Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-06-28

Second-The formation of Territorial governments 10
Utah and New Mexico without the application oi e pm
cplc of the ordinance of 1851 bu without in any manner
negativng tina, principle; and also with the distinct cnu
citation, that in his opinion, and in the opinion :" ' :
proportion of American nrss, which ne assumes " 'c
large majority slavery is already excluded from iiose 'e
tories by virtue Of Mexican laws in force in those conquer
cd provinces before the date OF their conquest py ' ~
can arms
ThirdCcrtan propositions the State of Texas grow
Ing oat of the alleged necessity OF removing e'eocu II"
! certainty as To her true boundaries
Fonrth.-A bill on the subject OF fugitive slaves
/ Fih.A bin abolish the slave trade III The District
\ Columbia. .
propose to reverse the order and 10 commence with IN
last proposition which declares lha irom and alter ~
- day of next it shall not bc lawful 10 bring int" III
District o Columbia any slave wlrtcyc for the purpose
being sold, for the purpose of being placed III depot 10
subsequently, transported any other State or place An
ii any slave shall be brought into the sad Disct py 1t
owner by the authority consent of It's owner contr
to the provisions of this act such slave sha hechpoh ne
come liberated and free
regard il alarming exercise o tsipcd power lh''i
more than twelve months have passed since our Gcnera
Assembly adopted rcsoutinn d.rarin. chat III the even
the passage Ivy Congress n the "ilmot Pr"vS or am
law abnshing slavery The stare trmfe IN me i'lsc'
Columbia the G0vcrnorOf this Commonwealth i requested
immediately the Legislature OF this State I" con
slider the mode and redress. This resolve, toNi
not e-assere in the series of last winter in respect !" t
Stare trade remains on the statute book unrcscntd ah'
prescribing rule TO the Executive. in the event ol c pas
sage of the Clay compromise; which openly processes T.
enact the suppression OF the slave trade and which clearly
asserts the right abolish slavery in the Dslrc and az
may exercises that right, far relates 10 class
slaves whenever slave belonging 10 that class shall b
found within lis limits After the passage oil this het an,
slave who shall be found in the District and who was ear
cd there for sale by the owner is actually free made trr
hy virtue and operation of this act of Congress lie derive
his freedom from This act of Congress- which destroys ANT
forcihy ycss the title of tho owner against his cosen
and in defiance ri his power and gives the slave right te
against his owner in suit for freedom Therefore
in his person. and as 10 him. slavery is actually abolished by
this act of Congress.
Now ii Congress may abolish slavery in the District
of facts il may in another state Of facts and Ihr'
be- limitation but its own discretion IT, IN de-
lcacy refined sensibiiy of tanacs and aholi"lsIi
eutncipatc slave who is taken 10 III" District Il"
sale by the owner, by absolutely cunscang The property Z"
the Shareholder the motive the necessity o protecting
the exquisite scnSibty and refined fastdinsnrsS u abo
tionisn FROM the of contemplating the bondage
the African race, will require Congress 10 aiurd remedy
adequate the evil and 10 command that the owners 81
slaves in the District under the penalty o forfeiture sa
prevent them from rcsorting 10 the public grounds amidst
whose beauties and decorations IL Is important that abo
tonists shall stroll in their morning and evening cca'io
without being exposed 10 the annoyance Of witnessing The
nauseating spectacle Of African hradom. The con
sideraons will exclude the slave from the streets and ave
nues where the aboltionists compelled 10 resort III r
of plea business The same considerations vii
finally exclude the slave from the District, where the aboi
onis,s must annually assemble in the discharge oi high
public duties cannot believe that Virginia prepared I"
acknowledge the business Of such reasoning, 10 subscribe
Ia the suflciency Of such motive.
If sopsry the power Of logic shall succeed in impress
ing the public mind with the conviction that this act would
moi involve legislative abolition Of slavery in the District
of Columbia the practical effect must prove disastrous 10
the South Ii will be practical abolition in the District
II will cvncc il will demonstrate the power and triumph ol
the abolition party II will be the first step in The series es
abshin and proclamns the success OF their principles and
their power and their purpose TO drive out slavery and slave
holders from The seat OF government IL wil DC mus ~"
tcd nv the inhabitants of the District and every prudent
owner will remove from the District dispose oi ms slaves
and another class o men will be introduced 10 perform those
functions OF society performed by slaves and thus THE
District inhabited by hostile 10 slavery or not nieG-
csicl in maintaining the institution will become the rccc
.cc fugitive slaves and the aycnuc for their successful
of in
accomplishing their Vaccinations against the South
have expressed the opinion that this bill cnacs practical
abolition in the District OF Columbia hold thai Congress
has no lawful authority accomplish that end under The
constitution of the United States That power Is usually
claimed under the clause of first article and eighth SEC
on which delegates the power exercise exclusive c9N-
laon in all cases whatsoever such districts may,
by ccson of particular States and the acceptance OF Com
hccomc the seal of Government of the United Saic
land to exercise Ike authority all places purchased y
the consent of the Legislatures of the State in which t
same shall be- for the erection Of forts, magazines arscna
dock Yards and other needul buildings Formerly, the
argument held legitimate that the power to abolish sa-
vcfy the District could not be derived through this grant,
because conveyed greater authority over the District
Than over arsenas and dock yad and considered ab
s,rd TO argue that the trainers of the Constitution and
founders of SYSTEM designed To clohe Congress with
power abolish slavery in the Maynard M Norfolk ana
The Arsenal near Richmond. But the abotonS.s,
with the arrogance of strength openly claim this power IN
the Navvyard and Arsenal because they say they have
such power the district and the people "t virginia
stand admonsed that they will be called upon 10 submit TO
the abolition of slavery in the Nlvy-yard and Arsenal in
the centre of State they must ocr successful rc7s-
lance 10 the measure in the District OF colunhia
But il appears that the argument which derives tho
mower 10 abolish slavery in the District o Columbia through
The cau quoted is founded on lsconcc3n ol the l-
NOR, of the term ercisre il in the clause II
10 refer To the decree Of legislative power
lred and is rendered SYNONYMOUS with abs"iate OF deSi
On, enrcy il cannot be true that the fathers Of The Conl
,u,ion designed establish desposn III Congress over
% onle Of the District who subjected 10 its aniori-
H. and dvestcd of the protection OF the state Government;
when they evinccd such jealous sorltuue lor 'c rights I"
Ga, =,.,,, ,nithfp ella i'm
roacnp nnainsi the tyranny Of the federal authorities
I'm, the term ercisre i'll its ctymo"ey IS not SYNONYMOUS
with absolute desPof and IN lls conneSioh !, Wa o'
euned 10 determine qualify the degree ol legislative
o,w,r conferred 1t introduced to point t' ana u,s
nc the legislative body which should be invested Ml'h '-
slve power the exclusion OF all other legislative DO
M function wa, 10 divest the Legislatures of Virgil
o and MARYLAND the right bind the people OF the ,s'
t,, nv their laws after the date Of their deeds o c,ss"i
1 IA cy.a IL Congress the oy tribunal invested win INA
,r Rut in The exercise oi this power of legislation iof
m. neope of the District for the people o ne Staics
CONGRESS is restrained by all the limitations Which ABOUND
n rhe Constitution, and which were designed 10 rs'ahsh
,ne of pov precisely the reverse I" an absolute dfsl"
% tho powers Of Congress over the District de-
I The deeds q" from Virginia aud Marrlnn
,h,y n,st be icsuacd and defined by the terms o The
rants Those deeds wcrc c>rcuic'l hr nnlsslorsap"
ID by ordinary Legislatures "i those States Those c'nlnls
nners could convey cher powers than might have been
nnvcved by their principals the Legislatures The l.c
could have conveyed higher Than they
Themselves might have exercised hold thai c ordinary
,;sl,,ur. of State has right IL abolish slavery IN
S,,c without the sanction I'll t people, rrNliS!
h,,ned In our republican SYSTEM the Legislature oil
S. il moi ceigniy abdes in The people oi
Sac eosatures exercise the attributes OF soveregnt!
oIy by the people, and though there Is an IN
ied assent OF the people, 10 the exercise OF all the attribute
If sovereignty on the part the State Legislatures unless
Of express prohbitonyct where there is such nh
lion il Is eiec and complete Now one Of Inc main ohec
nj the social compact the acquisition and enoymehtoi pf
v,te property I'VE go of state Of nature into state
;ey 10 render certain personal liberty our persona
ccuriiy and the right acquire and ENJOY private property
TIC rnh, ol property exists before society by me s"ca
vs, that right is sanoird and by our own system IN
nr,ssly protected against c"nscaon Our Organic "a"
rescrhcs that private property shall not be taken "r u
- without lus, compensation. This IL an express silla
IN on The legislative will Sovereignty defines property
.nverrinn,y declares in what il may eyist. me ir
isl,u,e protects aud improves property before hc .rca
,,nn of The legislative departments III virginia ana M'v
lind sovereignty declared thai property Iish 'Als'
lives TN. legislatures found this provision IN force wi'i
rh.y came into being In the organic laws which i9Na
G,r The existence of the Legislatures sovereignty 'e''
h, nriyate property shall mol be taken for public uses WIN
,,t ms, rompcsation The Legislatures cannot deprive
len of his property in his slave Ii came" ao''sh Save
-, in state IL could not delegate 10 Congress P""c
ea,cr ,hau i,s own II could not authorize Congress
hnlsh slavery in the District, Congress has no power
:; dd mi reccv, from the Legislatures ana therefore III
M anhoriiy TO abolish slavery in The District. hnL y
AZ CLAWS compromise the initiative Is taken i"r e %
4 in I