The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-13
TUESDAY, APRIL IL, ls4s.
The journal having been read
SLAVERY.

The journal having been read
SLAVERY
MIR. PALFREY moved reconsideration of the vote
by which the House on yesterday passed the resolutions
coHgrauang the people OF France upon their recent eff
forts to establish civil liberty in that country.
Mr. r said he was deslrous yesterday of addressing
the House at the close OF the debate which took place on
this subject and of Offering amendment the resou
tons, but was prevented from doing by the demand
for the previous question by the gentleman from Georgia
him, he should have offered the following by way Of
amendment to the series. He would have introduced
them so as to precede the two resolutions which
passed
Resolved, That no despotism is effective that
Sn hs exists uade the ssmbancs Of popular 10
osachy Of Voea ' enis s e com
gratulatlons OF every friend OF freedom.
The French government lately overihrown an oil
garchy, surrounded by popular Institutions had come
TO this: that about two hundred thousand voting citizens
welded the whole power of the government tor nation
OF thirty five millions OF people This state OF things had
arches other days had done the same thing without
disturbing the forms of epubcanism they have attained,
by bribery and 70 the EXERCISE o. e most ar
had gone by and he should not press ITS consdera-
ton But, he desired to do yesterday, he would
take occasion to offer remark or two, called forth
by some observations by the gentleman from Virginia
[Mr BAYLY The gentleman's observatons-as he him
self admttedwere OF discursive character, though in
terestng to MIR P but account OF imperfect hearing
Though sitting him. he not able to understand
him distinctly at all times He did not propose 10
follow the gentleman throughout the whole range of his
remarks. He lad no means of doing So not having
report OF the speech and to wait till tomorrow for
published report would be to waive the privilege of his
ouom 70 recHnsae, 90 ne was .nrown entirely upon
Instead OF attempting to follow the gentleman, there
fore, he should content himself with passing upon
one or two important topics of the speech Particu-
lary he desired to correct the gentenans misappre
tensions respecting certain set OF laws In Massa-
chusets, to which he had alluded. He might have
interrupted the gentleman and made his correction at the
time but did not seeing he in the ADLER hands of his
colleague, Mr. AsHMuN] He was tar from saying that
Massachusetts, was conormed, in all respects to the idea
OF perfect Commonwealth; but. of one thing he
assured, Massachusetts not too old 10 grow wiser
and she does grow wiser Uhank God day by day. Mas
might be permitted to draw inference from the remarks
OF the gentleman from Vgnia had now become too old
to grow wiser.
Mr. p spoke of the laws of Massachusetts in relation
to the coored race, which had been Inexperienced by
the gentleman from Virginia The colored man. he said,
was likely there to be brought into the jury box
Mr. BAYLY interposed to inquire whether the unver-
sal social feeling in Massachusetts, did operate
virtual repeal Of those laws'
Mr. A. G. BROWN rose to ORDER inquiring whether
the joint resolutions had not passed out of the hands of
The SPEAKER replied, that if the proposition had
been sent out of the House, would not supersede the
motion to reconsider but matter of fact, he stated
that the resolutions had not been sent out
Mr. PALFREY did not know whether the law was
overridden by public sentiment and proceeding to
state the manner in which juries were empannelled in
Massachusetts, when
Mr. BAYLY again nteposed and said: 1t seems, then,
that these public officers prevent these black citizens from
the enjoyment Of their civil rights
Mr. PALFREY then proceeded, and replied to the
questions preached yesterday about negroes sitting the
bench and practising at the bar by stating that heretofore
in his capacity secretary of Massachusetts he had sent
commission to very respectable lawyer whose skin,
ne supposed was black as his coat In reply TO fur
fher inquiry by the gentleman, he said that colored man
was once returned to the legislature of Massachusetts
from the town OF Mcredith--his name was Townsend
a he'll he
admitted that he did not but if he had taken his seat he
doubted not that he would have been well treated. Ia
p doubted not that the gentleman himself would have
declined taking seat in legislature where they
all OF different color from himself Mr. P read letter
by gentleman writing from New Bedford and connect
ed with the public schools in that place. showing the
tellectual equality of the black race and dwelling par
tcularly upon the superior scholarship OF one black
youth, now no more, who distinguished himself in the
schools OF that town. in many departments of study; and
who had he lived might have been the associate OF the
OF Mr.. p. in of the Oldest universities of the
Stae and he added that, in such event, if his
had refused to treat the black student with proper respect
ne would thereby have forfeited the part OF his IA
Mr. spoke of the honesty of his purposes and views
on these questions He asserted also that the action of
the Virginia Senate touching the memory Of Mr. Adams
was because they could not appreciate the aims and the
excellence Of that great character.
MT JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, desired to nterpose one
questions and (Mr yielding) he said The gentleman
he would have been the associate of his in of the
Oldest universities of the State; and if his had not
treated his associate with proper respect he would there
by have forfeited the consideration Of his parent Now
his question was would the gentleman from Massachu
sets be willing that interesting talented negro bow
become the companion of his own daughter married
companions
MIR. PALFREY said the question was of a nature very
foreign from that OF the academca association of young
There various conventional circumstances
having relation to the habits of social life, which would
determine his mind in such case, and which the gen.
t!eman from Tennessee could estimate well himself
The gentleman he supposed, able to put much
stronger questions than that, which was answered by
stating that he would introduce female of his family
to the society OF any person who, for operating
the minds either Of his family their friends, he
might know would be dsagreeable either on account of
anything personal to himself or weighing upon him be-
cause OF the habits or views OF others.
Mr.. p desired the reconsideration of the vote on these
resolutions for the purpose of having them amended in
the words proposed by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.
STEpHENs.] He voted rather for what intended
than for the words of the resolutions when the question
was taken on their passage. He could not comprehend
what to be understood in the resolutions BY soon
soidatng the principles of republcaasm." The French,
he said, have very sharp of the ridiculous and
this account, he should not like be present when
these resolutions TO be read in the chamber of the
national council He spoke this, for the respect he felt
Tor our rheorc and for this principally he desired
the reconsideration which he had moved
MIR. BAYLY next obtained the floor II was not his
purpose, he said to attempt any proracted reply to the
gentleman IRON Massachusetts, and still less did he in
Tend to offer him the least personal disrespect He
80 much OF gentleman in his manners, that, notwh-
Standing the adherence which he felt for his sentiments
rtoht