Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-22

10 interfere with il did 40 his peril He held that there
just and righteous reirlbulon han in
ced upon the Africans in 1904 when Decatur and Somes
went there aud when these who ensayed their fellow
men made themselves TO bite the dust There
glorious to fight fort nor would he ask for
more glorious death than to die in just such He held
that right and he held that any when he ensaved
his fellow ian-when the hand of power brought TO
bear on his Godgiyen nghshs inalenable rights" (to
use the words of our athers had the right defend that
liberty and down to the gentlemans specific ques
ton
Mr.. HASKELL. am very glad 70 hear you reach it.
Mr. GIDDINGS Continuing his SENTENCE say that the
slaves Of this District when they felt the hand Of oppression
bearing hem before the universal world and be-
fore God himself the right TO Tree themselves by any means
God has put into the power --
Mr.. HASKELL The gentleman has answered that ques-
ton. ] am satisfied.
Mr.. GIDDINGs. (retainns the aoOr) am not. want
Mr.. HASKELL. Inasmuch as the gentleman has justified
this attempt Of these slaves escape from their gbtu
ers call on him know whether be juses the thieves who
stole them
Mr. GTDDINGS lido not know that there were any thieves
Mr.. HASKELL The men, then, the individuals, the par
ties who were engaged in this kidnapping
Mr.. GIDDINGS. | say, unhesangy, where laws in
force where legal constitutional laws Of the land enforce pc
naies such actions, they TO be obeyed am not
mtted interfere with the rights Of the people OF this Dis
uict, because allegiance 10 my Government, and he
who nlerferes does his peril There be difference
between The gentleman and myself on that subject.
Mr.. HASKELL. Then do understand the gentleman TO
Justify these men
M GIDDINGs say that those who did ii did it at their
peril
Mr.. HASKELL Does the gentleman condemn these in
Mr.. GIDDINGs say unquestionaby, if they did itthey
violated the law.
Mr. HASKELL. Does the gentleman consider it viola
Mr. GIDDINGS. Unquestionaby, if they aided slaves in
escaping very with the laws Of this Dis
c though have had occasion TO look into them some un-
dersand penal this District Now, it wrong
violate this law because in entering society bind ourselves
keep the laws which constutionay enacted. There
is legal crime
Mr. HASKELL. Was there any moral crime
Mr. GIDDINGS do not believe there is the least moral
crime earth in maintaining the rights God has given me-
Mr. VENABLE intericreI, and claimed the floor
The SPEAKER stated that the gentleman from North
Carolina entitled to the floor.
Mr. GlDDlNGS declined to yield, as the floor had been
given him for explanation, until he had concluded.
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman from Ohio that
the floor only given him by consent Of the gentleman
from North Carolina, who claimed his right to it,
Mr. GlDDINGS yielded.
Mr. TOOMBS not to bringing up the inves-
cation that sought to be arrived at but he objected TO
dignity it with the claim Of privilege He denied that the
resolution contained question of privilege, one that ought
be inquired into Ivy this House When he addressed the
House the question of ORDER he held he held that
all privileged questions be questions Of privilege, and
that question could necessarily be privileged question that
did not involve question Of privilege. member rises and
says he rises to question Of privilege The Chair must
hear him when he submits the matter 10 the chair that he
may decide whethert privileged question, and that must
be determined, if is question Of privilege. Now he de-
MED the ground taken by the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr J. r. ISGERsoLL He wholly denied that this body
had the right OF the British Parliament questions OF prlvi
ege He claimed that the people this country had rights
The rights of the citizens better secured by the laws of
the land than they by the berne construction Of priv
ese which for centuries oppressed the people GIea
Britain There was not undeinej arbitrary, md
unjust principle the face Of the earth, and he denied the
conclusion be lights which the Speaker had arrived after
reading the British law Of privilege He held thai such pn-
cpes not 10 govern this body and he denied that the
extract read from the Manual had any authority them
Mr. Jefferson merely stated il principle Of the British
Parliament not principle Of this House; he submitted the
argument both sides This considered in 1900 in the
reign OF terror during the administration Of the elder Adams
aDd the republican party with which he had agreed held
distinctly that this House had other privilege than
given to by the constitution and that they could not refer to
the law of Parliament for power oany sort He held
that doctrine TO this day. This Government limited
in its powers by the constitution and 10 the constitution they
must look for their powers and they not there they
nowhere, and the exercise OF such powers usurpa
ton the part Of this House. and aggression the rights
Of the citizens which be stood there this day TO defend He
stood there defend the rights OF the mob and he offered the
constitution Of the United States in opposition to the punish
ment which this House might attempt to inlict.
He cared not what the facts Of this he submit
ted to the constitution, which declared under the general
hoy that Congress had power to make all laws
and proper for carrying into execution the given them,
but he denied the right OF the law Of Parliament IL
the rights and duties defined by the constitution not su
hceny protected LEI Congress pass all laws under the cuse
which he had referred that necessary and proper TO
protect those rights Until such laws passed there
power to punish This question which goes TO the
foundation OF government 1t question affecting the
foundation Of popular liberty, which more important
they should defend than individual who had shown himself
10 be unworthy Of protection.
He begged to call the attention Of the House TO the argu
ment Of Mr. jefferson in the Manual II in these words
The editor OF the Aurora having in his paper of February
49, sOe inserted paragraphs deamatoy Of the Senate
and failed in his appearance he ordered to be committed
He would here take occasion remark that every
paper editor IN the county, under the authority claimed by
the gentleman from Pennsylvania MR. J. X lseEnsoLI)
and the Speaker Of the House Of Representatives, may be
dragged before them and confined and against such bound
less, mess power Of privilege and in defence Of the rights
OF the country,he called upon every friend OF liberty to
stand forth.
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman from Georgia
that the Chair had pronounced opinion the facts and
length be reiterated the ground assumed by the Chair
Mr. T00MBS showing that the principle had not
been properly quoted and the clause Of the constitution
which reference had been made was Of force unless laws
enacted to carry it out He would like to know how
this House to do it Could they do directly infer
entaly This Government derived its powers from the
siuton. Such their authority Tyranny had assumed
thousands and tens Of thousands Of forms under the rules Of
Parliament Oppression spread the land and here
our foreathers Intended 70 limit and define it. and TO secure
the rights and liberties OF the people. This he showing
by the quotation he was reading from the Manual and he
contendcd that this privilege Of Parliament Of force
here further than il prescribed by the constitution and
carried out by laws properly enacted in accordance with the