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PUBL1SHEDBY KNAPP & JEWETT, EVERY TUESDAY MORNING, NEARLY OPPOSITE THE BANK, AT 9 A YEAR, OR 1,50 IN ADVANCE. vor. v. iv. 14. MONTPELIER, (VT.) .rATVVARY 30. 180. CONGRKSS. sin. mlmjk's siEi:oir. The qucstion bcing tlint dcpcndiiig from ycstcrdny (Dcc. 22) on thc tnotion of Mr. l'nttnn for rcconsideration ol'tlio voto rcfer ring n pctition to nbolisli slitvcry in tlio District of Coluuibin, to tlic conimittcc on tlic District Mr. SLAD10, said ho hnd liccn chargcd by n largc ind rcspcctnlilo portinn of hu cnnstitticiits with thc diity of prescnting incmorinh of n similnr iuiport to thosu un dcr disctisalon, and for tlmt reason, if for no other, lio felt botiiid to nsk tho indnl gence of tlio hoiiso to a fow remnrks. Jlo nppronclicd tlic sntijcct, lio snid, with an opprcsivo senso of its niagnitiide, nnd kliowinc its cxcithiff clmrnctcr, of tlic crcat datijjcr of bcing bctraycd, in thc progress of itsdiscussion, into nstnto of fcL'llng unsuit od to thc placo and thc occnsion. It wns n subjrct on whicli he, ns wcll as his consii-! nts, lelt most dccply; nntl lio coiilil neithcr rcprcscnt tlicir fcclmgs nor cxprcss Ins own, withont a plniiincss und dirccttiuss which mighl givo oflbiicc. IIo beggcd gcntlemen to belicvc. howevcr, that hc Inhould say nolliins intcudcd to civo tlio rlightcst personnl oflbnce tpnny; tliough Jie should, withont lenrol niry, vimlicatc tlic pctition", nnd nsscrt tln: claiins of thoso in whosc bclmlf tlicy plcad. Hc rcgrcttcd to licnr thc mcmoriiilists spoken of in dcbato ns iiitrudors, nnd thcir rcspcctl'ul pctitions npon a subjcct ofgrcat iiational importancc trcatcd ns n vcxatious internieddling wilh conccrns in which thcy Imvo no intcrcst. Gcntlnnicn niust havo paticncc. Thcso petitioncrs, ns far ns he wns ncqunilltcd with thcm, wcro nniong thc most intclli ccnt nnd rcspcctablc of thc coniniunity in Iwhicii tiiey rcsidc ; wlnlc tlio sniijcct oi tlicir pctitions wasonc of which it wcll bc- lc-omc thcm to spcak, and tho Congress of Itlic initcd btntcsto licar. Thc ercnt nurnosc. snidMr S. of most ofi Ithofic wlio iiaa nithor to spoken tipon tlns Fiibjcrt, secms to hc to get rid of tlio prti tiui'.s. Thc trentluiuan l'roin New York, jJMr Bcnrdslcv) wishcs to Imvo thcm nll llnul on tlic taulc, ns lnst ns prescntcil, nnd P'nnilcd" thcrc : nnd yct hc is exccediugly h'rmvl fl ll tC tli o lcnfiml vlflit tC iiptltinniiwr ' whicli niust, on no account bc impaircd ! rjlio gentlcmcn Irotn !. Larnhna (Mcssrs. Ilntiiinonil, J'lckcns nnd 1 Iiompson) nrc more consistcnt. They profess to rcgard thc pctitions ns disfrspcctful, nnd tho pcti ioncrs ns ofTiciou'3 mcddleis with tliat which docs not conccrn thoin. Tlicy, here.fore.would havo thc tictiiions rcicctcd. Iriicrc is, in thiH, thc mciit, nt lcnst, of con- f istcncy, nnd the gcntloincn Imvo niy tlinnks br ovincing n disposition to incct thc qucs inn fniily. Anothcr ircntlemnn, niv hon- lirnblc friond frotn .'lnssaohnsctts, (Mr. dnins) woiild havc thc pctitions connnit- led to thc Coiiiinittec 011 thc Distiict of rjolmnbin; in other words, to usc his own icniflcnnt, mul. nnproniiatc lani.'iincc to linvo thcm consigncd to tho'fainiiy vniilt of; III tlic l iipiilcts ; nnd yct hc, too, isjcalons 'fthe 'fncred riKht' of pctition ! ThcKncrcd liclit of pctition! thnt is to sav, tho'Bncrcd light' of bcing 'nailcd to thc table,' by thc tcntlcinan Irotn IVuw ork, or tlio 'racrcci iglit' of bcing gathercd hy thc gontlciimn rom iilnss. into tlic'Ianiily vanlt ot nll m Cnpulcts!' Sir, tlic pctitioncrs well tindcrstnnd tlic Inturo of both theso rights. The Inst tlicy nve long cnjoyed, nnd dcsirc to cnjoy it o longer. Thcy wnnt tlic action of Oon ress, which, jmlKing from tho nnst. thcy Ire pnro now to havo, if it is to dcpcnd on lic ilecisivo nction ot tlic poininittcc on tlic pistrict of f'olnmbin. I intcnd nodifrespcct i that comtnittee. J o coiitinno to ilo w iiut ns necn nonc tnat is, to no nomutK, I'onld follow of conrsc n coinniitnicnt to licm, with nn cxprcss iindcr.utnndiiig that in pctitions wcro consignrd to tlio toniu, Lilliont tlic nope oi n icMinection, I sir, eiiid iMr b. niii in lnvor ol tlio prnyer rthc )ctitioncrs. I belicvotlintJJongres ns n riirht to lccislatc on tho Ktibicct, and lint thc tirno has comc whfn it onght to tgislatc. fc'onicthing has hccn suggrstcd ith rcgnrd to jiolilirnl objocts connected itli tho iircscntinjr of tln'M! pctitions. lir, 1 hnve no snch objcct, nor do I bclicvo Iiat nny sncli purposc oxists in thc iinnds I tho iictitionci's, Thcy mo moved by a iiirit of philnnthropy, nnd dcpirr.nc thc finglmg ot nny coniiiiicrations with tlns 'icMion which inny tcnd to divert iittcn'ion nm its rrnl nicrits. GcntlcniKn. I recrct to snv. sccin willinc I'ovcrlook tlic rcnl objcct of tho pctition- Is, nnd to co oit into dcnnncintionR ot Ibolitionists to tlio cnd thnt tlio odinni Ihicb hasbccn ntlnched to tlicir inensurcs r nffccting thc nbolition of slnvcry in thc Satcs mny no traiislcrred to thc cxorcisoot i ncknowlcdgcd nght ol nsking Longrcss nbolisli nlavcry in this distiict. Jlut lint do tlio pctitioners nsk nt nnr hnnds? hy, Mr, himply that tncasiircs mny hc (cn to lint nn"eiid to nlnvcry hcrc, nnd lnccinlly that horc, whoro tho llnc of free- Iim flnats ovcr thc I'niiitnl of this grcat 1 ... ...1 . I .1 puuiic, iiiiii wuuru iiic miuiurny oi initi kjinDiic is miprcmc, tho trailo in liiiman Ish may nc nnonsncd. Tlirso nro tho tnctionH whicli gcntlcmcn nro rnllcd on mcpt, bnt which thcy do not mcct, oithcr cnllinir tlio pctitioncrs ji'nornnt lanaticf.' dnionnrinK tlicni ns murdcrnrs nnd in- Indinrics.' if, in thc fervor of their iihi- lithrony, nny Imvo ndnptcd mcnsurns of nro tiinn iioiiiHiin cxiiiMUi-ncy, lur iuu Irposo of ncting on tlio pnblic sciitiiiiont i cr I.. r i i! ... lioncipntion. it siuolv fnrnishcs no ronson Iliio hiiivo niuit-'H. in wviii 01 iiiiiiiuiiiuiu iy vo niioum ohftinalcly slmt onr oycn itno uvnn wnicn uro wiiiim our roniroi, Jd AVliicli cull londly for our intnrnosition. I havc, sir, said thnt 1 nm in favor of tlio layer ot the pctitionnrs. i.ct mo not pn Uuntjcrstpod,. Tho auolltion of Blnvery whicli I would ndvocnto is n grndnal nbo Jilion. 1 bclicvo tho inimcdintc nnd uiupinl Ificd nbolition of nlnvcry to be iiiconsistcnt with n just rcgard, both tothobcst intcrcsts of tho cominu'nity, nnd tho highcst wclfaro of tho slnvc. Tho jiliilnntln opy vhicli nims nt siicli nn nbolition, whntcvcr I mny think of its iiirity, 1 caiinot commcnd, for its iiitclligenco ordiscrction. IJut though I woulillmvo nbolition ndvanco by n gradn nl progress townrds its final consiim jnation, I would Imvo tlio work bcgin iniincdiatcly. Sir, I cannot stnnd hcro ns n freciiian, nnd tlio rcprcscntntivo of frcc nicii, witlinnt dcclnring, in tho fnco of this Ilouso nnd of tho world, that tho right to liold nicn ns goods nnd chnttcls, siibjcct to salc and transfor, at tho will of n mastor, should ccasc and bo discontinucd instnnt ly nnd forcvcr. Uut whilo I F.iy this, I would not rcndcr worsc tho coudition of thc slavc, by con-i ferring tipon hiin rights whicli hc is not fittoil to cnjoy, nnd which would bccoino to hiin a curse ratlicrthnna blcs.sing. I would not, nt oticc, cinancipatc hiin cntircly from the control o his tnastcr. 15ut it shofild not bc ns now, nn nrbitrnry, unqualificd control. For that control, I would substituto thc nuthorhy of law, whicli should bc supietnc. In Mying this, sir, I do hut carry out n irinciplo which has long hccn dcar to nic ns nn autimnson. 1 havc niaintnincd, nnd still mnintnin, nml phnll coutinuc to inain tain, ns n cnrdinal prindplc in my political crccd thnt in opposition to nll individunl and nll nssociatcd pclf-constitutcd nuthority, the laws should bo maintnined in full mul uncontrollcd supreinacy. Thcrc isno bcing cntitled to thc nppellation of jian, who i-hould not find shcltcr undcr thc cgis of thcir broad nnd ninplo protcction. In npplyiug this priuciplo to thc caso of tlio slavc, howevcr, I would not conlcr iqion hiin tlio samc rights which nro posscssed by the mastcrjnnd forthc obvi ous rcnsou, that ho is not lillcd to onjny thcm. Hut I would placo hiin undcr thc supcrvision of laws mado fiir his spccial bcncfit, nnd ndnptcd to his new cnndition Inws whicli should rescntinlly qualify thc control of tlio mnstcrovcr hiin laws which should protect hini in nll thc rights which ho is fitted to cnjoy, nnd prcpnrc hini for thc cnjoymcntofthoscto which it would bc buta hiiicidal philnnthropy immcdiately to ndmit hiin. Sir, wo owe it to this dcgrnd- .l . r .1 r.... nitu ui uiL-ti iu piup;iru uii'iii iui iree- dom; to coninninicnto to thom moral nnd i rcligious nnd litcrary instruction ; to rc&toro and protect tho domcstic rdulions nmong , thnni ; to tcnch thcm thc dtitics which thcy owe to Goil, nnd to up, nnd to onc nnotlicr; and to build upou thc fouudation of a conscious rcsponsibility to the govcrnmcnt of Ilcavcn nnd tho nuthority ol" rightcous hliuian laws. n Rocial strucluro which it shall ho ourglory to rcar, and thcir highcst j rarthly linppmcss to cnjoy. Uut, Mr. Spcakcr, whilo I thusrcpudiaic tlic doctrinc ofthe imuiediato and unqual- ilicd ahnlition ot slavcry, 1 contcud lor tlic duty of immtdialcly mul ubsohtltlij nbolish iug tho slavc trade withiii thc linuts of this District. And hcro I comc to a part ofthe subjcct which gciitlcuicn lo not chooso to appronch, hut manifcstly dcsirc to nvoid. In this I commcnd thcir prudcncc. Thc slavc trade is an ovil for which thcy wcll know thcrc is no dcfcncc nnd no palliatiou. I rcgrct, sir, thnt I havc not thc mcans of asccrtaining its chanictcr aiu: extent witlun this Digtrict. Itut tho I'act that I havc no snch nicansurnishcsa &troiigargumcnt for rcfcrring thc pctition to n sclcct committcc raiscd for thc purposc of going into a full invcstigation, aud inakiug n full report of thc lactsconucctcd with tlns trainc. i cau nt ircscnt, only say I nm wcll nssurcd that thc tindo is nctivcly carrcd on in the ritics both of AVashington nnd Alcxniidrin, cs pccinlly in tho lattcr, whero is a lnrgo rn ccptaclo for thosccuiing of slavcs iirchas cd in this ilistrict nnd tho suiTOimding coiuitry; from which they nro from timc to ti'.nc, shipicd to supply the inarketsiii tho Southcrn and Soutliwcstcrn ports of '.hc United Stntcs. I nccd not sny that wliat is usually connected with tho slavc trado clsc whcrciscoiincctcd with it here the fnrcod nnd finnl scpnrntion of pnrcnts and children of broihcrs nnd sisters, of liiishands nnd wivcs thc ntter nunihilation of nll the cudcni'ing rclatious of liunian lifc, nnd thc substitutiou of tln Hiiglo rclation which proptrty bcnrs toits absolutc proprutor. .Sir, clmll thc trado in Imman flcsli bo pcruiittcd to couiinue in tlio vcry Iicart of this Itcpublic f tehall the law rcmniii tipon our s'ntuto book, which solcinnly prououn ci'H tho citizcn of thc United States who is fouud eugagcd in tho slavc trndc npon the high seas "a niratc," nnd dooms Iiim to "sufTor dciith, whilc hcro in thc sight of thia vcry cnpitol, the sanio trado is cnrri cd on with iinpunity ? Slmll our citi.cus whoiiinke mcivhuiidic of nicn npon thc occnn, bc bimtcd ns nutlaws, whilc hcro, thc same oflbndcrH against tho liunian rnco uro suflbrcd to pursuo thc guilty tinflic un- "The following mHcrllsomrnte appcatd aily in His princlpal nnw spnpcrii in this citr: L'ASII I'Ofl 2(K) M'.OHOP.S. lncliul'mB bntli jfsca, Irnni twclvc to twcnty.fivn yrarsornpo I'rrconii liavinRcnrvants t iliVpinn of will flinl it tn tlicir intercit to givo mc n call, m 1 will givo liiijhor piiccn in catli, than any otlicr purcliaser vtlm is now in tlio markct. lcanatall llmcsbo founil nt the Mcdianirs' Ilall now kppt bv It. O. Sheckf), an'l formcrly kopt by Uanq lier rs on?ovenlli itrpot, fcw iloors bolnw Mojd's 'J'ayorn, oppojitc tlio C'ontre Markct. Al) cummii nlcations nromptlr allnndcd to. jamks umcn. I)ec. 4 iltf Waihinclnn Citj." casii ron soo Nicduons. Includingboth scics, ImmtwelT" to twenty.fiye )cm ofape. lVron liaving likely Fervanls to ilitposeofV will finil It tlicir iiilerctt tn rIvo u a call, we fivc liighrr priccs in cali, tlian n.iy other pijrc b.if-r wlio i now, or miy lioroalter r.omc into markct. FRANKLIN An.Mnni.D. Alciandria, April C iliew. tnolcstcd ? Sii-j this subjcct dcmnnda n scnrching invcstigation. Will gciitlctncu dnny fiiiclt invcstigation? ShalTthc pcti tions whicli nsk for it bo nailcd to tho tn blo,' or 'buried in tho totnb ofnll tho Cnp ulcts?' I trust thcy will not bo tlius dis poscd of, nnd thnt no fear of 'cxcitcincnt' will dctcr us from probing tho Biibjcct to tho bottoni, nnd adtuinistcring a prompt nnd eil'cctual rcmcdy. I havc, Mr. Sjicakcr, spoken plninly nnd decidcdly, bccausc it is duc to thc pcoplc whom I havo tho honor to rcprcscnt thnt I should thus spcnk. Itsccmstoinc, sir, thnt thc sciitimcnts of thc pcoplc nt tho North nrc not fairly uudcrstood hcrc on this subjcct. An honorablQ.nicinbcrfroin New Ilamp shiro (iMrl'icrccihnssnid thnt not ono in flvc Jiundrcd of his coiistitucnts wcroin favorof tho objcct of thcsc pctitions; nnd otlicr gcn tlcmon hnvc hccn uuderstnod to nsscrt that thc grcat mass of the Noilhern icoplc nrc opposcd to any action of Congress npon tlie subjcct. To sustnin this view of tho mattcr, tho rcsolutions of pulilic incctings nt thc North, disapproving of ccrtain mcas urcs ofthe nbolitiouists linvo hccn ndvertcd to. I nm wcll aware, sir, of tho import of thoso rcsolutions, and think I undcrstniid sotncthing of thc natiiro of thnt public scntimcnt which thcy indicatc. And I mubt bc pcruiittcd to say, that I bclicvo gcntlemen aro inucli miS'takcii in suppos ing that thcy furnish cvidcncc that the gcn cral scntimeut at tlic North is oppoicd to tho favorablc action of Congress npon thc lncmoiials which aro now on yotir tablc. No, sir; thc incctings whicli ndoptcd thc rcsolutions in qucstion wcregotup withno rcfeienco to this subjcct. Vhat nro tho facts? Thc southcrn country hnd bccn Kiiddcnly floodcd fromJihclNortli wilh anti slnvcry imblicntion.? : aud nothcrn mcet- ings, wcrc thci'ciipon, convcncd to disavow n pnrlicipation in thc obuoxious mcasiirc, nnd to oxprct"s tlicir disapprobation of it. This they diil, iudccd, iu stroug, dccidcd lnngiingc. lint lct not gctitlcincn mistakc thc import of all this. It wastho nicasuro to whicli I havo nlludcd whicli brought into cxistcnco thcsc incctings, aud it was this ngninst whicli their procccdings wor mainly dircctcd. Tlio qucstion of the nb olition of slavcry and tho slavc trade in this Di.-trict was not ngitatcd. It is not so inucli as nlludcd to in tlic rcsolutions ofthe I'hil ndclphin, New York nnd Jioston incctings ; bnt the doctrinc of immcdintc nbolition, nnd tho 'oxtravagant proct.ediiigs' (to usc the Innguagc of thc New Vork rcsolutions) of thc nbolitiouists constitutc the burdcn of thcm nll. Sir, thcrc nro vcry niany of thosc vho nro disposcd to prc&F upon Congress thc duty of grnnting tl.o prnycr of thcsc pcti tions, who did not tnd do not npiirove the vicws nnd incasiucs to which I Imvo nd vertcd ; nnd it is duo to frnnkncss to say, sir, thnt I nm nnioug that nuinbcr. 1 havc ncvcr bccn ublo to pcrceivc tho cxpcdicn cy or propricty of nttcinpting to inundato tho South with cvcn iiiicxccptionablo pub licalious on this subjcct, inucli less thosc liaving n dircct tcndcncy to cxcito the pai sions ofthe slavc, nnd tcnipt hiin to forcc thc bondngo whicli is not for hini tojncnk, but for othcrs to unloosc. I ndinire indi:cd thc purity of thc philnnthropy which sccks to ubolisfi the institiitiou of slnvcry, nnd olcvntc thc degradcd children of Africa from tho rondition of propcrtv to the privi lcgcs of nicn, but I ilcploro Its oftcn inis dirrctcd zcal, nnd deprecato thc rcartion which it is cnlculatcd to produco. Thc nbolition of slavcry in thc stntcs niust bo thcir own work. To convincc thcm that thc wholo systcin is ruinotis and wrong, is not tho labor of n dny ov n ycnr. Al) tho qucstions connected with this subjcct nro cniincntly prnctical qucstions, nnd nothiiig cnn bo niorc obvious than tho dangcr ol failingto nccomilish nny thing by a prc mature eflbrt to nccomplhdi nt oiice nll that nn nrdcnt philanthrop' mny dcsirc. I hnvc said that the public scntimcnt nt thc North is not undcrstood on this sub jcct. I bclicve, sir, it is gcncrally liiisun stood. A largo niajority of tho pcoplu nro opposcd to ccrtain views nnd mcnsurcs, connected with tho proposcd nbolition of slnvcry in tho Stntcs; but tlicy ontcrtniii, nt thc snmc timc, nn irrcconcilablo nvcrsion tn thc institiitiou of slnvcry in nll its fornis. Thc nio?t conclubivo cvidcnco of this is furuishcd in nll tho piocecdings nt tho North, which havo bccn advcrtcd to, in this dcbato ns nu iudcx of public scntiment thcrc. Thus tho pren ublo to tho lioston rcsolutions dccIarc,"Vo liold this trutli tn bo bc iiidisputablc,that thc coudition of slavcry finds uo ndvocntes among our cllizens. Our Inwsdo not nutliorizo it; oiirprinriplcs revolt ngainst ii; our ciii. ns will not tol crnto its cxistcnco among thcm." This, sir, exprcsfcs, I bclicvo, thc utiivcr sal scntitiinnt at tho North on this Biibject. It is u scntiiiiciit which is not tho prodtic tion of n inoincntnry cxcitcincnt, but is dcoply scntcd in tho Fohcr nnd scttlcd con victions of thc public niind. Aud, sir, lct mo nssurc thc gentlemcn thnt nn cxprcs-sious of diKiipprobntion in rcgard to tho niciisurcs of 'abolitionistx,' or doubts ns to tho prncti cability oi'immediatc emnucipatioii, nro to bo tnkcn ns cvidcncc, thnt tho principlcK of tho Northcrn pcojilo linvo ccnscd to 'revolt I ngninst slavi'ry ; or thnt thcy will not nvnil ! thcinsclvcs of cvcry suitablo occnsion to dis- cnss it, ns well ns ofnll rcnsonnblo nnd con Mitutionnl incnns of remedying tho cvil. Tlio flnvcry of tht Slatcs thcy know thcy cnnnot rcach, hut by moral inllucncn ; nnil thnt influcuc.o thcy think cnn bc nindi' most cfll'ctunl ithrough kind nnd rcspcctful, tho' carncst nnd urgeiu nppcnls to tho Southcin intcrt'Ht nnd tho Southcrn conscictice. Jlut plavcry hcrc, thcy rcpnrd ns wilhin thorom petrncy of nntinunt' legislntion, nnd liold thcmsclvcp, in coinmon with tho vrhola country, directly rcsponsiblc for its c.ontinu tinncc. And I nccd hnrdly say thnt thcrc h n vcry gencral dcsirc that inensiircs may bo iniinedintely takcn, looking to its linal nbolition ; nnd cspccially that what has, by nlmost tho wholc civilizcd world, como to bo nccoiuitcd piracy upou tho high scas, shall no longer bo sullbrcd to go uiiiiiuished nnd unmolcstcd in thc cnpital of this rrpuhlic. Tho vcncrablc nicinbcr from Mnssuchu sctts M r Adnms) has said nnd said trnly, thnt opposition to slavcry is,with tho pcoplc of tho North, n rcligious principlc. An honornblo gcntlcnian from Virginin, (Mr Joucs) lcph'cs, by nsking wilh cinplinsis, whcthcr it is thc rcligion of thc Snviour of tr.cn ? Sir, I did not t xjicct to licar snch a qucstion scriously proiouudcd hcrc. 1 was not preparr;i for an iiitiiualioti that that rc ligion jilhtilicd tb'c holdiug of huinau bciiigs as propcrly. W'hy sir, what is tho grcat lcading, t'nornl prcccpt put forth by that Snviour, whosc naiuo is thus invokcd to sauction thc practico of slavcry? "All thincs whatsocvcrye would that incn should do ttnto you, doyocvon so to thcm." Sir, I will uttchipt uo commcntnry on this prcccpt. It nceds nonc. 1 will only say that it contains thc seminal principlc of thc pure nml clcvatcd tnorality o! tho Christinn fystcin n morality fco congcnial with the spirit, nnd so roiistniilly cnforccd by tho cxamplc of its Diviuo author, wliile "upon carth. Now, sir, lct gcntlemen show that Afri cnnsaronot 'nicn', nnd 1 will givc up tho argiimcnt. liut, until this isdouc; uutil tho declaration is blottcd from tho book of Kevclalion, thut "God hath niaile ofonc blood all uations of iiien, to dwcll on nll the facc of tho cnrlli," and until this gicnt trutli ccnscs to find n rcsponso iu cvcry huinan bnsom, shall slavcry stnnd rebukcd by this all comprchcusivc aud buljliinu- prcccjit of tho Snviour ofincn. liut, sir, thc rcligion which contuins this prcccpt, also cnjoins Bubniission to thc " powvrs thnt bc." Thesaino inoiitli which uttcrcd it said, "rcndcr unto Cicsar thc things that aro Cn?sar's" a prcccpt coinci dcnt wilh that which cxhorts, "scrvauts bo obcdient to yoitr innstciv, not nnsweriiig again ; not piirloiniiig, but sbowing ollgood fidelity." Tho Saviour niadc it no pai't of his busincss, whilo on cnrth, to subvcrt thc cxisting order of things, or to prcscribc S)ccilic rcgulations for the adniiiiistration of civil governmcnt. J5ut hc como to rcdccni nicn from sin to icritc thc law of i.ovr. np on thcir hcarl.1 to cstnblisli iriuciplcs nnd proclaim prcccpts, bcfore whosc scarchinK nnd nll-pervading influcuco thc timc bunor- cd systcms ol uijnstico nnd ojijiression shall mclt away. l'crniit mo now, Mr Spcakcr, to cxamine, for n monicut soinn of tho obicctions which nro urgcd ngninst tho legislntion ofCongress on this subjcct. Wo aro told, in tho first plncc, thnt this is a qucstions which conccrns oxclusivcly tho pcoplc of this Distiict; thnt tho petioncrs imvo no intcrcst in it, nnd havo no more right to ask Congress to nbolisli slavcry hcro than they havo to pctition tho Lcgislatiire of Virginin to nbu1ili it within hcr liniits. Sir, tho pcoplo who havo sigucd thcso pctitions rcgard thcinsclvcs ns citizcns, not nloiiool' the iarticular states in which they rcsidc, but ol thc Rcpuhlic. Kvory intcr cst within tho scope of tho lcgislation of Congress is tlicir intcrcst. liivcry thing which conccrns this Teiritory conccrns thcm: itspolice; thc valuc nnd sccurity of the public propcrty within ils limits; nnd the safoty of tho Jcircscntntivo bodics niiuunllv usscmblcd hcrc. 'J'his is n grow ing capital of a grent Kciublic. What may bc thc absolutc or relativo incrcasc of its slavo population, or how inucli it nuiyal" fcct thc liiture coudition of this Distiict, cannot casily bo foresccn. That popula tion munuutcd, iu 1830, to more thnu D,000. Thc timc mny coine wlicn it will atnouut to ten times that nimibcr. And is it of no imnortancc to our country whcthcr its cnp ital shall bosiirrounded by n mass of hardv, ..i i...-. i i.. :i .!...?.. iimcpi.'iiuuiu jrccnicu! iuuiij i peru inuir livcs in dcfcniling it, as wcll ns thcinsclvcs, from tho invn-ion of a forcign I'ower, or whcthcr it slmll bc gunrdcd by 00,000 slavcs who, instend of rallying in its dclcnce, may hail tho iuvadcr as an nngel of dclivcranco from thcir bondngc? Aud is not this sub jcct invcstcd with ndditional intcrcst, when it is considcred thnt thc Congress of thc Unilcd States will bo surroiindcd by biicIi nu nniount of such n population? Havo thc pctitioncrs, tlicn, ns n jiart of tho Amcrican pcoplc, no intcrcst m this quts tiou? And llicn, too, thcro is tho charactcr of the country m' it mny liu nllcctccl Iiy tho in stitutions' within tho Tcrritory, wIhto thc lcgislntivc powcr ol'thnt couiitry issuprcino Is slnvcry tolenited iu this District? Tho pctitioncrs fccl thcmsclvcs, in soino scnsc rcsponsiblo for it. Is mcrrhandhe mado of jin.v, wilhin sight of tho Cnpitol iu which thcir lU'pri'Scnt'ativcs nrc n?siiibled,nud on whoso t-iuumit wnvo tho stiipcs nml the stnrs of frccdoin? As Auii'ricniis ti. kccnly fcll thc rcproach, nnd iiislinctively rcach foith thcir hands to wipo out tho Main from tho csciitehcon of tlicir country. !ut, iu the pocond plnce, it is nsscrtcd that Congress has no right to legislale on this suhjcct; that, howevcr grcat mny bo tlio ovil of slnvcry ortho nlnvo trade within this District, it is nn ovil whicli niust bo borne, sinco nuthority to rcmcdy it is nit to bo fouud iiuinng tho iowers grnntcd iu thu Coiistitution, And whnt nro tho iiowcre of Congress louching this subjcct? Is it truo that Con grcssisniithorizcd to cxtcud its legislntion to tho high scas, cvcn to tho vcry const of Africa, nnd to proliibit tho -ery trnflic in slavc, uiiilor tho pcnalty of dialh, whilo it is powprlcrs to rcach tho snme cvil in tho vcry hcnrt of tho Rciniblic? If tho giiiut of powcrs mt bo so construcd if thcrc h clearly no nuthority by which tlio Govern mcnt cuu nct iu this mattcr, thcn niust wo subniit to tlic ovil, nnd wnit an amcndincnt of tho Cniistitution, wliirli shall nmko it consistcnt with itself, und savo thc country from rcproach. llut sir, fortunntcly for thc country, tho Conslitution, through which wo dcrivo our powcrs, is not thus dofoetive. Tho powcr to legislate tinoti this subjcct is grnntcd; nnd thnt, not by rcmoto implicntion, but in ternis of obvious nnd liuniltnr import. Tho 8th scction of tho first nrtiide givcs to Con grcs3 nuthority "to cxcrciso cxdusivc lcgis lation, in all cascs whalsoevcr, ovcr such district (not excccding ten rniles squaro) ns may, by cession of jinrticnlnr Stntcs, nnd tho ncfcptiinco of Congrcs, bccoino tho scat of Governmcnt of th'u United Slatcs." In tho lirst placo, lct it, hc obscrvcd, the powcr of Congress to lcgislato iu this Dis trict is txclusivc. Thcro is no other juris diction, cithcr conitirrcnt or coiiflictiiiL'. Tho iurisdiction of Virginin nnd Mnry- land,froin which this tcrritory wasncqiiircd by ccssiou, is ns pcrfcctly excliiilcd ns is thu nuthority nml jtirisiliction of tho ISinpcror of nll tho Kiis'sias r Tho excltisivc clmrnctcr of tho jurisdic tion bcing nppnrenf, tho ncxt (piotion is, whnt is its crtent? Tho nuswcr is in tho Inugungo of thc crnnt, that it cxtciuls to "nli cnscs whntsocvrr." 'i'ho iVainers ofi the Constitution could have einploycd no languagc of more roinpirhcnsivc import thnn tlns ".111 cases ivhalsotvcr." Uut nro thcro no limitations to this? Ccrtninly. The grnnt subjcct to the liinitations which nro incidentto all lcgislntivc powcr. Thcrc nro innny things which no Lcgisln ttiro rnii rightltilly do. It cnnnot pass an crnosl I'arto law. It cannot byn merc nct .I li.r'ulitwtti ..i.iO.f tli.. . ifr ttift nf rifin ' individunl to nnnthcr. It cannot authorizc thc coininission of critnc. Thcsc and sucli liko liniitatious, cxist in tho prcscnt cnsc; not bccuusc of nny thing in tho hinguago of thc grnnt, but liccnuso they nro inhcreut in tho vcry nnture of nll lcgislntivn powcr. Now, will it bo scriouslv contcndcd thnt thc nbolition of slaverv nnd the slavc trndc iscrnbinccd within thcsc iniplicd limitations of lcgislntivo powcr? Is it not within the (oinpetcncy ol ordinnry lcgislatinnr llavc not slavcry and the slavc trado bccn nbol ishcd by innny Stntcs of this Union; nnd that, nnt upon the grouiid, as has been sug gcstcd in ilcbatc, ciCwtcrcst mcrr ly, but be-caiis-c, whcn thoroughly cxamincd, thoiirc- tcndcd right to hold nnd trnnslcr mcn ns propcrty has bccn round to rcst on nosiib stantial fouudation? Indecd, the opposcrs of thcso pctitions thcinsclvcs, by laboriug i "no tax or duty shall be laid on articlcs c.x as thcy do to durivu n prohibition to lcgis- nortcd from nny f-tntc. No prcfcrcnco slmll lnte on this subject from tlio Constitution, I be givcn by. nny regulation of comiucrco nnd from tlio rcscrvntions in thc ccssions of or rcvcuuc to the ports ofono Stntc ovcr this territnrv, innnil'cstly bctray nn unwil-' thosc of anothcr; nor shall vcssels bound luigncss to tru-t the claini to cxcinption Ii oin congrcssional lcgislation to tlio tmiit ral limitntiou of lcgislntivo powcr. It is said, indecd, by thi? gcntlcmnn from Virginia (MrWisc) thnt the Slatcs which have nbolishcd slavcry 'Imvo not violatcd thc grcat principlc of vcstcd riglits, by tak ing slavo propcrty ngainst thc conscnt of tho owncrs nnd withont uonipcnsntion; but that t' ey havo mcrely 'adoptcd thc post nati principlc, and dcelnrcd thnt rights which did not cxistnt tho timc should ncvcr cxist;' thnt is, thnt tho issue ol slavcs, born nftcr n certain future timc, should be licc. With ont stopping to cnquirc into tlic corrcctncss ofthis, in jpoint of fact, but for thu pur ioscs of tliisarguincnt, adinitting it, let mc ask what is tho diiTercneo iu principlu bc twccn dcpriing nn iudividiial of his slavo by nct of legislntion, nnd of the right to tho issue of that slavo by tlic samc nct? I'pon coinmon principles, an absolutc right to tho onc as propcrty nccesarily carrics wilh it a right to tho otlicr; aud n lariner would rc sist as equal iiifringcmcnts of his rights, an nttcmpt to tako nwny his cattle, aud a cla'un to (lepnvc Iiiiii ol thcir ttituro progcny, It would bc npproprinto hcro to go into IUI UAUI1I1IIUUUI1 lli IIIU Illll 1 1 il.it 13 Uliiiiii- cd to hold nicn as propcrty, nnd of tho riglitful cxtcut of legislntion' on this sub jcct. llut it opons too brond a field for the .1 :.a prrscnt discussion, nnd I will not cntcr it. Thus it nppcnrs that the right to lcgislato 011 inaiiifcstly includcd within the ternis ofthe grant of powcr to Congress, is not oxcliidcd by operutiou of tho principles whicli form tho basin of tho ordinury I'xeoptions to tho liower of legislntion. Whnt is thcro thcn to ..;. ...l..J:....i...i..l ' . .1 excludo from tho Bwci'ping grant of powcr to IcL'ishito "in all cases whatsoevcr," tho powcr in qucsunn ? An houoratilo gcntlcmnn irotn virginin (Mr Wiso) finds ninny grnuuds of iniplicd exclusion in tho Coiibtitiilion. JJu suyc thcic aro ccrtnin ndmiltcd oxcnptioim to the lcgislntivo power of Congress in rclation to this district, from tho fart of thcso cxccp- tionH, that tlio power in qucMiou is also cx ccptcd. Thus, hc says that Congrcas is prohihilcd by tho Constitution from suspcnding the w'rit of hubeas corpus, from jmssing n law resiici'ling tho .'tahlithnu'iit of loliginn, nnd from nbridging tho frccdoin of spccch nnd ofthe pruss, or thc right of tho people to bc sccuro in tlicir pcrsons, hoi'scs, pn iiers iiiid cll'ccts, Sir. aud nsks if thcsc pro iiibitions do not rxtcnd to tho powrr of Congress to lcgislnto for this ilistrict. Most ccrtninly thcy do ; but it is for tho obvious rrusou thnt thcy nro uulimitcil iu thcir ternis, nml of courso ncccssnrily cxtcud to tho wholo legislntion of Congrcfis. Ils thcro nny such liiuitntion of tho powcr in qucr tion? Why, whcn tho Convcntion wns iu thc nct of providing liniitntionsto thc pow crs to Congress, in tho rightli ccrtion of tho first nrticlo ofthe Cotistilution.did thcy ninit to liniit pprrificnlly tho powcr oflcg islntion, "in nll cntcs whatsoevcr," which hnd bccn grnntcd to Congress in rcfcrciu to this District? Again; tho gcntlcmnn from Virginia says, if 1 rightly undcrstatid his nrgumciit, tlint thc provisionof tho Constitution, thnt " thc citizcns of cach Stntc slmll bo cntitlctl iill the privilcgcs and immuniticsof citizcns iu tho scvcral stntcs," ncccssarily cxtcnds to thc District of Columbia, nnd thnt Con gress niust bo understood to ho prohibited l'roin disfrnnchising hcrc, thc citizcns of tho Kovernl states; thnt is, that it cnnnot dcprivo thcm of tho privilcgcs of tho citizcns of tho District whcnovcr thcy como into it. It is truo it cnnnot, bccniise thcro would bo n gross nnd glnring nbsurdity in sccuring, ns tho Constitution docs, tho rights ofcitizenship in cnch Stntc, to tho cit izcns of cvcry otlicr stntc, nnd nt tho snmo titne, denying tho rights of citizcuship in this district thc common propcrty of nll tho Stntcs to tho citizcns ofl'ioso Stntcs. And bcsidcs, thc vcry nct of conslitiiting this ten miles squnro n district ofthe United Stntcs ncccssarily f givcs to tlic citizcns of cnch nnd nll thc States comtnon rights in it, not thc rights whicli tlicy cnch cnjoy in thcir rcspcclivo stntcs ns tho ternis in which the gentleman states hfs argument would sccin to imply ; bccausc that wonld constitutc twcnty four dinbrent rules of action, but tlic righf of cach rcsidcnt and sojourncr hcrc, of beinir protcctcd bv tho laws niiiilo for tho District, nnd the wholo Distnct. Tho exccption thcn, of a right to disfran rbise n citizcn of Virginia, wlio mny como hcrc, rosts upon a principlc liaving uo pos siblo rclation to tho casc in qucstion. lint furthcr. Tho gcntlcnian from Vir ginia says that no pnrson held to scrvicc or labor in n state, undcr thc laws thcreof, es cnping into this district. can bo disclmrgcd frotn such scrvice or labor, but inust bo dclivcrcd up to tho party to wlioin such scrvicc or labor mny bo duc, aud thnt this constitutcs nn exccption to thc gcncrnl liower to lcgislato "in all cascs wlintsocvcr" for this District. I admit it docs, nnd why? l'lninly bccnuso tho constitution liaving cx prcssly sccurcd the right to tho slavo own erto rcclniin his slavo in any nnd cvcry I stntc of this ITnion, it would bc n clcnr cva' ion of it. ns wcll as a mnnifcst absurditr to dcny hini that right, in n district which is tho comtnon propcrty of thu vcry stntcs within which his righ't of rcclnmation is sccurcd by thc constitution. Thc exccption iin this caso rcsts, thercfore, substantinlly upon nn cxprcss provition of tlio constitu tion, which, by no possibility of construo tion, can sustain thc exccption in qucstion. Al'ii'ui thc constitution provides that to or from ono state be obhgcd to enter, clcar, or pny iluties in nnotlicr.'' And tho gcntlcmnn from Virginia contcnds thut this prohibition niust bc rrgnrdcd as cxtcnding to the commcrco and tho ports of tho Dis trict of Columbia; and ifso, hisinferenco is, that an iniplicd prohibition of thc aboli tion by Congress of slavcry and thc slavo trade in tho States niust also bc takcn to extnd to this district. Tho first clauso of tho provision of tho Constitution jutt rcfcrred to wns designeU to c.vompt the rxports of tho country from tnxatinn, nnd miist of ncccssity, bo takcn to cxtcud to all tho ports within it; othcrwiso, the entirc objcct of tho clauso miglit bo do fcatcd. The rcinaining clauscs of tho pro vision, it will bc obscrvcd, Imvo cxchisivo refcrcncc to tho cquality of privilcgcs of thc sevcral States, which thcy aim to pro scive, by prohibiting Congrebs from favor ing the commercc, or tho jiorts, or tho tmvigation of onc nt tho cxpcnso of an othcr. This it might do in cffect, if ths jiorts, and commercc, and navigation of tlns ,Distnct nnght bo cxcmptcd from tho operation ofthe clauscs in qucstion. Thus, n prcfcrcnco ofthe tiort of Alexnndrin ovcr r .t:. i. u thnt of 15alt!i .re would disturb tho cnuali ty of privil tcs which thc constitution in tcndcd to i..escn'o bctwccn Virginia cnd Marylund. ltilf tvtmt ttne nll tl.ta in in vA tliA biiK- !juct ,ndu,. .lincussioii ? Tho provisions ith rcpnrd to commercc, i&c. tlo not spceificnlly rcnch it, und it is only, thercfore, irom tlio supiiosen nnaiogy Detwccn tho iniplicd liiuitntion of tho powcr ofCongres!' in thccnscs citcd, aud tho liniitntionsought to bo cstablishcd iu tho prcscut cnsc, thnt nn urgunicnt cnn bc drnwn in favor of tho lattcr. llut whero is tho analocy bctwecn an iniplicd prohibition to nbolisli slavery in thc Statcs,nnd nn exprcss prohibition of n prcfcrcnco of tlio ports of onc stntc over thosc of nnotlicr stntc? Thcrc is, indecd, a prohibition iu both cases, but hcro tho ntuilogy ccnscs. If this is sufficicnt to cstnblisli tho position of gcntlemen, lct us seo whnt otlicr positions it mny cstnblisli. I'pon tho snmo grouud thnt Congress is prohibited from nbolisli'mg Flnvcry in tho Stnto of Virginin, for o.vainple, it is also prohibited frnui ubolishing in that State, tho snle of lottcry tickets nnd tho prnctico of gntnbling, nnd' tho criiuc of kidnnpning. llut could it not linvo cnnrtcd n prohibition of thi'sc pructiccs in tho city of Alexnndrin. the monicut it wns cedcd to tho United Stntcs? Could it not, in fnct linvo rcndcrcil vnluclcss tl.ccstnblishmcnts of cnniintr, nnd rccrpincIcR of tho kidunpprd, whirh hnd bccn crcctcd undcr thcsunction of tho Inws of Virginin, if thoso Inws hnd pcrmittcd such prncticcs? 'Would tho gentlcmnn from Virginia havo cxclninied ngninst the invnsion of vcncd rights, tho tuking of privnto propcrty for public usc, withont conipcnsntion ? Again tliu gcntlcmnn fioni Virginin eays tho "local lcgislatiire ofthis Diftnct cnnfo enter into nny trcaty, nllinncc tr (onl'cdtr V