The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-08

The following is the preamble and reso
luton Oh the subject of slavery introduced
into the House by Mr.. Slade, which, as vii
be seen by the Herald of the 18th inst. wa:
voted for by all the northern Wings, anG
against, by the entire body of locos.
THE DOMESTIC SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. Slade 1.-THE state of Vermont being
called) moved that the 2lst rule, WHICH pro-
vides that 'no petition, memorial, resolution
or other paper praying the abolition of Sla
very in the Distict of Columbia, or any
State or Territory, on the Slave trade be-
tween the States or Territories of the Uni.
ted States, in which it now exists, shall be
received by this House, or entertained in
any way whatever" be suspended to enable
him to offer the following preamble and res.
olution, which were read for information.
Whereas, by a law Of the United States,
passed on the 18th of May, 1920, the for
eign Slave trade is declared to be piracy,
and is made punishable by death.
And whereas there is, and has long been
carried on in the District of Columbia, with.
in sight of the halls of the two Houses of
Congress, and the residence of the chief
Executive Magistrate of this nation, a trade
in men, involving all the principles of out
rage on human rights which characterize
the foreign Slave trade, and which have
drawn down upon it the maledictions of the
civilized world, and stignatized those en-
gagged in II as enemies of the human race.
And whereas, the trade thus existing this
District is aggravated in enormity by rea-
son of its being carried on in the heart of
nation whose institutions are based upon
the principle that all men are created equal
and whose laws have in effect proclaimed
IFS great and superlative iniquity aggravs-
ted. moreover, by IFS outrage on the sensi-
bilities of Christian communitv-bv its
sundering the ties of Christian brotherhood,
and by the anguish of its remorseless viola
ton oil all the domestic relations, rendered
the more deep and enduring by the hal.
lowing influence of the Christian religion
upon those relations, and by the increased
strength which it gives TO the domestic af-
lection.
And whereas one of the purposes of the
Constitution, in providing for the setting
apart and exempting from State jurisdiction
District for the seat OF Government of
the United States, was to provide com.
mon ground whereon all could meet, under
system of law not involving, ofnecessity,
principles or usages peculiar to any of the
States, but based upon the great principles
assertedin the Declaration ofIndependencc,
and looking TO the great objects contempla.
ted in preamble to the Constitution.
And whereas that purpose of the Consti.
tuition is defeated by subjecting a majority
of the Representatives of the people and of
the States in the two Houses of Congress,
and majority of those employed in the
Executive departments at the seat of Gov.
eminent. to the necessity of witnessing
trade in human beings which is to them
source Of grlevous annoyance and an OBJ.
iect of deep adherence and detestation.
And whereas this trade in human beings
is carried or under the authority of laws e.
nacted by the Congress of the q. States.
thereby involving the People of all the States
in its guilt and disgrace-a guilt and dis
grace enhanced by the consideration that
those laws are virtual usurpation of power,
the Constitution of the United States hav.
ing conferred upon Congress no right to
establish the relation of Slavery, or to sane
ton and protect the Slave trade in any
portion of this Confederacy: therefore,
Resolred, That all laws in any way au.
thorizing or sanctioning the Slave trade in
this District, ought to be repealed and the
trade Iohibited, and that the committee on
the District of Columbia be instructed to re-
port bill accordingly.