Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-17
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF CO.
LUMBIA-JOHN VAN BUREN,.

In our comments yesterday on Mr.. John Van
Buren's letter to Colonel Clemens, of Alabama,
we omitted to notice statement made in the
postscript to that remarkable epistle which is
calculated to mislead and deceive the public.
That statement is to the effect, that the inter-
probation of the principle of non-intervention,
given in the Nebraska bill, would require the
repeal of all the laws of Congress establishing
slavery; and, inasmuch as slavery exists in the
District of Columbia by the laws of Congress
alone, the Maryland and Virginia laws uphold
ing it having been repealed, non-intervention
would require that slavery be abolished in the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Van Buren, is utterly and entirely mis-
taken in his facts. Slavery was not established
in the District of Columbia by congressional
enactment. 1t existed and was recognised and
protected in the original ten miles square by
the laws of Maryland and Virginia, which
were enacted before the formation of the gov
eminent. When the federal government took
possession, it adopted the laws Of Maryland
for that portion of the District north of the
portion south of the Potomac Slavery was a
pre-existing thing, fixed and established before
the government was fixed and established.
The laws of Virginia and Maryland recog-
nising and protecting slavery have never been
repealed. That portion of the original Dis
trict of Columbia which lies south of the
Potomac was ceded by Virginia. 1t has
been retroceded to that State, SO that the pre-
sent District embraces only that portion of the
original District which was granted by the State
of Maryland. But before the retrocession to
Virginia two distinct laws were in force with
regard to the introduction of slaves into the
District. Maryland had before the cession pro-
hibited the Introduction of slaves for sale. yir.
ginia had made no such prohibition. 1t fol
lowed, then, that slaves could be carried for
sale into that portion Of the District which was
ceded by Virginia, but could not be carried
into that portion coded by Maryland But at
an early day Congress repealed the prohibition
Of the old Maryland law, and permitted the
slave trade in the northern part as well as in the
southern part of the District, and the trade was
carried on until the &C. of repeal was in turn
repealed by one Of the compromise measures
of 1850.
There are other old Maryland laws still in
force for instance, the law which permits a
person coming into the District of Columbia to
reside to bring his or her slaves within the year.
That law, like all the old Maryland laws touch
ing slavery, is still in force in the city and
county Of Washington. None OF them have
ever been repealed. The congressional enact
ment passed about the year 1902, permitting
slaves to be brought here for sale, was practi.
cally an abrogation Of the Maryland law in that
respect; aud that was the only instance we
know of in which the Maryland law was inter.
fered with by Congress. Municipal police
laws have been adopted, and rules and regu-
lations have been prescribed, for the purpose
of registering slaves introduced into the Dis
trict, and for excluding free negroes, unless
they could give security for their good be
haviour; but further than that legislation ha.
not gone, save and except the repeal of tina
act Of Congress which repealed the Maryland
law prohibiting the slave trade.
Mr.. Van Buren, had better examine tn,
subject Of slavery before he undertakes tc
write on it again. His fanatcal appeal.
may be taken as gospel trnths by his faithful
followers but when he ventures before diff
ferent audience with legal argument, it would
not be amiss for him to consult his books, nc
matter how thoroughly he is hardened agains
the shame Of detection and exposure. AND
although advice from us would be lost upon
him, we would nevertheless intimate to him
that, when he makes another attempt to cajole
an eminent statesman whom he has wronRed,
it would be well to show some signs of con-
triton, as well as Of cunning. But Mr.. John
Van Buren, undertook to gnaw file 10 the in.
jury Of his own teeth. That is all, and that is
enough. Let him go