American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-01-02

bind him 10 the car Of slavery? Would not such
system equally place in jeopardy the privileges o.
ahe East Indian and Of the citizens OF many nations
in am,y with this the poor sun stricken ou'cas's
OF Africa? Shall we longer suffer this uncon'N'u'
tiona, this disgraceful offspring OF policy long
since repudiated by the enlightened and honorable
State Of Maryland, TO cling, as an excrescenee' on
the code of this our Districts
The jurisprudence Of this District sir, ought 10 be
exhibited TO this country, and to the world without
stain its object should be- not to oppress' out 10
vndicate the rights Of frecmen; and, if there IS
spot on earth where those rights should be held
sacred. that place is the District OF Columbia.
hope sir that this House will adopt the resolu'
lion, and that it will at an carly day, command the
serious attention Of the Committee.
Mr.. Halle, Of Mississippi, moved that the reso.
luton be laid on the table and printed
The question being put, the motion was mega
lived.
Mr.. Forsyth, OF Georgia, said, that he had lie.
tened with attention to the address Of the gentleman
from New York, and, il the position taken By him
was a correct one, there could be no need of the
inquiry proposed by his resolution He had set out
with declaring that such law as that referred to
is constitutional. IF so, the law was Of course
without obligation, and the inquiry respecting it
unnecessary. Any law made in violation OF the
Constitution was nugatory. The Constitution u
aeli, so long it endures is sufficient protection
for The citizens of the State OF New York and OF
every other State. Why, then, urge an inquiry on
subject Of this peculiar character, which would
lead only to irritating, painful, and useless discus
SION? While he was up he would take the oppor-
suny OF calling the attention OF The House to the
extraordinary doctrine which had been advanced in
this House this morning, and which had, Tor some
time past, been advocated in various parts OF the
country that Governor OF one State OF the Union
may righlully be called upon 10 protect the ci,i-
zens Of that State when in other States. This doc
itine, he said, novel. What had the State OF
New York TO do with the law in question, or any
decisions under it, than any oher State Ut the
Unioar Was any thing TO be found in the Const
tulion giving to the Executive of one State right
70 interfere in the transactions within another State 7
II was true, he might 90 far as TO demand the
toa,on OF fugitive who had taken refuge
within another State but no farther. Ii was the
sey design of the Constitution 10 prevent the ne
cessity OF such interference. 1t erects courts and
constitutes the law. 1t is itself the lee scrpta for
the protection OF all This is the proper recourse
Of any who have suffered wrong He hoped this
subject would be regulated as il should be, when
the House came to consider that part of the Pres
DENTS Message which recommends revision Of
she laws of this District, with reference TO intro.
ducing the penen:i.ry system. II was proper
subject Tor the Investigation OF Committee OF this
House, and, for one, he sincerely hoped that such
Committee would probe the laws Of the District to
the bottom, and, If they contained any thing cruel
or oppressive, that it nigh, be exposed and remed
ed. SO lar as any mcora.ion In those laws was
needed, he hoped it would be made, and that no in
justice would be suffered to remain but in the
Taesn while he trusted they should not De vexed
with an examination, in this Hall, in relation to per.
sons under peccar circumstances coming into
,hose States where slavery was tolerated, as. from
the very nature Of the i, could not lead TO any
good result, but would excite much unpie asant
feeling which would be better avoided.
Mr.. Hamilton, Of South Carolina, TO I'D
dress the Chair when
The Speaker arrested the farther discussion oil
ihe resolution, the hour allotted by the rule OF the
House to the conside alton Of resolutions having
passed.
Wednesday. DECEMBER O..
IN SENATE.
The bill for the increase of the compensation OF
ahcers commanding companies in the military
vice OF the Uni,ed States, was read the third time
and, alter amending the title, on motion oil Mr.
Harrison. so as to read "gving further compcnsa
lion to officers and subaterns 10 certain cases." Wa:
passed, and sent to the House for concurrence.
Mr.. johnson, OF Kentucky preaced the intro
Juc,ion of resolution by observing, that ii wa.
with gres reluctance that, in presenting PROPOSE
ton to the Senate, he found it to be his duty lc
make remarks in relation to any department OF The
Federal Government, which might be looked upor
as nvldious. But it was his duty in the presen
case, without fear or hesitation, to bring before h,
Senate the conduct of the Judges Of the Suprem,
Court and OF the District Court Of the State O
Kentucky. He intended nothing personal in hi
remarks upon thi, subject, his censure was direct
ed against the rules OF Court, as established b,
those Judges. He hoped. therefore, that he shout,
be INDUCED in a lew remarks on this subj, CT so in
teresting 10 himself and the sale in which he lived
There was time, said Mr.. j. when Judges dis
played modesty in the exercise Of their judicia
functions; there may be those who inclined II
think the same spirit still exists, and 10 whose cen
sure may be exposed for thus assang their con
duct. Iherc was time. he reneacd when III,