Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-25

come part Of our possessions ard to sec ,b
d flag Of the Union hontinS from the Moro Cas-
t tle When Cuba comes III, she will come in o.
e great slave State She would only be va!l
: able as q slave State. She will come in b,
a anne exation, as a State with her present system
Of labor, without which her vast wealth ant
resources could not be developed.
But suppose these gentlemen desire lt;lt
Northern annexation somewhere, or some
Southern acquisition, do you not perceive tha
1t puts it in the power Of the South at once "a
saw, mot one foot, unless foot for foot" Item
ables us TO bring in Southern territory ard
plant Southern institutions upon it Us tribute
to the equal power with which this section
: arms US. It cuts off all the difficulties as to
what shall be the condition Of territory after
territory comes in, and compcls you to settle
these in advance, aud f not settled in advance,
not to bring it in at all. And wiler any high
political necessity shall require that these an.
neXatons Shall be made, thero will always be
found the requisite majoritics, both by treaty
and resolution. to make them.
am free, then to declare that in my dclibe-
rate ju'igment, these two sections. taken togeth.
er, make better disposition Of tie territorial
question, than the C.ittenden proposition does
equal in ul the securities which it corferS; equal
in all the rights which it maintains, and better
in regard to that which may lie befo.e Us iu the
future
But | will not detain the Convention longer
upon this point. The next or third section
combines und embodies substantially the
second, third and fourth sections Of Mr. Crit.
tendens plan. 1t prohibits Congress from in.
tcrfcring with the institution Of slavery within
the States. 1t denies the power to interfere
with slavery in the District Of Columbia, cx.
cept with the consent Of Mary land, and with
the consent OF the owners, Or making compen.
sation to such owners rs do not consent II
contains, also, a denial Of power on the part Of
Congress to interfere with slavery in places
under the jurisdiction of the General Govern
ment, and within The limits Of the Stare States
embracing navy yards, dock yards, forts ar.
senals, &c. It prohibits Congress from pre-.
venting representatives. upd others from bring.
ing with them TO The District Of Coluul-
ba, OF taking away with them, persons held
| 10 service.
In an amendment to the Constitution no.
! thing ought to be regarded rs small or
nnmportant for every amendment to that
instrument should Ie treated with gravity and
considered as Of consequence. Now, in this
last paragraph, there is an enlargement of tho
Crittcnden amendment in this:
Nor shall Congress at any time prohibit
oJIcers Of tie Federal Gorernment or members
NJ Congress, tchoSe duties require than 10 Ga in
sid Ntstrict, from 6ri"ying uiM them tier
siGces and holding them, as such, during the
time their duties may require item 10 remain
there, and afterwards taking them from the
District"
You perceive that is n limitation of privilege,
10 Federal officers and members Of Congress,
to be exercised only while they remain in
Washington engaged in the performance Of
their respective duties. We struck or those
restrictions and adopt the following terms in.
stead: Nor the power to Interfere with or
prohibit representatives and others from bring.
ing with them to the District Of Columbia, lc-
tanning and taking away persons so held 70
labor or service"
The privilege is not limited to the case Of
federal officers or representatives. Or restricted
to the period Of the performance Of their du.
ties, but all persons have the right TO take
their slaves with them to the District Of Co.
lumbia, and to remain as long as they desire.
The third section, continuing its prohibi.
tons upon the powers cf Congress, declares
Nor the power to prohibit the removal or
Jsdlc
the United States, to any other State or Terri.
tory"
Here is another announcement of the same
right contained IN the first section; the right Of
transfer and migration from any State or terri.
tory where slavery is recognized, not only 10
any olher State "here it is recognized, but to
any territory double cumulative recognition
OIL the same right to take slaves 10 territory
-; nor ,Hia ihs :1Soa{i0p poMIiF0 pv j; q Mrees gnized
transportation Of persons held t6 0jeoSs! or
voluntary service in any State or Territory Of
the United States to any other State or 7erri-
torn thereof uhers it is established or Tccog.
ni.eL by luu or usage and the right during
transportation, by sea or river, OF touching Ut
ports, shores and landings, and Of landing in
case Of Distress
will remark that here is q valuable addi-
tion to Mr.. Crittencen's plan. M1. CIltten-
den's proposition is this:
Congress shall have no power to prohibit
or hinder the transportation Of slaves from one
State to another, or TO Territory in which
slaves nrc by law permitted to be held, wheth.
er that transportation be by land, navigable
rivers, or by the sea-"
II will be seen that this provision being tho
4th article Of Mr. Crittenden's projet, simply
atfirms the right Of transportation with slaves
from one State to another, or Territory in
which slaves are by law permitted 10 be held.
Tne additional provision found in the Peace
Conference adjustment is in these words:
"And the right during transportation by sea
or river, Of touching at ports, shores and land
ings and Of landing in case Of distress
There is no provision III the CrIttenden pro-
position for touching at landings, shores and
ports, and no provision whatsoever as TO land
ing cargo, in case Of distress.
WE ull believe it an important object to Sc
cure the recognition Of these rights, and which
are over and beyond what is contained in tho
projet, which the General Assembly said
would be acceptable to the people Of this Com.
monxcalth.
will read the whole OF the clause in the
Peace Conference report upon this subject Of
transit:
"And the right during transportation by sea
or river of touching at ports shores and landings,
and Of landing in case CT distress, shall exist
but not the right OF transit in or through any
State or Territory, or Of sale and traffic against
the laws thereof"
This last is modification Of the transit pri-
vi!ege contained in Mr.. Crittenden's plan.
| By tne feaCe N'onieieHse p'oP'o'''o, Joo
have the full privilege Of transportation by sea
and rivers, with the privilege Of touching
at landings, ports and shores. and Of landing
cargoes 10 distress; bat you hre not 70 travel
by lund with your slaves through States, or
traffic in slaves in States, against the lutes n
saHt Stutes.
Now, Mr.. President, one great object We
have all professed, and which l trust We all
have ut heart, is to make such settle
ment Of these slavery issues, which so
much disturb the peace Of the country, as
shall ramove and er,inguish them for.
ever. 1t ought TO be done in such mode
as to leave as few irritating sources Of d tii'
Guilty open as practicable. Now, TO pass
through the interior Of non-slaveholding States
by railway, turnpike and other avenues of tra'
| WI and iransnori q ion with slaYeS. either for