Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-26
TWENTIETH CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1928.
The case of D'.4uteTire.

The case Of D'.4tterire.
-(Continued)
Mr.. Archer of Va. said, he had not risen with
any view of entering into the present argument,
nor TO any extent into that Of the real question
from which the debate had wandered. | have,
SAID Mr.. a. higher purpose. thought when
the amendment was offered, that the debate ought
not TO have been raised; but as it has proceeded
thus far, it ought not, think, now, be repress-
ed. Some remarks appear ed demanded Of gentle
men from the South, by various considerations.
W. owe 1t to ourselves 10 shew, that, when what
we consider as our most vital interest has been
brought into discussion, we have not been re
re1niss in our duty 10 constituents than others.
We owe il to Northern gentlemen to respond to the
hberality they have evinced. We II to the pub
lie, and the Southern public in particular, to shew
how that question has arisen in the devious course
OF this debate. The mention of the word slavery
IN this House las evnced by this debate is calcu
lated to waken high degree of sensibility in the
quarters in which it prevails. This was no sub
ject of reproach We know il to be the most deli
cate oil all our interesswe feel that it is a
which cannot be struck without communicating
the shock TO every function of our social system
The Constitution gives us the exclusive right Of
judging IN all questions affecting this interest, and
we well know that any foreign interference can
but aggravate the evil, whatever it may be. We
fear that Inference; and why? There is a belief,
(whether well or ill-founded makes no difference
as TO the efiects in all the slave holding States
that fanatical spirit exists in many of the non
slave-holding States, which would interfere, and
interfere fatally, in this matter. No matter whe-
Their this apprehension be just not, its influence
on Southern feelings, is fact not to be Disputed
and it has produced, and produced Justly, in the
South, senSbility, amounting, it might be, to fe
| rocity on this point. And here he would take oc-
casion to say OF the people of the save-holding
States, that they were as loyal the subjects of
the Kings to the authority which they recognize,
and to which they assented by the Constitution
they FESTIVE under all other authority-and he
hoped they ever would be so.
| The subject of this amendment has gone abroad
to the country, in itself subject Of excitement
AT distance, people do not make nice distinctions
and Will be so considered Now think it ought not
TO have such character, and re gard il as an office
OF justice and utility to place it in its true charac-
ter. There is no excitement here which can be
Justhed, Il shall be dischargng very gratifying
duty II can succeed in mpressing that opinion on
this Committee and on the Country. Sir is there
any man here who has attempted to maintain that
| slaves are not property? There is not one All
the gentlemen who have takenp part in this debate
have expressly discidned such position How
indeed can any maiatain il; If eny one
would attempt to maintain such position 70 me- 6,
considered him worthy of being treated with the
decency OF reply, my only answer TO him would
be-' Look at the fact. Who contributed TO form
this Constitution Those who at that moment
" held siaves-they held them under il when it
was formed, and they continue TO hold them
&c now. they did Them If any man doubt
ed that slaves were property, in the contemplation
/ 4
| this, not doubling it, he was knave believe
there Is no such man here. There may be an m
considerable class .who affect TO believe So that
they may make this subject handle 10 produce
excitement: Their purpose was for their own sell
! fish ends-to disturb the harmony of the Union.
But owe il TO the non-save- holding States to de-
clare, that as far as have been able to obtain in
formation on the subject this class is as much des-
pissed there by all the most respectable classes,
| they can be among us. Sir, the proposition that
slaves are not property, has not been maintained
as consider, in this debate. II is the supposiiien
that it has been advanced by implication, that has
excited the warmth which has appeared. certainly
did not so understand the report of the Committee Of
Claims. They did not say They say, only, that
this kind OF property has not been put upon such
footing by the usage Of this Government as that,
il lost or injured, it is to he paid for from the Trea-
sury Does tIis amount TO denial that slaves are
property; The committee say that this kind OF
property IS subject to a certain usage. Does this
deny the existence validity of the property? II
| that were established, then all property whatever
must be annuiIed; for, all kinds of property what
ever, are the subjects of peculiar regulation in
some form or other. The committee and gentle
men in debate, have in effect maintained not that
we have no property in slaves but that this is
Kind OF property so peculiar, that it stands dis
uhgushed IRON all other property in this important
Tespect-that the Government may, in no case
whatever, lay hand upon il by impressinent. Sir
instead OF complaining, we ought to be much o.
bhged TO Northern gentlcmen-ther doctrine /
hoid indeed to be wrong-but we owe them every
obligation, and every acknowledgment and ten
der TO them my thanks for the liberal ground they
have taken What they contend for is. that this is
higher species of property than any other; that the
sweeping power OF the Government must here stay
It's hand, II cannot oven touch it. | cousider IL
Just therefore, 10 give the true character to this
del &c: to let the Southern States know that there
/ appears no design to call in question the title or
jurisdiction OF their property. The Committee
have not questioned it; none but fools could deny
! none but knaves will impeach IT, The doctrine
maintained, is 10 leaten TO sour the daiv and ne
cessary bread OF our harmony. Its propagation is
no sowing OF the dragons teeth, to spring up in
civil discord and conflict. II is liberal doctrfnc.
/ though not sound one
II IT were true, that there exists no power in the
| Government, at any time, under any circum-
stances, TO impress slaves, then il is also true as
| contended, that the officer who took the slave in
question committed irregular act is liable TO an
action Tor tresspass, and the government is not
! bound TO pay for what ne did, as the gentleman
! rom New York (Mr Storrs) has inferred But
me uanscendental right Of the Government over
all property Whatever, has never been contested
| II an extreme exigency occurs all the property,
and all the People of the county may be taken &
employed for the public defence But the gentle
man from New York (Mr Storrs) maintains, that.
IN regard 10 slave property, this power is limited
and must be sO'on accOust Of the danger which
would follow from II. II slaves are to be taken for
soldiers IN The SOUthern States, and the apprentice
/ and the minor may be taken in the Northern. II
] the son may be TOT from his fathers hores and
from ms mothers anguish, then, says the gentle
4 man, there IS an end at once 10 every thing Ike
/ freedom. But, this danger has no ground. either
/ in fact or in construction. Not i'm tact. for when
soldiers may be legally demanded Of us. we wi
always be ready IN the South to furnish better
I than our slp es-oursclves n Tho time shot,lt