Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-05-03
AN ACT to suppress the Slave Trade IN the
District of Columbia.


t,a;no sold or for the purpose Of being placed III
denot to be subsequently, transferred 70 any olher
State or place to be sold as merchandise. Ai9 - .
anv slave shall be brought into the sala DisiI.c'
by its owner or by the authority or consent % y.
owner contrary to the provisions OF THIS ael SUI"
slave shall thereupon become hbefa-ea ti'" nc
Sac. @ 4nd be 1t further enacted That It shall
and NAV be lawful for each of the Corporations OF
the cities of Washington and Georgetown, from
time to time and as often may be necessary, .
to abate break up, and abolish any depot or place
of confinement of slaves brought into the sad
District as merchandise, contrary to the provisions
of this act, by such appropriate means as may ap-
near to either of the said Corporations eXpcdlent
and proper And the same power is hereby YES
ted in the levy court of Washington county, II any
attempt shall be made within its JursdIctlonal
limits to establish depot place OF confinement
for slaves brought into the said District as mer-
chandise for sale contrary to this act
Approved, September 90, 1850
! Comment.
Much has been said of the constitutonality OF the
law for the abolition of the slave trade in the District
of Columbia The law passed and sanctioned by
the President is given above. The attention OF the
reader is called to it. Many sound and able lawyers
have given their opinion that this law is uncons
tuonal That's point we do not propose to discuss
now The Justice of the law and the extent OF the
power of Congress the institution of slavery in the
District if this law constitutional the points we
propose to examine.
This law is plain and pointed, requiring nice and
discriminating distinctions to explain its object or It's
ultimate end The object of the law definite, its end
positive. 1t the subec of slavery with
in the District of Columbia, exclusive sovereign con-
troll and delegates much power only to the corpo-
rations within the District will permit them, if de-
n a he TO
delegate power presuppose soveeignrg to control,
and this raises the question in form, where does the
t right commence, and 1ohere end
The law says in positive terms that sit shall not be
: awful'-to do what 'to bring into the District of
Columbia any slave whatever for the purpose of being
sod.' Here is the announcement of sovereign power
without qualifcation-itis perempory and final Its
an assertion of power that the whole question
whether Congress has the right prevent citizen of
e the Union dsposing of his property to whom, how
and where he pleases Congress possesses the same
right to prohibit the citizen from taking to, and dsp0s
l. ing of horses any other property in the District
l. ofsaves 1t is not denied that Congress possesses the
e legitimate power to abate nuisance, any
traffic trade injurious to the morality Of society If
20 the submission press put the abolition OF the slave trade
= in the District the ground that it was injurious
Of public morals ara silent But unless this is assert
ed, the action of Congress is without shadow of ex-
= cpse OF palllatlon.
p The power does not rest at the simple assertion of
Id destroying the citizens right dispose of his property
y within the District he Is prohibited tom entering the
a. District and piacigia depot his property designed
Id be disposed Of elsewhere. Suppose citizen with
IN drove of horses we're TO enter the District with the
a. view ofgoing subsequently 10 Baltimore dispose
Or of them, will any sane contend that Congress
Tho, o. -I
Mt ery right to those horses Ial, what difference is
TX there in the case were Virginian OF MS av D
ii with his slaves, intending to dispose o. them
ne when there If the Vrgnan put his slaves in depot
Ill or remained hour with the intention subsequently
to transfer them to be Sold his property the law
declares that his property right is abolished ard the
It. slave is free. This is the law.
or 1t may be asserted here that this law is unjust be-
he cause dscrminates against the institution of the
nd tire South and fans the anatca feeling and feeds the
n morbid sentiment and grates the graspng appees
tn ofthe Northern abotonists 1t is in fact sop an
to open avowed concession to aboonism 1t is so re.
'r garded by them
mt To what extent does the exercise of this power by
IS Congress pledge the South provided acquesces in it
he To the abolition of slavery within the District!
C. If Congress possesses the power abolish the pro-
pery right of the citizen when in the legal pursuit
business II possesses the right to abolish finally des
n troy utterly the property tse-that is that which
us now known as property recognized by the organic law
e. OF the Republic property protected by law as prop
ne erty and short is transferred or hered as
may, by the exercise ofthe power be pronounced
d. at any moment, no longer property. Men Weld fo
e the advantage of all certain ghts-ths is the basis
" all social intercourse and upon this all lust laws are
Isl founded Whatever is calculated to demoralize soc
ny ey introduce disease and paupersm may be resisted
by law Human foresight is taxed for means to render
ne social and domestic happiness perfect as possible
and when the one assaulted or the other eoparded b,
corruptng practices the strong of the law is the
- natural defence against them. We hold that a Stat,
p mas right to prevent the introduction of spiruou
o liquor as an article of general merchandise within if
cI borders 1t is evil, but wholly So hence soci
" ETY. compromise with those who use it by taxing it il
70 proportion much higher than other merchandise So
clety prohibits gaming it prevents prostitution and
u stops disease on the highway. This is all right Blu
Il II Is quite another thing say citizen sir if vo,
pass through this territory of miles square and re
n main in it one hour with property you design sen.
IN IN another State, your property shall be DESTROYED
ne II the morals of the community within the ten miles
ed square were Jeoparded its health imperiled or If
e safety at all compromised it would be easy to accom-
Tor this announcement But when nothing of all tbi
is pretended or complained Of we must seek for sob,
ton elsewhere. 1t is found in the deadly bos+li+