Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-02-21
POLITICAL.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION
MIR. CLAWS COMPROMISE.

Is SyN,rr. ltsb. 6. 1850.

eNecise ol Inc power ahlllton IN
II Is silent upon this suljec, II says it's nexpeden l.
do it bur upon cenain conditinns Aud what are th 50
considerations Why, first. that the : ate ot Mary
land shall give its cousent IN other words. that the
State Of MARYLAND shall release The United States from
the obligation nj the implied faith which | intend is
connected with thu ut crsson by Mary land 10 the L
mied States Well, air il Maryland. the only State
that ccled any pntlan al tho territory which re-
mains tn u.s. gves To us her tu consent IL other wods
she reessrs Congress from all obligations growing on
o the cession with regard 10 slavery Consider II is rc
moving o thu obstacles the exercise Of tho power
IT were deomed eNpeIen 10 eNrtrse tho power. But
IL IL renewing only one oi them There are two Other
conditions whoh inserted IN this resolution. The
first is The consent Of The people ol the District.
Mr. President the condition ol The people o this Dis
irie IL anomalous II s condition IN violation Of llr
pea principles which liz nt the htom ot our own Tree
Institutions and all trae institutions. because II Is The
of people who acted unnn by legislative author
ity and laxod by Legislative authority. without having
ANY rerrescustlon IN thu iaNlng legislative
hody The Government of the United States in respect
10 tho people nl this District tyranny IN an absolute
Govrrnmeni-not excrciso hlihertn. admit, aud hnre
will ho exercised. ivrannic,lly or arbitrarily but
IL in the nature ot all arbiimty power, because,
were To give dehuon of arbitrary power, would Aay
that 1t is that powcr which s exercised by an authority
over peore WIN have vnca. representation IN
the assembly whose ed eta lnwsgn h Ia nrtupln The
unrepre-enl,dt 10 whom have rocrred Well, sir, lha,
bring the condition. aud THIS question w tho ahion o'
slavery affecting them in all the rclinns which we can
imagne-ui prospruty. al society, comfort peace aod
happiness hnve required another condition, upon
which alone tn power should b. TX rtisel The consent
OF ,r people of lh District But, sir have MI s0 ped
there This resolution requires s another and thifd
condition. aud that IL. that slavery shall mol 10 nh dsed
within the Dstdc OF Columbia, although MARYLAND
consents although the penple ol the Dstcl Them elves
consent, without the ihlrd condition making clnpensa
ton to the owners If the slaves within The District Sir
II is lmmateal Ia upon what blss this obligation to
compensate for The slaves WIN b. liberated by the
authority OF Conpross is placed There u clause ~ the
Constitution of the 'nltrd States. Ia one OF tho amend
men. 10 the constitutions which declares that prisa 9
property shall be lrkon tnr public Use without Just com
pensaon helng made In the owner Of the propcriy.-
Well hinl. IN Just and lihera Interpretation o hal
clause restrained from iahnp thr property "i The
people uf the District III snyea, considerations oI any
public policy, Tor nny coQcrlenbo or imaginable USE
Of the public without u aud Atr compensation 10 tho
people If this Distinct But without the ohlg zion Of
any constitutional restriction, sach as X contained 10 the
amendment to which rr-wi hont that, upon The
pnc pies # eternal justice itself ought moi Ia deprive
those who have property IN slaves, in This District OF
iholr property without comprusluUg them Tor their i1ll
value Why sir. no OF the European powers Great
Britain. Fmucc any other oi The powers. which undff-
took ablish slavery IN their respective coono4 hRye
ever venturod IN do without making compensation
They under obligation arising on Of written
or other constitution 10 do it. bu under that obglon 10
when all men uhuli Ia bow WIN nNlhAnP-llil uhlBi
Of eternal nsllcc. which declares that no man tu1hl
Ia BE- deprived of hi, property uilhnnt ll aud ns'
compensation tof its value. know II has been argued
thai the clause ot the ust tuition which fcur.s ppen
sation for property taken by The public ior us wend
apply 10 the Of The abli ion pf slavery IN the
Disici because the property s not aeu l the use o'
ihc public Literally. pcrhnp4. it woad mi be taken
for the use o The public bn II would be taken IN con
sdcratan al policy n1d pnrp 81 adopted by the public.
which it was deemed eNpediral 10 carry into full
effect and operation and by hcml Interpretation nj the
clause ought to be- far rgardcd taken for the
nsr Of the public, The instance uf The pnlc as 10 de
mand compensation 10 the extent OF The value of the rfo
prry II Thai IS not restriction 10 the power oi
Congress tn subject ii slavery IN the District, then
The power Of Congress stands nncsntte md that would
not bc better condiioi iur the Shareholder In Tho DIS
tct than the restriction contained in the n
mendment say il would be unrestricted by consiliu
tonnl operation injunction. Tn" .oa restrictions re-
sailing from the obligations II justice would renain and
they sufficient, from Congress the duty oi AS
cerianug, prior 70 the hbnon of slavery tho vnlun OF
tho property IN slaves in hr District and oi making full.
fair, and us compensation for that property.
Wen. Mr.. President, ! sad yesterday there was
not a resnIuon except the fret. (Which contained
concession by either paTty,) that dh not eiiirT
cont ain some lnnunl concession by the parties.
did moi contain concessions altogether from the North 10
the Snulh.
Now with res,ec, 10 the resolution under consdera-
lion. Tha North has contended that The power exists
under The constitution 10 abolish slavery. The SOUTH
aware, has opposed II, and mns nj least gfea, por
of the South have ronended for the opposite con-
sructiop. Wlat DOES the r sluton d. II asks ol
both parties 10 frbear nTglng ;hrlr respective opinions,
the one 10 the exclusion of the other, but It comedies 10
the South all that the South it appears o me upon tins
subec onqht in demand so lar ms IL feqnf"s
such conditions as amount Ia an absolute security i"T
property IN slaves in the ID strict such conditions n
will probably make the existence oi slavery within HE
District co-eva and co.exiensive with is existence III
any Of the States oi and beyond the District but,
sir the "a clause of Tins resolution provides at II Is
expeden to prohibit within the District the trade oi
slaves brought into it from States places beyond the
District either t., be sold therein merchandzc 10 be
transported 10 other markets. Well, Mr. President, II
the be made iha Congress has the power OF
,episaun and exclusive legislation, all cases wats0-
ever how can il he doubted tina Congress hls authority
10 prohibit what is called The slave trade IN the DsiIct
of Columbia Sir, my mierpeta ion o the constitution
this that with regard To all parts o II which II oper
ate upln the States, Congress exercise m power
which is not granted. which is moi css-ary mpll-
Gallon from granted power That is the rule 3r the
action of Congress in relation Legislation upon the
States bu in relation 10 It's e Islaor unn this District
the reverse. take it 10 be tho rule that Congress has
all power the District which is not prohibited by
some pad OF The IT, States; III other words that Cnn-
.ress has power within the District equivalent TO- and
cox WITH The power which any State ltseli pos
sesses within its own limits. We'll, sir, does any body
doubt the pwer and the right of any aVehndlng Sat-
in this Union to forbid The lulToductlon mercnandz'
of slaves within their limits why, sir. almost every
slaveh1dnu Stale IN the Union has exercised lis power
TO prohibit the introduction ofslavery rs merchaHJlze.
1t was in the constitution of my own STATE aud moi
wlthsiading all the excitement and agitation upon the