Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-09-29

ueHCC vi I'VE Union:
On The 81 OF January, lS43
INF. Slade moved that The 2lsl rule of this
House be suspended, TO enable him 10 move re
solution, with preamble as follows:
Whereas, by law OF the United Sta les. pass.
ed on The 18th OF May, 1920, The foreign Slave
trade declared TO be piracy and is made Punish.
able by death:
"And, whereas, there is, ami has long been
carried on in the District Of Columbia, within
sight oil the Halls ot The Two Houses OF Congress,
and The residence OF the Chief Executive Masis
trale OF This nation, a trade in men, involving all
the principles oil outrage M human ricM; which
characterize The foreign slave trade, and which
nave drawn upon il the maledcions of the civii-
lied world, and slismalizsd those engaged in il
as enemies Of the human race:
| And, whereas, The trade thus existing in This
DISTRICT is aggravated in enornaity by reason q
its being carried on in the heart Of a nation wb'se
institutions are based upon the principle tb'i all
men are created equal and whose laws bave, n
effect, proclaimed its great and sups1iatise ilquI
~; aggravated, moreover, by its outrage on lhe
sensolllles OF Christian community, by lis sum
| derins ol The ties of christian brotherhood, and bv
the anguish of il, remor>c;ess violation Of all
| the domestic relations, rendered :hc more deep
and eadufing nv The hallowed influence of The
CHRISTIAN religion upon those relations and by the
increased strength which ii gives 10 The domestic
| affections:
"And, whereas. one OF the purposes of the
Constitution, in providing for the setting apart
and excmpting from State jurisdiction dis
trict for the seat of the Government Of the
United States, was 10 provide common ground
whercon all could meet, under system Of law
not involving, Of necessity, principles or usages
peculiar TO any Of The States, but based upon
the great principles asserted in the Declaration
Of independence, and looking 10 the great 90
jects contemplated in The preamble TO the Con-
| stitution:
"And, whereas, that purpose Of the Constltu
ton is defeated by subecting a majority OF the
representatives of the people and of the States,
in the two Houses Of Congress, and a majority
Of those employed in the Executive Depart
ments at the seat Of Government, TO the nccessi
~ of witnessing trade in human beings,
which is to them source of grevous annoy
ance, and an object Of deep adherence AMI de-
| testa,ion:
"And, whereas, this trade in human beings
is carried on under the authority Of laws enact
cd by the Congress OF the United States, thereby
involving the people Of all the States in its
guilt and disg,ac:-a guilt and disgrace cnhan
ced by the consideration that those laws are
virtual usurpation Of power, the Constitution OF
the United States having conferred upon Con-
gress no right TO establish the relation of slave
ry, or to sanction and protect the Stare trade IN
any p,riion Of the Coaftdcraey The reforc,
"Resolved, That all laws in any way author
| izing or sanctioning the slave trade in this Dis
trict, ought TO be repealed. and Tie tafe pro-
| hi6ited and that the committee for the District
of Columbia be INSTRUCTED IL report 6ia accord.
ingly.
"And on the question shall the rules be sns
pended, il was decided in the ncgatve-ycas 13,
nays H."
Among those voting to suspend the 2lsl rule
in order to have an opportunity of adopting tic
above resolution, whose object is dear 10 the
heart of every ABoLITloHlsr III the country are
JOHN quincy ADAMS, WILLARD FILLMORE,
JOSHUA r. GIDDlSGs, WILLIAM SLADE and Ro'
BERT G. WINTHROP.
Mr.. 2. next cited The following proceedings N
the Creole and Giddinss case in 1912, year af-
ter The opinion of Judge Mclean:
On the 2lst of March, 1872 Mr.. Glddings
moved series oil resolutions, Of which we give
the following:
e3. Resolved, That, BY the 6th section Of the
Isl article Of the Constitution each Of the sc.
vera States surrendered TO the Federal Govern.
ment all jurisdiction over the subjects Of COM
merce and navigation upon the high seas.
.
ment of the natural rights Of man, can exist
only BY force Of positive MuSIcIpAL LAW, aud is
necessarily confined to the territorial jurisdic.
ton of the power creating it.
as. Resolved, That when ship belonging u
the citizens Of any STATE IF This Union eares
the oaters and territory Of such Stat, and enters
| upon the high seas, THE PERSONS on BOARD CEASE
| TO BE SUBJECT TO THE SLAVE LAWS o. SUCH
STATE, and, therefore, are governed in their
relations 10 cact other by, and are amenable 10
the ia1cs Of tie United StatsS.
&c Resolved, Tha. wien the brig Creole on
her late passage from New Orleans, l.ft he ter
,itorial jurisaictio. Of Vaginia, The slave laws
Of tha, Stale ceased 10 have jurisdiction over The
persons on board said big, and such persons be.
came amenab!e Only 10 The laws 81 The Uniicd
States
a. Resolved, Tia; The PERSONS on BOARD THE
SAID SHIP, IN REsuMiNG THEIR NATURAL RIGHTS OF
PERSONAL LIBERTY VIOLATED NO LAW OF
| THE UNITED STATES, INCURRED NO
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY. AND ARE
Justly LIABLE To NO PUNISHMENT.
"6. Resolved, Thai all attempts IL regain Posses'
son of or to rc-enslare said persons. are UNA "
THORlZED BY THE CONSTITUTION OK
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND
ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH OUR Ma
TIONAL HONOR.
SO Resolved, rha, all attempts 10 exert cur
national Influence in favor OF The coastTisc slave
| trade, or 10 place this nation in the altitude oi
maintaining commerce in human beings, are
subversive of The rights and injurious 10 The ee'-
| in2s OF The tree STATES, are Unauthorized by me
Constitution and prejudicial 10 our national cha'
Iacler."
Our readers must bear in mind that, wherever
the word "pgRsuNs' is used in the foregoing re.
solutions, Mr.. Giddngs intends 10 refer 10
i q A b,Ia
"These resolutions being read, the previous
question was moved By Mr.. Ward; when mo
lion was made BY Mr.. Everett, that the r'solu'
lions do lie on The table; which monn was de-
cided in The neeative-yeas So nays l25."
ADAMS, FILLMORE, GiDDINas and SLADE,
who voted against The motion that the resolutions
do lie on The table, gave that vote because lhcy
were NOT satisfied with a simple READING OF me
resolutions, but because thsy cdih. House 10
take some ACTION upon lhem,-Ihey wished !"
have an opportunity OF DEBATING Them, and thus
further to agiiale and excite the country, and 10
insult the Congress and The Constitution oil The
United States.
"A call of The House was then moved ny MI
Everett, and was refused; when the previous
question was demanded, and put, viz: "shall III
| main question be now pu2 and passed in he al
frmaire-yeas l22, nays 81 I"
Tie previous question cuts IF all debnic, and
therefore we find John Quincy Adams, MIL
LARD FILLMORE, Joshua r. Giddings, VIM.
Slade and Robert e. Winthrop, voting aga,ns'
The motion; while WILLIAM o BUTLER
George B. Cary Thomas w. Gilmer, Isaac Z
Holmes, r. M. +. Hunter, Francis Mallory, K
Barnwel Rheli, Henry A. Wise and other South
ern men voted for it.
Then after the House had determined, that The
main question" should be put, 50 that M desote
would be permitted. and Mr.. Giddines finding
that, having "sowed the wind. he was about 10
reap Inc whirlwind" "Mr. Gidd.ngs WITH
| DREW has said resolutions"
| But The Southern members were not satisfied
that Giddinss, who had dissraccd himself and in
sul:r,i The nation, should 60 unwh'p,ed oijusice-
a resolution was, therefore, offered ty Mr. Bots
and subsequently, by Mr.. Weller, Ohc present De-