Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-01-26

FRIDAY, Jan. 20.

hiDAf, jan. ~
An act in amendment of the charter OF Pro-
vidence and Pawtucket East Turnpike Cor
poraion, came mp again, from the Committee,
as amended by them for consideration.
The bill was So amended as to empower
the City Authorities to locate the route of the
Railroad through the city ofProvidence--and
also to authorize the Legislature to regulate
! the rates Of toll.
On the question, shall the act pass as a.
mcnded, it was moved, to call the House
and the question was taken by yeas and nays,
as follows:-yeas AZ, nays IA.
So the bill passed.
| AFTERNOON.
An act relative to Partition, was read once,
and passed.
The Committee on the subject Of the re-
Organization Of the Militia, reported rcsolu-
tions, which were agreed to.
Mr.. Dorr called up the memorials hereto
fore presented on the subject Of slavery and
the slave trade, in the District of Columbia +,
with the following Resolutions:
Resoired, That our Representatives in the
Congress Of the United States be requested
to introduce, and to use their best exertions
| for the passage Of an Act in the House of
| Representatives, to abolish the slave trade
and slavery in the District of Colnmbia and
that our Senators in Congress be also request
ed to use their best exertions in favor Of the
passage of such an Act.
1t was moved by Mr.. 4. J. Hazard, to dis
miss the whole subject.
| Mr.. DOrr objected to this course. lie con-
tended for the right Of free inquiry nd dis
cussion and the privilege of every citizen to
petition the Legislative body, and to have a
bao ,i,S, 10 toI sIat ha chp;
Ically, an nbolitionist--that there were many
Of the memorlalists who were not-but that
he and they were in favor Of the objects en-
braced in the memorial, because they bcicv-
ed them right and just Mr.. ID. advocated the
prayer Of the memorialists--went into detail
on the subject of slavery and the slave trade
the constitutional question, as to whether
Congress has the right to abolish them in
that District.
because Congress had exclusive jurisdiction
there, and he thought the General Assembly
owed it as a duty. to demonstrate against the
slave trade and slavery, in that District as
national evil, he said, which was completely
within the reach Of a national remedy-tIle
votes Of members of Congress.
Mr.. 7. j. Hazard made some remarks. He
deprecated the idea of having any thing to do
with this question in the General Assembly.
lie modified his motion to one for indefinite
postponement.
Mr.Randoiph thought the State Legislature
had no occasion, and no right, to interfere in
this question, and that it would do no good if
they did, for Congress would not be affected
by it. Legislatures were now called upon tol
act on the Senators and Representatives in
Congress after the abolitonists had failed to
control Congress on the subject themselves.
Mr.. R.disclaimed all friendship for slavery;
but he contcnded that we must be governed
by circumstances, SC. and that, in commu-
nifty containing number of blacks equal per
haps superior to the white population, imme-
date emancipation would be extremely dan
gerous. He was rather inclined to believe
Congress had the power to abolish slavery in,
the District of Columbia, but did not think
proper 10 use it. The amount of slave popu-
lation, 6O00, would render abolition extreme
ly dangerous.
Mr.. r. believed it would be impolitc, un-
Just, and dangerous to emancpate slaves in !
District Of Columbia. 1t would be unjust to
the slave holders because when that territory
was ceded to the United States, they had
no reason to think that the right to hold their
own property, as they considered their slaves
was given away, and to take this right from
them, would be breach Of faith. Besides,
he believed the blacks would rather lose than
gain by the change. The gentleman contn.
ned, on general principles, to speak for some
time in opposition to the memorial and reso-
lutions; and enforced the arguments lie had
advanced.
On the question for the indefinite post
ponement, the yeas and nays were called for.
Mr.. Cranston did not wish to postpone
did not wish to dodge The question by post.
ponement. Was ready to give his vote now.
Mr.. Blake said he should vote for the post
ponement though he was opposed to slavery,
and hoped the time would come, when Con.
gress would,as he believed they had the pow
er, do what the memorialsts now ask
Mr.. Spencer had views somewhat similar.
MIR. Dor spoke again in reply to Mr.. Ran
dolph.
Mr.. Randolph offered few more remarks
by way of rejoinder. u
Mr.. Simmons opposed the postponement. Il
Mr. 4. r. Hazard withdrew it, and moved
70 postpone to the next session.
Mr.. Randolph renewed the motion to post
Done indefinitely.
The former motions were both Withdrawn,
md the question was taken on the passage of
he resolutions, and decided in the negative
BY the following vote, viz:
Ieas-Messrs. Curtis, Dorr Luther, Il.
Potter, Randall, Thomas, Whipple-7. l.
Nays--Messrs. Allen, Austin, Aldrich,
Browning, Bowen, Blake, C. Brown, N. A.
Brown, Brayton, Cranston, J. II. Clark, Car
,enter, Cross. Church, Cook, d. Clark, Dur
ZEE, Drown, Eddy, Fcnner, Gavitt, Greene,
Hughes, Hathaway, r. r.. Hazard, II. J. lIaz.
lrd, Hopkins, G. G. King, G. Kenyon, II. D.
King, Kinnicut, Manchester, Mowry, A. F.. |
Potter, Randolph, Remington, Rogers, Spen-
,er,Sannders, Sheffield III. NJ Sisson ,Sprapuc,