Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-01-12
FROM WASHINGTON.

Friday, Dec. ~.
The first business before the House was the
consideration of the motion made yesterday b,
MIR Giddings, in reference to the Imprisonment
of free negro, in danger OF being sold int,
slavery. Mr. Saunders, of North Carolina
made speech in opposition to the motion, lie
| contcnded that if he was free man, he coult
easily prove it, and would at once be set free
| Mr. Giddings replied with great force and co
luencc. lie insisted that the law, AS il now en-
| lscd, was an outrage upon human rights and
| human liberties, lie insisted that IL was the
duty of Congress 10 repeal such laws. as hay,
ing been enacted more than hundred years
ago, pressed most unclually and unlusIly upon
the citizens OF the district.
Mr. Campbell. at South Carolina, concndcd
that the motion involved question oi Judicial
investigation with which the House has moth.
ing to do, lie concndcd that no one, not a
runaway, had the slightest difficulty IN Identity
ing himself as a free man. lie hoped it would
not be referred or ii il was, il would be 10 the
Committee on the Judiciary.
r. ID. Davis of New York, was in favor o!
referring it 10 a select committee. lie tool;
high and noble grounds Loco though he was,
in defence of right and freedom. lie believed
that there were more abolitonsts among the
slave States than in the free. lie excited the
him with an angry denial. lie was not in favor
OF immediate abolition. He was glad to see
the good temper the forbearance and the con.
siderate liberaty with which the present
House had considered these exciting TOPICS
He hoped the subject would be referred t.
select committee, who would report a repeal oil
this law 1t was against the public sentimen,
Of the day. 1t might not be repealed now, but
it could not stand.
Mr. HaralsOn, of Georgia, replied to Mr. Da.
Wis. He spoke, with considerable indignation,
of the manner in which slavery has been in
terweaved into every subject that has come be
fore the House.
Mr. Beardsly, Of New York, (Perish Credit, }
demonstrated against the warmth which a sim
pie question of reference, like this, had brought
out. lie wondered what it would be when
they came to the sober business of the session.
He was in favor Of reference to select COM
mittee. and hoped the law would be revised.
Mr. Stephens of Georgia, was in favor of its
reference to the Committee on the Judiciary
He regretted TO see so much over-zea in a mat.
mcr Of mere reference. lie did not believe
that the rights Of the South were in much dan
ger, let this reference go as it might. II he
understood the law rightly, he was in favor Of
it's repeal
Mr. King, of Massachusetts, said he agreed
with his friend from Georgia that there was no
occasion for the warmth manifested on this re-.
ference, but he was not with him in favor OF it's
reference to the Committee on the Judiciary,
who had so much upon their hands already that
they could not investigate the subject. lie was
in favor of reference to select committee Mr.
King quoted the opinion of Chief Justice Grant,
and others, urging changes in the laws OF the
District
Mr. Cobb. Of Georgia. was opposed to the re-