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Show 202 THE MISSOURI QUESTION. vute a farm or plantation. llis object is exclusively agricultural. lie is met at the line by n. law of Congress, and his slaves aro stopped under the authority to regulate commerce 1 When under this power, yon slwll hnvc suceeded iu proving the extravagant and untcnuulc position that Congress can prohibit this transfer, how do you n rri vc at the conclusion, that you can pass this act of abolition which the amendment proposes? There are two powers grown out of that to regulate com-merce. And preserve your gravity while I repeat, one of them is to prohibit a transfer of slaves from State to State, nnd the other to abolish slavery in Missouri, as a condition of her admission into the Union. * * * * * * Sir, I trust enough bas been said to prove that this clause gives no authority to prohibit a transfer of slaves from one State to another; and if it did, it has nothing to do with the question. Sir, it is a new doctrine, and allow me to add, it is an alarming doctrine. Let me ask the gentleman from N cw York a question, and I will do it with that confidence which friendship inspires. With the suggestion tha~ the Declaration of Independence is an act of general emancipation, and with this doctrine, that Congress may confine the slaves within the limits of the respective States, let the four hundred thousand slaves of Virginia be transferred to N cw York, and what would be his feelings? [Here Mr. Taylor rose, and disclaimed having advanced that the Declaration of Independence had any effect to emancipate the r-;laves. J Sir, I have not said that that gentleman did advance such a doctrine. I stated that such an opinion bad been advanced, and from high authority . .And I again appeal to the candor of that gentleman, '1.'11~ MI::;::;OUlU QUJ!;:::l'l'lO.N. 20~ and ask him, whether he should feel entirely easy if' tlc slaves of Virginia were shut up in New York, under ib is power which he advocates, and if it had come to their can3 from any respectable source tbat they were all free ? Would he not be illclincd to doubt the constitutionality or policy of sucb a law ? Confine the slaves in tile old slavcbolding States, where they arc most numerous; the constant emigration of tho whites will soon Lring them to an equality with their slaves. Emigration will increase with the danger, and murder and rna . acre will succeed. And yet, we can look on and sec this storm gatheringhear its thunders, und witness i t~ lightnings, with great COllll.>Qsurc, with wonderful philo ophy 1 W c arc aware, gen ilcmen, tlmt we arc diffusing sentiments which cnJangci' your safeLy, hu.ppiuc s, and li vos; nay, more, the safety, happiness, u.nd li ves of thot:;o whum you value more tban your own. But it is a constitutional question. Keep cool. W c arc conscious that wo are iocnlcn Ling doctrines that will result in spilling the best of your blood, but as this blood will be spilled in the cause of humanity, keep cool. We have no doubt that the promulgating of these prin-ciples will be the means of cutiiug your throats; but, as it will be done in tbe most unexceptionable manner pos~iblc, by your slaves, who will no doubt perform the task in great style and dexterity, and with much dP)icacy and humanity, too, therefore keep cool. Sir, speak to the wiud, command the waves, cxpostulute with the tempest, rebuke the thuuder, but never ask an honorable man thus circumstanced to suppress his feelings. llut, sir, I beg pardon for this Jigrc~sion; it is asiclo from my purpose. :My object is not declamation, but reason. |