Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-03-04
Eiaay, February ~.

= ~ -
of she &C, prohibiting the importation OF
slaves into Inc q. S involved the exercise
of a power not possessed by congress,
which MAS sebverstys OF the rights OF pre-
pert, of the holders Of slaves, and which
mfpht tssnsua.e in their general emaneiPat
ton; md Concluded BY asking leave to
psesens a bal 70 ezpsain and amend that
act.
Afters Sc me re marks from Mess. Colds.
borough, Quincy, Lyon, Fisk and Smile,
lir. Randolph varied his, motion so
as To appoint committee TO bring IN a
bill; his motion was agreed to--ayes
81
3 "A short time alter Mr.. Randolph pre-
sebted from the commi.tee the following
explanatory act
rs !. Whereas doubts have arisen, or may.
arise, Touching he construction OF the SIN
srcuono OF The aer, of which this aci is ez.,
rlana DRY, ADD whereas congress diselaim
and dissvow all constitutional right, title,
gor authority whatsoever, by any legislat.i
tive acs in any wise to abridge, mostly,
or affect the right Of property ct masters
of slaves not imported INTO the y. ..
contrary TO law, in and 80 saeh slaves |;
& Therefore, :,
Sec. /. Be 1t enacted BY the senate g
hessse of representatives Of me .. ). q
Anerica, in congress assembled, ! nat no
thirc contained IN The Ssh or any otaer
sec gon OF the afosesaid act, shall be con-
S rusd 20 abt,dge, modify, or affect, IN any
manner whatever, the full, complete, ana
absolute righs of properly OF she owner
or master of any slave, such slavs not
bs;rg imported contrary TO law, IN aud 70
such slave, ard such owner, or master,
as aforesaid, shall not be sub]se!ed to any
disability, or liablc to any fine, penalty,
or Forfeiture, although such master, or
owner, or his OF, heragsat may have trans.
.. ported any such slave, noticing imported
contrary 10 law, with intent to sell the
same, from enc pert or place Within he
limited States, to any other port or place
in vessel of less buithea than forty
tons"
The act having beer read twice, Mr..
Randolph moved tina, it be engrossed Tor a
third reading.
Mr., Quincy moved It's reference to
committee OF the whole.
MIR. I. Randolph warmly opposed this
mot.on. He set forth the deep stake the
sou befn states had in Immediately arrest.
@ire the invasion Of their rights made by
the s b section, aud the consequent neces.
si,y Of passing the explanatory lay thls
session, which would not be done, un-
lsssir raised the house without delay,
as !, was IN The power of single member
of ,hs senate to prevent the passage OF a
( bil,up,ess read on three several days. he
added that he trusted, if .his bill did not
pass, thar The Virginia delegation woaid
wais on the. president, TO demonstrate a.
gaipst his giving his sanction to the act
which had passed.
Msssrs. Fisk, Quincy, Thomas s Rhea
of TeIn. adv oca ed the reference OF the
/, hin to a COMMITTEES Of the whole, and It's
! being printed, previously 70 consideration
They expressed their willingness toasres
70 any proposition, that should not go 70
hazard the grea. offsets of the bill passed
bv the Two houses; but their indispositien
30 &C, precipi,ately on subjsss OF SO much
importance.
Tie ares,ion was taken on referring the
hin TO a committee of The whole and
ssrsied- ayes Fifty e;ght-nees forty.
Mr.. J. Randolph moved that 1t be made
the order for this day.
A motion was. also made to make 1t the
order for to morrow.
On this las. motion the yeas and nays
were taken, and wereyeas sixty, nays Ter
{ ~ nine when the bill was ordered TO De
printed.
Z sThe house agreed to consider the report
Of the committee Of the WHOLE On the sp'
, 1ropria,ion bill.