The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-01-25
Franklin Clark -!

On Monday of last week MIR. Giddings of
fered the following Preamble and Resolution
in the House:
Whereas, tit is represented that on Friday
last three armed persons engaged in the inter-
nal slave trade, entered a dwelling in this city,
and violently seized colored man, employed
as waiter in The boarding house of several
members of this body, and in the presence of
his wife, gagged him. placed him in irons. and
with loaded pistols, forced him into one of the
slave prisons of this city, from which, it is re-
ported, he has since been dispatched for the
slave market of New Orleans:
And whereas said colored man had been
employed in said boarding house for several
years, had become well and favorably known
to members of this House, had married a
wife in this city, and, under contract to
purchase his freedom for the sum of $500, had
by great industry paid the sum within about
$50:
And whereas outrages like the foregoing
have been OF common occurrence in this Dis
trict, and are sanctioned by the laws of Con-
gress, and are extremely painful to many of
the members of this House, as well as in them
selves inhuman: Therefore
Resolced, That a Select Committe Of five
port upon the facts aforesaid also, as to the
proprety of repeating such acts of Congress
as sustain or authorize the slave trade in this
District, Tor to remove the seat of Government
to some Free State
The Preamble was modified by Mr.. Gid
dings, by adding the words inclosed in brack-
cts, and the Resolution also, by striking out
the words inclosed in brackets. 1t was then
moved by some one to lay it on the table,
which motion was sustained by vote Of 81 to
SO. This was virtual rejection of the Reso.
luton, and intended as such. It was saying
to the slave traders ego on with your cruel
work, perpetrate your damnable deeds-such
as an Alabama Legislature is determined shall
10 longer disgrace the territory of that State
divide families, tear the husband from the wife
of his bosom, the father from his children
you are upheld by the laws of the District
which we will not repeal Go on-you shall
be protected in your hellish business by us
And who do you suppose voted in support Of
this motion? "Why, surely you will say,
"no man from the North and certainly no
man from New England. 1t cannot be that
any man, who has been reared amid the hui
manizing influences of New England home,
and of New England society," who has breathed
our free air, can have been so lost to the feel
ings of humanity, so destitute of love for
right, so willing to lick the dust at the feet Of
the slave power, as thus to votee" Reader
YOU are mistaken One such man, at least
was found, and that man was FRANKLIN
CLARK, the Representative from this Congress
storaaE District-a man who owes his election tc
the influence of Austin Wiley and the ultra
Abolitionists.
We blush, when we read the list of yeas and
nays on this matter, to see the vote of Mr.
Clark recorded on the side of the slave dri
trict thus to be represented. We had wished
although we did not expect it, that Mr.. Clarl
would take high and honorable ground, tha
the Hon. prefxed to his name would not be
an unmeaning word but alas he seems tc
be disposed to go the entire length of su6ser
viency to the South, to stop at nothing that
his Southern lords may demand-no matter
how much the feelings his constituents may
be outraged by the deed For he trusts, un-
doubtedly, that the horde of office-holders,
united with the leaders of the Liberty party,
will still be strong enough to secure his re-
election, let him do what he may. But he
may be mistaken.