The national Republican., 1862-04-23

have become the subject Of legislation by Con.
gress. All the legislative powere which Con.
grces possessrs, are conferred by the Consti-
tuition.
This rebellion has added no new grants OF
power. II hes neither added or subtracted one
single article or section from that sacred iostru'
ment
Whatever powers Congress has over the quer'
lion OF freedmen, they have always possessed.
They have precisely the sains power TO legie
late about the freedmen 10 New York or Massa-
chusetts that they have in the rebellious States
Of the South. Now, will any one ssri0usly con-
tend that Congress has any legislative power
over the questions Of freed ' en- 10 New York,
or any other free State Of the Uniont Will he
point me to the section and article which con.
fers sugA power? Ol any one eontrovert that
the State Of New York. so far a. anything 10
the Constitution of the United States IL con.
cerned, may reduce 10 slavery every person Of
color within the limits Of the State, and eur.
round them with code as dark % that which
dlsgraces the State Of South Carolina! And II
New York should deem II wise to pursue this
course, the General Government could not In
terfere.
This Is the theory of our Federative system,
and whoever derides II, impeaches the wisdom
of the authors Of our independence You refer
to Secretary Chase's action 10 regard to the
Port Royal " contrabands. or rather freedmen"
to show "that the Government Is not wholly
neglecting that class
cannot but regard this whole project Of
sending down a corps OF mandarins OF both
sexes to govern and llit up the negroes to the
higher plane of civilz ,tion as one Of the great
'st absurdties enge dered by the chaotic spirit
Of the times.
Its advocates seem to regard the National
Government Us an eleemosynary institution ,
whose highest aim is TO administer charity 10
the unfortunate AFRICANS, and teach them as
sisters and brothers, that they are altogether
equal to the white race.
The result, fear, Of the philanihropic cner-
gies Of this halEfanatic. half knave association,
will be to get all possible profit from the work
Of the negroes, and TO keep them secure for the
convenient reclamation OF their masters upon
the return Of peace.
The suggestion that the General Government
take the freedmen of the South 40 wards, looks
humane; but can find no authority for thi- in
the Constitution. Whatever power the Gov
ernment may have over the free negroes oi
South Carolina, II has ov,r the same class In
New York.
II the national Government can become the
guardian of free negroes, il eau b come the
guardian Of all paup"rS and ou'casts 10 every
city and State In the Union.
The African Is foreign race TO us. md rns
forever remain 70; there is, therefore, but one
hope for his political aud social elevation and
that is, in colonization.
Our armies, In their advance, will nee sSa-
rily pass behind their lines, all non.cOmbaianis
and thus Thousands Of slaves will be sepaa'ct
from their owners, and left TO go at large. Bu
there is no State or Territory within the Uui"l
where they can go and be safe from the pur
suit of their owners; for, 40 long AS the C"nsIi
tuition stands, 80 long will the Government HI
bound, by oath, 10 deliver up the fugitive fcon
labor on the claim Of their owners.
J | entirely concur with your article of Apri
|, in which you advocate gradual emancipi
ton with colonization, and suggest that III
Government. provide some territory beynn
, the limits Of the United States. where thr ne
! groes may be settled by themselves.
suggest that the Government purchase 't
these freedmen NOW settlement In Cent?,
America; u country which promises more
the African than any other on this h.msphsr
? ANNA ELLA CARROLL.