Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-10-28
Our "a American" friend says:

opinions! Does he pretend that they sus-
.ain his views! Where do you find those ]
opinions! Did the trainers of the Coustitu- :
tion discuss OF give any opinion at the time =
or,did they even take the subject of the
powers of Congress into serious considera-
tion! If so we have read their doings to '
little effect"
Well, sir, we shall endeavor to enlighten
you, and here will express our sorrow that
you have "resd their doings to SO little ef-
feet" If you will turn to Vol. 2, pp 423,
"Ellio,t's Debates on the Federal Constitu-
tion," you will find the following sentimen,
proclaimed by Judge WILSON, Of Pennsylya-
MIA, a member of the Constitutional. Con-
vention: f.
"With respect to the clause, restricting
Congress from prohibiting the migration or
importation Of such persons, as any OF the
states now existing. shall think proper to
admit, prior to the year 1908: The honor
able gentleman says, that this clause is not
only dark, but intended to grant Congress,
for that time, the power to admit the i'm
portstion of SLAVES. No such thing was in
tended; but / will tell you What was done.
Under the present confederation, the states
may admit the importation of slaves as long
ss they please; but by this article after the
year 1908, the Congress will have power to
pronibt such importation, Notwithstanding
the disposition of any state to the contrary.
I consider this as laying the foundation for
banishing slavery out of this country; and
though the period il more distant than
cou d wish, yet it will produce the same
kind, gradual change, which WIS pursued in
Pennsyivania. Ii is with much satisfaction
view this power in the general govern
ment, whereby they may lay an interdiction
on this reproachful trade, but an immediate
advantage is also obtained, for tax or duty
may be imposed on such importation, not
exceeding ten dollars FOR each person; and,
this, sir, operates as a partial prohibitions;
it. was all that could be obtained, am sorry
il was no more, but from this / think there
is reason to hope, that yet few years. and
il will be prohibited altogether, and in the
mean time, THE NEW STATES WHICH
ARE TO BE FORMED, WILL BE UN-
DER THE CONTROL OF CONGRESS
IN THIS PARTICULAR; AND SLAVES
WILL NEVER BE INTRODUCED
AMONGST THEM"
About the 9th of September, 1885, WASH
IssroN, whose Democracy is of the same
kind as that of the Republican party of to-
day wrote letter to JOHN C. MERCER. Here
it is:
81 never mean, uEless some particular
circumstances should compel me to it, TO
possess another slave by purchase, it being
among my first wishes to see some plan adopt
ed by vhich SLAVERY in this country may be
abolished by laW."
That does not sound very much Ike ours
ing any more Free Territory with Slavery
Remember, YOU must not doubt WASHING
TONS patriotism, if you do brand him "Aoo
litionist," as some Southern journals already
have.
!, In the debates the Federal Constitu
tion ELBRIpGE GERRY emphaticalIy said:
\ -.The convention must be careful not to
give any sanction to slavery"
That does not smack much of placing j
in our Free Territories on an equality will
. Freedom.
You will acknowledge that Mr.. WEBsrEi
was pretty good Constitutional lawyer
Here is sentiment uttered by him in hi.
great Marshfield speech, in ls4S:
81 feel that there is nothing unjust, moth
ing of which any homes; man can complain
if he is intelligent, and feel that there il
r nothing of which the civilized world, i
e they take notice OF SO humble an individaa
y as myself, will reproach me when say, a.
l said the other day, that have made W
NY mind, for one, that under no circum
stances piu consent to the extension of tn
area of slavery in the United States, or to tn,
r further increase of slave representation in th
House Of Representatives."
|, Again, in 1850, said Mr.. WEBSTER:
"SIR, WHEREVER THERE Is A
FOOT OF LAND TO BE STAID BACK
FROM BECOMING SLAVE TERRI
TORY, / AM READY TO ASSERT THE
: PRINCIPLE OF THE EXCLUSION OF
e SLAVERY"
I 1t won't do for you to assert that Mr.
WEBSTER didn't know anything about tn,
Constitution. Not here. There are plent.
, o perscns hereabouts who would take Mr.
= WEBSTER as authority as against the entir'
Supreme Bench, Dred Scott TANEs and all
Said Mr.. CLAY, in 1850:
81 HAVE SAID THAT I NEVEF
!, COULD VOTE FOR 1T MYSELF; AMI
REPEAT THAT NEVER CAN AMI
NEVER WILL VOTE, AND NO EARTH
LY POWER EVER WILL MAKE ME
VOTE, TO SPREAD SLAVERY OvER
A TERRITORY WHERE 1T DOES
NOT EXIST"
Not much Slavery Extension-P Popula r
Sovereignty in that, reader.
Here are the resolutions of the Ohit
Legislature, offered by our late revered iel
low-townsmsn, Judge RUGeLEs, from biz
seat in the United States Senate, on :h,
! Sd of February, 1920, when the Missour
question was under consideration. w,
quote from "BentoH's Abridgement of th'
. Debates of Congress" Vol. vi, PIP. 4s4:
.sNhoroas tho ovistop Of ell mn