The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-06

self preservation came in conflict with the constitution
they would be Justified IN egslaing for that IN defiance
of the constitution.
But, does any such authority as that exist here
Does Congress possess in this District these conflicting
rights, and separate and independent jurisdictions! Is il
known here in any other capacity than representa-
tive OF the coniedeacy, has any other authority than
that OF the constitutions L has more power in this Dis
trct than has the States 1t can do things here
which ii cannot do in the States but it has no power
anywhere in Ills legislation over this District which
would enable to do things IN conflict with the consu
ton OF the United States or with the rights OF the conled
eracy. When this District selected the seat of
government for the confederacy, Congress govern
il as the representative OF the contederacy. There is
therefore, not The separate and distinct police power,
The separate organization in the District which exists in
the State governments The States are distinct political
en,tes-no SO with the District Congress cannot ex-
ercse any power here in relation 10 trade except under
the limitations OF the constitution Congress has The
right OF exclusive legislation here, il is ue but that is
commerce must be exercised for the purposes for which
II was gwen, and under the limitations OF the constiu
tlon.
But what sir, are the limitations upon that power
That must be exercised in relation to trade equally and
uniformly The history of the convention which led 10
the formation OF the constitution well the spirit of
the constitution itself, shows that such the end for
which this power giyen that Congress must gov
ern the subject OF trade to produce regulations uni
form and equal in relation to the people of the different
very illustration given By Mr.. Webster % IN his case Of
Grover Us Slaughter Could Congress prohibit the sale OF
cotton fabrics made in any OF the States within this Dis
rict? Does any believe that this would be consu-
tona! And If we cannot prohibit the sale OF cotton
fabrics for the purpose OF protecting industry here,
we prohibit the sale Of slaves long they recog
missed property here Can we prohibit the sale Of
slaves here from the Slates' Who can show me the
difference in principle between the two cases! How
distinction be made between slaves if recognised as
property and fabrics any other species OF prop
erty! Yet presume there is not man here who would
assert that Congress has power in the District to pro-
hblt the sale Of cotton fabrics not made within the
District
Lei us push this thing little further II Congress has
right TO prohibit the sale Of slave by the nhabant of
State to nhabIlant OF the District OF Columbia, has
the right to prohibit the sale OF slave from one citizen
of the District 10 another citizen of the Districts and who
does not see that such law would at once abolish
slavery in effect! Pass law that slaves shall be inaen
able, that they shall not be subject to sale and transfer
like other property, and slavery is at once abolished
believe there are majority here who hold the opin
ion that there power IN Congress TO abolish slavery
within the District But then know there large num-
Der here who believe that Congress has such power
and there OF thai numb who favor this partcu
lar bill appeal TO them If they can vote for this bill
without being prepared to admit that there Is power
upon the part of Congress TO abolish slavery within the
District OF Coumbai OF course do not mean to enter
into the of Congress abolish slavery here II refer
TO the opinion, not the grounds upon which il rests
That sir separate branch OF the arguments separate
chain OF reasoning belongs 10 1t the subject has been
fully and often discussed BY others thai do not choose
now go into IL, for really not my object 10 waste
time and Prolong this discussion ! rose only TO say
what believed 10 be due 10 the and to be due 10 the
rights OF the State which represent wish TO deal fair
" and fully with the question. do not wish to blink il;
desire TO meet fully and fairly; and say now that,
even il il proved TO that would be constitution
al to prohibit the slave trade between the States and the
District, would si be against IT, for reasons OF expe
dieney think i would be scarcely lns to say that,
while the people of the District may sell their slaves TO
the people OF the slave States the people OF those States
may not sell them the people OF the District But put
all those Considerations for the present. and come
now to another branch of my argument
object TO this BILL II there were constitutional
power pass H. because 10 that II seeks 10
lay the foundation in legislation OF sentiment that shall
he directed towards the abolition OF what called the
domestic slave trade. believe that there are cases OF
hardship under that practices yet do not believe that the
slave trade between the States has worked, upon the
whole wrong bui, on the contrary, | think can
show that it has been the OF great benefit, not
only to the whites in those States, but particularly 10 the
negroes themselves. Thinking thus, sir cannot vote
for bill whose chief object, il would seem TO me,
must be to lay, as said before IN legislation the foun
daon OF sentiment which should be directed against
this trade between the States know that am saying
what will shock the OF humanity OF a great many.
know am arguing against what believe to be pre-
conceived preudicss Yet sir believe that truth IS on on
my side and am willing 10 take the responsibility oil
the opinions which am about TO avow.
There are cases OF hardship, | admit, growing out OF
forced emigration OF hardship and oi cons'rant IN
FORM only amongst the slaves, but the whites
themselves But 60 the oil Ireland or oil Ger
many, and 10 other foreign countries whence so many
to us, and who will say that they would not md
cases there OF forced gratonemigrahon forced by
circumstances often Inexorable than the VIII OF
another that would shock the senslbtes oil The humane
and the benevolent man. And yet who would say that
the wise man, or even good man,
who would seek, for such occurrences as these, 10
pass a law that there should be no emigration from
Ireland from Germany And so with regard 10 TINS
form OF emigration amongst the blacks, OF which am
speaking find that in the slave trade there are cases,
as said before that would shock the sensbilites oi
every humane and benevolent but the principle u
self beneficial only TO the white race, but pecu-
ary the slaves and shall we sactce this class IN the
vain attempt to get rid of the misery which bealls the
few TO show how this has operated, suppose that IN
my State for instance that in Virginia or IN Kentucky
the senator's own Sate-he slave trade between the
States had been forever prohibited What would have
been the eect As the population went on increasing,
the price oi labor would diminish, and we should have
fierce conflict between the white race and the blacks Tor
the means OF subsistence, until The prce OF labor would
sink too low to furnish the means OF comfortable sub,
sisience 10 all Then sir, the black race would be found
retroerading not only physically but morally And who
does not know that in such contest between he races
either the black must PERISH or as MI randolph
once said the master must flee from his slave! take
the ohef way Suppose that the slave trade nad never
been prohibited and that 1t is permitted 70 go on Wna
4 ihe effect The moment that the profits OF labor SIM
beioy their level in any of the Sates that moment me
slave carried another part OF the country Whefe 'ne
profits of labor higher and where greater snare ~
The product OF his labor may be engaged by MN geh
e6fs not only the slave bnt also Inc white man, ~
slave who goes away only benefits hinseif put 'osf
he leaves behind lie benefits labor directly not ohiS
by taking away the competition oil MS own put py ,e
pp In its stead capital iroR the country to winch ne goes
And that SIR is the reason that the black race mas aus
so remarkable progress, not only physicaly pu' ,e
lectualy, since they have been brought INTO hs county
That, too s the reason than any other, .na n'
two have dwet together IN the NAN so PeaoeaVS
and preserved relations so kindly.
l. Z. = A.. anIfu