The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-21

. Mr. Gjddings remarked that he mad
:, the motion solely with view of calling
) the attention of the committee and of tht
country to the consideration for whcf
Congress is making this appropriation. -
He then called on the clerk 10 read the
article in our treaty with those Indians
by which the United States stipulated to
pay this sum. That being read, he asked
the clerk to read the stipulation on the
part of the Indians contained in the next
article. 1t was read in words. "quoted''
in the foreg DING mole.
Mr. G. went on 10 say, that for this stip-
ulaton on the part of the Indans 10 catch
runaway slaves, the government had, for
eleven years, annually paid over these
sums. The money was mostly drawn
from the people of the free States, and was
paid out for such purposes. He said he
had no intention 10 occupy the time ofthe
House. All he intended 10 say was, that
In this way this subject of Southern slave.
ry is, year after year, forced upon the
consideration OF members here. In this
way the government is annually interfer-
ing with slavery, 10 support H. In this
way they are annu ally taking money
from the pockets of Northern laborers,
and paying it over TO Southern Indians,
20 pay Tor catching slaves. He said this
was what he complained Of. He nor his
people had at any time sought 10 interfere
with the relation between master and
slave at the South. 1t was to this whole
interference that they objected. They
deny the constitutional powers of this
government to interfere. They request
Congress to cease interference. They
regard this appropriation as a fragrant
violation of Northern rights and paIpa.
Bile Infringement upon the Constitution.
Now, said he, gentleman have decla;n.
ed eIoquentIy against abolition" This
resistance to the appropriation of the pub.
lie treasure for such purposes, this op-
position to further violations of the Con-
stitution,is itself denounced as abolition"
Will gentlemen from the South, or from
the North, stand forth and maintain the
justice, or the constitu;ionality OF thus ap-
propriating the public funds ? He insist.
ed that if such man could be found in
that House, he should come out boldly
and let the country know that there were
members who maintained that Congress
possesses such rights and such powers
He thought this very proper opporuni.
ty for gentlemen 10 show their hands on
this question. But if there were no such
members present, if all admitted this trea.
ty to be violation of the Constitution
and of The rights and honor of the free
States, he would not deLain the committee
with further remark.
Mr.. Levy. of Florida, said he hoped
that the appropriation would be struck
out but for very different reason than
that referred to by the gentleman from
Ohio. 1t was well known that these In
dams had been engaged IN hosiIties
against the United States. They had
killed our women and children, and had
destroyed large amounts of property be.
longing to the people of Florida, and
Congress ought TO retain these moneys,
embraced in their appropriations, TO be
paid to the sufferers. He said the viola
lion of this article which had been read
was one Of tie causes aohicA led to Aostih-
ties IN Florida. 1t was very just and
very proper stipulation, which the gov
eminent had The right and the power to
enter into; and one which the Indians
were bound to perform.
Mr.. Giddings said he thanked the gen.
tleman for his frankness in SAYING that
the Florida war had arisen from the vo-
lation Of this article in the treaty. North
ern men could hardly be made 10 believe
that this government had expended forty
millions of dollars and some thousand
lives in order to compel these Indians to
catch runaway negroes; but as the gen.
tlemdn from Florida had now admitted
the fact, he trusted that all caviling on
that point would be put at rest.
Mr.. Levy asked leave to explain.
Mr.. Giddings yielded the floor.
MIR. Levy said that he had not stated
that the violation OF this article was the
cause Of the war, but that it was one OF
the causes that led to the war.
Mr.. Giddings. am glad 10 be cor
rected. certainly understood the gen.
tleman as conveying that idea. But
whether he admits the fact or not, the
documentary evidence now on file show
it officially. But the gentleman, aside
from this, says this stipulation for catch
ing slaves, is very proper one for the
federal government TO make, and one
which the Indians were bound 10 per-
form. This, sir, is the very point which
| desire 10 see discussed. am anxious
10 understand gentlemen on this plain doc
trine. For the first time on this floor it
is now avowed and proclaimed The
right of the government to tax the labor
ers of the North TO catch runaway slaves,
is nov, for once, and for the first time,
distinctly mt forth in n nIain and ;nfalli.