Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-13
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
M R. CLAY'S COMP MISE
In SENATE, FEB'Y 6, 1850
CONTINUED


Well sir, what does the resolution propose Tho
resolution neither afrms nor disarms the constitution
alty OF the exercise OF the power Of abolition in this
District 1t is silent upon the subject 1t says is in
expedlent to do 1t but upon certain conditions Aud
What are these considerations Why, first that the
state OF Maryland shall give its consent in other
words, that the State of Maryland shall release the
Omted States from the obligation OF the implied faith
whch contend is connected with the act of cessou
by maryland to the United States. Well sir if Mary
lano the only State that coded any portion OF the
territory winch remains to us, gives to her full
sent IN other words, she releases Congress- from all
obligations growing out of the cesson with regard 10
slavery, consider it is removing one ofthe obstacles to
the exercise OF the power, if deemed expedent
to exercise the power But it is removing only one of
them, There are two other conditions which are in
serted in this resolution The first the consent of the
people of the District.
Mr. President, the condition of the people OF this Dis
ttlct Is anomalous. 1t is a condition in violation Of
me great principles which lie at the bottom Of own
ree institutions and all free institutions because is the
case ol people who are acted upon by legislative
thorly and taxed by legislative authority, without hav~
ing any voice representation in the taxing or egs.
ative body, The Government OF the United States in
respect to the people OF this District tyranny, an
absolute Government--not exercised hitherto ! adtnt
and hope it never will be exercised tyrannically or
arbtrary but it is in the nature OF all arbitrary power
because were 10 give definition Of all arbitrary pow
would say that is in that power which sexecised by
an authority over people who have voice no repre-
sentauon IN the assembly whose edcts or laws 20 forth
to act upon the unrepresented people to whom have
erred Well, sir that being their condition. and this
question OF the abolition otsavery affecting them in all
the relations which we can inagneot prosperity,
clety, comfort, peace and happpiness-l have re-
CURED as another condition, upon which alone this
power should be exercised the consent OF the people e
the District. But, sir, have stopped there This
resolution requires still another and third condition.
and that is that slavery shall be abolished within
the District CT Columbia, although MARYLAND consents
although the people of the District themselves consent
without the third condition Of making compensation
the owners OF the slaves within the district Sir it is
iminaterial to me upon what basis this obligation to
compensate for the slaves who may be liberated BY the
authority OF Congress is placed There is clause in
the Constitution OF the United States in one Of the
amendments TO the constitution, which declares that
private property shall be taken for public Use without
Just compensation being made to the OF the pro-
perry Well, think, in just and liberal Interpretation
oil that clause, we are restrained from taking the pro-
perty of the people of the District in slaves on cons-
deratons OF any public policy for any conceivable or
imaginable use of the public, without full and fair
pensanon to the people OF this District. But, without
the obligation OF any constitutional restriction, such as
is contained in the amendment to which reter-with-
out that, upon the principles of eternal justice itself we
ought not to deprive those who have property slaves
them for their full value Why sir no one OF the Eu
ropean powers, Great Britain, France, any other Of
the powers which undertook to abolish slavery in their
respective colonies, have ever yentured to do it
without making compensation. They were under
no obligation arising out OF any written or other
constitution to do it, but under that obligation
to which all men ought to bow with homage-that obi
SaIoh vi Justlce WHICH no man
ought to be deprived Of his property without full and
Just compensation for its value | know it has been
argued that the clause OF the constitution which requires
compensation for property taken by the public for its
use, would not apply to the of the abolition OF
slavery in the District because the property taken
for the OF the public. Literally perhaps it would
not be taken for the use of the public but it would be
taken in consideration Of policy and purpose adopted
Nv the public, as one which it deemed expedient TO
into full effect and operation; and by liberal in
~ OF the clause, it ought to be so far regarded
n $50 nj he lIn OF fhlf DEto OF tina
nd compensation to the extent oil the
Ii that's not restriction to
the subject of slavery in the
9qress stands unrestricted,
,dition for the slave
restriction con-
unrestricted
great
tioa