Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-15
A CORRECTION.

We observe that several of contemporaries have
fallen into misapprehensOn in regard to the arRu
ment made by Postmaster General BLAIR at the Rockville
meetir g, held Saturday last aud reproduc
ton Of his speech that shared the ypograph
cal from which this Misrepresentation has sprung,
we think it just, well to readers to Mr.. Blair,
the proper correction should be made the report of
his remarks 10 the end that the logic of his argument
should not be impaired by the mistakes of the press There
are also minor typographical blunders, which
the intelligence of the careful reader will enable him to
| detect and correct
IL will be remembered that in unveilng the preext or
secret motive for originating what he calls the abolition
programme of converting Stses into Territories and
carrying them back into colonial bondage to take law
from Congress-, he is reported to have spoken follows
Now What is the etext for abandoning this safe and
be Dg pol cy If tie Presdenti 81 far it has worked
WELL and secured the appreciation of all welwishers of
the county The abolition programme shows somewhat of
the motive or Serng States into Territories and carry
th back into colonial bondsge to take law frcm Con-
gress without representation The assigned
exclusive jurisd cton of hs National Government For
many years have had this conviction and have constan
ly maintained it glad to believe that it s mpossi.
Bile, If expires sod ia the Chicago platform Mr. Chase
among other public is known to accept 1t sincerely.
Thus slavery in the Territories is unconstitutional but If
the bel territory falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of
the National Government then slavery will be impossible
the Ia legal and const utiona it will die at
The air will be- too pure for q slave. cannot
doubt but that tbs great triumph has been already
The moment that the States fell nvery fell also; that
without any proclamation of the President slavery has
ceased TO hsv legal constitutional existence every
rebe State"
From the Of the reporter Of the printer, u Civ
ing currency to tlis paragraph it would seem that Mr..
Blair speaking in his person after the brief cta
tion made from the programme, indicated by the quota
tioh marks which embrace the words slavery is mpos
sbe within the exclusive jurisdiction Of the National Gov
ernmeD whereas, in point of fact the quotation marks
should embrace all thai toLocs these toords The para
graph abore printed. The readers Of Mr.. Summers
elaborate article in the last number Of the Atlantic
Monthly on Oar Domestic Relations" will recognise
all Of the abovected sentences, in addition TO that
whose origin Indicated to be quoted from Mr.. Sum
ners paper Tic whole paragraph found in that
| paper il ia the following woris, which cited
by the Postmaster General merely giving the assigned
1fsidernons Of and expedency" for adopting
the policy in question To this effect Mr. Sumner writes:
AT the close Of argument already too long drawn
out sha MT stop IT, the considerations of
aud expedeBcy IN behalf Of this jurisdictions shall
dwell the inevitable Influence that must exercise over
slavery, which - the motive Of the rebellion To my mind
nothing he clearer proposition of constitutional
law, than that where within the exclusive jurisdc-
tim OF the Nari,na Government slavery is impossible.
Tho argument il b ef il is swerable Slavery
odlos that exist only by virtue Of positive law
plain aud unequivoca but such words be found in
the Cunstltut Therefore, slavery impossibe within
the xcsve jurisdiction Of the National Government For
many years nave cODVCuOn, ana nave constantly
maintained it. am glad to believe that it is implied, if
not expressed IA the Chicago platform Mr. Chase, among
our public men Ia known To accept it sincerely. Thus
slavery in tie Territories is unconstutona but il the
rebel territory falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Nai' nal Government, then slavery will be impossible
there La legal and constitutional sense it will die at
once The air will be too pure for slave cannot doubt
that this great triumph has been already The mo-
meut that the States fell slavery fell also so that even
without any proclamation OF the President, slavery had
ceased to have legal aud constitutional existence in every
rebel State"
These words quoted by Mr. Blair for the purpose
he indicateshat giving the origin aud motive OF the
policy he deprecates As supporter of the policy Of
the President he does not hold that the socaed Seeded
States e any than he holds that the Presi-
dents proclamation OF freedom superfuity it
be deemed il without it and before it slavery by the
f Of the states had ceased to have legal and con-
stIutonal xistence in every rebel State"
Brig Gen Sherman who lost leg at the siege of Port
Hudson, has nearly recovered He is still at Newport,