Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-04-23
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This Government has no right to hold men
In honda anywhere Wherever It's author
ity is e. elusive, slavery ceases to exist. The
Oonsti utiOn was framed In order 70 ''estab.
lish ustlce and secure the blessings of libsr-
ty to the peOpls. By studious oiroumlo-
cution the words slaves and slavery were ex-
cluded from the Consultation, in order that
by no Implication should the idea OF property
in man seem 70 be recognised. For the truth
Of this statement we have the debates in the
Federal Convention, and the positive Rssur-
Rnoe Of Mr. Madison, who, more than any
other man, Is entitled TO the honor Of franz
/ ing that instrument. I am aware that the
/ Supreme Court has never yet taken this high
ground but the day is near ct hand when
no man will dare claim shelter for slavery
under the authority Of the Constitution.
A good deal has been said about consulting
the wishes and interests of the people Of the
District Il is alleged that ths people most
interested in this measure have not been ad-
vised with, and that if the question were put
TO the vote, the popular voice would be heard
In loud remonstrances against 1t.
But it seems to be forgotten that there are
two classes peculiarly interested in the bill
before the House. The peculiar friends of
the shareholders forget that the slaves are, to
say the least, as much interested in 1t as their
masters and think there are few who will
be 90 uncaRdId as to deny that their interest
is infinitely greater. The question Of eman-
cipstinn has not been submitted to the popu-
lar vote. Both Shareholders and slaves have
been denied the privilege Of voting upon IL;
vet the interests of the one, and the rights of
the other, have been amply taken care Of
OF the two, would infinitely prefer giving
the vote upon the question to the slave, in
stead of his avaricious master. Who, with
the fear of God before him, will dare utter
the blasphemy that one class OF men have
the right to cast q vote in favor of enslaving
another class, while the victims Of their in
hum anity are compelled to stand mutef No
fact could better illustrate the imbruting ef.
fects Of slavery upon the minds Of men than
that this diabolism should find advocates.
Slavery, in my judgment, has never had
the shadow Of legal existence In this Dis
trict since it came under the Jurisdiction of
Congress. The Constitution emancipated
every slave at the moment of cession, and
compensation should tken have been made.
But inasmuch as eur fathers neglected to
eonsummate their work, we may still give
compensation without incurring the charge
Of paying away the public money 10 those
who have no legal claim TO the slaves. In
doing 30 We fully meet the charge that we
have disregarded the interests Of the slave
holders. We deny them, in common with
the slaves and non-slaveholders, vote upon
the question, on the broad ground that It is
one in which the whole country is interested.
This is the seat of the national Government.
The nation is deeply interested in its charac-
ter and in the nature Of It's institutions. The
trainers of the Constitution, acting on this
consideration, provided In advance that Con-
gTess should have the exclusive right of leg.
islatiOn over it. We but exercise this au-
thority when we abolish slavery without
consulting the tastes or wishes Of the people
of the District. It is sufficient that We con-
suit the wishes of our constituents, and that
the measure is approved by the great body
of the loyal citizens Of the country. Weare
determined to make the institutions of the
District of Columbia hsrmoniss with those
of our constituents and with the letter and
spirit of the Constitution. Those who ask
Us not to take this step, lest we should Off nd
the Shareholders of Washington and irritats
still further the traitors who are In arms
against the Government, are simply asking
that we abdiose and surrender our constitu.
tional right Of legislation in the premises.
The opponents Of this bill, in the excess of
their zeal, seem entirely 70 overlook the fact
that not one citizen of Washington in ahun-
dred owns q slave, and that the interests of
this large class, except the despicable few
who make trade Of catching fugitive ne
groes, all demand the abolition of slavery -
Do you ask for proof on this point2 If you
do, l will call your attention to q few faots
which will render the Proposition too plain
to be questioned.
The city of Washington Is situated at the
head of navigation on a noble river. It Is
accessible from the ses to the largest mer-
chantmen, and even to seR-going steamers.
For natural beauty ofscenerT, and for health
fulness Of climate, It Is unsurpassed. It is
surrounded BY highly picturesque and fer
tile country, and can commend the waters of
the Po.omac for manufacturing purposes to
az extent equal to the demand Of dczsn
LoWells. The national Treasury has rained
upon it a shower OF gold for two thirds Of
century. Its streets are paved by act of
Congress, and the same power has placed a
palace upon every hill, surpassing in mag
nitude and in delicacy Of finish the far. famed
temples ct ancient Greece, and eclipsing any
similar structures Of modern Europe. Yet
after all these advantages OF nature and cir
cnmstsnces, what is Washington The New
York press speak Of 1t as a struggling village
others have styled it the city of magnificent
distances. These distances between the real
/ ly magnificent public edihees~ are now, how
ever, being rapidly filed by inferior private
houses, and the national capital, stripped of
its mora than regal palaces, would be re-
garded ss third-rate western town Of twen.
ty years cd.
If we look for the causes of this stunted
growth, this squslid contrast of public pal
aces and private novels, We find them In the
fact that Washington is surrounded By
large slaveholding population. Baltimore
has been seriously retarded il growth By the
presence Of slavery; but its burden has been
light compared with that of Washington
The counties surrounding the former never
contained mere than one slave TO three or
four white persons, and the vicinity of the
free State OF Pennsylvanis has constantly
tended to increase the disproportion between
the two classes. Washington, on the con-
trary, was cut of from county which con-
tanned more slaves than white persons, and
is surrounded on the south and west by a
large slsveholding population. But a sue
einct statement Of the 6gues will present the
subject in more satisfactory point Of view.
The District Of Columbia, in its original
proportions, occupied both banks Of the Po- |
tomac. That south Of the river was cut of !
from Fairfax county, Virginia, q large slave.
holding county, which was itself backed by
other counties still more abounding in slaves. |
The portion Of the District Rorth of the riv- |
er was taken from the counties of Prince |
Georges and Montgomery, In Nsryland.- |
The population OF these was, in 1890, as fol- |
lows: