The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-06-03

Abolitlohists of the North were few and nsignifi.
cant. He did not think SO. lie thought they
we're numerous and increasing, and soon as
they could get majority of both Houses in Con-
gress, then the rights of the South would be lost
Mr.. Wise said the report had come at last
though he had never expected 10 see il. He was
opposed to the principles Of the report, and also to
The printing OF It, u Southern men Dere to agree
10 that report, they uere gone, s,eept a,cdy. There
was not an inch of ground left Tor them to stand
upon. 1t only contended for what abolitionsts
ncser denied, and conceded all that they claimed
II conceded the constitutlonahty ofCongress inter
ierlng IN the question OF slavery in the District of
Columbia, and that was the only question al issue.
lie had another ground of opposition There had
been pledge given TO him that the ground should
decidedly, unequivocally be taken, that Congress
has not the power TO abolish slavery in the District
OF Columbia. Such pledge was made and was
made 10 hIm but he could see no such ground Ia.
ken IN the report. The whole amount of what
was SAID was, that it is not erpcdent noo 10 inter
ttre IN The subject He expected that the commit
tee would have declared that Congress had no
power. There was another point, far more i'm.
Portant lhanan other, which he should have liked
TO have seen treated in the report. Ii was whcth.
or Congress has power TO limit or prohibit The
slave trade between the States of the Union He
feet 10 all the abolition memorials, than 10 print
and recognise the principles Of that report, and
give II credit az the expression Of Southern feel
my or opinion.
Mr.. Thompson, of South Carolina, said he should
at 'he proper time, cudcayor 10 nsSer the argu
mcpts Of the report. lie would only say, now
that IL did not contain South Cdroiiaiqn arguments
or opinions. a more stale combination OF argu.
mcnt without reason and Jesuiiica sophistry, he
bad never seen; aud he thought it ought 10 be
burnt ty the comEon hangnan. They do not
come up 20 the question. and say il is uncunsttu.
uoual Tor Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis
rtct but they intimate that it Is and finally mod
uy that inlllnaton by saying that il would be
violation OF the public faith. He understood the
report 10 deny the necessity Of receiving abolition
memorials aud e the chairman had taken that
ground al the commencement Of the controversy,
much trouble would have been spared. There
we're some subjects on which he was afraid to trust
his feelings but .g,s was not one and hen such
report was made he could not slumber a mo-
m,nl, bat took the first opportunity to get the floor
10 denoancc 1t. lie could no, say from " hat cause
IT arose bat certainly the report did not speak the
sentiments oi southern men.
Mr. Owens, Of Georgia, hoped the usual course
would he taken, and that The report might be print
ed, The report was very long, and ii was amos;
impossible tor any one 10 understand II from hear.
ing II read lie hoped this premature discussion
would be stopped, and that the question might h.
taken at once. He moved to print % 900 copies,
but ~as wiling ~ take either ten or thirty thou.
sand. He wanted the report 10 be placed in the
hands o.; the People.
Nj. BOuldin wished to have all the memorials
printed, II, wanted 10 have the South see what
the abo'Ihuuists bad IN view, and he thought ii
proper that they should haze all the documents
before them,
Mr. Iiawcs said, that from tie argument Of the
gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. " Use he was sat
lsfcd that the report ought 10 be printed. lie did
not know what was in the report He protested
10 be a southern man in feeling and interest
His constituents were so, and he believed the re-
port would suit their opinions. He, like Others
mad not heard the whole of the report, and he
would not pretend - say that 1t would suit him,
but he would vote for larger number than usual,
that others might have II aud Judge Of 1t. His
constituents might form diticreut opinion from
himself on the subject He could not undertake
10 say what their Judgment would be- He would
ask the gentleman from Virginia If he was ready
10 say has constituents were not satisfied with the
report.
MIR. Wise said yes, every man of them would
dcuounce IT, While he was up, he would say that
the gentleman from Georgia had Just admitted to
him that the report contained no declaration that
Congress has no Poirer 10 interfere ruth stauery IN
fhiS District
Mr.. Speght wished the report might be printed,
and he thought no man could be prepared 10 act
upon 1t merely from hearing 1t read in the House.
lie would have it printed, not 70 sanction its doc
trines, bat 10 enable the members to Judge what il
did actually contain. He had attended carefully
to the reading, and lie thought no document
the subject had ever been presented which more
fully sustained the interests of the South. 1t de-
nj d, in the strongest terms, the right OF Congress
10 interfere with Slavery 10 the States, and denied
the expodiency Of interfering in the District. Let
gentlemen examine it, and answer with arguments,
rather than object 10 have them made known.
NJ. Sutherland was willing TO print the report,
If for 20 other reason, because the gentleman from
South Carolina Nr. Pnckucy) had been accused
of disappearing the sentiments OF his coGstltu-
ents. lie wished to have the People OF South Ca
roina see it, that when the gentleman should re-
turn home, the People might know what he had
done, and he might have before them the means
of defence against such accusations. He replied
to the remark that the report conceded that Con
gress had right TO leglslatc upon the subject in
the District of Columbia; and said that such a
right had never been TIL recently denied lie was
an advocate Tor The report, lie would hol pretend
to say that it would SUIT him or his constituents
but he was satisfied it ought TO be printed, to let
the People know what the arguments were.
Mr.. W. Thompson said that when he and his
friend from Virginia objected TO the printing, they
did not mean to object to the usual number for the
use of the House. He expressed his dissent from
the remarks of the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
MIR. Sutherland aud said, according to that gen.
AZ. ,I, Of 9TH he he rad HI
played in defending the report, he must have some /
interest in it,
Mr.. Robertson, of Va, said the report conceded /
exnry ihnn. Il cnnccded the nrinciple that Con. |