Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-09-29
forming. sepi'r ~. 1896.



democratic speech was delivered At Dudley
Hall Friday night. by Hon. Abram Nrnabo. OF
North Carolina. The audience was rather small.
owing doubtless. 10 the fact that there was not
allowed time for general circulation Of the notice.
and many of our citizens unappriz'd Of
the meeting Mr.. vs. address was unexcepGon-
able in spirit, moderate, respectful aud enter.
tanning. But for some errors of fact and ms.
taken conclusions based upon them. W should
have agreed with most he said. For example.
Nj. V, in reeting the Preamble TO the con>tttu.
ton. substituted the words d" more p fleet
liberty" for more perfect naioH.' lie also
erred in supposing that Mr. Fillmore adheres
10 the opinion that The federal government
has a right 10 abolish the slave ttau be.
tween the States He mistaken, Too, l5e
we believol in bis information that David Paul
Brown had been invited 90 Richmond, &c, &c.
We have had occasion heretofore to connect the
isrepresentations 1--WE will not say wilful, TOR
IN Mr.. Nenables case have ne idea that they
were SO )hy Democratic orators Of Nj. FiiImpres
present position on the questions answered ia hI,
Erie letter. For eight ycars. there has bon be-.
fore the public frank, explicit. complete nnd
public recantation of The opinion expressed righ
teen yer arr ago, in his Erie letter, rrlatI. 90 the
power Of Congress over the slave trade brt Necn
the States. And yet, Mr. Nenshle, anl GOV.
Floyd and Col keitf, aud, 80 far as w know, al
the Democratic orators who have sn3krn la
Iynchburg have represented Mr.. Fillmore H. ,iill
maintaining that opinion. l. IT possible that
gentlemen occupying their prominence il til" pc.
li,ica world should not be acquainted will this
lance, for they dwell with emphasis and warmth
upon it. but they are so poorly versed IN political
history that they seem not 10 know a fnet which
formed an essential point in the canvass of I-l5.
Those gentlemen should 60 back 10 their horn.
books. They bunder in concluding thai they
qualified TO teach. If they would put ihon-
selves under the regimen of reading Tho other
side occasionally. they would hud ont some
things that would amaze them, aud TINT nj hit
protect them from the harsh Judgment OF perv,rt.
ing the truth, when. in fnct, the may b. anorant
of the truth Now. what are the facts IA rrgurd
10 Mr.. Fillmore'- position the inter STATE
siave-trade question Shall we weary our read
ers by repeating them' We cannot help it
.orwe must not permit gentleman, seemiagF
disposed TO he fair as Mr.. Neuabo, II lie un.
der 50 serious misapprehenslou.as hi settlement
TINS subject discoscs. Ia 1889 Mr.. + lluure.
when a candidate for Congress. had ppapsaudod
To him series Of questions among which was
that referred to by Mr.. v, all of which le an
swered atiirmatisey But, even then he took
occasion 10 say that these answers were not to
be regarded as a "a pledge" llereserved 10 him
-elf discretionary power" holding That II
would be his duty, IN regard 10 these and MI Other
subjects, To possess himself of all the f1rma.
5on and listen to every argument TINT could be
addueed" before giving final vote. Tn quos
ton OF the right Of Congress to intcrdiet T. ctraae
in slnves beio.t the States did not conc up in
praciiea form till lsll Hn1 then not in Con
gress but in the Supreme Court Ii Mr. Ncna-
bic will give himself the trouble 10 RET, 7 To Is
Peters 4i9, he will see the case reported unler
the head Of Groves Slaughter. 1t W. argued
18th signal ability on both sides The decision
Of the court was rendered by Justice Mclean.
fortified by remarks from Chief Justice Iancv-
the gist Of which is contained in the following
passage:
1t is my judgment TINT the power o,or tb.,
i" subject is exclusively with the .c,,ral Sta.c,.
and each of them has right 10 decide fol IL
self whether it will or will not allow persons
:" Of this description to be brought within it, lin
its from another State, either for sale or for any
" other purpose; and also to prescribe the man.
"ncr aud mode in which they may be introlue
led. and to determine their condition and treat.
q" meD,. within their respective territories. And
- the action Of the several States upon tins sub.
"ject cannot be controlled by Cougress, either
"by virtue of It's power 10 regulate comn.rc or
by virtue of any other power conferred nv the
- constitution OF the United States
Clear and strong enough that's II not Mr.
Venahle
In l546, Mr.. FILLMORE in letter 10 Hon. Jas.
Brooks, OF New York, replying to ono asking his
opinion on the question SO decided. said
90 AL not aware that this question has ever
been discussed in Congress, or was ever pre-
=" sented for the consideration Of the SUPREME
Court of the United States before l9ll. In
that year the celebrated case from Mi.sissippi
the Que above referred TO was decided. and
=" Mr.. Justice Mclean gave an elaborate opin.
-" ion on this point, in which the Chief Justice
" copeurred. He came to the conclusion TINT
:" the constitutional power over the subject was
- vested in the several States and not in Con.
- gress. SO far as my knowledge extends. this
opinion carried conviction to every unpreln-
. diced mind; and the question waa settled
AT any rate, this WAS my opinion then. and
have seen no cause to change it,"
Now,Mr. Venabe we put tito vo1.as ths co,,-
olo man we believe you to be-did geu not do
NJ fhtmors great injustice IN gour statement
and comments on his subject,
Il