Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-28

j
erty taken.
Mr.. President, said on yesterday that
there was no one of these resolutions, ex-
cept the first, which contained any conces-
sion by either party, that did not either con-
tain some mutual concession by the two par
ties, or did not contain concessions alto
gether from the North to the South. Now,
with respect to the resolution now under
consideration, the North has commended that
the power exists under the constitution to
abolish slavery here. am aware that the
South, or great portion of the south, have
contended ior the opposite doctrine. Now,
what does this resolution ask 1t asks of
both parties TO forbear urging their respec-
tive oplnIonS-the one to the exclusion of
the oiher But it comedies to the South
all ;hat the South, it appears to me, ought
IN reason TO demand, inasmuch as it requires
such Conditions as amount to an absolute
security Tor the property in slaves within
the District-such conditions as will make
the existence of slavery IN the District CO.
eyal and coextensive with lis existence IN a.
ny of the States out Of or beyond the Dis
trict. The second clause of this resolution
provides that it is eXpedent to prohibit
within the District the slave trade in slaves
brought INTO it.
Mr.. President, if 1t be conceded that
Congress has the power of iegislauon-ex-
elusive legislatlon-in all cases whatsoever,
how can ii be doubted that Congress has
the power To prohibit what is called the
slave trade within the District of Columbia
Sir, my interpretation of the constitution is
! /, n Il.
of jurisdiction which operate upon the
States, Congress can exercise no power
"hch Is not granted, or not necessary iul-
phcatlrn from a granted power. Such Is
the rule for the acton of Congress III rela-
tion la H. legislation upon the States. Bat
IN relation 10 lis legislation upon tins DIS
trIct, the reverse, take it, is the true rule :
that Congress has all power which is not
prohibited by some provision OF the consii-
tuition of the United States. In other words
Congress has power within the District
equivalent to and coextensiye with the pow
er which any State itself possesses within
It's own limits. Well, sir, can any one doubt
the power and right Of any State III this
Uuiom-ol any slaveho!dng State-to for
bIJ the introduction as merchandise Of
slaves within Its own limits Why, SIR, al
most every sldyeholdlng State in the Union
has exercised It's power to prohibit the Ia
PRODUCTION OF slaves as merchandise. Ii Is
IN the constitution of my own State; and
after all the agitation anu excitement upon
the subject of slavery which has existed IN
the State of Kentucky during the last wear,
the same principle is Incorporated IN the
new constitution. 1t is 10 the constitution,
| know, of Mississippi also. That State
prohibits the introduction of slaves within
It's limits as merchandise. | believe it to
be in the constitution or laws of Maryland
and Virginia, and IN the laws of most of
the slay holding States. 1t Is tue that the
policy If the several slayeholding States
has vacl.ated from time To time upon thu,
subjects sometimes including and some
times excluding the trade; but there has
never been the slightest diversity Of opinion
As to The rigtt-no departure from the great
principle that every one of them has the
power and authority TO prohibit the intro
duciluu Of slavery within their respective
limits, if they choose 10 exercise ii.
Well then, sir, really do not think that
this resolution, which proposes Ia abolish
tft. filt, f'.lt ~ bt IfftiSlAtiGti dS con-
ccs r.fl 10, either class of States to the 9th
er a. IS think 1t should be regarded As
an Obj ct acceptable To both, contormable
10 the wishes and ceilings of b, tn: and vet,
sir. IN these times of fearful aud alarming
exc3temeni-in these times when every night
that | 20 TO sleep, and every morning when
| awake, it is with the apprehension of some
new and terrible tldlngs upon tins agitating
subject have seen, sir, that IN Que of the
neIgh5oring States, amongst the various
Contingencies which are enumerated, upon
the happening OF any one of which dele
gates aie To be sent To famous Convention
to assemble ia Nashville IN June next--a-
mnmgst the substantive causes for which
delegates are to be sent to the convention
10 winch refer, one Is if Congress abolish
Is slavery within tie District of Columbia
Tint Is 10 be Cause for assembling III con
vention-ln other words cause for consld-
erlnI whether this Union ought to be dis
llei or not. Is it possible 10 contemplate
4 greater extent of wlldmess and extraya-
gancc t. which men can be carried by the
Inddge"ce OF their passions! Why, sir,
there IL been no time IN my public life
IA winch statement | concur with what was
SAID the other day by the honorable senator
from Alabama, (Mr. King)-there has been
no time OF my public life that | was not
wiling, Tor one, to cooperate in any steps
for the abolition of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia. was willing to do
so while the other portion of the District
south of The Pc omac remained attached
and there IS still less ground for objection,
now that that larger portion of the District
has been retroceded to Virginia, and when
the motive or reason for concentrating
slaves here in depot for the purpose of
transporting them to distant foreign mark
cts is lessened to the extent of the diminu-
ton of the territory by the act of retroces-
sion. Why should the slave traders, who
buy their slaves in Maryland or Virginia,
come here with them, in order to transport
them to New Orleans or other Southern
markets! Why not transport them in the
States in which they are purchased Why
should the feelings of people here be outra-
ged by the scenes that are exhibited by the
oorteges which pass along our avenues of
u,.nacIed human beInps-nOt collected in