Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-04

certainty resulted rom the law 40 n stands, and he
thought it right the committee should inquire into
the subject.
Mr.. Dorsey expressed much regret that the |
honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania had in
duIsed himself in bringing forward the narrative he
hs just submitted 10 the House-because il might
lead elsewhere to the idea, that some Interior mea
sure was intended that the gentleman was moving
this House to take measures prevent the internal
trade in slaves within the United States Such
an idea was we'll calculated to produce excite
ment and alarm in the Slave holding States: He
therefore suggested an amendment to the resolution
making 1t generally propose an inquiry into the
expectancy of amending existing laws. There was,
he said. no ncedifor Committee to inquire whether
such a law existed-he would read to the House
the law referred to. Here Mr. d. read the law I
ne mad no doubt that every gentleman would
cheerully consent that this law ought to be modi.
fied-and If such was the object, it might be ar
rived at by better mode than the resolution pro
posed. The indications of excitement " ere area-
dy perceptibe in the House and he was sorry to
say that the remarks and statements of the gentle
man from Pennsylvania had not been calculated TO
aay it.
Mr.. Bradley said, he could not but consider the
question which was intended to be presented to the
| House, as very simple one. II was not now
ito them to say whether the laws of the District
on the subject, Originally passed by Maryland,
ought to be altered into conformity with the p,es.
ent laws OF that State il not even this; but
simply whether committee should enquire into the
| exPedlency OF such alteration. 1t would be recol-
iec'ed' TOO. that the committee by whom the inaui
ry was proposed to be made, was one appointed
specially to watch over the interests of the Dis
trict Mr. Il. said. he believed il was not u,u, Al
enter into such extended debate on mere reso,uton.
oil inquiry; and he saw no occasion for il in this
instance He hoped the resolution would mass
without further amendment, more e.peciallv a. No
1 he mite
any Interior proceedings
| Mr. dorsey said, as he had been requested IN
withdraw his amendment, he would consent tn
do so.
MIR. DIS amendment was accordingly with
drawn.
Nr. folsyth said, he was not disposed to object
| 10 an inquiry into this natter yet still he must ,binl
that the form in which the resolution wa. r,esen,
ed, and the remarks by which i; was accomnanied
were calculated TO produce excitement Several
gentlemen who had addressed the House this morn
ing appeared to be OF opinion that there ought In
oe no Irritation on this subject, in Whatever form
presented: single moments reflection would be
| sufficient to show that this wa, a very great mis-
take On this subject, Mr. F said, there is in IN.
United States a radical difference of opinion. Tn.
eeh'iemaL from New York, and Others, claim. as
matter OF right, that black persons held 10 be cit
iIens OF the United States in the State of New
York, should enjoy in every other State the same
privilege. The whole of the Southern deIepation
uehy TINS claim. We hold (said hey that we have
the right to exclude free People Of color, TO eject
them, and to limit their privileges when we admit
.hem 70 reside amongus. We know that there
has been considerable discussion on this head
arising from one OF the States excluding sailorsof
foreign country admissible under treaty stnula
tions) under IFS general law concerning persons Of
Color and combining such persons in prison when
| this law has been contravened by them. On
N ell
| safety OF large portion of this country, discus
sion must necessarily produce excitement especial
| ~ when the case of Gilbert Horton with all ito
| attendant circumstances, had been brought in,o
vie" Mr.. +. said he was not disposed to be ex-
cited, and ne had no objection to any proper inou-
~ on this subject. But, when the gentleman told
! The House that the Constitution gave pro,ec,ion
to this Northumberland the Constitution ,iss ~
the States respectively the power of regulating IN.
supJect-he afforded the strongest argument against
| MS own propositions; because If he was rich, /,
'nis position, there was no sort of occasion for
,he inquiry be proposed. Mr.. f. said he was per
| iectiy willing to enter into the question Is il ey
peu'eh' tnat The laws OF this District shall be all
tered, or Is 1t no. ! But the gentleman had mn
right to institute this inquiry at the moment of ful-
mnating accusations of violation of the Cons,i
luton, against which the Judiciary would afford
sufnclent protection. If the gentleman admitted
that the laws of the District on this subject were
constitutional, Mr. F. was perfectly willing to in
quTe into the expectancy of altering them and he
hoped the committee would report such alterations
IN mem as the state OF society might justify or re-
quire.
! MI. Floyd said, he did not mean although he
mao some objection TO the shape of the resolution.
and The mode of its presentation, to oppose ire
passage. he was sorry that the subject had pro-
aaceo so much conversation. 1t must be equally
interesting TO gentlemen from every State thai
Heemen, OF whatever colour, wrongfuIIy imprison
ed should be set at liberty. Is there law in one
faon within this District which authorizes the i'm
prlsonmeDt Of such? II so, every one would arree
that II ought TO be repealed Mr.. +. said he would
step forward 10 guard the rights Of such man as
soon as any other; he hoped it was not the pecu
iaI duty OF any one TO take this charge upon his
Phiian'hropy. Ii man, imprisoned within this
District, had bis feet fros,-bitten, it was hi. mis-
fortune: tie Courts would, doubtless regulate the
conduct of their Jail keepers. But the House
ought not TO be too much affected by this case: for,
Mr. r. said, he bad, in his lime, known white
man, once influential and respected, frost bitten
during imprisonment for debt; and he personally
Knew during his observation OF the practice of the
hospital In Philadelphia in his younger DAYS. that
the root OF the diseases of four fifths of all the
persons who went into that asylum was poyer,y--
misfortune. Poverty in any country, is attended
oy many Ills, and not by more here than elsewhere
| And as to all that stuff about approaching maya
Zine with candle! where is the magazine: There
IS none that know of Mr.. F. made few fur
ner observations, expressive OF his readiness which
ne believed was coiBmon to all, 10 protect and a.
meiorste the condition of every class of people in
the District OF Columbia, from the Mayor TO the
most humble individual. All he desired was, that
u should be done in way not 10 interfere with the
rights OF some States, under the plea Of proeetip