Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-06-15
Speech Of Mr. Tuck, Of N. Hampshire
On The Bill TO pay for SLAVES.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,, MAY -, lS4S.

fairs, accompanying bill for the relief of Ben
jamin Hodges praying for compensation for a
slave, who escaped to the British army from Ma
ryland, in the year 1914, having been read,
Mr. Tuck rose and said
know too well the importance to individuals,
of having their claims against the Government,
not only allowed, but allowed promptly, to be
willing to interpose any captious Or frivolous OBJ
lection to the one now under consideration |
have carefully examined the report which has
been read, and also such documents and papers
in the archives Of the Government as I thought
would aid me in coming to just and satisfacto-
ny conclusion upon the nature and merits OF this
claim; and | am constrained to say that find
the demand unsustained either by law, prece-
dent or principle. The amount is inconsidera-
bic, and might deserve to occupy the attention
of this body but a short time; but the principle
involved-that of taking the funds Of Govern
ment to pay for slaves, who in time Of war have
escaped to the enemy-is of great importance,
and especially at the present time, whcnthe pre-
ccdent for such an allowance would lead to a
multitude of new demands upon the common
treasury of the nation.
The three facts set forth in the report, and
which are to constitute the reasons for voting for
the bill introduced by the committee, are stated
thus:
81. The Committee are satisfied that the ne
gro man, Phil, belonging to the husband Of the
petitioner, was taken off by the British army, on
its return from Washington City to the fleet, then
lying in the Patuxent.
2. The owner Of said slave has never regain
ed him.
3. The Committee are advised that there re-
mains unappIied a residue Of the funds obtained
under the treaty of Ghent for the express and
only purpose Of indcmnifying losses of this char
acter"
In regard to the first and second Ct these rea-
sons, say that they are entirely immacria and
that their existence or non-eXlstence cannot con-
stitute any Of the elements Of a Just demand upon
the Government The escape of slaves to a
Power with which we are at war, and the conse-
quent loss Of property to the alleged owners, is
not a case which invokes our sympaty with the
master, or authorizes our action in his behalf
To grant the indemnity demanded would be a
new cncroaChment upon the Constitution, by
which the General Government was intended to
be kept disconnected with the institution of sa-
very. / am surprised that Committee Of this
House, at time when discussion upon the sub
Jet of slavery is so much deprecated, should lay
before us a report that imposes the alternative of
examining the character and claims Of that insti-
tuition, and of repudiating its unjust prCensions,
or of sitting in craven subsection, and voting
the money of our constituents for hateful and
infamous purposes. Why is it that gentlemen
who are loud in their complaints and fierce in
their malediction against those whom they charge
with introducing slavery into this hall should
give their sanction to claim which necessarily
forces the free States into dishonorable subcc-
tion or rouses them into indignant opposition
| can account for it on no charitable suppostion,
except that in the press of business it has esca-
ped that critical attention which its importance
demanded.
IN regard to the third reason stated, say that
if the Committee were advised Of what they al
lege, (Which will not deny,) they were advised
of what has never had an existence in fact
There does not "remain unapplied" any "resi-
due Of the funds obtained under the treaty of
Ghent;" nor were any funds ever obtained by
this Government, for the purpose of indemnify
ing losses of this character" If the Committee
acted upon any such representations, they could
not have derived their knowledge from any au-
thentlc source, and were grossly misinlormcd-
| trust that the importance of the principle in
volved in this claim, will be a sufficient apology
for OBTAINING the Committee, by reading such
documents as are necessary to be understood, in
order to Judge correctly of its merits. 1t is well
known, that by the treaty of Client, concluded
December 24th, 1914, peace was established be-
tween the United States and Great Britain. The
first article in that treaty is the only portion nee
essary to be referred to for our present purpose;
it contains the following clause:
"Al territory, places, and possessions Whatso-
ever, taken by either party from the other, du-
ring the war, or which may be taken after the
signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands
hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without
delay, and without causing any destruction or
carrying away any Of the artillery public prop
erty originally captured in the said forts or pla-
ces and which shall remain therein upon the ex-
change of the notifications Of this treaty, or any
SlaUeS or other private property"
call particular attention TO the last line Of this
clause, because that portion produced protracted
negotiations between the two Governments, and
assumed an Importance beyond what would have
been expected, from the modest and almost acct
dental manner in which the idea indicated seems
to have got into the treaty. All the claim which
our Government ever made upon England under
the stipulation of the whole clause, excepting
the last line, did not amount to fifty thousand
dollars; while the last line gave birth to claims
on England for runaway slaves, to the amount of
more than eleven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars-beng vast more than either party had
any conception of at the time of concluding the
treaty. Having, however, signed the bond,
there was no escape; and the English, whatever
their notions might be upon slavery, found them
selves liable to claim for the value OF more
than two thousand fugitive slaves. The demand
for satisfaction was urged by our Government,
and was resisted by that of England. The
stipulation was not absolutely definite, though
it was certain to some extent. Voluminous cor
respondence took place. and negotiations were
pending until October Goth, 1873 when Con-
vention was entered into between the two Gov
ernments, which gave hope of an early ADJUST