The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-08
TWentp=Etghth Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
SATURDAY, January c, 1874


The CLERK then read the Jonmal of yesterday;
when
Mr. HOUSTON rose and said the Globe Of yes
terday presented him improperly home, and also the
Speaker That report sta ed that he inquired of the
Chair if the previous question would cut off the mo-
lion to amend made by the gentleman from Georgia
To wi ich he Chair replied il would. This was not
So The Chair replied that it would moi cut of the
He said that his object in moving the previous ques
ton was 10 cut of debate, and moi the motion TO re-
commi, as stated in the Globe.
MIR. WELLER asked the leave of the House to
introduce bill Of which he had previously given
tce TO amend and continue force the net incorpora-
Ting The city Of Washington, which was read twice
and referred 10 the COMMITTEES The District of Co
lunbla.
Mr.. HALE rose and asked the leave of the House
to withdraw his objections in relation to resolutions
introduced yesterday by Mr.. Levy.
Mr.. NEW TON presented some papers in relation
to the contested election between Messrs. Bolts and
Jones' which were referred to the Committee Elec-
TONS
Mr. THOMASSON asked the leave Of the House
to introduce resolution in relation to the penenti-
AIRY of this District which was refused.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS objectpg.
MIR. STUART, of Pennsylvania, offered TO present
a resolution; which was objected to-
MIR. S. then moved that the rules be suspended and
called for the yeas and nays which were not order
So the rules were not suspended.
MIR. 4. J. NORRIS presented petition Of clti-
zens OF Philadelphia, praying appropriation for
the construction of Dry Dock at the Navy Yard at
Philadelphia.
Mr. SMITH, of Illinois, offered a resolution as an
amendment to the amendment on the subject of the
rules; which decided to be in order.
The House then proceeded to the orders Of the
day.
REPORT ON THE RULES
Mr.. DUNCAN, Of Ohio, rose and said that be
" MS tO plaC m elf m e,hiac IN
proper light before bis coDsluents-not only his Co.'S
sttuens, but before the whole American People
that they might know his position During his last
election he was addressed communication by the
Abotionss in his DISTINCT propnu nding to him Sc We
raj questions upon the subject Of slavery and he was
free to confess hat in the letter he addressed TO them
IN reply he deprecated slavery in the abs ract and he
believed was not only an evil to the country but
The South yet he did not believe that Congress had
the constitutional tight to abolish slavery in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, against tie wishes of the People.
That part of the letter denying the constitutional
right TO abolish slavery the District had been SUI
pressed by those to whom 1t addressed and that
part which acknow edged slavery to be an evil in the
abstract published in some of the newspapers of
the Country, for effect, making appear that he was
a modern Abolitionst. He really did not know that
be was OF 80 much importance, TO be thus pre-
scented to the American People But he would
take this occasion to let the People know his
views not only on the right OF petition but
upon the question Of Abolition. He believed
that the speech made by Mr.. Clngman was the most
sensible one that had been delivered upon this sub
Ject but he could not go in favor Of the atitudnous
sentiments Of the gentleman from New York, MIR
BEARDsLEY, who, in his view Of the subject be-
lieves in the potency Of Congress- under the grant OF
exclusive jurisdiction, to abolish slavery against the
wishes OF the People. He believed the Const tuition
was created for different purposes it was for de.
fence, and Congress cannot exercise any powers in
the States except those which have been clearly
and expressly delegated it can exercise no powers
IN the District of Columbia except those which were
Ceded by the States of MARYLAND and Virginia j,
can exercise power whatever not warranted ey.
pIessiy by the Constitution. Is there State i'm thi.
Unlon-a Legislature--that would exercise the DOW.
er OF aboishng slavery without the consent of the
people! The right IS inherent in The people, and the
Legislatures only reflect the sentiments of the people
at least 1t IS presumed they do; and the District Of
columbia ~ as sovereign free, and independent a.
any State in this Union, and Congress is its Lepis
iature--is constitutional legisature--which cannot
exercise any power not warranted by the Constu
iion or abolish slavery against the consent of the neo
pie OF the District as asserted by the gentleman from
NfoTk MIR. Beard ley which IN his opinion ifcorri
ed out, would be direct palpable and uneouiyocal
violation OF the Constitution and the deed of ces,on
of Virginia and Maryland
he was against this 18th rule because nc s,,,.d
by the gentleman from North Carolina mir Gin.
man presented the people of the District Of CoIum
oa should they desire it, petition for The Abolition
OF slavery, and which exclusively belonged 10 them
met
proper Tor he people of Ohio to petition the An,oca
OF al the Russias TO abolish the feudnl svs,en, - -,
petition Congress to alb lish slavery in The Distr, C
Columbia They had nothing whatever to do win
the domestic institutions of the States or tho NJ;
Of Columbia.
When he was a boy, he T. d read, that
Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work
But the seventh day is the sabbath of The ord
thy God in IL thou shalt not do any work tbou no,
thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant nor IN,
tI-znr vanf, h.,
within thy gates"
denunciaory upon the subject Of slavery desonat;no
it as violation of the law OF God prunouncing II =
morally wrong If this quotation from the HOLY Scr;n.
lures does not lead US to believe that slavery of
sort existed OoO years ago He did not wish to ri.
the negro with the or The OK because be hJo.I
them to be human beings-it was only in illusira,on
Of his subject. Would it he polite n we b,d ~
right, TO abolish slavery in the District of CoImb;a
sorroonded as VI is by the States Of Maryland ard
virginia, where slavery constittionaIv ex;ets !;
would gentlemen from the non-sl yeboId;no S,a,o
ike TO see three millions Of slaves turned loose ,non
them! 1t would be far more dangerous 10 tho froa
States than for slavery TO exist-t wonld no ,,oro
dangerous, because II they were let loose they would
carry WIN them feeling Of revenge AGAINST the
white population, who would have 10 be moro ,,a,oh
u snu Vgi'an, or perhaps in the dead hour of n0bt
ue Jdsot might be applied to their homes and bab,ia
uons, ana ,her wives and children nhumanIv mur.
hoiS,. S, ,ouo u not be worse for the non-slave
o'u'"s o'a.es 10 brrate them than for them 10 70
nam 10 state of slavery in which thew have been
H,scea oy rrovidencel Certainly. He concurred in
.ne remarks OF Mr. Davis, of New York &C 49,, III ~
Liberation of the slaves in the slave So, .na' me
tne greatest curse that befelthem Tbev oe
a. race oil men, greatly inferior to the
every essential particular, the negro was 'sn ~
tho ourang outang; they were inferior 10 ,or 10
pnysca' aoi'ty and not capable Of that social aI
and religious refinement, which has charaoer;I
white man since The creation Of the world. '' '"o
IL they were liberated what would Conr,o..
"hh them Would thew colonize them7 Wbo.oo
hhd when has the negro been left to govern b;nsa1.
that he did not become a bapkrupt in morals roI;
In'elise &c and wealth. Where have thew eyo
MAINTAINED an Independent Government wbeo ion
rec 70 ac' Tor themselves Under the Roman on
pure, win their religious influence ~ - -"