The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-07

obstacle in the way is removed. There were other
obstacles TO the abolition Of slavery here Que was,
at the consent Of the people OF this District should
first be obtained.
The people Of this District were in an anomalous
condition. They arc people governed by an
bitrary power. They are taxed and governed by
an authority in which they have voice. Arbi-
trary power he defined to be authority exercised
by power in which the people over whom il is
exercised have no representative. Congress, hav-
ing this arbitrary power should never exercise il In
a manner harsh or unkind. The consent of the
people should be first obtained. The resolution did
not stop here. Itprovides for another thing There
should be just compensation given to the owners
OF slaves for their property Congress should be
restrained by every motive of public policy and
every principle of eternal justice from deprivng the
people of the District Of their property without
making just compensation England and France,
when they abolished slavery in their possessions
did not do without compcnsating tho owners for
their property; and these countries not bound
Dy any written or unwritten obligation to pay,
but there was that obligation which all nations
recognise, the obligation of eternal justice. The
provision In the Constitution which says that all
private property taken for the use Of the Govern
lnent must be paid for, did not literally authorize
TINS appropriation OF public money, but by liberal
Interpretation of the clause would make it that all
property taken for the at the instance of the
slaves.
lie said yesterday that there was none of the re-
solutions which did not provide for mutual conces-
sons, or which did not concede to the South with
out any compensation TO the North The North
| SoHtcAu5, anu ne tDOugut correctly, tnat Congress
has the power to abolish slavery in the District.
The South denies this power. The North comedies,
by this resolution, that ii is ncxpedient, and makes
and agrees that slavery here shall be co-cxistent
with slavery in the States; but this concession was
made In consideration of the assertion that it was
expedient to abolish the slave trade in this District
The right and the power to do this he thought I'M
questionable BY an amendment to the Csnstitu-
ton, 1t was provided, that all powers not granted
expressly to Congress were reserved to the States
and to the people This was applicable to the
nutarc <,f( Al. - a
States But in regard TO this District he considered
the reverse was the law. Over this District Con-
gress had the same powers which the States had
over , all within their own limits, and Congress had
all powers over this District not expressly prohib
tied by the Constitution There was no State but
what had action on the subject Of the slave trade
Kentucky had placed in her new constitution the
same prohibition against buying slaves into that
State to be dealt in as property, was in the old
constitution. Mississippi had similar provision.
Maryland had a provision on the same subject, and
perhaps other States. The adoption of this resolu
i ton he did not think would be concession by
either class of States, but would be acceptable
TO one as to tho other: But in these days of con-
tnual alarm, every night when he went to bed
and on rising in the morning he apprehended to
hear new dangers and difficulties. But he had wit
messed proceedings in another State, where it was
declared that il the slave trade were abolished in
this District it would be sufficient cause for south
ern convention, which Is the same thing as consid
cring the expcdiency of dssolving the Union To
what degree Of folly and extravaganza passion
will lead men,
He had been always ready to abolish the slave
trade in this District. Why should the traders in
this kind OF merchandise come to this place from
other States and shock the feelings of men, by
marching long trains and corteges Of manacled hui
man beings on the avenue? Why should they be
allowed thus to outrage the feelings of men by
spcctacles dcestable this? This subject of so
much dsquietude should be settled with equal salts
faction to both parties; and the South should re-
joicc at its abolition much as the North Adopt
this resolution, and the other healing measures
x,rti ha
that peace and harmony which has not been known
for thirty years.
The seventh resolution relates to the surrender of
fugitive slaves On this subject he would go as far
the farthest in carrying out the enforcement of
the Constitution. 1t was requirement of the Con-
stitution and every State and every State officer,
and every man in the Union was bound to aid in
its execution. II was provision of the Constitu
ton which every citizen bound to observe
every man holding office took an oath to sup
port the Constitution, and was bound to aid in the
restoration OF a fugitive slave. No man was bound
TO make tour of his State to hunt up fugitives,
but all persons present at the arrest of fugitive
slave are bound to assist the master in capturing
him-that Is, II any man is bound to aid in the
ecution OF the laws Of the country. II was power
and right equal to that relating fugitves from
justice; and no man prctends to deny that fug-
tive from justice should be given up when properly
demanded. He thought the decision of the SUI
prcme Court on this subject had been greatly mis-
taken. The decision was that all laws of imped
ment TO the rccapture of slaves by the free States
are forbidden by the Constitution of the United
States, and that the United States have no power TO
impose duties State officers not required by the
State constitutions and laws. Beyond this the de-
| cision did not go. The impcdiments thrown by
State enactmcnts in the way Of the enforcement Of
this provision of the Constitution were produced by
evils which he hoped would work their cure.
With the exception Of Virginia, perhaps no State
had more reason TO complain on this subject than
| Kentucky. The Senators from Ohio know that il
Is at the greatest peril, Of life, that Ken
tuckian can attempt to recapture slave who has
| escaped into Ohio.
/ II was unncighbory and unkind, that a slave
holder cannot travel through the free States with
his servants without having them taken forcibly
from him. Heretofore there were acts in force in
the Tree States, In behalf Of ourners but, with The
exception OF the States of Rhode Island and New
Jersey, these acts had been swept away. The sccuc-
ton OF slaves from their owners in many instances
resulted unhappily for the slave; he knew several
instances-onc in his famy-when, after
dwelling awhile in freedom, they have begged to
be allowed 70 return. He hoped that il would here
after be considered by the free States their duty to
adopt laws for the enforcement Of this part Of the
Constitution.
States, for the acts of few persons only; and he
never could conceive that the conduct pursued by
| northern persons 70 masters in pursuit Of their
slaves would be sufficient cause for dissolving the
| Union. There was ground for mutual complaint
| Massachusetts places her Legislation the ground
of the treatment, by the citizens Of Charleston to
the minister she sent there, Mr.. Hoar. Massachu-
sets might have declined sending such mission
there. II was stated that his mission was for the
purpose Of bringing before the Of South Car
DINA the question Of the rights and privileges of
certain colored people. He driven out of
Charleston, in the same way that another driven
out Of New Orleans. He did not undertake TO Justify
the conduct of either party. II South Carolina
treated Massachusetts badly, there was no reason
why Massachusetts should badly treat Virginia,
| Kentucky, and other States. Ifc mentioned the
circumstance TO show that both sides had causes
for complaints
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts,, said he never had
heard the apology stated by tho SENATOR as the rea
son Tor the Legislature of Massachusetts. The
ground on which the laws were repealed was, that
the court had decided them TO be unconstitutional
The cause OF MIR. Hoar being sent 10 Carolina was
this Massachusetts has much shipping trade there
and there are employed great many free colored
persons who arc recognised citizens of the Com
| inonwcalth. Those persons complained that on the
srrivsf of vcsscs stCbaricston these free colored
men were placed in prison and confined till the vessel
WINS about to leave, thus putting the owners of