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

ailioa. which are arsa . "a, ss-ssoa, ne h,., :
si ! sao%sies.a - ss.sss 4 " ssl.,'s y X. S ~. -.
lions. and Of all free iasssioas hseaa v ~ ssss ~
a people who are acted apea W legislative sslhosiy
and tssed BY legislative sstAossy ~ahcsi Assns a.,
msai @ Of Inc United s,.s.. y .s.,ss, l a. 49, i
N %sni-no - exercises A,hss's- .aal,. ami ass sill
in the nature of all arbitrary power los were 10
give definition of arbitrary anfhuflty wouiA kxy Il s
that power which s exercised ~ sa ssLofity over
which her laws, and that . hs psssiss eeaalon
OF the people TO whom have referred
Well sir, that being their condition. and iAis question
tons Of life which we can popsliy. sossiy
comfort peace-i think We should require, anolhs III
the conditions upon whcA alone this power shoaidbs
exercised the consent u ihe people of the Dsii VI
Columbia. And, cir, l have not stopged there. This
resolution requires still third condition. and that u,
that slavery shall not be abolished within the DstFci 81
the people Of the District ITSELF wihoa, the third con-
Fdton-that Of makiag compensation 10 The own.l
ers Of slaves within the bIslrel. And. ~, Il II
compensate the saveholdsrs in the District for such
slaves as may be liberated under the authority Of
Congress, is placed There y clause in an amendment
Of the constitution OF the United States which provides
thal no propery.no private propery-shali % taken
for public use, without just compensation 10 the owners
h..a Fl such properly Well sr think ,hs, IN ia., and
from taking the property Of hepeope OF the District Of
Columbia In slaves In consideration Of any public policy,
without full and complete compensation. But y there
be no constitutional esrcton such contained In the
amendment have referred 70. upon principles Of eter
nal justice il is wrong to deprive those who have prop
erty in slaves in this District Of that property without
Why, sir, no one Of the European powers rs-(sreat
Britain. France, nor any other Of the powers which have
undertaken 2 abolish slavery in their colonies-hsve
the owners They were under such constitutional
obligation have referred 10 but they were under that
ton Of eternal justice which declares that no man ought
10 be deprived Of his property without full and just com
pensation for its value. Whether under the consiu
sir that il has been argued that this clause Of the const
luton which requires compensation TO be made for prop
erty when taken by the government for the public USE
because the property is not taken BY the government
the public Why. sir perhaps literally il would not
be taken for the Of the public, but il would be taken
government for The good Of the public, or one which il
was deemed expeden to carry into full effect and opera
hon BY liberal Interpretation Of the clause, 1t seems TO
edthat il ougA be SO far regardedas taken for the
use OF the public, or at the instance Of the pub
lic as to entitle the owners Of the slaves so
taken 10 compensation, under and by virtue OF the
clause itself TO the full extent Of the value OF the slaves
liberated il appears to that this is eectual and
constitutional restriction upon the power Of Congress
III
80, then the power unrestrctedI unrestricted
by any constitutional injunction inhibition But the
restriction imposed BY the obligation Of Justice remains
and contend that that would be sufficient to render il
oppressive and yrannical TO the power without al
the same time making the compensation put II 10 gen.
tlemen whether that would not be better condition for
the Shareholders Of the District than the rigid
application OF the amendment of the constitution 10
which have referredl twould always be equitable
and, doubt not, sufficient cause for exacng from
Congress full and just compensation for the value Of
the property taken
Mr.. President, said on yesterday that there was no
OF these resolutions except the first which contained
any concession by either party, that did moi either con-
tain some mutual concession by the parties, did
not contain concessions altogether from the North the
the North has contended that the power
exists under the constitution to abolish slavery here
am aware that the South great portion Of the South
this resolution ask asks Of Sos pass 10
bear urging their respective opnons-the to the ex
cuson Of The other But il comedies to the South all that
the south y appears to me- ought IN reason TO demand
nasmuch as il requires such conditions amount TO
absolute security for the property in slaves within the
Distrctsuch conditions as will make the existence OF
slavery in the District coeva and cocxensive with lis
existence in any OF the States out OF beyond the
District The second clause OF this resolution provides
that il is expedent TO prohibit within the District the
slave trade ia slaves brought into it.
Mr. President If il be conceded that Congress has the
power OF legisation-exclusive legislatonin all
how il be doubted that Congress has the
owsr to prohibit what is called the slave trade within
constitution is this that with regard to all those portions
Of jurisdiction which operate upon the States Congress
can exercise no power which is not granted, not
cessary implication from granted power Such ID tue
rule for the action OF Congress in relation 10 its legisla
ton upon the States Buin relation TO legislation upon
his District the reverse, take H. the true rule that
Congress has all power which is not prohibited by
some provision OF the constitution OF the United States
In other words, Congress has power within the district
equivalent TO and coexensve with the power which any
State itself possesses within its own limits Well, s,
any doubt the power and right OF any State in
this Union-of any slavehoIdng Slate-to forbid the
Introduction merchandise Of slaves within its lin
tsl Why, sir almost every slaveholdng State in the
Union has exercised its power to prohibit the ntroduc
lion OF slaves merchandise. IL is in the constitution
Of my own State; and after all the agitation and ex
ctement upon the subject OF slavery which has existed
The State Of Kentucky during The las, year, the same
principle is incorporated 10 the constitution II is in
the constitution, know, OF Mississippi also That State
prohibits the introduction OF slaves within ts limits as
merchandise believe il to be in the constitution or
laws OF Maryland and Virginia, and in the laws OF most
Df the slavehodng States II is true that the policy of
he several slsveholdng States has vacated from time
70 time upon this subject-sometmes including and some
lines excluding the trade but there has never been the
slightest diversity OF opinion the rghno departure
rom the great principle that every one OF them has the
and authority prohi the introduction OF slavery
within their respective limits, il they choose 10 exer
cise IT,
Well then, sir really do not think that this resolution
which proposes to abolish that trade, ought to be consd
red concession by either class OF States the o,he
ass think should be regarded as an object accepta-
,le TO both, cononnable to the wishes and feelings OF