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

lherc had been All express pledge given to him, that the
ground would be taken the report that Congress had
not me power 10 abolish slavery in The District Of c.
iumba ic repeated that this pledge had been distinct
" mace 10 hn, that no report should be made, unless
that ground should De taken and he saw no such ground
taken in the report The Whole amount of u hat was
contained in the report wus that it was not expedient
now to abolish slavery in the District MIR w. sac
there petitions and resolutions laid before the com.
mittec, Of which notice had been taken; and The
committee had only announced in relation to the States
what every knew that these States had declared that
Congress had power to abolish slavery in the Dis
rct of Columbia. He did not consider the repo. as
defence Of Southern interest," nor as an expression Of
Southern feeling
Mr. Thompson of South Carolina would rot allow one
moment 10 pass without his unmeasurrd dcnunciaton Of
the report just read He felt called upon do So that
it shout not go 10 the word with the authority Of the
(not Of the individual who had presented it. butt
Of the State from which he He had listened in
vain for one South Carolina argument, honest
bursting out Of the feelings of South Carolnan;
OF S"ut Caronlan from geography only, but one who
has head 10 the dangers that await US, and heart
that does shrink from meeting them. Instead Of 4
cool, hrm and fixed purpose to stand upon the rights
the chartered lights Of Tie South, what have WEI
abandonment. Of those rights stale omiics about union
and analicsm puere rhetoric and esuitical sophisty
When the report sQuints even at the constitutional
gumrnt it Shrnks back from declaring it unconsttution-
al and mohcs with the phrase volation Of the public
faith" Why not speak out: The chairman Of that
committee assured ME and my friend from Virginia,
(Alr Wise aud others who known 10 stand on the
third parallel this question: that he would not report
ut all unless with the distinct assertion of the principle
that Congress had constitutional power to legislae
upon slavery in this District And how has this pledge
been cdeemed by pulling declaration violation of
public faith Mr. T. desired to hear less Of public faith
from regardless Of private faith. Mr.. T. would
not if he cond fairly avoid it, send the report to the
printer he would rather commit it to the flames or 10 the
hangman. ..rir" a-a.#
Mr. Ovens said, the document must speak for Itself:
1t WIS the intention OF the COMMITTEE 10 have lire docu
ments printed so that it might be fairly understood, and
might be subject Of delibera.ion erealler but no
had anticipated deGale il at this stage. He had
supposed every gentleman would have c0ncurred in
motion TO prGt so that they would have opportunity
TO deliberate upon 1t and make up opinion. II was
document great length, and it impossible for gen.
temcn 10 make up opinion upon it unless they
predisposed to oppose H. lie had hoped that gentlemen
would have permitted it to take the usual course, and
then they would have an opportunity to make up an
opinion upon it. MIR. o. concluded by moving print
Thirty thousand ex,ra copies Of the report.
Mr.. Bouldin Remarked that he would not have said L
word this motion, but for the fact that he had often
expressed his willingness to print the memorials (or
OF thcm) tins subject that he had yielded his opinion
md openly and expressly, often in this House and else
where expressed It, that it would be better to print The
memorials and even the abolition papers, or let them cis
culae openly (sccng that they circulated covert
ly than 10 refuse. He had given up his own notion to
the better Judgment aud experience Of others from the
South, knowing their feelings and Interests to be the
same with his, and their Judgments more maured, and
Judgment in compliance with thai Of his colleagues
from the South, and, lie believed with that Of his
sttucnts. tc had thought the people ought to know
vino they were, many few, and what they wanted
Ii could do no harm. Mr. b. said he asked by
friend under but audible Of voice, why not
print this report Mr. u. said he had voted against rails
ing the committee, that The report caine from that
committee; that it contained matters that he not
willing to pay for for; that the memorials and
pupers beiire alluded to- from known and ac-
knowiedsed enemies Gn this particularly to the inter
css of the South; but their projects he was will
ing his constituents should understand and know
This report cnntainrd Arguments and positions that Ec
did not believe would do his constituents and the coun-
try any good. He had not heard every word read, but
he had heard enough 10 satisfy him that the general as
pect OF it would not suit him his constituents he did
not wish to pay for the printing ot it, was he willing
TO have any in doubt about his objection 10 the rails
ing OF the committee the general complexion of the
report He SAID he had boarded, and still boarded with
the honorable Chairman. (Nlr Pnckncy) and lived and
had lived, and still should live, he mad doubt in The
utmost friendship and harmony with that gentleman.
He could not, therefore. be then influenced by any dis
like TO the Chairman. te simply did not wish to print
il; and having expressed his opinion hitherto thu! lie
wished all upon the subject printed, and only
strained by the general opinion of the South he wished
TO make this explanation; the more especially, as he ex-
pected, and had little doubt that many OF his political
friends and others from the South, would vote for the
printing lie thought the rights Of the District and the
South were plain, and needed neither report nor argu
mcnt TO sustain them; that they were we'll understood;
know whether any body intended 10 interfere with those
rights. 90. .,....-.., No.,
Mr. Hawes was convinced from the arguments of gen
temen that this report ought to be printed No sooner
this very long rrpnrt read, in the preparation Of
which The committee had been engaged weeks upon
weeks, than gentleman from the South rose in his
place. and said he could not vote for it, because it
tanned such and such matters. Another gentleman from
the South and said, that he would 20 for printing
The document, because he considered going allay
the excitement the South; and this difference Of OPT
MON he considered the strongest why the do
cumcnt Should be printed His constituents would not
permit him TO form opinion for them in this matter;
they would require the report itself TO be submitted to
heln and he thought the gentleman from Virginia had
gone rather far in speaking for his constituents
Mr.. Wise said he could speak for every man in his
district and say, that they would not be satisfied with
this report; and with the exception Of few, he could
speak for the State. Whilst up, he would say to the
gentleman from Georgia, who had said that none would
oppose the printing except those prcdsposed not agree
with it, He would say that in consequence Of the pledge
given to him, he had kept strict eye upon the re-
port while rrading and besides this he was informed by
the gentleman from Georgia himself, that there no
express declaration that Congress had not the power 10
abolish slavery in the District.
Mr. Owens said that the observations Of the gentle
from Virginia showed the necessity Of having this
document printed so that every gentleman could be
clearly informed ON the subject.
Mr. Halves remarked that the gentleman from Virginia
Mr. Wise) had said that he would answer for every
in his district. He believed the constituents of that gen.
tlcuan from what he had heard Of them, 10 be high
minded and honorable set Of men but he would say,
hut if they permitted their representative TO form an
opinion for them, they most serve set of men,
Mr. H. said Ills constituents would demand TO have the
document laid before them for their own expanation
and he felt il TO his duty 10 vote for the printing Of the
largest number Of copies.
Slr. Howard said that lie intended TO vote, not only
for printing the document but for printing the largest
number proposed and wished ns States 10 the South
Of Virginia might be interested in the question of abol-
ton Of slavery the District, mus. o Be d"ra that
. 1871 &C ihnir territory and population,