The Yazoo Democrat., 1851-08-13


Maryland, granted authority to her legisla
ture to enact il. A constitution, granting /
: legislature, power 10 interfere with, an
destroy the righ.s OF private individuals i,
their property would be an anomaly ind sea
Ihis IS one of the powers not granted to tn,
General Government; not reserved to IN,
States, as SUCH, Bur TO, THE PEOPLE; an,
they canaxerciss it only, through legally
constituted convention. State leg slatures
are no. sndowed with absolute and nnlimit
ed power, over, their constituents; and theI
caa9pAss no law, unless au lhority has beer
granted Ihem by the sovereign people ia
their constitution. Legislatures there fore,
derfving their existence from constitutions,
cannot free single slave, under any cir
cnnsiances, unless warranted byt provis-
ions Of the constitution, which is the. source
and life Of their pswer. But we are further
told, that under tho ,const tuition of the Uni
ted States, Congress has exclusive iuris-
diction," over the District of Columbia, and
therefore, she has power to enact the law in
question. Those.who occupy This ground,
are sur ely net aware, of the extreme dam
ger Of the Position. Grant to Congress
the polcer to pass this law. and at once
you concede the power, to abolish slavery
in all its forms, in the District of Colum-
bia. Because, il she can free one slave she
may by the &IAne authority, Tree all, and in
hke manner, if she can free my slave, under
any circumstances, she may lFse the slave or
slaves, Of any man, or set Of man in the
Union, when found ia the District Of Colum.
ooia' under the same or any other circum
stances. It's the power il claims. to free
slavOs as penalty, or in any other manner.
% which we object. That il would have
the power to sell the slave. as it might sci
other property, for the paymeat Of fine or
o'ner indebted ness, no one dispu es.9 But.
does this clause, granting exclusive iuris
lictloh to congress in the District OF Colum
ola' grant any additional power to con
5ress' Surely not. 1t excludes the au
horiiy OF any other legislature, but doos not
grant unlimited power 20 congress. Erclu
are power, is not unlimited power. In The
'ase under consideration, the iurisdic,i6h j.
&clus've but defined. For although congress
InderIhe constitution, has exclusive iuris
LECTION over the District ofColumbia, it can
lot pass law establishing religion there.
lor could it pass law violating the obiiga
Ton OF contracts. which il could do, if its in
lsdlction was without limit. But we arel
DID, that the power to establish religion.
pass law invalidating the Obligations OIL
ontracts DC, are expressly prohibited
True, our fathers in their extremo isalousv
n these subjects, interdictcd the exsrci Sc
any jurisdiction over them. Bal if the
'eneral Government derives it's powers fTom
xPress grants in the constitution, this aryu
lsnt falls to the ground. To say that con
resS may exercise any power not forbid
en by the constitu iion, would be- to change /,
le whole theory, and structure of the gov
If the power to abolish slavery
the District Of Coumbia rests anywhere, I
ia with the people of the district, and can l.
nly DC exercised by them, through a conAt
ention OF her people, after such convent ion t
as besn author ized by act Of congress. pas lie
ID in pursuance Of the expressed will of =
lch people. o5 =
Ihe passage ofthisa act by congress, is a [
'llossal stride, in the march of power, and =
alarming indeed. How long will it be ?
sfore our mules, horse, or other property !,
ay be seized, as soon as they enter the !
magic circle" where congress exercises :
'xclusise jurisdiction" and then, how long a
'fore our southern ships will be seized and 4
for. daring to interfere with the :
Ofitable carrying trade, of our cnterprislng {
'rthern brethern. o a
o are told, that the passage of this law u
as due TO northern feeling and, sentiment. =
we yield so much to northern feeling c,
I'd sentiment, now much more must we th
I'D, TO northern cupiduy and GUdrice A
il possible we must submit to such aggre
on and injusticel We viii not do SO in
ence at least,--batg we will sound the -
ocsin' of repeal in the ears of our op NJ
essors, until this black passenger, be hurled in
IN the .'omnibus. ssasa2 oa II
Assit seems to be cardinal point with :;
+ opponents, to damn us. by the cry ofl s,
union, it may not be improper for me to a.
I a single word on that, subject, Q am is
9 gentlemen, that express your feelings. o. o.