Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-04-10

for our deliberations, whose feelings are
outraged with lmpunity with transactions
like this ? Suppose, sir, that mournfuI
and degrading spectacle was at this mo-
ment exhibited under the windows of our
chamber, do you think the Senate could
deliberate, could continue with that COM
posure and attention which [ see around
mez No, sir; all your powers could not
preserve order for moment. The feel
lngs of humanity would overcome those
OF regard for the peculiar institutions of
the States; and though we would be po-
lltlcally and legally bound not to inter-
lere, We are not morally bound to with
hold our sympathy, and our execrltion in
witnessing such inhuman traffic. This
traffic alone, in this District, renders it an
uncomfortable and unfit place for your
seat OF Government. Sir, it is but one or
two years since Saw standing at the rail
road depot, as passed from my boarding
house to this chamber, some large wag-
ons and teams, as if waiting for freight
the cars had not then arrived. | was in
CURED of, when returned to nv Iodg-
'ngs, by my IandIady, if knew the OBJ
ject of those wagons which / saw in the
morning. replied, | did not; l suppose
they came and were waiting for loading.
Yes, for slaves said she; and one Of
those wagons were filled with little bows
and little girls, who had been bought up
through the country, and were to be taxi
en- to a Southern market All, SIR con-
tinued she, it makes my very heart ache
to see them The very recital unnerved
and untitled me for thought or reflection
on any other subject fol some lime. 1t is
scenes like this, of which ladies OF nv
country and my State complained in their
petitions, some time since, as rendering
this District unpleasant, should they wish
to visit the capital of the nation, rs wives,
sisters, daughters. or friends of members
of Congress. Yet, sir these respectable
females were treated with conemptuous
| sneers; they were compared on this floor
10 the fsh-women Of Paris, who dipped
their fingers in the blood of revo !utionary
France. Sir, if the transaction in slaves
| here, which [ have mentioned, could
make such impression on the heart of a
lady, resident of the District, one who
had been used to slaves, and was proba-
bly, an owner. what would be the feelings
OF ladies' from free States on beholding a
like transaction? | will leave every gen
tleman and every lady to answer for them
selves. | am unable to describe it. Shall
the capital of your country longer exhib
1t scenes so revolving to humanity, thai
the ladies of your country cannot visit il
without disgust? No; wipe off the fou
stain, and let it become a suitable and
comfortable place for the seat of Govern
ment. The Senator, as if conscious tina
his argument on this point had proved toe
much, and of course had proved the con
verse of what he wished to establish, con
cluded this part, by saying, tina: if slave
ry is abolished, the act ought to be con
tined to the city alone. We thank hin
for this small sprinklihg of correct opn
ION upon this arid waste of public feeling
Liberty may yet vegetate and grow even
here. ...
The Senator insists that the States O
Virginia and Maryland would never have
ceded this District, If they had though
slavery would ever have been abolished
, in it. This is an old story twice told |
) was never. however, thought OF, until the
t slave power imagined it, for own secu
rity. Let the States ask retrocession @
the District, and am sure the free States
( will rejoice 70 make the grant, d..
: The Senator condemns the aboltionist
; for desiring that slavery should not exi<
= in the territories, even in Florida. He in
!, sists that, by the treaty, the inhabitants {
that country have the right to remov
: their EFFECTS when they please, and tina
! by this condition, they have right to re
: tain their S ayes as effects, independent
| of the power of Congress. | am no d
: plomatist, sir, but venture to deny tn
d conclusion of the Senator's argument
5 In all orr intercourse with foreign ma
5 tons. in all our treaties in which tn
$ words goods, effects sc. are usec
: slaves have never been considered as 10
e cluded. In all cases in which slaves ar
1 the subject matter ofcontroversy, they ar
e specially named by the word slaves >
S and, if [ remember rightly, it has bee
5 decided in Congress that slaves are no
e property for which a comp ensation shaI
t be made when taken for public use, 70
Y rather slaves cannot be considered as tax
d en- tor public use,) or as property by tn
i enemy. when they are In the service {
S the United States. If | am correct, as
: believe | am, in the positions | have as
y sumed, the gentleman can say nothing
y by this part of his argument, against alb,
/ lltlonists, for asking that slavery shall nc
G exist in Florida.
i The gentleman contends that the pow
: er to remove slaves from one State TO an
I, other, for sale, is found in that par: OF tn
1. Ctnnstitnt;ox, ..hiok .xir-r,s. Ct.,rnro th