Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-15
the wild lust for the lands Of orr neichbors ~

hOlS, i tdAc II that Tie
true Interests pt the nation require that we
shall have no more Tcrritory. What DO we
hear upon this subject now, from that class Of
politicians who have been heretofore in favor
Of the expansion of Southern institutions. who
have told US that our mild and gentle con.
federated Republican system might be safely
extended over this entire continent, and that
o far from diversified Interests being causes
Of antagunlsm, they would be elements of
mutual attraction and strength They have
ell suddenly become convinced that The Terri.
tory of the United States is too large, and
that the only thing for US to do is to divide il,
up; aud we hear most splendid descriptions of
Tue magnifcence OF a republic which is 10
have for its tticutre Of action the half Of Il
continent.
But to proceed with this report Of the Com.
m'ttee- LIE third section OF the report covers
the irrepleSSib!e conflict all over like d blanket
What Is the third seclionY We have been told
that the Aoolillonists ard the Black Republi.
cans INTENDED 70 abolish slavery Ia the District
Of Columbia. This report prohibits them
frotn dong 1t except by the consent OF Var.
ginta, Maryland and toe people Of the District.
VIII you trust that? Viii you trust Virginia,
Maryland and the peop,e of the District with
the guardianship Of slavery in the DrstrrctY
We have been told too that this Black Rs
publican party intends TO Interfere with The
slave trade between the States and to abolish
slavery OF all the dock.yards, &c, belonging 10
the United States, within the slave States.
NOW, this third section provides distinctly
that they shall never have any such power.
hut We have been told that these Black Re-
publlcans will keep OH sdding free State after
tres State, and after q while when they yet
strong enough they are going to amend The
constitution 80 Us To authorize them 70 l~eeislate
upon the subject Of slavery, and abolish it In
the States, aid this is to he the outcome Of The
lrrepressiole conflict in It's legal aud constltr.
t;onal aspects. This section provides thu, they
never shall have a right to abolish, or even TO
ieglS!ate upon slavery in the States under any
circumstances; uud then there is another
SECTION which provides that they shall not only
not have u right ~ interfere with slavery in
the District Of Columbia, or with the inter
state slave trade, or with slavery in til. Caited
States dock. yards, &c or to touch slavery in
the States but that they shall not even havea
chauce to grow strong enough to do il: because
they are prohibited in the last section from
ever a,lenfiiig the constitution Of the United
States SO rs to do any one OF these things, or
10 affect the Fugitive Slave Law, or TO ulFcc,
any provision touching the institution Of slave
~ except by the unanimous consent ut all the
States.
Whit becomes Of lia !rrepressihle Con.
hlct2 Where Can slavery b. touched ? | said
yesterday tbat slavery where it exists now, NC.
cerding 10 oar present CONSTITUTIONS, is eptrench.
cd within the inner citadel Of the Constitution,
and that none but a madmsn had ever preien-
ded that the General Government had 8 right
to touch 1t except by amendment to the Con.
stltutlon. Now, here is an article proposing to
incorporate in the Constitution IL perpe;ua pro.
hioitlon to make such amendments, ryceit by
the unanimous consent Of all the States. Il
SeeinS to Me that | may we'll declare that if
that amendment to the Constitution becomes
Incorporated SO as to form o part of the funda-
mental laws of the United States, it may be
regarded as driving the last null into the coffin
OF the lrrepressible Conflict.
There Is another section which says, Nor
shsl! Congress have the power TO lay ANY great.
er tax on slaves than on land"
Well, II that is not reducing slavery to dol.
lar and cent measure, [ do not understand the
meaning Of the language. How will you CON.
pare slaves with lands? What is the coln;aon
STANDARD OF measure? If they are 20 be taxed
together, they must he compared together Tor
the purpose o: taxation. The only compon
measure Is the dollar and cen. standard, an!
tina, | take to be, a distinct recognition Of The
right Of property in slaves. As TO the right
OF taxation That may or iuay net hereafter lie q
valuable provision for US EYen il the law is
so Row, as was in,imated here the other day By
the distinguished gentleman irctn Princess
Anne, (ExGoy. WISE J this provision will do no
harm.
Elk Gov. WlsH-I hope | may be allowed to
intern upt Tue gentleman for one moment liz
| has gotten the idea exactly contrary to the
idea that ! bad expressed. NY position was,
g! and is, and | can demonstrate upon the au.
,horily OF the Supreme Court OF tho United
States, that this report Of the Peace Confer.
ence expressly contradic,s, and is contrary 10
the present Constitution Of the United Siatts,
and reverscs the Interpretation Of the Supreme
Court from the year 'g6 down To The present
hour that the idea Of the Supreme Court Is
thar, Instead Of sla'es being regarded, in re-
spect " taxes and representation, az property,
rs ~cllattles, as dollars and cents, that they
are regarded BY tho present Constitution Of
the United S;a'es as persons- persons to be
taxed per capita BY direct t~a3a,ior, which by
the rule Of apportieamsnt, must BE- equal
throughout the United States that the Su
preme Court have decided that tic Constitu.
| lion has established two rules Of taxation,
first in respect 20 the indirect taxes OF duties,
imposts and excuses, tho rule OF uniformity
that all inposts and excuses must be uniform;
| and second that the direct taxes Of the United
States must be upportioned and are obliged nc
csssarily to he equal. That was lhs idsa-the
idea, Sill, which accounts for the present Con.
~stitu,ion Of the United States. using the words
"other persons" enaowing these slaves With i
personality instead Of giving them 4 prGprie-
lary Or property character !; and that they
were called persons iDstead Of property because
SO far as the powers Of the General Govern
nens were concerned, they were 20 be treated
as persons with heads on their shoulders TO
bear capitation tax, and, if taxed at uli, were
to be taxed per copita. ard Il capilation isx is
4 direct tax, and Il direct tax is obliged 10 he
apportioned among the persons" designated
by the Constitution throughout the United
| States. Therefore, you have either an igno.
rant or Intentional b|under on the p,rt Of the
Peace Conference. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAS.-Thc Chair is satisfied that
the disorder which has just been disE l,yed,
came from either the gallery OF the lobby ; and
it again repeats and earnestly e~ntreats that
such = demonstration viii no. again DO dis
played, with the assurance that if it is, the gal
IerieS and lobby will be cleared
Mr.. BALpwIS.-Its seems, sir, on this subject,
to be n little difficult to tell exactly where to
find gentlemen Of y particular school Of poll
! lies. The other day We had u most able ai,d
learned argument, 10 show that the use Of TIC
terln persons held TO service or labor" in The
first section Of the Peace Conference uIaa, vas
an art and device Of Black Repaiiicanislu,
under which vas conceuled 4 denial Of proper
ty in slases. Nov, sir, VIC haze Il charge here
that is either al ignorant o. an intentional blum
der, by which the great benefits secured, by the
Constitution, Of rcgardinS slaves az pereons, are
to be taken away. Which horn cf Fine diirIuma 10
| the gentlemen intend 10 take II thsy desire
that slaves shall be regarded IS persons held to