The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-29
tn lfRTlETH CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
House oflxeprosentatives.

THlRVlEVH CONGRESS-.
| FIRST SESSION.
House Offxepresentatives
WAsHINoroN, July 20, IS48.
Nearly two hours occupied in the reading of the
journal and taking yeas and nays motions growing
out the presentation Of resolution, by Mr.. Went
tns Se
then resolved itself into COMMITTEES of tho Whole
the State OF the Union. Mr. Morehead In the Chair,
and resumed the consideration Of the
oEneoN BILL Asp I1n 'osIser OF slavery.
| MI WALLACE OF South ,arol ma, took the floor, and
made his maiden speech He assumed, Hrst-thst the
territory of the United States Is Joint Of
the people of all the States and is held by them as
| tenants in common; secondly that Congress has no
absolute power over the territory, but the contra
ry the power which is granted to congress dispose
OF and make all netdol rules and regulations respect
Ing the territory is limited and is conferred by the
constitution on Congress- to act the trustee third
ly that in the exercise Of this power the general 60
vernment is bound to a limited action and confined
to the clear objects for which the trust is created
secure the greatest possible benefit to ALL fourthly
any act Of Congress which tends has ndency to
defeat the objects for which the trust is created
authorised and .ttaticnsl and, therefore, not
rights Of property to inquire who purchased and
paid for the territory Did the people of the non
dence But they produce such evidence or
title The money was paid out of the public treasury;
not BY the PEOPLE of the North the people Of the
South, but by the people Of the whole Union and
portion of the territory purchased by the blood of
the STAKEHOLDER and the non-slaveholder mingled to-
gsther on the same battlefield The territory there
FORE the joint property Of the people States
The party in the North who have placed in
hostility to the South increasing daily in numbers
and influence They have to their own language,
entered into solemn league and covenant with
Trance, England and the whole world and one of the
terms, is to their action until nstitu-
tons Of the South utterly DESTROYED With the in
dugence OF the committee an extract was read from
the Neo York Herald Of the 9th instant under the
title Of Pronuncismento OF the Liberty Party,n and
which emanated from the Foreign and American Anti
Slavery Society sustaining the assertion of the gen.
teman from South Carolina Extracts were likewise
read from Vattes Laws Of Nations pages 154 1885,
to snow that me interference Of foreign government
in the affairs ofanother was just cause Of In
conclusion he spoke Of the disastrous couseQ
which would result if this crusade shall not be
stayed. The North are mistaken If they think
the South lacks the ability to take themselves
There should be an end of this matter and both
wings and unite osette the agtition
SLAVERY IN THE BIsTRIcr COLUMBIA.
MIR. CRowELL, of Ohio, said that at period since
the adoption Of the constitution has the pubc mind
been SO widely awakened the subject Of sla-
very and the opinions Of the people, some extent,
are representedn both branches of Congress- Slave
ry is now as 1t has always been disturbing element
in this gove nment; and there Is every reason to be-
eve it will always remain until the last vestige fit
shall have been swept away. The public has
tributed largely to the diffusion of light and to por
tcn Of great credit is due for the udcous Of
f.%asks on this exciting and absorbing topic The
friends OF union and republican liberty have every
thing to hope and nothing to fear from the temper
which has distinguished the debates. All efforts to
suppress discussion will prove frutless and vain The
annexation Of Texas was begun, contaminated, and
carried on for the extension slavery Every soldier
the service, the battle field the wide,
was victim the altar, in this free and happy land,
to the dominion of African slavery Every dollar OF
the national finances expended in the prosecution of
the var, is in fact levied the labor and industry
Of the people Of the United States, free well
slave States for the extension of slavery when three
fourths Of the American people, who compell-
ed to bear the burden, are not only opposed to
| the institution, and when there is not shadow Of
right in the constitution to authorize expenditure
for such purpose Mt crowell said that some time
since, he introduced bill, which referred The
Committee for the District of Columbia to repeal the
act of Congress Of 1901 which adopted and extended
| the slavery code Of Virginia and Maryland the
District of Columbia 1t referred to and Is in the
hands of the committee, where it sleeps soundy and
he presumed its slumber was never to be distur bed
Congress had right to extend the laws of Maryland
and Virginia over the District of Columbia The laws
ceased when these Stases the cesson of
for seat of COVER nment the laws could not be ex-
tended beyond the limits Of these States Lord Mans
field says that slavery cannot exist bnt by positive
christianity and morality The institution odous
that nothing but positive law can support it The
laws to which he referred, and
should be repealed and the wrongs inflicted on the
slave and the free, dead and living ought be NJ
cursed with slavery ought to be consecrated to free
dom Tie people, for the qualification Of holding in
any obstacle in the way Of an abatement Of
the nuisance Strong prejudces exist in some
portions of the country, and especially in thu.
free States, against the slave trade and this
is another reason why slavery should be abolish.
ed on this neural ground this property the
whole Union. The traffic is necessary appendage to
to the institution Of slavery The practice of buyiu9
and selling men, women and children like horses and
mules, is looked upon by those who are not familiar
with the institution, with utter adherence and detss
tation 1t is carried here in the District of CO.
lumbia, where men from the North South East and
West meet brothers. and where there should be no
cause Of offence so odious and sbhorrent. The slave
trade has been denounced as piracy. and lie punish
tan community on earth Congress ought 10 With
draw all support from the institution member of
this body informed him that, in March last, Penn
sylvania Avenue man in the image Of God, was
walking quietly the streets of the city WASH ngton
lthe teat Of the general government Of the United
States, the example, the only free government on earh
the model repubic when five free ruians, Uhey were
not Virginia though IT is presumed they
within the hearing Of the capitol he lifted up his voice
and asked protection, for he said he was a free man
Still, under the legislation Of Congress, these men
dragged him beyond the limits Of the District and
took him into slave State He rescued only BY
lawyer in this city, by raised in this House and
in this way he was restored to his wife and children
The selling Of free coored men, to pay Jail fees
matter Of frequent occurrence In conclusion, Mr..
Compress shall continue to support u system 80 re-
pugnant to common humanity.
VOICE SOUTH
Mr. IvERsoH, Of Georgia. said that he intended to
speak for Buncombe and therefore the empty BE- inches
would in way deter him. Other gen temen had read
their speeches and he was a lawyer he would follow
The estimated value Of the slave proOsrtv
is 81 200 600 0Oo This is in peril remote it may be,
but yet in peril, from the want of good faith tho
North to the compromises Of the constitution Let
the people Of the South look to their safety while
the remedy is in their own hands Nov is the day
and the hour for their safety IL this question
be left to Congress, without check who does not
that the South must yield to fac tous majority Is
there a whg from the North who intends to vote
against the Wmot provso? He paused for a reply.
Is there fr the Missouri compromise Is there
one who willing to leave with the people Of the terri
tories the decision of the slave question At present
the safety Of the South depends upon a portion
Of the Northern democracy. Though deserted by
the Southern wings, and threatened by ther
friends at home they the firm friends of the South
and the undaunted defenders of the constitution IL
the Wilmot provso should be here enacted the South
will look to the Senate. If they fail in Congress,
they will look to the Executive veto them from
the danger threatened General Taylor. In his Sig
noln letter avors the extension of the ordinance OF
1Is7. Gentlemen Of the South, belonging to the wing
party argue in favor Of postponing this question I'M
I'll after the Presidential election but the future safe
ty Of the South rests the Presidential election.
While the wings Of the South look upon the election
Of General Taylor the ark Of their political safety,