The true Democrat., 1856-07-29
BufaLo, Oct. II, 1898.

the District of Columbia.
 Bufalo, Oct. +, 1888.
 SIR: Your communication of the 18th inst as chairman of tie committee appointed by the "Anti- Slavery Society of the County of Erie" has just came to hand Yousolicit my answer to the following interrogatories:
 l. Do you believe that petitions to Congress on the subject of slavery and the slave trade ought to be received, read, and respectfully considered by the representatives of the peo- pie?
 II. Are you opposed to the annexation of Texas to this Union, under any circumstances, so longa as slaves are held therein? III. Are yon in favor of Congress exercising all the constitutional bowers it possesses to abolish the internal slave trade between the States?
 ". Are you in favor of immediate leg.sla- ton for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia?
 Answcr.-I am much engaged and have 10 time to enter luto argument or explain at length my reasons for my opinions. shall therefore content myself for the present, bv answering all your interrogatories in the affirmative, and leave for some future occasion q more cXtcnu- cd discussion on the subject
 WILLARD FILLMORE.
 This letter furnishes key to many of His votes in Congress upon these questions. Mr.. Fillmore entered the Lower House of Congress in l837-8, and presents the following
 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
 December F, 1857, Mir. Adams presented petition praying for the abolition of the slave trade n the District of Columbia, and moved tbot if opJ ot bar, ,r, 4l on the District of Columbia, with instructions to consider and report thereon, Mr. Wise moved to lay that motion on the table-yeas and nays ordered on that question--yeas l35, nays 70. ADAMS FILLMORE, SHADE. GID. DINGs, X Co.,, IN THE NEGATTyE.-C Cong. Globe, vof. $, p. 19.
 Mr. Adams then presented petition for the abolition of slavery n the territories of the U. States, and moved its reference to the commit tee on territories. Mir. Wise moved to lay the motion on the table-ycas and nays ordercd- yeas l27 nays 73. ADAMS, FILLMORE, GID DINGs, SLADE & Co.,, IN THE NEG ATIvE.-C Co,lg. Glo5e, vol 6, ?. 20.
 On the l1th December, 1888, (Cong Globe vo1. [, ?. 23,) Mir. Atherton asked leave to sub- init the following resolutions:
 Resolvel, That this government is a gov ernment of limited powers, and that by the constitution of the U. S. Congress has no iu- rlsdlctlon whatever over the institution of sla- very m the several States of the confederacv
 Resolued, That petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia and the ter ritores of the U. $. and against the removal of slaves from one State 10 another, are part of plan of operations, set on foot to effect the n- stitution of slavery in the several States, and thus indirectly to destroy that institution with in their limits.
 ResolUel That Congress has no right to do that indirectly, which it cannot do directly: and that the agitation of the subject of slavery in the District of Columbia or the territories as a means, and with the view of disturbing or oyer- throwing that INSTITUTION in the several States, is against the true spirit and meaning of the constitution; an infringement of the right of the States affected, and breach of the pub lie faith upon which they entered into the con- icderacy.
 ReSolved, That the constitution rests on the broad principle of equality among the members of this confederacy, and Mat Congress in Ae er ercise cf is acknowledged poaoers has no right to discriminate betaoeen the institutions o one portion of tue States and anotter, ,0ith C viev of abolsA- ing the one and pronsotjng tue other.
 Resolvea, Therefore, that all attempts on the part of Congress, to abolish slavery in the Dis trct of Columbia or the territories, or to prohi- bit the removal of slaves from State to State or to discriminate between the institutions of one portion of the confederacy and another with the views aforesaid, are in violation of the constitution, destructive of the fundamental principle On which the union of these States rests, and beyond the jurisdiction of Congress; and that every petition, memorial, resolution proposition, or paper, touching or relating in any way or to any extent whatever to slavery as aforesaid, or the abolition thereof, shall, on the presentation thereof, without any further action thereon be laid upon the table without being debated, printed, or referred"
 Mir. Atherton moved suspension of the rules-yeas and nays ordered-yeas 137, nays 66. Adams, Fillmore & Co.,, in the negative.
 The resolutions then came up upon their final passage.
 1st. resolution adopted almost unanimously.
 On the second resolution the vote stood yeas 136, nays 65. ADAMS, FILLMORE, SHADE, GIDDINGs & Co.,, IN THE NEGATIVE.
 On the first branch of the third resolution the vote stood-yeas 173 nays 30. ADAMS,