Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-12

guage OF the constitution? "To exercise exclusive Ie-
gslahon, In all cases whatsoever over such district not
exceeding ten miles square, may by cessjon of par
, tuoiar o'aes ana the acceptance Of Congress become
now SIR Congress, by this grant OF power invested
with all legislation whatsoever the District MOI
ony It 50 invested but it is exclusively invested with
all legislation whatsoever over the District
Gan we conceive of human language more broad and
comprehensive than that which invests legislative body
with exclusive power, in all cases whatsoever Of legs-
lat'on over gwen district of territory country? Let
me ASK is there any power to abolish slavery in this
Dlstflct! Let me suppose in addition to what sug-
gesed the other day. that slavery had been abolished in
IMarylana and virgnia-let me add to it the SUPPOSE
!oh that was abolished in all the States in the Union,
Is mere any power then to abolish slavery within the
District OF Columbia, is slavery planted here all
eternity, without the possibility of the exercise OF any
legislative power for its abolition! 1t cannot be invested
IN Maryland, because the power with which Congress
lsnvested exclusive. Maryland therefore, exclud-
ed and so all the other States of the Union are exclud
ed 1t Is here, or it is nowhere
This was the view which took in 1898 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 exclusively
IN congress, to egislae in all whatsoever and
consequently In the case OF the abolition of slavery
within this District it deemed proper to do So adj
med on that occasion, as contend now that il il
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 good
when the resolution to which alude was adonted nv
the Senate Upon that occasion Virginia and MARYLAND
both were concerned in the exercise of the power but
by the retrocesson OF that portion of the District which
lies south OF the Potomac, Virginia became no more
interested in the question Of the abolition of slavery
within the residue Of the District than any other slave
holding State in the Union interested in its abolition
The question now is confined to MARYLAND said on
that occasion, that although the grant ofpower COM
plete and comprehends the right to abolish slavery
WITHIN the District, yet it was thing which never
could have entered into the conception OF MARYLAND
or 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 itself indi-
Gates that although exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over the District was invested in Congress
within the ten miles square, it to make il the seat
OF government OF the United States. That was the
great prominent substantial object of the grant and
that, in exercising all the powers with which we are in
vested, complete and full they may be- vet the great
purposethat OF the cesson having been MAIDEN order
the leading and controlling idea with Congress in the
exercise OF this power And it is not necessary,
in order to render it proper and suitable seat Of
government tor the United States. that slavery
should be abolished within the limits Of the ten miles
square. And inasmuch at the time Of the cesson-
when in spirit of generosity, Immediately after the
formation OF this constitutionwhen all peace, and
harmony, and concord-when brothery affection and
fraterna feeling prevailed throughout this whole Union
when Maryland and Virginia, in moment OF gene
rous impulse and with feelings Of high regard towards
the members OF TINS Unon chose to make this grant,
neither party could have suspected that at some distant
future period upon the agitation of this unfortunate sub
ect their generous grant without equivalent was to be
turned against hem and that the sword was to be up
lifted, las it were, in their bosoms, to strike at their
own hearts thus this implied faith this honorable obi
CATION this necessity and proprsty OF keeping in con-
slant view the great object of cesson These were CON
slderations whchn 1898 governed me- as they now in
fiuence me- in submitting the which have sub
mtted to your consideration. Now as then | do not
think Congress oughtever as an honorable body, acting
bonafde in good faith and according to the nature and
purposes and objects Of the cession the time it was
made-and, looking at the condition Of the ceding
States at that time, Congress cannot without the for
eiture OF all those obligations of honor which men of
honor and nations OF honor respect much found
literally in many words in the bond itsel-Congress
cannot interfere with the institution of slavery in this
District without the violation of all these obligations
not in my opinion less sacred and less binding than ii
inserted in the constitutional instrument ITSELF
ITO CONTINUED.