Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-08

against it. The fundamental law of the land is
broad and clear. We need no excuse on the
subject at all. Congress, under the Constu-
ton, is gItod with all power Of legislation over
this District, and may do anythingi in it that any
Legislature can 10 in any State Of tue Union,
unless expressly restrained by the Constitution,
which gives it its powers; and there being q
specific grant Of all powers Of legislation in this
District, aud there being no restraint upon it
which would touch tie question, it follows MS u
matter of necessity that the constitutional pow
er exists and it includes as well the power to
vote money. Sir, where do we get our consii-
iutional power TO vote money to open the streets,
to light the streets, and to build bridges in this
city never heard Of any body here in TINS
District who objected to the exercise of such
powers. This people always seem to think that
the constitutional power Of Congress is ample
to vote money for the District Of Columbia.-
Well, sir, il this is u great public measure, II
Congress has come, or should come, to the
conclusion that the good Of the people OF the
District and the good OF the people OF the
country require that slavery should be abolish
ed, and should think it reasonable that certain
sum of money should be appropriated for that
purpose that Is constitutional measure.
have yet to hear from any Senator MI argument
against the constitutonality Of the measure pro-
posed, which, to my mind, has even the appear
ance of legal force. ! believe the power has
been conceded long ago, and have no idea of
arguing the constitutional question over again at
this laie day; take il for granted.
Now, sir, as to the other question, the ques-
tion Of expediency and propreiy. wish to say
that from the earliest period, when my mind was
brought to bear on this question, long before
entered Congress, and from that time to the
present. there never has been n moment when,
if 1t had been ia my power, | would NOT have
abolished slavery in the District Of Columbia
upon the instant, in one form or another As to
the particular mnic in v'i'i - = 0lll le dpn"
that was nrottlel question hut as to the exer-
cse OF the power whenever the opportunity
should prrsent itself, whenever it should hs pos
sbe from the constitution oil Congress itself, /
never had moments hesitation, either as To the
: right Of Congress, or az TO the duty of C0ngresa
to exercise that right
know what the argument haH always heen in
opposition; " You are affecting the institution
, OF slavery you are weakening its power; you
are doing something that will have n tendency
to injure il you are giving an example that
may produce evil to the institution of slavery
in the States themselves" So be it. Is there
any obligation binding ou Inc that, in exercising
u constitutional power, in doing that which !
have right TO do under the great charter
which have sworn to support, should do
, nothing which indirectly might affect the insii-
! tutlOH VI hluNeTy III lut DAultd Vi iHo 1uluu
, have said during the last canvass repeated
ly, aud aided in passing n resolution through
Congress to the effect, that the object and pur-
pose of this war was not to Affect slavery in the
States, hut to uphold the Constitution md the
laws of the lnnl. | have said at this session
/ that that pledge has been made by me that the
+ party to which | belonged had pledged itself
4 that it did not come into power and would not
prosecute this war for the purpose Of aboishing
, slavery in the States and said that, so far as
, was concerned, l meant to keep my pledge -
= But sir, | did not eHy, nor did the party to
n which belong ever say, that it pledged itself to
do nothing that might Affect the institution OF
. slavery. Do gentlemen call upon us, because
we are prosecuting this war, 10 forget all we
have said, and all we have heen struggling Ia
il accomplish for years What, sir, have we been
struggling for? Itwas to place this Government
E, in position where it should not lend its aid to
4 the support Of slavery. Since its formation it
g has been devoted to that object; and what tho
y Republican party eOntendCd for, as understood
ii, was to free the Government from the incubus
i that had been laid upon it through its unnatural
. connection with this peculiar institution.
Now, sir. are gentlemen so unreasonable as
n to ask u, in this particular crisis Of our affairs,
- and because of the peculiar existing state OF
II things that We shall forget all We have hereto
q fore said on this subjects that We shall forcgc
all we have tried toa attain; that we shall Mt once
If ignore tho question Of slavery altogether; th,i
q we shall do nothing directly, or indirectly, which
n is calculated to effect our own purpose, and that
A n constitutional purpose, which we declared
i long ago. In my judgment, it is asking too
q much Of us and the process Of reasoning by
which gentlemen attempt to meet this question
IL it strikes me, Is hardly n fair one. Let me ask
d the Senator from Virginia, (Mr. Willey,l fol
/ whom have very great respect, does it follow
% when We act consltutionally in one direction
that therefore we mean to act uuconsttutionallJ
N in another direction? Does it follow, because
n we adopt one measure, that we mean to adop
"a another and different enc. The honorable
% senator has connected all the measures beiori
40 Congress together, and he views them part
of II whole. In the first place. here is the re-
a commendation of the Presidents in the mex
l. place, here is the hill for theaholition o
nj slavery in the District Of Columbia an
" in the third plnce, here are the question
NJ with regard to the cnnfscatlon of property an
IN again. the resolutions of the honorable Senate
n from Massachusetts, MIR. Sumnerl with regar
TO the States themselves and the houornhl
of senator from Virginia takes it for granted tina
,n they are parts OF system. Let me tell him
4 il is not 70 nnd he acts unwsely IN leading IN
nj people to suppose, because we carry out, ar at
, .'i t.mpt to carry out what we believe to he
= constitutional power and duty resting upon II
os with regard 20 this particular measure, thu
va therefore we mean to exercise power whic
Lo NAV not belong To us under the Constitutions
, Each measure should he left to he Judged,
"a, slund or fall, upon its own merits, and ACCORD
We ing to ita issue.
be Why, sir. do not hesitate to say here moi
distinctly for myself, that dissent entirely ir0
I the conclusions of the honorable Senator fro
mn Massachusetts, as stated in his resolutions.
~ do not look upon the States of this Union
IA gone aud destroyed. The fundamental idea vi
no on which we started in this contest was, that /
80 State could take itself out of the Union |
~ State could destroy its existence rs n state,
o. change its relations to the Union We have II
oi recognized Stale action. From the beginniI
,, We have considered all action aa individual acti'
y" as having nothing whatever to do with the Stat
in as such But, sir, do not intend to argue tn
r. question now. 1t is enough to say, in this col
,a nection, that upon this particular point Il
III opinions of the honorable Senator from Mass
~ chusetts are his own, for which he alone is I
I sponshle, and which he is, undoubtedly, "
: able to defend. What right, then, has the ho
~ orabe senator from Virginia to say that
90 considers all the propositions that have lie
,ta made as parts of n system, aud designed rs
~ \, attack on the institution in the State where
'as exists, and n breach of the obligations und
II which the dominant party held itself with rel'
re cucc to this particular question:
49, Mr. WILEY. Ii the honorable Senator "
~ allow me, he misinterprets me as having sd
,o that the party designed to commit breach
~ its pledge The main positOn-it il the sena
on1 did mo the honor TO attend to my poor renal
will be remembered by him to have been, I'll
h;s in the excited condition Of the public senm'
ity IN inc slve esa.u7, 'n's. tator ,o,ra,h
ere cohsHueu 10 PH ~ " NJ ~ - .'e'.,;a,,, tsesii
the anu IN 'na' WY 'ne ,sn ouVn ,ha sta,s goye,
iN' ,,a,,,, ,rouIb be dpstrOvtd. | EXPRESSLY pu