The national Republican., 1861-12-30
For the National Republican.
SLAVERY In the Dsstriet oT CoIurnbia. /.

slavery In the Distrtet OF SoiumpIas
In brief communication to your paper u
few days since, prompted by statements fonnd
N the Washington corre.p ondence Of the Bal
timorc Clipper, Isubmltsed some rensctions in
defence of the right Of the people, generally,
to dscuss the question Of sbolishIpg slavery
IN the District Of Coiuubia3 as Veil ss the
light Of lhe Federsl 0overnmentiao oonsum.
| mate this object whenever It shall deem best
In what rllows, do not propose to invite or
continue controversy with the writer before
r. f.rred t", whose sentiments seek the public
ear through oth.r channels OF communication.
| only referred to him in the first instance, be
c'use he appsared Ms the organ Of tn pro.
slavery, auti-republicsa feeling existing here.
In what have to say, simply desire to con
tend for common rights and common privi.
leges; only demand that the people coming
here from the free State, shall give free ex
preston to their own opinions, on ali coDtro
verted topics, on equal grounds with the people
of the slave States. claim the right of free
discussion accorded In the free States, and
guaranteed by the Constitution Of the United
States. Il
So far as private interests are concerned,
such ~ the assumed right Of prt perty in slaves
which many believe untanable, and hold Il.
pcrmi, sion aud continued existence injurious
to the common welfare, believe am justified
by the supreme authority which the Constitu
ton invests In Congress, as we'll as by th.,
general spirit and genius Of our free institu
tons. In calling for the Intervention Of that
power to dispose Of this evil. And In assum
ing that the Shareholders should not be the sole
arbters Of this ques'io !, l do not mean entire
ly to ignore their claims to this species Of prop
erty; but, in view Of the long recognition
| which has been extended to II, am willing TO
share their individual loss by a reasonable com.
pensatioD. But, over and above all individual
feeling, the fact of the right Of Congress IN
make the laws, and determine the condition
of institutions (slavery included) s,fil remains.
know 1t is said this view limi the powers
and privileges of the citizen that 1t subjects
him TO the will and power Of sthers. To q lin.
tie extent. this NAV be true. But If %, 1t l.
no fault Of ours. 1t is imply insepsrable from
the nature Of the Federal Government. Nei-
ther does the admission justify the conclusion
too often made, that our position is therefore
nntenable. For 1t would be ab urd to make the
Fedes esal Government in the capital of the nation
in any degree subject to the local powers Of the
few who happen to be located within the limi,t
| marked out for its own bent at and Jurisdiction
| 1t would be unreasonable to make the rights
| Interests and powers Of the nation subordinate
to the corresponding claims Of those who
choose to domic,l here, and by virtue Of thai
fact claim original Jurisdiction 10 control insti
u,tions and det.rmne the character aud der
tiny OF this District. Hence, say, the Federal
| G 1vernment is here under no qualified anthor.
ity. Is control is absolute within the limits
of. the Constitution. Aud hence, II citizens In
vest their money In species OF property un
known to the Common law, and not recognized
by universal consent, they do 70 at their OWL
risk. They do 20 knowing the nature Of that
property as we'll as the limitations whicn the
Constitution and the Federal Government
place on their vwn powers. As have before
intmated, this is no fault Of ours. II Is only
the legitimate result Of the theory oil our insu
tu,ious, applied to the conditions which govern
the local powers and interests of citizens Of Ii,
District In their subordinate relations to th.
Federal head. To the Individual, this vieR
may seem unpala'able. 1t may be reluctantly
submitted to; but the doctrine Is no less true
! Therefore, l assume, the agitation of tn,
question of The abolition of slavery In the Dis
Tict Of Coumbis ia not an improper inter
ference on the part OF the people generally y
And it can never be justly SO considered, e
long as the present status remains. Under th'
Constitution all have common rights and oom
mon interests here. In the simple xerclse o
these rights, in whatever concerns the genera
good nam. and fame of the capital, we onl,
claim their Legitimate use, to Investigate an,
discuss, We yield allegiance to the suprem
power, and claim all the privileges existing
under 1t.
Let Us not be afraid, then, TO ask Congress
II, in the exercise Of it's own powers and IL
obedience to the dicrates Of justice and hu
manity, 1t shall deem il wire and expedent t
abolish slavery here, with compensation Il
loyal masiers-to delay 1t no logger. Such 81
ought to meet the approval of every patriot
heart while 1t would remove forever the appl
Of dlscord which has 40 long interrupted on
/. peace, and remove from The capital Of fire.
nstion the fouest blot that ever marred II
reputation.