The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-29

had never been carried beyond the mere advertising
Il the individual actually free; but he did not
wish this subject referred 10 the Committee on the
District OF Columbia, but to the Committee on the
Judiciary, who could report upon the law and the
facts.
Mr. DAVIS, of N. ", said he had but few words
TO say this subjee but he should vote in favor Of
select committee striking out calling for persons
aud papers. This Congress, he was proud 10 say
had paid more attention 10 this subject than any other
and he ~as glad TO see il, as a Northern man be-
cause he believed II would allay this exciting subject
aud forever put II at rest. lie was confident there
were more aboltonists al the South than at the
North
MIR. SAUNDERS. 1t is not soft is not so. The
gentleman hmselfis an abolitionst.
MIR. ID. continued lie said IL was impossible for
the North to be in favor OF abolition because if the
negroes were liberated they would overrun the free
States which would prove the greatest calamity hat
could befal them. Ii the slave States were to abol
ish slavery he would be in favor of an l,nmedlat
dissolution Of the Union rather than encounter such
curse OF being overrun with negroes. Yes, imme-
date abolition would be signal for final dissolu.
ton OF the Union on the part of the Northern States
it should take place. it must be gradual or that
population would fall upon them, and their poor
houses would be filled with this class of people As
much he priced the Union he did not hesitate TO
declare that he would rather see it dissolved than to
encounter the effects of immediate abolition of slave
ry. lie was abolonist, and he wanted Southern
gentlemen 10 dvest themselves of all apprehension
upon this subject, because he assured them that il
was not to the interest OF the North to have this pop
ulaon let loose upon them True, he did not regret
that slavery had been abolished in the State of New
York, but he would regret TO slavery abolished in
the South, which would prove burden and tax to
them,
Tue North do not wish to interfere with the rights
of the Southern States but leave This subject entirely
to those to whom it Of right belongs, that they may
exercise their own~wil and pleasure in the premises
lie wanted this law, by which this freeman il i'm
prisoned, repealed; because the North would stand
up against it unconstitutional The District of
Columbia was common ground, and he believed it
constitutional to abolish slavery within it, and
he for one, would exercise that power if necessary
! This merely his private opinion, although ex-
pressed here, and 10y which he did not wish other gen.
| tlemen governed, if il did not comport with their
views Of the Constitution, for the maintenance of
which there must be mutual concession. He want
ed other sections Of the country to conccde something
well as the North. New York the State which
he had the honor IN pat to represent had conceded
more to this Union than all the other sections put
together.
lSome person said In the way of Presidents she
had not conceded much
The moment the District of Columbia came into
the possession of the General Government that very
moment slavery was constitutionally abolished and
the States which ceded this District as permanent
seat Of Government, gave away all right and sove-
reignty to il.
Mr.. PAYNE, of Alabima, inquired if i, was in
order to discuss slavery in the Territories
| The SPEAKER replied in the negative
Mr.. DAVIS: Let select committee have this
subject and report upon the law and the facts, and
once more restore tranquility to the country.
MIR. HARRISON, OF Georgia, said the Southern
members had kept their seats du ing this exciting de-
bate but il was time, after such declarations TO
which he had listened, to know upon what grouud
they stood, The South knew their constitutional
rig ats, which they would maintain at every hazard
In the forms of the Constitution tbs question of
a right TO our slave property acknowledged,
without which there would have been no ConsiItu-
ton, no Union which all should prize; hut
this tampering with Southern rights is no way
| to perpetuate this inesiimable prize given to us
by our revolutionary fathers In every question
that introduced this floor, slavery is dragged
and he, Southern man, did protest in the most
solemn manner against this course. In the discus
sion of the resolution of Mr.. Hale Of New Hamp-
shire, calling upon the Secretary Of the Navy for in
formation with eye to economy slavery Is intro
duced and was high time that it should be brought
10 a close. He much IN favor of economy as
any other gentle nan on this floor, and wished to
it carried out practically great deal had been
said about the Army and the Navy, to which
must look for the maintenance OF the integrity Of
the Union II was not to these branches of the pub,
lie service to which must look, but the chyal-
~ OF the American people--the volunteer militia OF
the countrywide would take care 10 guard the pub
lie veal against cncroachments, foreign and domes
| tic. lie would let the gentleman from New York
know that the South Gid intend To abolish slavery
within their borders; but in the Of their fathers
they would maintain their constitutional rights in their
purity, and he did not wish gentlemen 10 be uneasy
upon this subject, for they were able aud capable 10
defend them when IL shall be necessary so TO do
j lie a Southern man IN interest and IN feel ng
and God forbid he should be other than a South, IN
man, but at the same time he had a feeling IN common
with the Union. This memorial called upon him to
! INVESTIGATE the Of negro unaccompanicd by
any eyidcn whatever 10 guide him in coming 10 a
decision. Is the h0beas corpus suspended in this Dis.
ric that this House called upon 10 throw aside ITS
legislative character, and try cases belonging exclu-
syely TO the judiciary of the county II has been
/ intimated on this floor that no SLAVE HOLDER is
! IN favor Of acting against this illegal confinement Of
a negro. The courts Of this District sit almost every
day. yet this negro has not applied 10 be discharged
| from confinement, which has been asserted is e-
gal, unjust and tyrsnnical, which an insult TO the
Judiciary Of the District II this law be wrong let
/ be repealed and general one enactcd-not ono TO
suit part cuar case 10 crafty the views and feel
/ ngs Of the gentleman from Ohio, or any ono else
In my mind he IS slave, or he would have applied
TO the proper Tribunal 10 have been discharged Thi.
is Jrind tacc evidence Of the fact and the very hest
Of reasons why this House should not interfere in the
matter.
! lie had sad more than he Intended but il was done
10 let gentlemen from the North-thc peculiar guar
dians of the South-know that they would take care
of their own interests, and abolish slavery If they
thought proper, or let il alone. Just as they chose
aud il they (the North tired Of the Union let
US know it, and be of, which they the South would
extremely regret, because they loved the Union.
Mr.. BEARDSLEY spoke in favor of amending
the law, and said he had voted for the reception of
the petition, that il might be referred, and report
made, so to know whether there were my oppres.
siyc laws in existence in this District and IL So
abolish them. MIR. Beardsey's scat being in sleepy
hollow, Il was impossible TO hear him distinctly /
He in favor Of referring the subject 10 the Ju-
dietary Committee, that the House might know whe.
Their the law should be repealed or not.
| Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, said he agreed with
! the gentleman from New York, Mr. Beardsley) and
thought the proper course TO pursue TO refer the
subject 10 the Judiciary Committee, who would re-
port UNION the facts and allay all unnecessary excite.