Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-09-08
Edward Everett on Slavery.

There can be no doubt that Mir. Everett was in favor of prohibition of slavery in the territories. as well as for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia; and that he was opposed to the admission into the Union of any new States which should recognize slavery in their constitutions.
 In 1889 the following questions were put to Mir Everett, by the Hon. N. A. Borden, of Massachusetts:
 l. Are you in favor of immediate abo- lition by law of slavery in the District of Columbia, and of the slave traffic between the States of this Union?
 ?. Are you opposed to the admission into the Union of any new States, the con stitution of which recognizes domestic slavery?
 The following was Mr. Everett reply: WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 1S39
 Dear Sir: On Saturday last l only re- ceived your letter of the 18th, propoundins to me certain interrogatories, and earnestly requesting an earl ly answer. You are aware that several resolves on the subject of these inquiries and their kindred hopes, accompanied by report, were introduced into the Senate of the commonwealth, year before last, by joint committee of the two houses, of which the lamented Mir. Alvord was chairman.
 These resolves, after having been some what enlarged by amendment, were ad- opted by the legislature. They appear to cover the whole ground of your interroga- tories. Having cheerfully co-operated in the passage of the resolves, aud concuriing in the general reasoning by which they are sustained in the powerful report of the chair man of the committee, l respond to both your enquiries in the affirmative.
 The first of the three subjects in your inquiry is the only one of them which came before Congress while 1 was a member. voted in the negative on the motion to lay upon the table the petition of the American Anti Slavery Society for the abolition of slavery in the district of Columbia, and on other motions of the like character intro duced to cast off the consideration of this class of petitions.
 am, dear sir, very respectfully,
 your friend and servant,
 aati EDWARD EVERETT.
 Hon. NATHANIEL A. BORDEN.
 The I" several resolves" " to which Mr. Everett refers in the above letter, Ill the passage of which he cheerfully co-ope rated" as Governor of Massachusetts, are as follows:
 Reso 'yed, That Congress has, by the constitution, power to abolish slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia, and that there is nothing in the terms or circumstances of the acts of cession of Virginia and Maryland, ,or otherwise, enforc- ing any legal or moral restraint on its exis- tence.
 Resolyed. That Congress ought to take measures to effect the abolition of slavery in the District Columbia.
 Resolved. That the rights of humanity the claims of justice and the common good alike demand the suppression by Congress of the slave trade carried on in and through the District of Columbia.
 Resolced, That c Congress has, by the con stitution, power to abolish slavery in the territories of the United States.
 So strong was the indignation against Mir. EverettSfor the utterance of these opin- ions, which was felt at the South at the time. when under the administration of President Harrison in 1S4l, lie was ap- pointed United States Minister to England, the legislature of Georgia passed vote of censure on Senator Berrien for having "sustained for an important appointment an individual holding such obnoxious senti- ments o