Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-14

tory oi government 10 10 ION
gress the control OF the District, within which might
for purposes truly and clearly connected with Of gov
eminent Il was not to confer Congress the absolute
unlimited power Of legislation, but prevent any els
from egisating in District coded for the seat Of 60
vernmen Therefore il must have been that exclusive powe
granted But to this exclusive power there mi
taons r the restrictions of the constitution and second
ly the intent the motive, the purposes for which the gran
was made deny that Congress has the power pass any
law in relation TO the District of Columbia except far
that law may be connected with objects Of the grant and
there be unreasonable doubt the constitutional power the
necessity should be immediate and absolute such involved
the purpose OF the grant, which would warrant its exercise
But the proposition which before us and which
to prohibit any citizen of the United States from bringing
slave into the District with view thereafter Of taking him
into another State of the Union, be within the power Of Con
gess is not derived from such necessity have described
be drawn from the power of exclusive legislation in the
District why may adopt like provision in relation
to every arsenal, house, fort and dock-yard The
same section OF the constitution which gives to Congress
elusive legislation the District of Columbia gives
the forts arsenas, houses and dock Then
citizen OF Georgia, wishing go Mississippi with slave
which he should subsequently, SELL passed through dock
yard Of the United States his slave would be emancpaed by
general legislation. To this would the power here
serted reach whenever it should please the majority to
ercise it.
This sir species of property recognised by the consti
tuition OF the United States and the instrument guaran-
ties to every citizen of the United States the right, unob
sructed pass with species Of property through any
portion Of the United States sovereign State may forbid
the Introduction Of certain species of property within its
limits there to remain, whether for sale But do not
believe State has the right prevent citizen Of the United
States from exercising the right Of transit with any property
which he may legally hold this is Of the results Of
ee-trade constitution If then, State has the right to
obsruct or ABOLISH her domain, that privilege
how il be supposed that was intended confer such
power upon their agent Yet have before PROPOSE
ton to deprive citizens of the United States Of the right Of
transit over territory surrendered to the Government Of the
United States solely for the puposeses of of government
Sir, instead of intending to confer unlimited power Con-
gress would rather suppose that it intended to make
exclusive, with view that whatever territory should be
held for seat Of government should be neutral that the
rights OF all citizens should be equal in such district; that
property should not be affected by the legislation Of the States
which had coded the territory State of Maryland should
choose to abolish slavery we'll understand that this pro-
vision OF the constitution intended shield the
District SO that every citizen of the United States might
here to this ground bring with him any species
Of property he might own and enjoy the rights he had in the
State Of his residence opposed both the proposition
OF the bill and that of the amendment; equally how
for one abhorrent than the other but
utterly opposed to BOTH cannot consent to prohibit c
zen OF the United States from exercising the right he has
pass through the United States, any part Of It. with any
species OF property recognised by constitution laws.
shall oppose this and all kindred however Intellectual
may be such opposition to that anti slavery majority around
which sycophans deserters and ambitious demagogues
gather Least Of ALL in this District which neutral ground
OF our fathers and has descended such u.s. agree
to discriminate against particular species Of property and
the rights of certain class of the citizens of the United
States will not argue the general question, but content
myself with denying now, have denied at all times the
power of Congress to discriminate in relation property
declare what property There certain specific
powers granted to the Federal Government and beyond these
it can have The rights Of property never sur
rendered to the decision Of the Federal Government and it
has right attempt discrimination by which the use of
particular property to be restricted its value diminished
or its possession destroyed.
Mr.. PRATT. Before the yeas and nays are taken, it
seems to me that can satisfy my friend from Mississippi
has been offered provides that after certain day it shall
not be lawful to bring into the District of Columbia any slave
whatever for the purpose Of being Sold That is Of the
inhibions imposed by this proposed act and the u.s. or
transferred any other State place to be sold as mer
chandise" The Senator from Mississippi will thus per-
ceve that if this bill passes, every citizen Of the United
States may pass through the District Of Columbia with bis
slaves to any other part Of the United States He may put
them in depot also, if his object be merely keep them
safely, provided his further object is not to carry them
other State for the purpose Of selling them merchan
disc This restriction, therefore, applies exclusively the
savedeaer and it does not apply at all to the saveowner
this bill passes the sayeowne will be permitted as he now
is to bring his slaves through the District if he does not
bring them either for the purpose Of selling them here of
placing them in depot here for the purpose Of carrying them
to some other part Of the United States to be sold
chandse. thought right, sir, that should explain that
Mississippi to this part Of the bill not which seemed
to really to exist except far applies to the slave
dealer In this connexon desire refer to sec
ton Of the Maryland law which has been heretofore alluded
is the 4h section of the act Of 1885, which provides
That nothing in this act contained shall be construed
taken affect the right Of travelling
soournng with any slave slaves within the State such
slave slaves being sod otherwise disposed of in the
State but carried by the out Of the State attempted
to be carried out of the State"
Now if the proposed bill does pass the Maryland act Of
1885, and this fourth section Of it. will still be in force; and
therefore the Senator from Mississippi will perceive that mas
much the of Congress has made these Maryland laws
the law Of the District the subject of slavery, the right is
secured the citizens Of all the States by express enactment
pass through this District a btuhe right of coming
here with their slaves and carrying them beyond here,
vded they do not here for the purpose of selling their
slaves Now, in favor of the amendment offered by
my colleague for the that suppose the true object Of
the law which Senators DESTROYS of passing this subject
prohibit the slave trade, and not manumit the slave.
If therefore, provide by any enactment efecua
remedy against the slave trade without the manumssion Of
the slave it is the duty Of Congress to do SO, rather Of
those who think the trade ought to be abolished Now,
apprehend the penalty Of the value Of the slave would be
eectual prevent the slave trade the manumisson of
the slave himself and therefore, unless Senators have pur-
poses beyond what is disclosed by the language of the BILL
and unless their object is the manumsson of the
slave, the amendment proposed by my colleague would
stands suppose that Senators will say that their de-
sign to abolish slavery but that their object and the object
Of the bill to abolish the slave trade and that purpose
as readily effected by the amendment proposed by my
colleague is by the BILL and therefore hope that the
Senate will in the amendment which he
Mr.. TURNEY. As between these two propositions
shall not all do not believe that the power is in
Congress to interfere with the subject Of slavery in this Dis
lc in the Territories, in the States They have power
Of control it, and to vote this question here either way