in its course the cobwebs stretched across its path by the officiousness of an impertinent predecessor.  Again, the legislatures of Virginia and Maryland, had no power to bind Congress, either by an express or an implied pledge, never to abolish slavery in the District.  Those legislatures had no power to bind themselves never to abolish slavery within their own territories—­the ceded parts included.  Where then would they get power to bind another not to do what they had no power to bind themselves not to do?  If a legislature could not in this respect control the successive legislatures of its own State, could it control the successive Congresses of the United States?

But perhaps we shall be told, that the “implied faith” of Maryland and Virginia was not that Congress should never abolish slavery in the District, but that it should not do it until they had done it within their bounds!  Verily this “faith” comes little short of the faith of miracles!  Maryland and Virginia have “good faith” that Congress will not abolish until they do; and then just as “good faith” that Congress will abolish when they do!  Excellently accommodated!  Did those states suppose that Congress would legislate over the national domain, for Maryland and Virginia alone?  And who, did they suppose, would be judges in the matter?—­themselves merely? or the whole Union?

This “good faith implied in the cession” is no longer of doubtful interpretation.  The principle at the bottom of it, when fairly stated, is this:—­That the Government of the United States are bound in “good faith” to do in the District of Columbia, without demurring, just what and when, Maryland and Virginia do within their own bounds.  In short, that the general government is eased of all the burdens of legislation within its exclusive jurisdiction, save that of hiring a scrivener to copy off the acts of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures as fast as they are passed, and engross them, under the title of “Laws of the United States for the District of Columbia!” A slight additional expense would also be incurred in keeping up an express between the capitols of those States and Washington city, bringing Congress from time to time its “instructions” from head quarters!

What a “glorious Union” this doctrine of Mr. Clay bequeaths to the people of the United States!  We have been permitted to set up at our own expense, and on our own territory, two great sounding-boards called “Senate Chamber” and “Representatives’ Hall,” for the purpose of sending abroad “by authority” national echoes of state legislation! —­permitted also to keep in our pay a corps of pliant national musicians, with peremptory instructions to sound on any line of the staff according as Virginia and Maryland may give the sovereign key note!