Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-29

negro slaves are not property. He therefore hoped
that those gentlemen who have conceded TO them
the character OF property, will exhibit conssten
- between their words and their actions, By vot-
ing Tor the proposed amendment.
MIR. Kerr now moved that the Committee rise
but withdrew the motion az the request of
MIR. Storrs, who said that the gentleman from S
carolina had MISUNDERSTOOD him, OF he would have
seen the ground on which nc had drawn the dis
hncuon between the iinpresSncntO of other proper
~ ana the iinpressmcnt OF slave. l said express
Iy, observed Mr.. =, that. il were au officer and
pressing emergency presented itself, would my
sen take private property for the public use and
trust 10 my Government for indemnify. | have
Always voted TO indemnity officers for 50 doinr
where thought that necessity justified The act
ana where no great principle was violated. |
stated the other day, that if the officer had exer-
clsed his discretion IN fair and proper manner
we are bound 10 indemnify him; but 10 indemnify;
MIN as a trespasser-and because lac could have
no other indemnity than that which proceeded
iroin'our act. This is the principle which is con-
tended against now. | think the exercise of such
power Is an evil; but il il il fairly exercised I
would never refuse 10 indemnify the officer !
voted TO indemnify General Swartwout and ON
shoiner occasion, TO indemnify General Brown;
out said, IN relation to slaves | never yyo,lJ
consent that an officer should exercise this di Gre
ton. 1t Is too dangerous. The safety of a LARGE
portion oil this Z mon Is too deeply concerned; ana
though would indemnify for the taking of other
property, i would always make this an evcept;on
This was the ground took and in this doctrine I
can perceive nothing to justify charge of incou-
slstency-ii there IS Inconsistency in this the rem
-ueman from South Carolina has, indeed shewr
me to be so, but cannot consider the succession,
as any thing more than the very common parli.-
Inentary argument 20 reiuc proposition tha. car,
oe successfully met in no other way
Mr. McDuiiie rejoncd.
MIR. Drayton obtained The floor, AMI was
proceeding, as lie said, to shew the inconsistency
anu contradiction which had been manifested by
vac gentleman from New York, when he Welded
the floor TO
Mr.. Hamilton who moved that. AS the hour vz,s
now late, the Committee should rise.
The Committee rose accordingly. reported pro
Bress' ana asked leave TO sit again; and the CUES
ton being ON granting leave, passed in the mega
uye-Aycs 90, Noes u.
Mr.. Randolph now moved to DISCHARGE thc Cam
mittee OF the Whole from the further consideration
OF the bill and amendment, and that the bill be re
committed TO the Committee on Claims; but
MIR; McDufle expressing desire that the bill
should now pass,
MIR Ran lolph divided his motion, and the cues
uon being put on Gischargiug the COMMITTEES, it
passed in the affirmative.
Mr. Randolph then said, now renew the motion
10 recomnut the I'LL and | will state my reasons
dor making il. / sai1, when [ ATTEMPTED TO cxcuI-
pate myself from the imp led ccnsure of the rem
ueman from New Yor, that did not read the re-
ports oil the Committees, bat did not mean by
s, that did not look at the facts i'm the Cases on
which they report-my habit is TO look at the evil
cence and TO look at the bill or resolution without
troubling myself with the reasoning ofthe Commit
ee-and then TO trust to the discussion for the rest
because, sir, there Is physical i,npossibiity that
or any man should read all we print (for whose he
neht don't know, certainly not for ours or the
Pcople s. but IT appears, to me- sir that there is
IN inns report OF the Committee of Cloims-yrIst
shall call iH j will not give il anv character
pul II Is reasoning that cannot subscribe TO- The
report would have pay for the cart and horse bu,
not Tor the slaYcbut tc owner lost the one ~ wei
Is s, tle 9thef-nd ] used the maxim inter ar,rG
SHeft reyes as stating the fact, not uslfyng the
mas lost ms property--ji Is gOne-it went bc[lo Gg
granite, & the sole point is shall he be paid for it,
whether taken lawfully unlaWl,llly still il must
be paid for--iiit taken lawfully il should he a.
my colleague (MrP L. Barbour) has concusiyelv
pFoVco--aS he proves every thug-then n f,y{;0-
~. II should be paid for altho taken unl,wflIv for
ouc use and benefit It's because dissent from
inc doctrine IN the report that / have now moved
10 recommlt the bill and rcpJrt-and WHY recon-
mt because, five refuse 10 do so WE do nr,c
iicay sustain the doctrine and a,lopt be r.as6nn.
OF the Committee. | thought heard, snbst;nti2i
~ the same doctrine another report inyolyin
Tue same question, question in comparison to
which even that between lIic gentleman from New
York aud the gentleman from South Caralina.-I
mean the question, who shall be the next ruler of
TINS Commonwealth is Of little moment
Mr. Hamilton was opposed to the recou1mit-
nent He did not desire, after the discussion which
pad taken place, 10 have decision defeated by anv
lhtcIIocutory matter or measure He honed il
would not be disposed Of until an opportunity was
afforded OF taking the question upon it,
Mr. Randolph here, speaking across SAID / will
HIhdraW IT. then Mr.. Hamilton expressing some
surprise at the interruphon-Mr. K. said he had
not declared his willingness 10 Withdraw the mo
ton from The least unwillin-ness to listen to the
remarks OF tue gentleman from South Cardinal
hr. Hamilton resumed. ! ain persuaded il can
not be nom impadcnce TO hear, that the gentle
man was 50 hasty in Withdrawing for, surely. if
one good turn deserves another, that gentleman
ought 10 be the last TO refuse that attention to others
which he always receives himself | hone Sir
when the whole argument is clear; when Inc bat.
Tie HISS been fought, aud the field is Just about 10 be
decided, that the bill WI. not be rccommitted -
aiter night BATH wish either 10 beat or be
beaten.
Mr.: "hiuicsey now renewed the motion which
!nr. randolph had Withdrawn to recommt the
blI tie desired this, IN order that the COMMITTEES
ot CldIms, as well as the House, might be enabled
10 obtain correct view of the facts. This they
haa not yet had, FOR want Of the necessary test-
inohy, and ~ was rule in all the Committees of
me Rouse, where testimony was not sufficient
iully to establish the claim to make an unfs yorabl
reports but then, they DO not turn away the clai
iualht 0y a hnal rejection; they determine on the
principle involved in his claim, and he may after
wards farther establish his facts if he can. lC
there IS disposition in this House said Mr. W. 10
pay Tor Inc loss or injury of this proocrty the
case should at least be scruunZed by the s3re
RUE as other cases. ii this it, indeed case of
impressment, the Committee should have owl
Gencc that such was the fact The imprcsspent
- the leading fact IN the case and fbe i,,.,ross
ment IS not proved. itsurely does not follosy. be-
cause TINS slave IS property, and because he was
Injured IN the service Of the . uited States. that
therefore, no must have been impressed into fhst
service " IS necessary TO know whether bis
master Gid not take or send him voluntarily into
IN. me PUBIC service whether he was willing to take