Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09

responsibility on the part the United States 70 pay one cent
But there 10 third party, who was no parry . me
the money on the faith of solemn pledges made
him to reimburse the loan by the appropriation OF the duties
received foreign imports and me- ana no alone ,n1
have presented of the subject Nor can the other creditors
of Texas complain that provision is made only for particular
portion Of the debt leaving the residue OF the debt
or bv the the United Satc because sofar as
- NAV extuaush any portion Of the debt of Texas under
.hch she is now bound far will contributed diminish
the residue Of debts Texas and leave the funds derived
what other she
may have applicable the payment of these debts with more
effect than II the entire debt including the pledged portion as
well as the unpedged portion, was obligatory upon her and
she stood bound BY it. Nor can the creditors complain for
another reason Texas has all the which she had
when an independent Power with the exception Of the duties
receivable in her ports upon foreign imports and she is ex
empted from certain charges, expenditures and nbues
which she would have had to encounter if she had remained
separate and independent Power; for example, she would
have had provide for certain Of naval force and for
certain perhaps Of military force, in order 70 protect
herself against Mexico against any foreign enemy whatever
But BY her annexation to the United States she became be
rated from M these charges and Of course her entire revenues
may be applicable the payment Of her debts those only
excepted which 10 the support and
of the Government of Texas.
With this explanation upon that part Of the subject pass
to the consideration Of the next resolution in the series which
have had the honor submit and which relate am not
mistaken, to this District. site
Resoed That il Is nexpedent abolish slavery in the
District Of Columbia whilst that institution continues to
exist in the State Of Maryland without the consent Of that
State without the of the people OF the District, and
without Just compensation to the owners Of slaves within the
M Prss;dsnt III objection It the moment was made to
the body that did not contain assertion o. the uncons
nationality Of he exercise Of the power of abolition said
then, have uniformly maintained n this body as con-
tended for in 1885, and have done that the power to
abolish slavery within the District Of Columbia has been vest
ed in Congress by language clear and explicit to admit
in my Judgment of any rational doubt whatever What sir
-cAl-k c,,...a
slegsaton in all whatsoever over such district (no
exceeding miles square) may, by ceson OF partcu
lar States and the acceptance Of Congress- become the seat
Of the Government Of the United States" Now, sir, Con
ress by hir grant Of power is invested with all legislation
whatsoever the District Not only is it invested but
it is exclusively invested with all legislation whatsoever
the District Can we conceive Of human language
more broad and comprehensive than that which invests e
gsatve body with exclusive power in all cases whatsoever
Of legislation given district Of territory country Let
ask sir is there any power to abolish slavery in this Dis
trict Let suppose, in addition to what suggested the
other day. that slavery had been abolished in Maryland and
Vgniaet add 1t the supposion that it was abolish
ed in all the States in the Unon there any then to
abolish slavery within the District Of Columbia or slavery
planted here all eternity, without the possibility Of the
ercse Of any Legislative power for its abolition cannot be-
invested in Maryland because the power with which Con-
gess is invested is exclusive Maryland therefore is excud
ed and all the other States Of the Union excluded II
is here or it is nowhere. A.tf
This the view which took in 1888, and think there
is nothing in the resolution which offered that occasion
this resolution contains Whilst admitted the power TO exist
in Congress- and exclusively in Congress- to egslate in all
cases whatsoever and consequently in the of the abolition
Of slavery within this District if it deemed il proper to do So
admitted that occasion, as contend now, that is
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 deal altered now
from what twelve years ago. when the resolution to
which aude adopted by the Senate. Upon that occa
sion Virginia and Maryland both concerned in the exer
else Of the power but by the etroceson Of that portion Of
hoff
interested in the question Of the abolition of slavery
within the resdue Of the District than any other savehodng
State in the Union i, interested in its abolition. The ques
ton now is confined to Maryland said that occasion,
that although the grant of power is compete, and compre
hends the right to abolish slavery within the District yet it
was thing which could have entered into the
on of Maryland Virginn that slavery would be abolished
here whilst slavery continued to exist n either Of those two
cedng States. say, moreover, what the grant Of power
itself indicates that although exclusive legislation in leases
whatsoever the District invested in Congress within
the ten miles square, make the Of government
of the United States That the great prominent sub
sana object of the grant, and that in exercising all the
powers with which invested complete and full they
may be yet the great purpostha of the cession having
been made in order suitable seat Of government
ought to be the leading and controlling idea with Congress in
the exercise Of this And is not necessary in order
render it proper and suitable Of government for the
United Stetes that slavery should be abolished within the
the miles square And nasmuch heme Of the
in spirit Of generosity Immediately after the
formation Of this constuon-when all peace and harmo
ny and concordwhen brothery affection aud aternal feel
ing prevailed throughout this whole Unionwhen Maryland
snd Virginia, in moment of generous impulse, and with
feelings of high regard towards the members Of this
Union, chose to make this grant, neither party could
have suspected that, at distant future period, upon
the agitation Of this unfortunate subject their grant
without equivalent to be turned against them, and that
the sword be uped it were, in their bosoms to
strike at their hearts thus this implied faith this hon.
orabe obligation, this necessity and propiety Of keeping in
constant view the great object Of cesson These cons
dera.ons which in 1888 governed me- they influence
in submitting the which have submitted to your
consideration Now, them do think Congress ought
an honorable body acting bona tide in good faith,
and according 70 the nature and purposes and objects of the
cesson ct the time madeand looking at the condition
of the cedng STATES at that tine Congress cannot without
che forfeiture Of all those obligations Of honor which OF
honor and nations of honor respect much found liter
ally in many words in the bond itseIfCongess cannot
interfere with the institution Of slavery in this District without
the violation Of oil these obligations, not my opinion less
sacred and less binding than II inserted in the constitutional
instrument itself. ~
Well, sir, what does the resolution propose The resou
ton neither arms disafrms the constuonay Of the
exercise of the power Of abolition in this District II 81
lent upon the subject II snys is nexpedent to do 1t but
upon certain conditions And what these considerations
Why rst that the State of Maryland shall give its
m other words that the State OF Maryland shall release the
United States from the obligation Of the implied faith which
contend Is connected with the of cesson by Mary
to the United States Well. sir, Maryland the only State
now that ceded portion Of the territory which remains
gives 70 her full consent other WORDS she releases Con-
gress from all obligations growing Of the ceson with
gard to slavery consider removing Of the obstacles
70 the exercise Of the power deemed expeden to
exercise the power But il is removing only Of them
There are two other conditions which inserted this
solution The rs the OF the people Of the District
Mr. President, the condition Of the people of this Dis
tuct is anomalous Il il condition in violation Of the
great principles which lie the bottom Of our own free