Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-08-17
The &apeato..
LETTER FROM SENATOR DOUGLAS

LETTER FROM SENATOR DOUGLAS
To tie .Ed;te.s Of tie Enquirer: ----.-
6nn.uls: please give Publicity in your next
issue % he enclosed letter Se stat Hon. 8 A.
Dossiaa
Very respectfully,
'sH Yours, &c,
53s's2 john L. pEYTUN.
Staunton, Va, August 7th 1853.
-. ss.: 8 s. WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 1859.
Col jobs T. hyton, Stasntoa, Va: =
N D4An SR:-You do me more than justice m
vr hind letter, for which accept my thanks, in as
suing that do not concur with the administration
n their views respecting the rights Of naturalized
tissss q defined in the '.Le Clerc letter, which,
q is proper to observe, have been since materially
modified:
Under our Constitution there can be no just dis
tinction between the right Of native and natu
missed citizens to claim the protection Of our gov
eminent, at home and abroad. Unless natural;za-
ton releases the person aturaize from all Obliga
tons which he owed to his native country, by virtue
Of hs allegiance it leaves him in the sad precida-
lnent Of owing allegiance to two countries without
receiving prU:ection from cither-a dilemma in
which no American citizen should ever be placed
Neither have you Inexperienced my opinion in
respect to the African slave trade. That question
SERIOUSLY disturbed the harmony of the convention
Which framed the Federal Constitution. Upon it
the delegates divided into two parties under circum-
stances which, for time rendered harmonious &C
ton hopeless. The ono demanded the instant and
unconditional prohibition of the African slave trade
Oh moral and religious grounds while the other in
sisted that it was legitimate commerce. involving
no other consideration than sound public policy.
which each State ought to be permitted to determine
for ITSELF so long as it sanctioned by its own
laws Each party stood firmly and resolutely by its
oxa position unit, both became convinced that this
vexed question would break up the convention, de-
stoy the Federal Union blot out the glories Of the
Revolution and throw away all its blessings, unl,sS
sene fair and just compromise could be formed on
the common ground of such mutual concessions as
were indispensable to the preservation Of their lib
critics, Union and independence.
Such compromise was effected and incorporated
into the Constitution, by which it was understood
that the African slave trade might continue as leg
itimate commerce in those States whose laws sanc-
toned it until the year 1908, from and after which
time Congress might and would prohibit it forever,
throughout the dominion and limits Of the United
States, and pass all laws which might become nece>
sary to make such prohibition effectual. The har-
mony of the convention restored, and the Union
saved by this compromise, without which the Con-
stitution could never have been made.
stand firmly by this compromise, and by all the
other compromises of the Constitution, and shall
use my hest efforts to carry each and all of them
understanding in which they were originally adopt
ed In accordance with this compromise, I am ir-
reconcilaby opposed to the revival Of the African
slave trade, in any form and under any circum-
stances
am, with great respect,
S. a. DOUGLAS.