The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-02-22


ment of these debts with more effect tnan he en-
tire debt including the pledged portion as wen as the
unpledged portion, obligatory upon heI' anu sue
stood bound by it. Nor can the creai'ors Ph;u
for another reason: Texas has all the resources when
she had whom an independent Power, with the eNcep-
ton of the duties receivable IN her ports upon foreign
Imports and she is exempted from certain charges, eN-
pendirps and responsibilities which she would nave
had to encounter If she had remained separate and
independent Power; for example, she would have mad
TO provide for certain amount Of naval force, and
for certain amount perhaps OF military force IN or
der to protect herself against Mexico or against any
foreign enemy whatever. But by her annexation to
the United States she became liberated from all these
charges, and of course her entire revenues may be
applicable to the yment Of her debts, those only
cepted which are necessary to the support and main
tenance of the Government Of Texas
With this explanation upon thai part Of the subject,
pass to the consideration Of the next resolution in
the series which have had the honor to submit, and
which relates, If am not mistaken, to this District
ResOued, That is inexpedient to abolish Slavery
in the District ofCoumbia whilst that institution
tinues to exist in the State of Maryland without the
consent OF that State, without the consent OF the peo-
pie Of the District and without Just compensation TO
the owners of slaves within the District.
Mr.. President, an objection at the moment was made
to this resolution, by honorable senator the
other side of the body that did not contain asser
ton of the unconStutOnaIitv of the exercise of the
power Of abolition. said then, as have uniformly
maintained in this body, as conended for in 1888, and
ever have done, that power to abolish slavery with
in the District Columbia has been vested in Congress
b. language too clear and explicit TO admit in my udg
ment, any rational doubt whatever What sir, is the
language of the Constitution "To exercise exclusive
legislation, in all whatsoever over such district
(not Exceeding ten miles square may, by cesson OF
partcuarSates and the acceptance of
the seat of the government Of the United Sates."-
Now sir, ongress, by this grant of power is invested
with all legislation whatsoever over the district Not
only is it invested but it is exclusively invested
with all legislation whatsoever over the district Can
we conceive Of human language more broad and COM
prehensive than that which invests Legislative body
with exclusive power in all whatsoever, OF e-
gislaton district of territory countryl Let
me ask sir, is there any power TO abolish slavery in
this district Let me suppose In addition to what l
suggested the other day. that slavery had been abolish
ed in Maryland and Virginiaet add to 1t the sup
position that it abolished in all the States in the
Union, is there any power then to abolish slavery
within the District of Columbia, or is slavery planted
here to all eternity, without the possibility of the
ercse Of any legislative power for its aboonl II can
not be invested in Maryland because the power with
which Congress is invested is exclusive. Maryland,
therefore, is excluded and all the other States Of
the Union excluded II is here, or it Is nowhere
This the view which took in 1888, and | think
there is nothing in the resolution which offered on
that occasion incompatible with the view which now
present, and which this resolution contains. Whilst
admitted the power to exist in Congress, and exclu
sively in Congress, to egslate in all cases whatsoev
er and consequently in the of the abolition OF sa
very within this district if it deemed 1t proper TO do
so admitted on that occasion, as contend now, that
it is power which Congress- cannot in conscience and
good faith exercise whilst the institution of slavery
continues within the State Of Maryland. The case,
sir is agood deal altered now from what was twelve
years ago. when the resolution to which allude was
adopted by the Senate. Upon that occasion Virginia
and Maryland we're both concerned in the exercise Of
the power but by the retrocession OF that portion OF
the district which lies south Of the Potomac Virginia
became no interested in the question of the abo-
on of slavery within the residue OF the district than
10 al
its abolition The question is now confined to Ma
ryland | said on that occasion, that although the
grant of power Is complete and comprehends the right
to abolish slavery within the district yet was thing
which never could have entered into the conception OF
Maryland Virginia that slavery would be abolished
here whilst slavery continued TO exist in either Of those
two cedng States, ! say moreover, what the grant
of power indicates that although exclusive legislation
in all cases whatsoever over the district invested
in Congress within the ten miles square, 1t was to make
1t the seat Of government of the United States That
was the great, prominent, substantial object Of the
I, grant, and that in exercising all the powers witt
f which we invested complete andful as they ma!
be, yet the great purposethat Of the cession having
y been made in order to create suitable seat of govern
>, ment-ought to be the leading and controlling ide
with Congress In the exercise Of this power. And
is not necessary, in order to render it proper ant
suitable seat of government for the United States tina
slavery should be abolished within the limits of the tel
miles square. And nasmuch as at the time ofthe
n sion--when, in spirit of generosity Immediately at
N ter the formation Of this constitution-when all wa
!, peace, and harmony and concordwhen brotherly at
ecton and fraternal feeling prevailed throughout thi
a whole Union-when Maryland and Virginia in mo
ment of generous impulse and with feelings Of high
gard towards the members of this Union chose to maxi
A. this grant, neher party could have suspected that
distant future pernd upon the agitation Of thi
ST unfortunate subject their generous grant without equ
q vaent to be turned against them, and that tn
sword was to be upliited as 1t were, in their bosom
to strike at their hearts thus this implied aiti
this honorable obligation, this necessity and prophet
ofkeepng in constant view the great object Of cessior
If These were considerations which In 1888 governed IN
d they now influence me, In submitting the reason
v which have submitted TO your confederation Now
then do not think ongress ought ever, an hon
orabe body, acting bona de In good ith and accord
If, ing to the nature and purposes and objects OF the
sion at the time 1t made-and looking at the condi
tion Of the cedng States at that time Congress cannot
without the forfeiture of all those obligations Of homo
10 which men of honor and nations OF honor respect
much II found literally in many words in the bon
itself-Ongress cannot interfere with the instituto
of slavery in this District without the violation of al
ID these obligations not in my opinion less binding tina
ia ifinserted in the constitutional instrument ITSELF
NJ Well, sir, what does the resolution PROPOSED TIL
m resolution neither arms dsatrms the constitu
bt tionalty of the exercise of the power of abolition
this district II is silent upon the subject II says
is noxpedient to do it upon certain conditions An
what are these considerationsl Why, FIRST that tn
State of Maryland shall give its CONSENT in other wor
N that the State of Maryland shall release the u State
from the obligation Of the implied faith which conten
is connected with the act Of cession by Maryland
i, the United States. Well, sir, if Maryland, the on
State that ceded any portion Of the territory whic
nj remains TO gives to us her full CONSENT IN othe
" words If she releases Congress from all obligation
4 growing out Of the cession with regard to slavery,
consider II is removing one Of the obstacles to the eX
a ercse of the power Il II was deemed expedient I
y exerbse the power. But ii Is removing only one
N them. There are two other conditions which il
s- serted in this resolution. The first is the consent
the people of the district.
f. Mr. President, the condition Of tho people of til
m District is anomalous. II is condition in violation
the great principles which lie at the bottom of
free institutions and all free institutions, because Il
Of the Of people who acted upon by egslatv
10 authority and taxed by legislative authority, withol
having any voice representation in the taxing or le
pt slatve body The government of the United State
in respect to the people of this district is tyranny,
IN absolute government--not exercised hitherto ADM
ld and hope ii never will be exercised, tyrancay
in arbitrarily; but 1t Is in the nature of all arbitrary pow
H. er because il were TO give definition of arbrar
" power would say that il is that power which is o,
ds ercised by an authority over people who have n
mt voice. representation in the assembly whose edc
l. or laws go forth toac upon the unrepresented peopl
u to whom have referred.
WE'LL sir, that being their condition, and this que
to ton ofthe abolition of slavery affecting them in all Ii
o. relations which can imagine--of prosperity soc
as ty, comfort peace and happiness-I have required
le another condition. upon which alone this power shou
be exercised the consent of the people of the distrc
e. But sir, have not stopped there This resolutio
ID requires still another and third condition. and that
that Il shall not be abolished within the District Of e
" umba, although MARYLAND consent although the pc,
at Pile Of the district consent without the third conditiC
o. Of making compensation to the of slaves witt
be in the district Sr;it is immateral to me upon VIII
basis this obligation to compensate for the slaves WI
de may be liberated by the authority of ongress is pl
We ced There Is clause in the constitution of the On