Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-30
- L pO L T.

Mr. Dclonv, Chairman Oh Inc COMMITTEE vi
Federal Relations to whom was referred the
senate bill entitled ".ln Ac; 10 authorize the
people of Louisiana To import negro slaves,
submitted the following report, accompanicdby
:; bill. which was read and passed TO Il second
reading:
AZ ACT rclatin. 10 the purchase Of Negro
Slaves by the People Of the State of Lu'li-
siana:
Whereas, the rish, OF the people of the State
of Louisiana 10 purchase slave property in ANY
market, whether domestic or foreign. where
negro slaves are sold, has never been alienatcd
from her sovereignty, or granted to the control
Of the Federal Government; therefore,
SECTION l. BE it enacted by the Senate and
House oil Representatives Of the State OF Lou
i>iana in General Assembly convened, That any
citizens or association of citizens oi this state
be. and they are hereby authorized TO purchase
negro slaves from Cuba, EraZl! and A!rica anu
to bring the said slaves 80 purchased INTO tins
State. and to hold the same III FIJI right and IL
tic for their own proper use, benefit ami hehooi:
Provided said slaves, 80 purchased ard import
cd into this State, shall he subject To tie same
regulations and tariff oi duties As Other species
! of foreign property or imports
This biil Justly claims Tor the people oi
Louisiana the authority ot the State to pur'
. chase negro slaves in any market where slaves
are sold, as right which WAS never surrender
cd to the coa,:o! 81 the Federal Government.
and coniion,> thcact> oil Congress prohibiting
the slave trad, and making !; PIRACY rs unw'r
rantcd U>G:patioaS, and, therefore, WITHOUT
constitutional force or effect;
The rci,calcd exercise OF doubtful ana extra
ordinary powers by Congress, under va'io'iS
prctcXtS. and their incautlous or wiling sane
ton by other branches Of the government, have
Justly been u continued source ot uncn-I-
ness and alarm To all who maintain strict coli
s,rnclon of the Constitution, and uphold the
true doctrines Of State sovereignty, as the vital
principle Of The union OF states. There l. no
,ln.lc oGc-,on 0:er which the Fedora! Govern.
ncnr ia, less power or control, II indeed 1t has
any: ard with WHICH less right 10 concern II
sell. while, N the same time, III relation To
which, Congress has more frequently and ila-
sraniiy violated the federal compact, than that
of slavery aud lis apmertaln'ng rights. \ q'icS'
ton 50 vital to the South, and right 80 clear,
80 iu>, and dear To the citizens @! loniNl;ii!a' rs
tina, which IS claimed i'll the bill before 'Ii,
.ho"Id never be- surrendered by gallant and
patriotic people. and nothing bnt spirit %
crlncin, timiditv would submit 10 the unwar-
ranted aggression OF the Federal Government
l.. reference 10 il.
The policy OF the measure proposed by tbs
b;l! has been and is now being discussed before
the Southern people, and VIC h@ve,to express
our high qualification at the growing and re
cided :n,i:catinns o. tie public sentiment IN ~
favor
We need no,. then. attc:up, to enter into that
branch of the subject, but Shall take that just
and hi.irr ground which claims and maintains
sovereign right of the people and State oi
Louisiana and cndcav0r 10 wrcst from the
hands Of the u>urlrr Il power which has been
- loag, - unr"nst.turoUa'ly aud oprte>>'c!y
wic!d.,. over them; in short, ii Is or aim 10
,na:ii,am T." r:hlS and sovereignty OF lonlsa-
M in those HIGH attributes which constitute &
sovereign State. and wl:ich 81. has never dele
:.aied o.. surrendered, lv Tire term" o "a" icIe
raj compact.
The Federal Government, in the truest and
paincst sense. is but the creature oi tie Stntc>
il has no Sovereignty in any sense OF that term
the powers with winch il isyes,cd are delegated
and specified 10 be exercised only for the con.
rcnicncc and i..> cGua and general benefit "i all
the stat and may bc withdrawn - each
state. Judging ard acting .or Itself, Whenever
this co!mlnon federal agent shall tranSccn! the
limits of the powers delegated i'll tr'i>, 10 II, or
shall usurp the exercise OF others withheld
from it. or reserved 10 each and all the States
ANY eAact.nentS OF Congress. therefore, wtIich
in operation and effect shall cncroacfl upon IN
pair and weaken the reserved rights OF rir!i or
any number oil States, q" winch >hA" 'r;i1 10
divert the cqua! and General GOOD 20 partial OF
sectional benefits. or shall foster tlic interest
and pan"rr to the lrcl"diccS OF any HtcI'o' VI
part o IL: nioil, 10 the manifest ''Jus'iIc a,'"
injury o! otiic: S;atcs "iia'.'tr may "c 'il'
pTetcN'S' are ~ .'''I' '",''''e. ""', NV pom
intent am meaning "' inc r'"e'"' O'''N'''"'
ton
The powers % the cHefii '9\eriiihe''' ~
We have stated, are Delegated ana 'i'ech''' car
rying with tneih only The ri.its hc'cSSIi! |"
deycopc and enforce thcln II INC eNact c!iarac-
ter and sphere IN which they are each i!'c'''hl
10 operate The division Oh these power" rest Gii'
der but two general hcada-iirSt, those Wh'ri ai,-
pertain I" our ior,lgA relations ana >'r"id'
those which appcrlain 10 the !itel"F relations
among the >c'elht StateS--'he lf'hc'!''' '''' :
Mr. Calhoun, being u" delegate tho>c powers
only which could be more safely, or ,iirctua!Iy.
or bcnctciaiIy exercised Tor the common Good
o. all the States, by Tie l"lnt or general govern
lncnt ota!l tian by he separate government 81
each State, leaving all others To The several
States, respectively
And now. how shall we distinguish ana PIE,
serve the division between ihe delegated At"
reserved powers "' TINS JoEat compact oil S"'c'
rc.;n States he only means "i dong so l.
pointed out by the Constitution lt>cil, ana may
bc found IN The enumeration and specification
of the powers delegated TO the United States.
and the express reservation To the States or
people of the States, ofall powers not delegated.
The powers which the states thought II ne
,csSarv, for their convenience and benefit, TO
delegate 10 the control ol the Congressional
branch nG the Federal Government, are spcciii-
callv enumerated and clearly dcncd and cx-
dressed and commences with the eighth sec
ZION and .;rs, article Of the Constitution, in