Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-06-13


to do SO is "unquestionable." They have
also given the revolving opinion that ne
groes have no rights that white men are
bound to respect, and that our fathers
thought SO. Judge Taney quotes the
Declaration of Independence-the very
clause of it cited in Judge jays letter.
as proof of this calumny upon the ia
theirs. Mark how John Jay refers to the
clause. But to the letter.
BEDFORD, Westchester co., N. Y.
Nov. 18th, 1919.
DEAR SIR Il have received the copy
of circular letter, which, as chairman
of tho committee appointed by the late
public meeting at Trenton, respecting
Slavery, you were pleased to direct to
ma on the 9Th inst. -
Little can be added to what has been
said and written on the subject of Slav-
cry. l concur in the opinion that it
ought not to be introduced nor permitted
in any of the NEW States, and that it ought
to be gradually diminished and finally
abolished in all of them.
To me, the constitutional authority of
the Congress to prohibit the migration
and importation of slaves into any of the
States, does not appear questionable.
The first article of the Constitution
specifies the Legislative powers committed
to the Congress. The ninth section of
that article has these words: "The mi
grafton or importation of such persons as
any of the now eristing States shall think
proper to admit. shall not be prohibited
by the Congress prior to the year 1908,
but tax or duty may be imposed on
such importation, not exceeding ten dol
lars from each person"
understand the sense and meaning
of this clause to be, that the power of
the Congress, although competent to pro-
hibit such migration and importation,
was not to be exercised with respect to
the then existing States, and then only
until the year 1903; but that the Con-
gress were at liberty to make such pro-
hibition as to any new State which might
in the mean time be established. And
further, that from and after that period,
they were authorized to make such pro-
hibition as to all the States, whether new
or old.
1t will, presume, be admitted that
slaves were the persons intended. The
word slaves was avoided, probably, on
account of the existing toleration of sav-
cry, and its discordancy with the princi-
Piles of the Revolution, and from con-
sciousness of its being .repugnant to the
following positions in the Declaration of
Independence.
"We hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent: that all men are created equal !;
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights; that
among them are life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness"
AS to my taking an active part in cor
ganizing plan of cooperation" the
state of my health has long been such as
to not admit of it.
Be pleased to assure the Committee of
my best wishes for their success, and
permit me to assure you of the esteem
and regard with which | am, dear sir,
your obedient and faithful servant,
JOHN JAY.
To the Hon. ELIAS BoUDINoT.
This letter is precious relic of the
venerable past. 1t is addressed to one
who was himself one of the purest and
noblest of the sages and patriots OF early
days.
The words in italics were so emphasi-
zed by Jay himself. The letter is an ex-
quisite specimen of the clear, transparent
exact, direct and luminous intellect of
the first Chief Justice, and of the simple,
humane, and Christian character of the
| bosom friend Of washington.