Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09

clause we are restrained from taking the property OF the peo-
pie OF the District in slaves considerations of any public
policy, for any conceivable imaginable Of the public
without full and fair compensation the people of this
District But without the obligation Of any constitutional
restriction such is contained in the amendment to which
refewhout that upon the principles Of eternal justice IT.
sell, ought to deprive those who have property in
slaves this District of their property without compromising
them for their full value Why, sir Of the European
powers Great Britain, France any other of the powes
which undertook abolish slavery in their respective coo
MES have ever ventured TO do without making compensy
ton They under obligation arising out OF asy
written other constitution do it, but under that obigson
which al ought 10 bow with homage-hat oblgon
Of eternal justice, which declares that man ought pc
deprived of his property without full and just compensation
for its value know it has been argued that the clause
of the constitution which requires compensation for property
taken by the public for its would not apply to the case
Of the abolition of slavery the District because the proper
is not taken for the Of the public Literally perhaps
il would not be taken for the of the public; but weud
be taken in consideration of policy and purpose adopted BY
the public as one which it was deemed exPedent 70 carry
into full effect and operation and, by liberal Interpretation
of the clause ought be far regarded as taken for the
Of the public the instance Of the public as to demand
compensation the of the value of the property IL
that not restriction as 70 the power Of over he
subject Of slavery in the District then the power Of Congress
stands unrestricted and that would not be better condition
for the stakeholder in the District than 10 the rec
ton contained in the amendment say 1t would be unre-
srced by constitutional operation injunction. The great
restrictions resulting from the obligations justice would
main, and they sufficient from Congress the duty
of ascerainng. prior the abolition Of slavery, the value Of
the property slaves in the District and Of making full
fair, and Just compensation for that property.
Well Mr. President said yesterday there was not
solution except the first (which contained no concession BY
eher ps hat did not either contain some mutual conces
ths psra did NOT contain coaoessions alscss-
ther rom the North to the South
Now with respect tho resolution under consdera
The North has commended that the power exists under the
constitution 10 abolish slavery The South, am aware,
has opposed it and most aleasta great portion OF the South
a. Nhat1a
the resolution do It asks of both parties to forbear urging
their respective opinions the to the exclusion Of tie
other but it comedies to the South all that the South ap-
pears to upon this subject ought in reason to demand
in far requires such conditions amount to
absolute security for property slaves in the District such
conditions will probably make the existence OF slavery within
the District coeva and co-exensive with its existence
Of the States out of and beyond the District But, sir the
second clause of this resolution provides expedent
to prohibit within the District the trade in slaves brought
into it from States places beyond the limits Of the Dis
c either to be sold therein merchandise to be trans
ported to other markets" WE'LL Mr.. President, if the
cession be made that Congress has the powepf legislation,
and exclusive legislation. in all whatsoever how
it be doubted that Congress has authority to prohibit
what is called the slave trade in the District Of Columbia
Sir, my Interpretation Of the constitution is this that with
regard 10 oil parts of which operate upon the States Con-
gress exercise power which granted which
necessary implication from granted power That is
the rule for the action Of Congress in relation to lis station
upon the States but in relation to its legislation upon this
gress has all power the District which is not prohibited
by part Of the constitution of the United States in
other words, that Congress has power within the District
equivalent to, and coexiensive with the power which any
State itself possesses within its limits Well sir, does
any body doubt the power and the right Of any svehodng
State in this Union to forbid the introduction merchandise
of slaves within their limits. Why, sir almost every slave
holding State the Union has exercised its power to proh
bit the introduction of slavery merchandise 1t in the
constitution Of my State and, notwithstanding all the
excitement and agitation upon the subject Of slavery which
occurred during the past year in the State Of Kentucky the
same principle incorporated in the new constitution It is
in the constitution, know, Of Mississippi That Slate pro-
hib the introduction Of slaves within its limits merchan-
disc believe il be in the constitution in the laws Of
Mayandin the laws Of Vrgina-in the laws Of most of
the saveholdng States II is true that the policy of the DIFF
rent saveholdng States upon this subject has somewhat
vaciated-ihey sometimes adopted and sometimes excu-
ded but there has been diversity opinion depar-
from the great principle that every one Of them has the
power sna authority e prohibit ns 'nsrOduc,0n 9
Well then, sir really do not think that this resousien,
which proposes to abolish that trade ought 10 be considered
concession by either class Of the States TO the other class
think 1t should be regarded common object acceptable
BOTH and conformabe the wishes and feelings of both
and yet, sir in these times Of fearful and alarming excite
menn these times when every night that go 70 sleep and
am awoke up in the morning. with the apprehension Of
and fearful and dreadful dngs upon this agiang
subject have seen in the act Of ncighboring State,
amongst the various contingencies which enumerated
the happening of any of which delegates are to be sent to
the famous Convention which assemble at Nashville in
June next that amongst other substantive grounds for the
appointment delegates that from
the Slate to which refer-one that Congress abolish
the slave trade in the District Of Coumbia that shall be
for Convention in other words is for considering
whether this Union ought to be dissolved or not poss
bic to portray greater extent of exavagance which
may be carried by the indulgence Of their passions
Sir, the power exists the duty my opinion exists and
there has been tmeas Imay in language concdent
with that used by the honorable Senator from Aabamahee
has been time in my public life when was not willing to
in the abolition OF the slave trade in this District
willing have done when Vrgnias portion Of the District
was retroceded that lying south Of the Potomac There
still less ground for objection doing now when the Dis
ct s limited to the portion this side Of the Potomac and
when the motive for concentrating slaves here in
depot Tor the transportation distant foreign
kes is lessened with the dminuton Of the Dstrc by the
retrocesson Of that portion to Virginia.
Why should slave-traders, who buy their slaves in
Maryland Virginia. here with their slaves in order
transport them to New Oeans other Southern markets
Why not transport them from the Staes which they
purchased Why the feelings Of citizens here outraged
by the exhibited and the coreges which pass along
avenues Of manaced human beings not collected in
District collected all in our neighborhood but
brought from dsan, parts Of neghbong States Why should
they De outraged And who is there that has heart that does
not contemplate spectacle Of that kind with horror and in
dignaton Why should they be outraged by a SO
inexcusable and detestable as this
Sir il is concession, repeat from class Of States
from the other It is object in which both Of her
me, should heartily unite, and in which the
side much the other should rejoice in adopting
much lessons of the Of inquetue and dssa
action which connected with this District Abolish the
savetrade in this District the doctrine Of the
luton Of 1885, that by implied the part Of Con-
gress slavery ought not to be abolished in the District Of Co.
inmba whilst remains in the State Of Maryland re assert
the principle of that resolution and adopt the other healing
measures, similar healing measuresfor am not attached
to any thing that is the production Of my hand,
thing better should be offered by any body eseadopt the
other healing which are proposed and which are re-
ku haI Ifefro o~koI