Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-02-21
VERMONT WATCHMAN & STATE JOURNAL

annexation 10 the United States, she becomes
liberated from oil those charges, and Of course
those entire revenues may be applied 10 the pay
ment of her debts, except those only which are
applicable to the support and payment OF the IN
cdental debts of the government o. Iexas.-
With this explanation of that part OF the sub
lect, pass to the next resolution IN the series
which had the honor to submit 1t relates, II
am not mistaken, to this District:
5th Resoired, That it is inexpedient to aboi-
isil slavery in the District OF ColumhI1, Whilst
that institution continues 10 exist IN the STATE OF
MARYLAND, without the consent OF that stale,
without the consent OF the people OF the Distick
and without jus. compensation to the owners Oh
slaves within the District
Mr.. President, an objection was mlde TO this
resolution by some honorable senators upon the
other side OF this body, that it did not contain an
assertion of the urcoastllutionality Of the exer-
else of the power OF abolition upon the part OF
Congress. with regard to this District. l SAID
then, as | have uniformly maintained IN this bo-
dv as contended in 1888, and ever have done,
that the power to abolish slavery ~ the District
of Columbia has been vested in Congress by
language too clear and explicit 10 admit, IN my
judgment, of any rational doubt whatever.
What, sir, is the language of the Constitution!
Congress shall have power
"ro exercise exclusive egslation in all cases
whatsoever over suca district, not exceeting ten
miles square, as may, BY cession OF pirlIcnlar
States ana the acceptance OF Congress, become
the seat OF government OF the United States
| Now. sir, Congress, by this granting OF power
is invested with all legislation whatsoever over
the District. Not only Is II here invested, out
IL is exclusively invested with all legislation
whatsoever oyef the District Now, cir, can we
q u1Ora and
comprehensive IhlH that which invests leglSl'
tive body with exclusive power IN all cases what
soeyer OF legislation over gwen district oil ter
tiiory or country Let ne ask, sir. is there any
power 10 abolish slavery IN tins Distinct: Let
me suppose, in addllion 10 what suggested me
other dIv that slavery bad been abolished III
MARYLAND aud Virginia; let me add to that sup
position ihyt it was abolished IN all the States 10
The UniJn; IS there any power, then, to aooilsh
slavery within The District Of Columbia, or Is
slavery planted here 10 all eternity. without the
possibility OF tie exercise OF any legislative
| power for It's abol,lion: Ii cannot be invested
| IN Maryland because the power with whlch
Congress Is Invested IS exclusive. Maryland,
therefore, IS excluded, as al the other States OF
the Union are excluded, 1t is here, OF II is no.
where This was the view which took in 1888;
aad think there Is nothing in the resolution
which offered upon that occasion Incompatible
with the views which | now present, and which
dis resolution contains. While admitted the
power to exist III Congress, AID exclusively IN
/ Congress 10 legIsla,e in all cases whatso YER
aEd consequ ntiy ~ the case OF the abolition OF
slavery within Ills d s,fici, If il deemed It prop
er 10 do SOL admitted upon that occasion. as |
contend now, that 1t was a power which Con-
crcss cannot, IN Conscience and good faith eXer-
cl>e. while The institution of slavery continues
within the ) tie Of Mary land. The question,
sir, Is good deal altered now ifom what IL was
twelve years sgn, when the resolution to winch
| aliute adopted by The Senate. Upon that
occasion Virginia and Maryland were 10th con-
ceIned IN The exercise OF the power; but IN the
tetrocession OF the portion al the District which
lies south OF the rolomac, Virginia has become
no more Interested IN The question of The aboll-
ton of slavery IN the rest of the District than
any other slaveholding Slare IN the Union is in
tcresled In lis abolition. The question now Is
alfred to Maryland. | said upon that occasion,
that although the power was complete and per-
feet, aud the right TO abolish slavery, yet that II
was thing which never could have entered IN
to the conception Of Maryland or Virginia that
slavery would be abolished here while slavery
continued to cX.st in either o. those two Ct ding
States. | sas, moreover, sir, v hat tn granting
Of tie power itself indicates that, although ex-
I've ltHlSGlIAD III All tdcc9
was invested BY Congress within the ten miles
square, it wss 10 make 4, the seat of government
OF the United States. That was the great, par
amount, substantial object Of the grant. And IN
/ exercising all the powers with which we are IN
vested, complete and iuli as they may be, yet
the great purpose Of the cessioa having been 10
create suitable Sc Il OF government, that ought
to be tie leading and controlling idea with Com
grcss in The exercise OF thus power. And inas.
much as 1t IS no. necessary, IN order 10 render 1t
a proper anil suitable seat Of government OF the
United SAFES that slavery should be abolished
within the limits Of the ten niles square, and
inasmuch a., At the time OF The cesson, IN spur
Il of rcncrusity ign-ged alely after the formation
nt this Constitution, when all was pence, and
tlrmcav, and concord - hen broihery affection
/ AMI fra,prnal feeling prevailed throughout TIE
whole Uniun-wnen Maryland and Vir.iul,, IN
Il moment OF generous impulse, aud WI feelings
Of high regard towards the principles Of Ibis
. l. H. chose TO make this graut-nelther party
could have suspected that al sorc dIslan, and
fuure period, after the agitation If this uniortu
nate subject, their generous grant, without
equivacn' was to be TUNED against them, and
that the sword 10 be III cd, as 1t were, 10
their bosorS, 10 strike at their own hearts. This
implied faith, his honorable obligation, this hon
esty AMI proprleIy OF keeping IN constant view
The object Of the ces<lo1-these were the co8sId-
erations winch, IN 1885, urged me, as they now
influence me, IN the preparation OF the resolution
whch have submitted for your considerari0n.
Now, as then, do think that Congress, as an
honorable body, acting bona hje. IN good faith,
according to tue nature, and purpose and objects
OF the cesslou at the tine 1t made, and look
ing at the condi ion OF the cedIng States at this
time = Congress cannot, without forfeiture of all
those obligations OF honor which men of honor,
g II
they were found literally, III many words, in
the bond ITSELF interfere with the institution of
slavery in this District. without violation OF all
those obligations, rot In my opinion less sacred
or less budding than If they had been inserted in
the constitutional instrument itself.
| To be concluded next week.
Uomderful Cure. The Belfast (Me) Journal
oli. oh lnAu 10