Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-24

moi but be SPNSlUVC :.
ru,t the principles of a, species OF nS S 10
fs rs he had b.en able understand the report from
hearing il read ic could not concur WIN 'ie
;$om Virginia. oar "ise that .y e'.1Ie question "a
power snrrendercu On Tue contrary
r lhouubt that the rights Of the people OF Maryland,
Vryinia, and The District, were sufficiently defended
in the report, by the Denial of any power in Con.
oress 10 20 further the subject Of slavery than the
States ceding the territory did, or might do 10 as
secrain whether the abstract power existed IN the
Federal Government il would be necessary to enter IN
10 critical examination Of the acts Of CONCESSION anu Tue
Constitution but long the ground assumed IN .e
report should be adhered to by Congress- VIZ hat Tue
people in the District were cntted to equal p"tec
Of the hands Of Congress with the nIabitanls '
and Maryland, Inc thought 1t unnecessary 10 "qu'e m
to IA abstract point which might or might not ever come
up for decision Alo tic conSe sequences moving from
IN opinion furnished exclusive guide 10 the uccura
on of that opiiop especially upon point OF law, yet
-n ugs it might be useful 10 regard Tue tesns
Which would follow from the establishment OF the doc
trne maintained in the rep"rt and that contened iof
by the gentleman from Virginia. ~,
Mary!Nnd had passed an oct approprating $780,
to send out of The United States free blacks, such
slaves ss might be voluntarily emancipated The mana
gers Of this fund aided by society, OF which ho
lair had the honor to be the presiding officer and
they had established colony in Africa, which was us
hourshng as any colony which had ever been planted
AS far their experience had gone, the number oil
slaves who voluntarily enamel paed by their mas
tcrs for the purpose of being sent to A!rica was
than the Of sending them and this iact OF IL
self, might satisfy the non SlagenOiolilS
nany as well as policy, required the adjustment OF
every matter relating the African race to be eit 10 those
who best understood their condition by mem alons {,
could any truly wise or humane measure ever DC re
into effect? What might be the consequence OF inns
STEP taken BY MARYLAND no could torcsee; oul IL
was evident that if etnauc patton continued to DC ahead
of funds increase Of pecnniary means must e'G"iG
in the conversion of that State into non sa"f"o'a
ing State Now suppose this result. 10 take place IN any
given number of years, and the thing 10 occur III
Virginia. it clear that the construction OF those oppes
ed to the report would conSgn lie people OF me DiSrct
10 remcdiless and hopeless condition, whilst on inc
other hand The principles of the report would permit:
upon the application Of the inhabitants, the extension 10
them by Congress Of the laws which had operated
upon Maryland and Virginia. That such a construction
of the powers of Congress would enable them to 40
this would be attended with desirable result must lie
thought he admitted upon all hands, provided the phrase
ology of the Constitution and the acts of cession would
admit Of it; and this was the only case IN which he I'M
derstood The report to assert that Congress possessed
any power slavery in the District
Mr. Owens Of Georgia 10 inquire whether The
gentleman from Maryland was not going too tar into The
merits Of the report, upon motion to Pr'nt.
Mr. Howard said that during the whole session he
had carefully avoided giving any encouragement 10 gen.
era debscs upon the sub cc OF slavery, and was un'
willing to do any thing more than state the reason
why he should vote for printing IN extra number OF tho
report Having expressed this, he would hope, with the
gentleman from Georgia, that the debate would not he
prolonged.
= Mr. Patton wished 10 state his for voting to
q print this doc lie should not oniy vote to iiht
the usual number but he would vote to print any rea.
sonabe extra number The report was presented 10 MN
rs the result Of the abors OF I committee when iaa
been raised take into consideration most interesting
and exciting subject He had not concurred with the
House the it thought proper TO pursue on inns
subject because he not Of opinion that it was the
most prudent and jnticious course; and he had not
changed in opinion. He perfectly satisfied that the
expectations of gentlemen would he frustrated and dts
appointed Notwithstanding this, he would be in favor
OF having the report take the usual course No matter
whether they agreed with the CONCLUSIONS to which the
committee had nol still 1t should be put IN
form in which The House could Judge OF It's acts OF ons
sion or Of commission. No man could suppose that by
refusing to print it, it would not be subject 0! discus
sion there and elsewhere. The document would be
printed; and the agitavrs and fanatics CT the Nor
would seize upon it, and discussion would again be re-
newed He did not believe that there abolitionis
from the Potomac to the Northernn'ost part Of Maine
who would not be in favor of printing this document
lie begged leave 10 say, that in voting to print he n|~
not be understood as cuncuirng with the committee Ia
their report because he apprchcndcd that it Gid not
30 far as he desired it should 90.
Mr. Speght said If he understood the question rightly
il was 10 print the usual number OF copes and he would
respectfully suggest 10 gentlemen whether ought to be
discussed before it printed lie lRRs co,.lrss, a
though he listened very closely to te reading of the do
cunen that other gentlemen had been more fortunate
than himself in hearing IT, if they were able to decide
that il should not be printed. ie asked tie gentleman
from Va, (Mr. Wise if he prepared TO act th:
report before it printed aud he would also ask
whether voting to print the usual NUMBER could be con
strucd into acquesccncc IN the report! lie was su!
prised 10 hear the opposition which had been made 10 TIM
report because far he had heard 1t asserted every
principle which the South conlended for except perhaps
80 far rs the District Of Columbia concerned; and
when this question came before the House. he pre-
pared to express his opinion upon it, his mind was
made up, but he did not consider this The proper time 10
do So
Mr. Wise rose 10 state to the House, that he did
object TO The printing Of the usual number; bot
no obi fed tn he q IA
Mr. Robertson objected 10 the printing OF the usual OF
any other number Of this report.
The hour of one having arrived, the Speaker arrested
the discussion.
Mr. Mercer S:sa &c suspend tAe rule until half pas,
ocuck for the purpose of dispensing Of the motion to
PRINT which agreed tu-ayes l27 not counted
Mr., Sutherland was in favor of printing the report
which had been made by The gentleman from South Ca
rona. That gentleman had been accused by orc Of his
colleagues (hlr Thompson) of msrepresenng The feel
Jugs and wishes Of his State. This was high and
grave Charge and he wished 10 give the former chance
Of defending himself by printing his report and send
ing it TO South Carolina, and thus aording opporu.
nifty to the people Of that State to judge for themselves
He not prepared TO say, that all The reasoning OF The
report would sU either bis constituents or himself but
this would prevent him from having it printed and
sent oul for The Judgment Of The country; and he would
always be ready afford opportunity to those against
whom serous charges had been made, 10 be heard.
Mr. Thompson of South Caroliaa could not oppose
printing the ordinary number Of this report but objected
to printing extra quantity. lie repeated that his col
lengue, (r Pinckney0 had grossly msrepreenlcd his
State But il seemed that the gentleman from Pennsl
vuna last up had undertaken to vindcatc his colleague
from charge upon which that colleague had chosen lie
remain silent. There was much fitness in the gentle
man iroa Pennsylvania n champion for the gea,tie
liom South Carolina. The gentleman from Penn.
sYlvania had furnished the world with his Of poll
teal ethics it simple question Of the rule Of three
how much principal will an ascertancd amount Of in.
teres give He should suppose, from The zeal Of that
gentleman in this matter that he had interest in it
MIR. Robertson commended that the report yielded to
Congress tie right TO abolish slavery in this District aud
yielded escry thing which the abohtionsts could have
expected when they sent their petitions there. lie had
heard the report read, he would not with surprise