The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-07

portion Of the debt referred to, is complete and un.
canceled and there between these two parties no
obligation on the part OF the United States 70 discharge
one dollar OF the public debt OF Texas On the contrary
sir by an express declaration IN the resolution oil admis
son 70 declared and provided that in no event are the
United States be liable charged with any portion OF
the debt Or Liabilities Of Texas II not therefore, from
any responsibility which exists to the State of Iexa.
on the part OF the government OF the United States thai
think that provision ought TO be made for that debt NO
such thing AS between these two parties, the respons
by upon the part OF Texas complete TO pay the debt,
and there is no responsibility upon the part oil the United
States to pay one cent OF it,
But then there s third party no party 70 the annexa
ton wbatever-that is 10 say the creditor Of Texas, who
his money upon the credit and faith OF solemn
pledge made by Texas TO him to reimburse the oan and
by the Appropriation Of duties receivable upon foreign
imports The last is the party TO whom we are bound
according to the view presented upon the subject Nor
sir the other creditors with Texas complain that
y made for particular M portion o. the aeot
the United States; because insofar as we may extn-
gush any portion Of the debt Of Texas under which she
AZ % We - sra hv e
Of The public lands held BY Fexas ana hat other sources
she may have applicable to the payment q those other
the pledged portion Of il as well the unpedged, was
obligatory upon her, and she stood bound BY it.
Nor can those creditors complain for another reason
Texas has all the resources which she had when in
dependent power, with the exception Of the duties
cevabe in her ports upon foreign imports and she is ex
empted from certain charges, expenditures and response
had remained separate and independent power For
example, she would have had to provide for certain
amount Of naval orce order to protect herself against
her o 70 the United Ssss She becomes Se
ted from all those charges, and OF course those entire
revenues may be applied to the payment Of her debts
payment oi tie incidental debts Of the government Of
Texas With this explanation Of that part of the sub
ect pass to the next resolution in the series which
had the honor TO submit Il relates, It am not mistaken,
10 this District
9th ResolDed That il is inexpedent abolish slavery in
the Dsrict of Columbia, whilst that institution continues
s %o be II co.sn e o me
c and without just compensation TO the owners OF slaves
within the District. e 41N
Mr.. President an objection was made to this resolu-
ton by honorable senators upon the other side OF
this body that il did not contain assertion OF the un
constutionaliy of the exercise Of the power Of aboli-
tct said then. as have uniformly maintained in this
body, as conended in 1898, and ever have done that
the power to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
mas oeea vested % N Congiess oy language LOG csar ana
whatever.
What, sir, is the language Of the constitution Con-
gress shall have power
TO exercise exclusive legislation in all whatsoever
such dstric not exceeding ten miles square, as may
by ccson Of particular States and the acceptance Of CON-
become the seat OF government OF the United States
Now, sir, Congress, by This granting Of power,
vested with all legislation whatsoever over the District
Not onlys here invested, but it is exclusively invested
with all legislation whatsoever over the District. Now;
sir can we conceive OF any language more particular and
than that which invests legislative body
with exclusive power in all cases whatsoever OF egsla
,on oxe. gwen as', q s1r1fy e. bnos Or c1un country h
District Let me suppose, in addition to what suggest
ed the other day, that slavery had been abolished in Ma
Sa was abolished ii ali % he Sta States nl IN The is
there any power, then, to abolish slavery within the
District OF Columbia. or slavery planted here to all eer
ny without the possibility Of the exercise OF any legis
laf i've IL he sted in
invested is exclusive. Maryland therefore, excluded
all the other States OF the Union excluded Ii is
here, or il nowhere. This the view which Itook
in 1895; and think there is nothing in the resolution
which offered upon that occasion incompatible with the
ans While n aSm,ss hs s 10 EXIST n conaress
and exclusively in Congress- to egsaie in all cases what
consequently in the case OF the abolition OF
slavery within this District, II it deemed il proper to do
SOL admitted upon that occasion, as contend now,
that power which Congress cannot in conscience
and good faith exercise while The institution Of slavery
continues within the State OF Maryland. The question:
sir is good deal altered now from what il was twelve
years ago, when the resolution to which aude was
adopted BY the Senate Upon that OCCASION Virginia and
Maryland were both concerned in the exercise OF the
power but in the retrocesson Of the portion Of the Dis
tric which lies south Of the Potomac Virginia has be-
come interested in The question OF the abolition
nt ed - s Se
question is confined TO Maryland said upon that
occasion that although the power was complete and per-
feCt, tue aD0lsh slavery yet tnat ~ was
thing which could have entered into the concep
ton OF Maryland Virginia that slavery would be
abolished here while slavery continued TO exist in either
OF those two ceding States. | said, moreover, sir,
what the granting Of the power itself indicates,
that, although exclusive Legislation in all cases
over the District was invested by Congress within
ment OF the United States That the great, para
mount substantial obiec, OF the grant And, exercising
all the powers with which invested complete and
full they may be- yet the great purpose OF the
having been create suitable seat OF government
that ought 10 be the leading and controlling idea with
Congress in the exercise OF this power Aud inasmuch
not necessary, orde TO render 1T proper and
suitable seat o government OF the United States that
slavery should be abolished within the limits o the ten
mile square, and inasmuch Al the time OF the
sion, spirit o generosity Immediately after the for
OF this constitution, all peace and har
mony, and coacord-when broiherly Affection frsternal
feeling, prevailed throughout this whole Union-when
Maryland and Vrrziaa, in a moment OF generous i'm
pulse, and with feelings OF high regard towards the pn
cipes Of this Union, chose 10 make this grant-neher
party could have suspected that at distant and future
period, after the agitation Of this unfortunate subject
their generous grant, without equivalent, be turned
against them, and that the sword be lifted, as IL
were their bosoms 10 strike al their own hearts This
implied faith, this honorable obligation, this hon.
esy and propriety OF keeping in constant view
the object oil the cesslonhese the considerations
which, in 1888, urged me, they influence me- in
the preparation OF the resolution which have submitted
for your consideration Now, as then DO think that
Congress, honorable body, acting bona fdc good
ah according 10 the nature and purpose and objects OF
The cesson Al the time made, and looking al the