1821 Aug. 12

From Miss Wright

Cessions of Power

Miss Wright's Testimony

Page 392. There is at present twenty two republics in the confederacy; of these 12

have been rendered free to black and white: the remaining 10 continue to be more or

less defaced by negro-slavery. Of these 5 are old states, and the other 5 either

parted from these or formed out of the acquired territory of French Louisiana. Thus,-

Kentucky was raised into an independent state by mutual agreement between herself and

Virginia, of which she originally formed a part. Tenessee, by mutual agreement

between herself and Carolina, to which she was originally attached. Mississipi was

surrendered to the general Government by Georgia, to be raised when old enough into

an independent state, but with a stipulation that to the Citizens of Georgia should

be continued the privilege of migrating into it with their slaves. Louisiana proper,

formed out of a small portion of the vast territory ceded under that name, came into

the possession of the United States with the united evils of black slavery in its

most hideous form, and the slave trade prosecuted with relentless barbarity. The

latter crime was instantly arrested; and under the improving influence of mild laws

and mental instruction, the horrors of slavery have been greatly alleviated.

* In all these cases the federal Government has been powerless to effect the

eradication of slavery. It has however been all powerful to prevent its introduction

in such territories as have been placed under its control.

This was the first state formed from the commencement, upon American prinicples. It

was planted by the hand of congress, in the vast region ceded by Virginia to the

north west of the river Ohio. In the formation of a new state out of the national

waste lands, its government is entrusted to the congress of the United States, who

mark its boundaries, nominate its public

* Travellers afflicted with the anti-American mania are fond of

drawing their portrait of the national character in New Orleans. This is much the

same as if we should draw that of the English in Guadaloupe or S t

Lucia. Such tourists may now have an opportunity of sketching the American character

among the Spaniards of Florida.

The Missouri question, which so greatly agitated the nation and the senate last

winter, turned soley upon what were the powers of congress to legislate for the

territory in question. Missouri was colonized by slave holding French when the

territory was ceded to the United States by a treaty securing to the inhabitants

their property, including slaves. Emancipation therefore, was not within the power of

congress. The question was whether it possessed the right of preventing the citizens

of other states from migrating into Missouri with their

slaves. The error seems to have been the having omitted to pass this prohibitory

law before the period when Missouri assumed the place of a state. Congress after

months of anxious deliberation, came to a compromise which seemed the only one in

their power. A law was passed preventing the possibility of the formation of any

other slave-holding state in the French Louisianian territory, and the slavery of

Missouri was placed under every restriction, which the previous treaty and the

constitution would permit.