Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-09-06

on SLAVERY AND EMANCIPATION As AZTEC


| Nv 80 A-s'' A-'b LAANNAI ALUM ~ AFEEGIED
BY WAR.
In 1912 april l4), John Quincy Adams
made in the House of Representatives a
speech on apprehended war with Great Brit
ain and with Mexico, whereof the following
extract will now be read with lively interest
" l said that, as far as | could understand
the resolutions proposed by the gentleman
from Ohio, (Mr. Giddings), there were some
OF them for which ! was ready to vote. and
some which | must vote against. and will
now tell this House, my constituents and the
world Of mankind, that the resolution
against which | would have voted was that
in which he declares that what arc called the
Slave States have the exclusive right of con
sultatlon on the subject of Slavery. For
that resolution [ never would vote because
L believe that it is not Just and does not
contain constitutional doctrine. I no.
lleye that SO long as the Slave States are able
10 sustain their institution without eoin,
abroad, or calling upon other parts Of the
Union to aid them or act on the snbioct
30 long L Will consent never to interfere -
But Ii they come to the Free States and saw
to them you must help US to keep down onr
slaves, you must aid us in an Instruction
ana civil war, then | say that with TINT
call comes full and plenary power TO This
House and to the Senate over the whole enb.
Ject. 1t is a war power. saw il is \ var
power and when your country Is actually
IN war, whether 1t be "a war of invasion or =
war OF instruction, Congress has newer ~ /
carry on the war, and must carry It ON oc- |
eording to the laws Of war. and bv |
the laws OF war an invaded country
mas all Its laws and municipal insti.
tutIons swept by the board. and martial
law takes the place of them. This power in
congress has perhaps meyer been called into
exercise under the present Constitution of
the United States. But when the laws Of
war are in force, what, | ask, is one of those
laws Ii Is this that when Il country 10
invaded, and two hostile armies are set IN
martial array, the commanders of both arm,
tH0e Pot0er 10 eDlancDa.s all the Slques y. the
"ca4ed territory. Nor is this : more tine r.
''ic statement. 1Ae history of South Amer
ca SHOWS tnat the doctrine ras been carried
a MO execution within the last thirty wears.
slavery was abolished in Couuibia. first BIZ
nc Spanish General hlorillo, aud seoond'v
~ Die American General Bolivar. It M,
oOiished by virtue OF 4 military command
,Neh at the head OF the army, and Its aboii
ION continues to be law to this dav If We
oOIlshed by the laws Of war, and not nv
lunlcpai enactments. The power was er.
rcised by military commanders, under in.
Iructions, OF course, from their respective C
governments. Congress is now about rass- t
y a grant to refund to Gen. jackson the Y
mount OF certain fine imposed upon him
Judge under the laws of the State of o
oulslana' You are going to refund HIM o.
le money with interest and this YOU are R
'lns % do because the imposition OF the
ie was unjust. And why unjust? Be. +
use GENERAL jackson was acting under the
VS. OF war, and because the moment Won OF
ace q military commander in a district IN
men Is the theatre of war, the laws of war e
,p,y 70 lnat district. have correspon. -
nee between Gen. jackson and the Gov. to
nor OF Georgia, during the Seminole cam. 70
ign' In which Gen. jackson asserts the a.