Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-02-21
For lbe Sg1fs Sentinel
For The Sldte Sentinel
The Crisis of Slavery-It> Origin and
Enti-Its Evils and their Cure-The
Union and its BIessings-Its Origin
and Progress-Ifs Strength and Com
tinuance.
SWITZERLAND.
NO. III.


II my intention discuss the questions suggested
by the caption the head of this article any particular
order; but together their relations and bearings,
upon another In the existing condition of things far
as Slavery may be considered political evil, forces IT.
self upon the attention of all American citizens or
rather forced upon them by its existence in the Dis
rict of Columbia, and the ground assumed by portion
of the politicians of the slave States regard the
common inheritance in the Territories.
BY the compromises of the constitution the citizens of
the free States politically responsible for the
tnuance, spread abolition of slavery in any Of the
slave States Their political responsibility begins aud
ends in their States, States and in aud with the
Territories federal national question. But it is
only in this latter inspect that any effect upon
the psrmanency OF the Union, If 1t can in this
In discussing this question, which, in the continual
tension of boundaries has been adding free and slave
territory and States to the Union, the enlightened poll
ticians of the free States have assumed responsibility
in regard to slavery in territory that with
slaves, except District of Columbia aud there,
except in regard to the slave ade and the question Of
authorsDg the qualified voters o the District to dispose
OF it in the way that them shall proper and right
But few politicians in the free Sates aud The largest
nu mber the slave States, the ground that the
National Legislature has constitutional right TO egs
late upon the question of slavery in the Terrories
rather that il has right prohibit it, for these
politicians have introduced bill into the Senate prov
ding eeciuay for the capture recovery of per-
sons held to scrrice in one State by a,os
other States territories where slavery does not exist
The Constitution of the United States (artice l. sec
ton 6-l7) provides that Congress shall have power
eIelusiDe legislation in all ,0atsoersr,
orer'' the District OF Columbia.
Again, article section g. that Congress shall have
power dispose of and make all needul rules and
ulaons respecting the territory or other property belong
| ing TO the United States
The legislative pow of Congress over the federal
District is exclusive in all cases that is is absolute
depending neither upon the will of the States, the
Aocr
exercised from the beginning In regard the exped-
ency Of exercising il to abolish the slave trade and slave
y in IT, there may be differences OF opinion, among
those who consider both moral and political evils But
of the constitutional power and legal right of Congress
abolish both slavery and the slave trade in the District
there Is not room for reasonable doubt. Nor there
any doubt, among vast majority Of the American peo-
pe of the duty of Congress TO abolish the sLaUe trade
and with the consent of the ega voters slavery also.
As other earthly power do it, and Congress
all the denominations of the sldUe trade and of slavery
in the District of Columbia, be considered its
OF omission and for which impartial justice will hold IL
responsible For the existence Of sLauy and the siaUe
trade at the National Capital the free States guilty
the Stare States. The free States elect both the
President and Viee President IF necessary accomplish
this object, and thus secure the casting vote in the Sem
ate and the signature Of the President to law for that
purpose But this is not understood to be necessary
the Delaware Senators will vote with the free States on
these quesons and perhaps some other Senators from
other slave States, also.
The power OF Congress all other territories and
property belonging the Unon equally clear and in
dspuiabIe The interested and tmd, and time servers,
may deny stouty they please but the nation
il, and approves its exercise. Till il deemed
important the slave interest," question raised in
regard To it, II exercised the slave question in
| the ordinance of 17S7-in the Missouri compromise-n
the annexation of Texas and during the last Congress-
in organizing the Territory OF Oregon; il is perfectly
clear that there a rational doubt the sub
ject. III in 1887 there had been doubts il has been
qniesced in and exercised ton long and often nd
nit of longer doubt. The erpsdieney may be honestly
doubted by timd and intelligent politicians; but its
stitutiona'y, nevermorr.
IT, then. Congress have the clear aud indsputable
power prohibit the propagation of slavery in se terri
tories of the United States and neglect to it, either
from policy, expedency, fear the nation RESPONSE
be-the free States OF the Union, deeply the slave
States IL Congress do not prohibit IT, other earthly
power can, as alone has The eIcusrs right 10 make
all needfa rules and regulations respecting ihe terri
tories.'
To understand the fulIness Of the national responsible
iiy in regard to these Matters let glance s the
miy Of the evils to be continued and pFopagaled by TIM