The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-29

was actually Free as stated in the memorial lie had
consulted with q highly respectable lawyer of the
District, who informed him that cases Of this kind
had never been carried beyond the mere advertising,
if the individual was actually free; but he did not
wish this subject referred TO 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. Y, said he had but few words
to say on this subjects but he should vote in favor OF
select committees striking out calling Tor persons
and papers. This Congress, he was proud to say,
had paid more attention to this subject than any other
and he was glad to see it, as a Northern man, be-
he believed it would allay this exciting subject
and forever put it at rest He was confident there
North.
Mr.. SAUNDERS. It is not so--it is not so. The
gentleman himseIfis an abolitionist
Mr.. ID. contnued.s.He said it was impossible for
the North be in yor of abolition, because if the
negroes were liberated they would oyerrun the free
States, which would prove the greatest calamity that
could befa them. Ii the slave States were to abol-
ish slavery he would be in favor of an immediate
dissolution of the Union, rather than encounter such
a curse of being Overrun with negroes. Yes, lmme-
date abolition would be signal for final dissolu.
ton Of the Union on the part Of the Northern States
lift should ever take place, it must be gradual that
population would fall upon them, and their poor
houses would be filled with this class of people, AS
much as he priced the Union, he did not hesitate to
declare that he would rather it dissolved than to
encounter the effects OF immediate abolition OF slave
ry He was no abolitionist, and he wanted Southern
gentlemen to dvest themselves of all apprehension
upon this subject, because he assured them that it
was not to the interest Of the North to have this pop
ulatiop 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 10
them.
the North do not wish to interfere with the rights
Of the Southern States, but leave this subject entirely
to those to whom il Of right belongs, that they may
exercise their own will and pleasure 10 the premises
EHe wanted this Aw, by which this freeman is i'm.
pfSponed sNeAled} because the North would stand
nr&MGaipst IL wv Unconstitutional. The District OF
Coldmbla was common ground, and he believed it
was constitutional to abolish slavery within it, and
he, for one would exercise that power if necessary
This merely his private opinion, although cx-
pressed here, and by which he did not wish other gen.
temen governed, if it did not comport with their
views of the Constitution, for the maintenance OF
which there must be mutual concession. He want
ed other sccoAs of the country to concede something
as 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.
[Some 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 coded this District as permanent
seat Of Government gave away all right and soye-
reignty to it.
Mr.. PAYNE, of Alabama, inquired if il 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
Mr.. HARRISON, OF Georgia, said the Southern
members had kept their seats du ing this exciting de-
bate; but it was time, after such declarations to
which he had listened, TO know upon what ground
they stood The South knew their constitutional
rights, which they would maintain at every hazard
In the formation Of the Constitution this question
right to our slave property acknowledged
without which there would have been no Conslitu-
ton, no Union, which we all should prize; but
this tampering with Southern rights is no way
to perpetuate this nestmable prize given to us
by our revolutionary fathers. In every question
that is introduced on this floor, slavery is dragged in
and he, as 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
formation, with eye TO economy, slavery is intro
duced, and il high time that it should be brought
10 close. He much in favor Of economy as
any other gentleman on this floor, and wished to
it carried out practically. A great deal had been
said about the Army and the Navy, to which we
must look for the maintenance Of the integrity Of
lie service to which must look, but to the cbval-
ny Of the American people-the volunteer militia Of
the country-who would take care 10 guard the pub
lie veal against cncroachments, foreign and domes-
tic. He would let the gentleman from New York
know that the South Gid intend to abolish slavery
within their borders but in the name of their fathers
they would maintain their constitutional rights in their
purity, and he did not wish gentlemen to be uneasy
upon this subject, for they were able and capable TO
defend them when it shall be necessary so to do.
He Southern man in interest and in feel ny,
and God forbid he should be other than Southern
man. but at the same time he had feeling in common
with the Union. This memorial called upon him to
INVESTIGATE the case OF "negro' unaccompanicd by
any evidence whatever TO guide him in coming to a
decision. Is the habcas corpus suspended in this Dis
tric that this House is called upon TO throw aside IFS
legislative character and try belonging cxclu-
svely to the judiciary OF the county? 1t has been
intimatcd on this floor that no SLAVE HOLDER is
in favor of acting against this illegal confinement of
negro. The courts of this District sit almost every
day, yet this negro has applied TO be discharged
from confinement, which has been asserted is illc-
GAL Just, and tyranncal, which an insult TO the
Judiciary of the District If this law be wrong let il
be repealed and general one enacted--not one to
suit particular case to crafty the views and feel
ings of the gentleman from Ohio, any one else
Ia my mind he is slave, or he would have applied
the proper tribunal TO have been discharged This
is J1ia facie evidence Of the fact and the very hest
of reasons why this House should not interfere in the
matter.
He had said more than he intended but ii was done
to let gentlemen from the North--the peculiar guar
dians of the South-know that they would take care
of their own interests, and abolish slavery if they
thought proper, let it alone, just as they chose
and if they (the North were tired Of the Union let
us know it, and be off, which they (thc 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 it might be referred, and report
made, as to know whether there any opprcs-
sve laws in existence in this District and if so,
abolish them. Mr.. Beardsleys seat being in sleepy
hollow, il impossible TO hear him distinctly l.
He in favor of referring the subject to the Ju-