The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-04-22

| on the whites.
Mr.. GIoDINGs.-If the complexion Is to he
| the rule, where shall we draw the shade live
took at the gentleman's plantation, or TO any
other part Of the slave country, for hope we
would find none Of IL there--we may see vari.
| Gus shades of colors. lie wanted to know where
they were 10 Tx the line.
IL complexion is the rule Of liberty, where
are We, and yet the gentleman reloices al the
| emancipation Of frenchmen. He had idea
of raising laugh by reference 10 this matter
tie woulG give freedom and liberty TO every in
iiyidual. Nothing had ever occurred that sent
such thrill of delight 10 his heart this French
news. Tie had wished that this BODY would
| learn lesson from it, and Cease to maintain
slavery by its own laws. We established laws
| for eonhning people in slave pens, and under
| our own jurisdiction; and when we passed these
resolutions, we should condemn ourselves.--
lie would give his heartfelt sympathy 10 the
French people in their struggle for freedom;
sa. tie said u ssouid reeoii up0n as with great
force.
MIR. BNLE, addressed the House in vindicsiion
of the proprieiy Of the motion he had submit.
ted. lie thought the action Of the House now,
ought TO bear the marks Of elaboration; that
this movement should not seem TO emanate from
a single member, nor Yet from the COMMITTEES
| on Foreign Affairs, but rather from a special
committee composed Of e member from each OF
the States. His object also to cast out the
attempt by the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Gid
dings, 10 mingle with this matter of national
rejoicing, in which the voice Of tho country
should De unanimous, one of the most embroil-
ing questions Of civil discord which ever dis
grsced the legislation of this country. Ii was
out of character utterly 10 introduce libel up
IA oar Institutions and our principles in the
MUST OF this rejoicing. Was il 10 be declared
tl h. inst ft.
civil liberty, when these very colonies, at the
first, were two-thirds Of them slave holding
colonies! The proposition was equiyale TO a
declaration that Washington was hypocrite,
and the fathers OF the republic were insncere.
lie accorded with the sentiment Of the gehtle-
man from Tennessee, Mr.. Haskell, that No had
no concern about the slavery of the French
Coiouies, or its abolition by the provisional gov
eminent.
Mr. c. J. INcERsoLL, interrupting, and Mr..
b. giving way, said if he was not mistaken,
the original suggestion for the abolition of
slavery in the French colonies, which came
from VI. Ango, was afterwards withdrawn and
abandoned.
Mr. B,usY deferred 10 the more accurate in
formation of the gentleman from Pennsylvania;
ana upon this subject he would undertake TO
.ay that there was no instance upon record In
which the attempt TO abolish slavery in such q
violent manner was not attic nded with deyssts-
tion aud olOOdshed.
ldr. GIODISGs desired 10 ask how much pre-
paratiOn il required TO effect the abolition Of
slavery in Massachusetts
Mr.. BaILEf.-There was never any slavery Of
consequence in Massachusetts,. At least, al the
time of its sboltion By the bill Of rights, there
was no great amount Of slavery in that State.
Several voices. Ii was abolished by the Con-
siiIution.)
Mr. GIDDlNGs would like TO know how grad
ua was the step towards the abolition of sla-
very by the provisions OF the ordinance Of
IsS,
Mr.. BNIy.-The ordinance was never en-
Joined an act of emancipation. The French
settlers in the northwestern territory continue
TO hold their slaves, and treated the ordinance as
a nullity in this respect.
Mr. GIDDiNGs.--The gentleman is mistaken
Mr. B,YLr insisted that he had not made his
statement without the most reliable informa-
zion. Mr.. b. then confined, and showed that
there was one instance within the memory Of
many gentlemen here, wherein abolition WIS eff
fected by the dash Of a pen. lie referred to the
NOV euIeni which revolutioniEed ST. Domingo,
whose leaders. not being able TO glut their ven
geance on the whites, turned their destruction
upon the mulattoes. And what was hayti now
Ii was distracted with continual massscres, and
the negro was there fast going back 10 his phi
meyal barbarism.
Mr. Deer regretted the introduction of the
subject Of slavery here, al this time, although
his voice aud vote, he said, would always be
given against the extension Of that institution.
TIE Introduction Of the subject was unneces-
sary at this time. IL had no connexion what
ever with the matter Of civil liberty in France,
upon which We ought TO speak with unani-
NOUS ami harmonious voice.
With reference TO the resolutions under con-
siGeration, ne said We should speak as one man
the voice Of sympathy with France. And
he was referring To the introduction OF the
subject Of abolitonism into these proceedings,
and to the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Gid
dings, when
Mr.. Trek, interrupting, vindicated the into
dnction Of the subject, and explained the man
ner Of il.
Mr.. AsHnux took the responsibility Of intro
duciug the subject wholly upon himself.
| Mr. B.yIY. Whatever he said then, with re-
| ference to the introduction Of this subject, he
hoped be would be understood as said with re-
ference 10 the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Mr.. AsIimuN humorously,l | so under
stood the remarks of the gentleman through
out, and shall take the earliest opportunity to
| respond
| MIR. DrrTR said he never attacked the gentle
|
rather 10 express his sympathy and respect fol
him.
Mr.. Trek finterrupting said he had certain
ly heard the movement Of this subject attriou.
| ted 20 the gentleman from Ohio; and he so un.
derstoOd the gentleman from New \ ork. lie
then asked that gentleman whether the sub
ject was not necessarily embraced in these re-
solutions, and his question had not yet been an
swered.
Mr. GIpDIxes said he wis perfectly willing
that the gentleman from Virginia Mr. Bayly
should heap on him the entire agency Of bring
ing this matter forward. He was willing, also
that that gentleman, il he choose TO do so
should exonerate himself from all the feeling
Of humanity lie was willing that gentleman
should express all the contempt and dislike
which hs vocabulary could furnish for an!
man who would stand up here and advocate
the rights Of his fellow man. He was wiliinl
TO hear him pronounce the declaration Of in
dependence a libel. He, Mr.. G. was perfect
ly willing TO be ranked by that gentleman will
the authors Of that instrument Of writing; an
he promised 10 take no offence at any Of thes
q things.
Mr.. DUR said it was no part Of his bushes
10 attack or censure any man. The topic I
which he rose was the expression of sympath
! with France; and he continued to speak Of tn
u proprety of these resolutions Of sympathy, re
ierrng TO the ancient friendship that has neve
been interrupted between France and the Uni
y ted States. We were not so peculiarly an An
glo-Sason people as was sometimes erroneous
y ly claimed. We were of the Caucasian family
V and our ancestry was traceable TO France 4
, well an 10 England. He would now send acro'
u the Atlantic voice of hope and Of encourage
u ment 10 the French people. We should not
:. frightened at the appearance OF excuses. The
Is ought to have our symPathes, whether the