The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-05-03
BEL AIR. MD. SATURDAY MoRNIN

what few slaves she has got, and the In
ducement will be held out that 'the Gen.
eral Government has generously rendered
you pecuniary compensation if you will do
SO ?" Is not this an interference with the
domestic institutions of the States? Is
this not.a direct attempt by the President
for it originates with him in his special
message-aud by the Congress Of the Uni
ted States to abolitionize the States; and
if it be such, where is the faithfulness of
the declaration made by the party now in
power, that however much they might OPP
pose the extension of slavery, they would
not interfere with the institution of slavery
where it already exists
But, sir, there is another consideration
involved in this resolution. should like
some one of the members of the judiciary
Committee, who are presumed to be gen
tlemen learned in the law, to show me
any authority in the Consultation of the
United States for this Government to ap-
ply money in freeing the slaves in the
States. You are now about, by your tax
bills, to impose burdens upon the people
which they will hardly be able to bear
You propose still, if you mean really and
faithfully to perform your promise, to add
to those burdens by imposing taxes for the
purpose of giving money to the States to
aid the work of abolition. Where do you
get the authority for that? Was it ever
assigned by the founders of this govern
ment that the government should tax the
people for the purpose of freeing the
slaves in the States? Has any writer
upon the Constitution of the United States,
has any man of national reputation ever
heretofore asserted it to be within the con-
stitutional competency of Congress to
adopt measure of this kind?
What is the spectacle, sir, which this
resolution presents !? That this Govern
ment is about to become great negro
trader and slave buyer! 1t is true, not
slave buyer for the purpose of holding
them in slavery; but still slave buyer,
going into the wholesale negro trading
business; and all for the love Of the poor
slave | suggest, as representative
from the feeblest of the saveholding
States, that it would be better for Con-
gress to wait until those States ask its aid.
In reference to my own State, l feel free
to say that, after having by solemn resolu-
ton rejected a proffer recently made, and
which can be traced, as [ believe, directly
to the Federal authority, it is, to say the
least of it, very indicate to offer your
aid the second time. We shall never ac-4
cept it, sir Upon this issue, and this is
sue alone, the Constitution-loving people
Of my State, the true Union men of my
State-because no man is a true Union
man who is not in favor of the preserva-
ton of the Constitution of his country
will go before the people of that State,
and not vestige of this Republican party
will be left within the borders of that
State, if we are allowed to have free elec-
ton. "a aaf .a 80
But, sir, notice the terms of this reso.
luton.
Resotoed, de-, That the United States
ought to cooperate with any State which
may adopt gradual adjustment of slavery,
giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be
used by such State in its discretion, to
compensate for the Inconvenience, public
and private, produced by such change of
system.
Now, Mr. President, if it be the design
of the Administration and of the party In
power to give this aid, why do they not
say, in more definite form and more def,
mite terms, what they will do Why do
they introduce resolution vague in its
terms, simply declaring that Congress
ought to do it, not saying that Congress
will do it, not giving the people an oppor-l
tunity to see that the thing will be done,
if they choose to cooperate with the Fed
eral Government in. this work, but simply
passing resolution that Congress ought
to do it. Why, sir, from the terms of this
resolution, its vague character and uncer-
tain language, | have right to infer that
it is nothing but words intended to be-
thrown into political campaign; a prone !
Use in some sense made never to be per-
formed. Ii the Border Slave Stateswere
SO unwise, SO unjust to their people, as TO
enter upon the work of emancipation,
trusting to the fidelity Of the Federal
Government to redeem this quasi promise, !
| ask you do you mean ever 10 perform
your part Of it? Do you believe that the
people of Wisconsin and the people Of IL
linois, and the people Of the other free
States, are ever going to allow themselves !.
to be taxed to buy the ,slayeso Kentucky
and Maryland and Virgins and Delaware