trict."
On the question Of adopting the resolution the votes
stood % for; and 81 against lie was followed by
member from Illinois who offered a resolution for a.
polishing slavery in the Territories, and all places
where Congress has exclusive powers of legislation;
that IN all forts, magazines arsepals, dock wards
and other needtul buildings, purchased by Congress
with the consent Of the legislature Of the State
The resolution passed under the rules of
the House without ben5 put to vote.
The votes in favor of all these measures were con-
fined to the members from the Northern States. True
who voted against all Of them; who in the progress of
the aggresions upon the South have by their votes,
sustained the guarantees of the constitution, and of
whom we regret to say many have been sacrificed at
home by their patriotic course.
We have now brought to close narrative of the
series OF acts OF aggression and encroachment cOnnec-
ted with the subject of this address, including those
that are consummated and those still in progress
They are numerous, great and dangerous and threa-
ten with destruction the greatest and mostvta of all
the interests and institutions of the South. Indeed,
/: may be doubted whether there is single provis-
lon stipulation. guaranty of the constitution, nten-
ded tOr the security of the South, that has been
rendered almost nuGatorv. 1t may even be made a
serious question, whether the encroachments already
made without the aid Of any other, would not, if per
mtted to opera tie unchecked, end in emancipation,
and that at distant day. But be that it may
hardly admits of doubt that, if the aggressons al
ready commenced in the House, and now in progress,
sh uld be consummated, such in the end would Ger
ainly be the consequence.
Little, in truth, would be left to be done after we
have been excluded from all the Territories, including
these to be hereafter acquired after slavery is abo
lshed in this District and in the places dis
persed all over the South, where Congress has the
elusive right Of legislation, and after the other
ures proposed are consummated. Every outpost and
barrier would be carried, and nothing would be left
but to finish he work Of abolition at pleasure in the
States themselves. This District, and all places over
which Congress has exclusive power Of legislation,
would be asylums for fugitive slaves wOere AS soon
as they placed their feet, they would become, ac'
cordIng to the doctrine OF our northern aSsailants
free; unless there should be some positive enactments
to prevent it.
Under such state Of things the probability is, that
would follow, without ana final act
to abolish slavery. The depressing effects of such
measures on the white at the South, land the hope
they would create in the black Of speedy emancpa-
& Col,
the much longer continuance of the existing relations
between the But be that as may, is certa,if
emancipation did not follow, matter of the
final act in the States would not long lie delayed The
want Of constitutional power would oppose feeble
resistance The great body of the North is united a.
galnst our peculiar institution. Many believe it to
be sinful and the residue, with inconsderabe excep-
tons, believe it to be wrong: Such being the case it
would indicate very superficial knowledge of human
nature to think, that after aiming at abolition syste
Tor 50 many years, and pursuing it with
such unscrupulous disregard Of law and constitution
the fanatics who have led the way and forced the
great body Of the North to follow them would when
the finishing stroke only remained to be given voun-
tariy susT end it, permit any constitutional scru-
pies considerations Of justice arrest it, To these
may be added an aggression though not yet common
ced long medltated and threateDed-to prohibit what
the abotionsts cali the internal slave trade meaning
thereby the transfer Of slaves from one State to an
other from whatever motive done,or however effected
Their object would seem to be TO render them worth
less by crowding them together where they are and
thus hasten the work of emancipation There is rea-
son for believing that it will soon follow those now in
progress unless indeed decisive step should be
taken IN the mean time to arrest the whole
The question then is, viii the measures of aggres-
sion proposed i'll the House be adopted?
They may not, and probably will not be this session.
But when we take into consideration that there is
majority now in favor of one of them, and a strong
In favor ofone other far as the sense of
the House has been taken that there will be in all
probability considerable increase in the next Con
gress of the vote in favor of them, and that it will
be largely increased in the next, succeeding Con-
gress, under the census to be taken next year it a.
mounts almost to a certainty that they will be adon
ted unless some decisive measure is taken in advance
to prevent it.
But, if even these conclusions should prove CHROME
ous-lf fanaticsm and the love OF power should con
trary to their nature for respect constitutional
barriers, or the calculations OF policy should retari
the adoption OF these measures, defeat them al
togeth en- there would be still left one certain way to
accomplish their object, if the determination avowed
by the North to monopolize all the territories to the
exclusion of the South, should be carried into effect
That OF itself would. at no distant day add to the
North suhcent number of States to give her three
fourths Of the whole when under the color of an a.
mendment the constitution, she would emancipate
our slaves, however opposite it ght be to its true in
tent.
Ihus under every aspect, the result is certain if ag
erosion be not promptly and decidedly met How it
is to be met it is for you to decide
Such, then, being the case it would be to insult YOU
to suppose you could hesitate To destroy the exis
ting relation between the free and serve races at the
South would lead to consequences unparalleled in his
tory. They cannot be separated and cannot live to-
gether in peace or harmony to their mutual advan
tage, except in their present relation Under any 9TH
err wretchedness and misery, and desolation would
overspread the whole South. The example Of the
British West Indies rs blipl tinr oS amo,n;r, - -