The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-02-22

he powered Congress over the subject Of slavery in
he district then the power Of Congress stands unre
rieted, and that would not be better condition for
he stakeholder in the District than to assume the
iniction contained in the amendment say 1t would
,e unrestricted by constitutional operation OF innnc-
Ion The great restrictions resulting from the obi
,ations otjustce would remain and they sufcient
o exact from Congress the duty Of asceraining prior
the abolition of slavery the value Of the property In
aves in the district and of making full fair, and just
compensation for that property,
Well, MIR. President, said yesterday there not
resolution, except the first (Which contained no con-
,essiOn by either party that did not either contain
mutual concession by the two PARTIES did not
contain concessions altogether from the North to the
South
Now with respect to the resolution under consdera
tion The North has contended that the power exists
under the constitution to abolish slavery. The South,
aware, has opposed il, and most at least great
portion o the South have eontended Tor the opposite
construction What does the resolution dol II asks OF
both parties to orbear urging their respective opinions,
the one to the exclusion Of che other, but it comedies
the South all that the South 1t appears to me- upon
this subject ought in reSson to demand, IN SO Tar as
requires such conditions amount to an absolute Sc
curity for property in slaves in the district such con-
ditions as will probably make the existenceot slavery
within the district coeval and co-eXtenslVe with It's
existence in any of the States out OF ana beyond the
district But sir the second clause oil TINS resolution
provides that it axpedien to prohibit within the
district the trade in slaves brought into 1t from States
or places beyond the limits o the district either 70 be
sold therein merchandise or to be transported 10
other markets" Well, Mr.. President, IT the conces-
sion be made that Congress has the power oi egsla
ton and exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever
how it be doubted that Congress has authority 10
prohibit what is called the slave trade in the District oil
Columbial Sir, my interpretation OF the constitution
is this, that with regard to all parts oi which ope-
rate upon the Sttes Congress can exercise no power
which is not granted, or which is not necessary i'm
plication from granted power. That is the rule for
the action of Congress in relation TO its legislation upon
the States, but in relation to its legislation upon this
district the reverse. take it to be the true rule that
Congress has all power over the district which not
prohibited by some part Of the Constitution OF the
United States, in other words, that Congress has
power within the district equivalent to- and co-exten
Sive with, the power which any State itself possesses
within its own limits Well sir, does any body doubt
the power and the right of any slaveholdng State in
this Union to forbid the introduction, as merchandise,
of slaves within their mtsl Why, sir almost every
slavehong State in the Union has exercised its power
to prohibit the introduction OF slavery as merchandise
1t was in the constitution of my own State; and not
whstanding all the excitement and agitation upon the
subject of slavery which occurred during the past year
in the State Of Kentucky, the same principle is ncor-
poTated in the constitution 1t is in the constltu-
tion, know, of Mississippi That State prohibits the
introduction Of slaves within its limits as merchandise
believe it to be in the constitution or in the laws OF
Maryland-in the laws of Virgma-in the laws OF most
Of the slavehoding States is true thyt the policy OF
the different sayehodng States uPou this subject has
somewhat VaSCllaUeQ--Lney auOpJeu u
sometimes excluded i-but there has been no diversi-
ty of opinion departure from the great principle
that every OF them has the power and authority TO
prohibit the introduction of slaves within their respec-
tive limits Of they choose to exercise it.
Well then sir, / really do not think that this
resolution, which proposes to abolish that trade,
ought to be considered as concession by either
class of the States to the other class l think 1t
should be regarded as common object. accept,
H. L Al, e. IL. Iha al
feelings of both; and yet sir, in these times Of
fearful and alarming excilement-in times when
every night that go to sleep aud am awoke up
in the morning, it is with the apprehension OF
some new and fearful and dreadful tdng upon
this agitting subiect-I have seen in the act Of
n neighbOring State. amongst the various contn-
gencies which are enumerated upon the happen
ing ofany one of which delegates are to be sent
to the famous convention which is to assemble
at Nashville in June next that amongst other sub
stanlive grounds for the appointment Of delegates
to that Convention --of delegates from the State
to which refer-One is, that II Congress abolish
the slave trade in the District Of Columbia, that
shall be cause for a Conventions; in other words,
it is cause for considering whether this Union
ought to be dissolved or not. Is it possible to
portray greater extent OF extravaganza to which
men may be Carried by the indulgence Of their
passionsi
Sir the power exists; the duty in my opinion
exists; and there has been no time-as may say
in lnnguage concident with that used by the hon
orabe Senator from Alabaml-there has been
no time in my public life when was not willing
TO concur in the abolition of the slave trade in this
| District. was willing to have done it when
) Virginia's portion of the District was retroceded
that lying south OF the Potomac. There is still
. less ground for objection to doing it now, when
; the District is limited to the portion this side o
, the Potomac, and when the motive or reason toI
concentrating slaves here in depot, for the pur
pose of transportation to distant foreign markets
! is lessened with the dmnution of the District by
the retrocession OF that portion to Virginia.
Why should slave traders, who buy their slaves
in Maryland and Virginia, come here with theil
slaves in order to transport them TO New Orean;
or other Southern mnrketsl Why rot transport
them from the States in which they are purchas
) edl Why are the feelings of citizens here outra
ged by the scenes exhibited, and the cortegei
a which pass along our avenues OF manacled hu
man beings, not collected in our own District
u not collected at all in Onr own neghborhood, bu
brought from distant parts of neighboring States
Why should they be outraged Aud who is there
that has heart. that does not contemplate spec
/ tace of that kind with horror aud lndignatoni
d Why should they be outraged by a scene 50 mex
!, Sir, it is no concession, repeat from one clas
i Of States nor from the ohor. 1t is an object il
! which both Il them, it seems to me, should heart
' lily unite, and which the one side as much us the
b other should rejoice in adopting, inasmuch as /
lessons of the causes of inquietude aud dssat
|, istaction which is connected with this District
Abolish the slave trade in the District; re.asser
the doctrine of the resolution of 1888 that by al
f implied assent on the part OF Congress, SLAYER.
/. ought not to be abolished in the District of Co
f lumbia whilst it remains in the State of Maryland
re-assert the principle of that resolution, and adop
3 the other healing measu es, or similar healln:
u measures--for am not attached to any thing tha
q is the production OF my uwn hand, ifany thiDi
e better Should be offered by any body else -adop
It the other healing measures which are proposed
: aud which are required by the distracted condi
!, ton Of the country aud venture to say thnt, a
n We have had peace aud quiet Tor the last thirt
+ years, since the termination OF the Missouri con
u trovorsy, we shall have 10 all human probability
a, peace Tor longer period To come upou this IN
!, happy subject Of slavery.
a The next resolution Isl
$ THAT nure eheclna provision ought to b
e mnle by law according tn therequremeut ofth
constitution Tor ths restitution and delivery d
i persons bound to service or labor III any State
: who may escape into any other State or territor
!. in the Union
d Now Mr. President upon that subject, 9
|. with him who goes tarthest in the interpret
n tuition Of that clause II, the constitution. In IN
), humble opinion, sir Il is requirement by III
y Constitution Of the United States which is NJ
), limited in its operations to the Congress Of th
= United States but extends to every State in tn
II Union and to the officers Of every State in til
% Union; aud go one step further, it extends t
l. every man in the Unon, and devolves upon ther
L nl nm nllinaInn tn nssist in the rncnNnrN of Il