Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-24
TWENTIETH OoMGREss-
oUSE tsi' REPRESENTATIVES,
The case Of D'.1ufeyire.

4 re ease ~ ~ .1Weiffe.
The House having again gone into Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. COndict in the Clair, on the bill
for the relief Of Maiigny D'Auterive, and the
question bejng on the amendment proposed by
MIR Gurley, Ito allow the claimant for the time of
his slave while engaged in the public service du-
ring the attack on New Orleans, and also for the
Hospital charges after he was woundcd)
Mr.. L. p. Barbourrose and said that, as the Com
mittee of the Whole when this bill was last before
them, had been good enough to rise upon bi mn
ton, and thereby 10 afford him an opportunity of
expressing his views in relation TO the proposed A.
mendment, he could not make more suitable re-
turn than TO fulfil the promise which he had at
that time made OF occupying their attention for as
short time as possible, and he should therefore
now compress what remarks he had to make into
the smallest compass, which would be consistent
with rendering his meaning Ineligible And at
the outset, (sad Mr. b. / fully reciprocate the
sentiments so well expressed by gentleman from
New York, (Mr. Bunner) who addressed us ON the
subject, and assure him and this Committee, that
1t IS no part OF my purpose III the slightest degree
to fan any flame of excitement which NAV have
been kiudled in the course of this debate; on the
contrary, it will be my earnest endeavour 10 ex-
tlnguish the last ember which might contribute to
feed it. In any remarks which 1 shall make ON
this occasion, it shall not be, as it certainly has
not hitherto been, my intention 10 make any an
peal whatever 10 passion or 10 prejudice which |
consider as The worst possible guides 10 right
decision in this or in any other tribunal on earth
My appeal shall be made TO the sober Judgment
OF the committee, and 10 that alone. And i'm pre-
senting II, L ask candid and impartial nvestiga-
tlon. Nor shall j attempt to discuss a question
which has been alluded TO bV, believe almost
every gentleman who has spoken in this debate. e.
which has been discussed, in part by some who
have spoken mean the question whether slaves
are property. / should as soon think of institutiDe
grave inquiry, whether or no the citizens Of tl,e
Northern States have just title to those Ships OF
theirs whose sails whten the ocean or whether
the inhabitants Of the South have right 20 that
soil which yields them at this time but slender
revenue. II was truly well as forcibly and
beautifully sad that all property is the creature Of
law. Its so. IL the creature Of municipal law
The Constitution Of the United States has been
referred TO By some gentlemen as bearing OH this
question. know Of but two provisions in that in
sIument which refer At all TO the subject matter
Of the present discussion. The first is Chat which
declares, tiut, in taking the census of the United
States, certain portion Of this species of popula-
ldion shall be included This il does for two
fold purpose; first. 10 fix Ic relative proportion of
representation OF the different States in this
hilnch Of the Legislature; Ivy which arrange
ment the Southern States get somewhat Of an
addition to their numerical representation on
this floor; but then, by way Of Offset or euuiya-
lent, for this advantage, the Constitution fixes the
same Tauo Tor the direct taxatOn of those Statcs
sothat, while on the one hand they cnjoy the BEN
eft derived from an increased representation by
the same provision Of the Constitution they labor
under the corresponding Disadvantage Of an in.
creased ta83tiyn. Ihe other clause having refe-
renee 10 q slave population, proceeds on the idea
that they are property; that question is settled
hy the municipal Legislation Of the States and it
speaks % them as perrons held 10 service under
the laws thereof" Neither Of these articles in
the Constitution processes TO establish the point,
that slaves ore property. The one looks merely
~ representation and taxation, and, by the other,
tleir being property Is assumed
snail, therefore, proceed on the principle, as
being unqucsiionable, and substantially unques-
fioned-as being cOnCcSSUn, by all who have en-
gagged IN the debate, that slaves arc property Two
simple questions viii then present themselves on
Che aTnendWent 10 this BILL The first is shall the
claimant be compensated at all and II he shall
then, secOndlystO That amount
Every citizen Of this country owes 70 the Gov
eminent one common obligation viz. TO contribute
his fair and equitable proportion Of his property 70
those public burdens which are constitutionallv
imposed; hc owes this, and he owes no more. On
CHS fundamental principle Of society rests The tax
laying power in This Government The Govern
usct lcrice : oryrtrihr'icr iron fhc ~i:.1crn in