The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-07-06
For the MtssisstppiGy.
The African Slave Trade.

NJ. Editor:
In the investigation of this subject, the fol-
lowing questions present themselves
LIST. Under the 9Th section of the LIST artl-
Gle of the Constitution, does Congress, by
implication, possess the power to prohibit e''-
igration
End. Are not all powers not expressly dele
gated by the Constitution, to Congress, reserV-
ed to the States or TO the people
3rd. Has Congress, under the 10th section
of the lst article Of the Constitution, the right
to exercise any of the powers forbidden by
said section, TO be exercised by the States
if SO, why enumerate the powers OF congress
in the 9Th section Of the lst article
4th Under the 10th section of the lst ar
ticle or under any other section or article, OF
the Constitution, has Congress the power to
| make ANYTHING else, than gold and silver,
| legal tender in the payment of debts
II Congress has not the right now, to exer-
else power BY implication, and only wnere
such power is expressly delegated, by the
| Constitution, then how can Congress prohibit
the migration or importation of such persons
as any Of the States now existing shall think
nropfr to admit?r We are inevitably brought
| to the conclusion that the whole subject IS
left with the States or the people" to be ex-
ercised at their discretion.
The 9th section Of LIST article, contempiates
| an amendment Of the Constitution, but such
amendment should not be made to take effect
prior TO the year 1903.
Under the 10th clause of the 9Th section OF
the LIST article, or under any other clause or
article of the Constitution, has Congress the
right TO create an offence
The word define" never means TO create,
hut means to explain something which alrea-
dy exists. H.,
9th. If Congress has the right to declare
traffic in an article the importation OF when
is allowed by the Constitution PIRACY" 1t has
the right to declare the transportation OF the
same article from one State to another piracy
also?
7th. If Congress has the right to pass laws
which amount to a prohibition OF an article
of traffic from a foreign country to the United
States, has it not the right to pass similar laws
to prohibit the traffic in the same article be.
tween the different States Of the 7 nited
sth. -R Congress has the right to pass laws
. with such penalties as amount TO prohibition
, of any article of importation into any State,
so it would have the right to pass laws with
. like penalties so as to amount to prohibition
, of the expectation of the same article from
any State. If it be high crime and against
morality and religion to purchase and hold
slaves on the coasts of Africa or on the high
r seas, is it right and christianiike to purchase
, and hold slaves in the State of Mississippi
and on the Mississippi?
If it be high crime and punishable with
! death to purchase slave in the Congo coun-
try, and import him to the State OF georgia
| is it morally right and christlanlike TO pur,
chase slave in the State of Kentucky, and
| ILL.,, e. tho Stafa of MiSSjSSInOI z
The State of Kentucky is as sovereign and
e as independent of the laws of the State o
S Mississippi, as is Mississippi Of the laws OIL
government of any of the petty tyrantS or
| the coast of Africa
If YOU admit that Congress has any powel
}, over the subject Of slavery, we must admit
i that it has full power. IfCongress can contro
!. the citizens of the United States, OF any o
:. them, in the ownership of slaves beyond tn
limits of the United States, it certainly car
: control them within the limits of the Unitet
l. States. We are driven to the conclusion tina
q Congress has no power whatever over the sub
:, ject, and that the enactmentS by Congress
: inhicting heavy penalties upon the Slav
u Trade, are Unauthorized by the Constitution
l. The agitation of the Slave Trade, and it
h importance to every southern man. induces
| me tn make some examination of the subject
and for its better calculation propounded +
N mysetl Ine .oaesVms q The n;st;f;cs
one ahs"et ai:r oi La,-o oo-sornJad in RI
!. minds of many right thinking men, the pre-
visions of the constitutions with action {
u Congress upon this subject. "We have mad
a contract and should stand by it." The cor
n, stitution gives Congress power over the sui
he lect and must apioe oy % az =, t tt.a
honest men, VINO nave n'' eA"'li''''N ~ '''F -
lie sei 1s G.s ,.,sos a., az, IN violation Of G
If Congress passes an act IN sloia'i I'l. oi :