Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-06-21

and should have given II less tsdy ans-er but Tor
succession Of particular demands On my attention and
wish Ia assist my rccolections by consulting both
script and printed OF Information the subjects
of YOUR inquiry. OF these, however, l have not been
able avail NV -elf but very partially.
As TO the intention OF the trainers OF the Constitution
in the clause relating the migration and importation OF
persons &c. the best ker perhaps be found in the
which produced il. The African trade in slaves had
long been odous most O. the States and the importa
tion into them had been prohibited Particular States.
however, continued Interpretation and extremely
avcrse TO any restriction their power do So In the
Convehton the former States were anxious, in framing
new Constitution 20 insert provision for immediate
absolute st, TO the trade The latter only
av,rse TO anynteereuce the subject hut solemny de-
cl,red that eir constituents would accede to
stituon obtaining such article. Out OF this conflict
grew middle measure, providing that Congress should
not erterc until che $685. with implication that
s.r that date they might prohibit the importation OF
slaves into the States then existing and previous thereto
i"o the States not then existing Such the OF
opposition in the States of South Carolina and Georgia
and such the desire to gain their acqucscence proh
btory power, that on question between the epochs vi
$500 and $685. the States Of New Hampshire, Masachu
sets and Connecticut tall the Eastern States in Conven
toni joined in the vote Tor the ACKNOWLEDGMENT howev
by the collateral OF reconcing those particular
states TO the power over commerce and navigation
which they ielt, did some other States strong
repuguance. The earnestncss Of South Carolina aud
Georgia further manifested by their insisting the
security in the ith article against amendment to the
their uniting with the small States who insisted on like
security for their equality in the Senate
But some OF the States not only anxious TOR con-
s,ituonal provision against the Introduction OF slaves
they had scruples against admitting the term slaves" in-
to the instrument Hcace the descriptive phrase uni.
grafton importation OF persons " the migration
allowing those who scrupulous OF acknowledging
expressly property in human beings view imported
persons species of emgrants while Others might APP
ply the term to foreign indicators coming into
the country IL is possible, though recolected that
10 of freed Ia
well malefactors.
But whatever may have been intended by the term
migration" the persons" il certain thar
they referred exclusively migration from
other countries into the United States not to removal
voluntary or involuntary, OF slaves ecmcu from
To another part OF the United States Nothing appears
or ia rccollectcd that warrants this latter Intention
Nothing in the proceedings OF the State Conventions ind
Gates such aconstructon there. Had such the con.
ructon tits 10 imagine the figure it would have made
in OF the States among the objections the Cons,
uton and among the numerous amendments proposed
by the State Conventions not OF which amendments
refers the clause in question. Neither there any
indication that Congress have heretofore considered
themselves deriving from this clause power over the
migration removal of individuals whether freemen or
slaves from State another whether old for
1t must be kept in view that If the power given at all
il has been in force eleven all the States exs
ting in 1905 and at all times the States not then ex
isug Every indication is against such construction by
Congress OF their constitutional powers Their alacrity in
exercising their powers relating to slaves proof that
they did claim what they did exercise They pune
tlalN ana unanimously exercised the
lS0S against the further importation Of slaves from abroad
They had vouy directed their power over American
vessels on the high against the African trade They
lost no time in applying the prohibory power Lousi-
ana, which, Laving maritime ports might be inlet for
slaves from abroad But they forbOre the pro-
hibon the introduction of slaves from other parts of
the Unon They had even prohibited the importation
slaves INTO the Mississippi Territory from without the
limits of the United States in the year 1895 without ex-
tending the prohibition the introduction of slaves from
within those limits; although at the time the ports OF
/. aO=~a "A 49,
OF slaves from abroad and increasing the slavery
within the United States.
II these views of the subject be Ius power in Con-
To control the interior migration removal Of per
be derived from other source than section
= article l. either from the clause giving power 'to make
oil needu rules and regulations respecting territory or
other property belonging TO the United States or from
that providing for the admission OF States into the
Union
The terms in which the first OF these powers is express
sed, though OF ductlc character cannot well be extern
ded beyond power over the territory property and
10 make the provisions really needu or necessary
or the government of settlers until ripe for admission
States INTO the Union IL may be inferred that Con-
sres did not regard the nterdct Of slavery among the
nceul regulations contemplated by the Constitution since
ia none o the Territorial Governments created by them il
such an inetdict found The power however be its i'm
port what /; may, Is obviously limited to a Territory
while remaining Ia that Character distinct from that
of a State.
A. to the power Of admitting States into the Fed
eral compact the questions Offering themselves are
Whether Congress attach conditions the new State
concur Ia a,Dai,;..- adIr-IU, auridge
~ enlarge TIE constitutional nights ct legislation common
to other States; whether Congress can by compact win
new member, take power either or fiom its. mr.
the new member above below the equal rank and
rights possessed 10y the other whether all such stipua
tons expressed or implied would utilities and sd
pronounced when brought to practical test IL falls
within the scope OF your inquiry state the fact that
there vas proposition in the Convention discriminate
between the old aud the Stae- by an Article in the
Constitution declaring that the aggregate number OF Rep
resehatiyes from the States thereafter 10 be admitted
ia Il 81.
Constitution The proposition happily, was rejected
The effect OF such discrimination is sufficiently evil
dent.
With respect what has taken place in the Northwest
Territory 1t may be observed that the ordinance giyn its
distinctive character on the subject of savehoding pro-
ceeded nom the Old Congress acting with the best nten
tons but under charter which contains shadow of the
authority exercised and It remains to be decided how far
the States formed within that Territory aud admitted into
TIE Union are on different footing from its other mem.
bers a. to their legislative sovereignty !.
Whocr the Convention could have looked To the e,is
tencc OF slavery at all in the States is point on
which can add little what has been already stated
The great object Of the Convention seemed 10 be 10 pro-
mott the increase by the importation OF slaves power
TO emancpatc slaves dsclaimed nor Is any thing re-
collected that denoted view control the distribution Of
those within the country. The the Northwestern
Territory was probably superseded by the provision A.
| gmnst the importation OF slaves by South Carolina
and Georgia. which had then passed laws pro.
Dng IT, When the existence Of slavery ia that
tory was precuded the importation of slaves was ro
going and the only mode OF checking il was by mar
rowing the space open To them Ii Is an unfair in
renee that the expedient would have been undertaken
the power Afterwards given TO terminate the importa.
ton everywhere had existed been anticipated IL
has appeared that the Congress followed the
| ~ epoch.
Under one aspect OF the general subject cannot avoid
saying that apart from its merits under Others the ten.
dency OF what has passed aud passing fills me with no
sght anxiety Parties under denomination or 9th.
er must always be expected in Government free as
ours When the individuals belonging N them are inter
mingled IN every part OF the whole country they strength
en- the union OF the whole while they divide every
should state of parties arise founded on geographical
boundaries and other physical and permanent distinctions
which happen to coincide with them what is to control
those great repulsye from awful shocks against
each OtherY
MR. BUCHANAN'S ACCEPTANCE.
WHEATLAND, NEAH LANCASTER !