Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08

untrue the represented the negroes to have been
fourteen months in Cuba instead Of fourteen days This
ase statement Is In contradiction to the alleged facts that
lhey We're 6osaies negroes newly imported instead of
" adnos" or negroes long resident in Cuba. This fact
was Important as it is understood by all that the treaty be-
tween Spain and the United States and the laws of that
kingdom interdct the slave trade
lie regretted that the gentleman who penned this report
was not present but present absent ii became his Mr.
G duty to stamp with the character which belonged it,
Again, at subsequent period, the first session OF the last
Congress- this report again put forth adopted
by the Committee Foreign Affairs and the chairman Of the
present Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. SAITH, of Con-
necicut) put his hand to it that it was true
lThe committee at this time being quite thn-Mr SMITH
with many Others being absenM a. said he wished some
OF the boys would and tell his friend he talking about
him. He wanted to drive every man out from behind the
bush ON this subect.]
He did not believe that the gentleman who at present
at the head Of the Committee Foreign Affairs would nten-
tonay endorse such The fact was he sup
posed the gentleman did not know whether true false
because question in which slaves involved he
did not examine it. the habit of Northern
shrink from the investigation Of any subject in which the
cuar institution nvoved they did not like to approach
it. And now what the consequence Why, his friend
from Connecticut having admitted the truth Of that report and
confirmed it, the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. BRoD-
HEAp now moved to refer the subject again to the very men
who had made this report.
Mr. Smith entering the Hall, Mr.. g. repeated the
declaration that the gentleman had endorsed and adopted this
report, and il bore his impress.
Mr.. SMITH, (inerposing) How bears my impress
+ Mr.. GIDDINGS. Why, as member Of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, by asserting to it.
Mr.. SMITH. As a member Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs Well hope am not to be held responsible for
all the Committee Foreign Affairs did during the last
Congress.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. There is nothing on the record which
shows that my friend from Connecticut dssened from it As
LAID BEFORE do believe he examined the question. But
where is his Where is his solemn protest
Where does he contradict this declaraonth fragrant false
hood How has he raised his voice against this doctrine,
which unjust in ITSELF and which is tending to overthrow
Government and liberties
Mr.. SMITH. If the gentleman from Ohio will permit me
to refer him the yeas and nays, think he will find that this
question up in the House, and that my name is there
recorded
Mr.. GIDDINGS. beg pardon; there is no such thing
on the record This report before the House.
Mr. SMITH If there is no such thing ii is because this
question could not raise strength enough get the yeas and
nays.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. know that and therefore it was inn
porant that my friend should have had strength enough his
own breast to speak the TRUTH to declare the facts.
He repeated, he wanted every to take open bold
ground, freemen and the representatives of feemen
This the whole When the general appropriation
bill under consideration in the Senate last session.
amendment attached to it giving $4,000 a COM
pensaon for these slaves the claimants This amendment
down here and after hearing the expose of his venera
bic fiendwho sat bcforehm M AnaMs) Of fifteen min
ues there only twenty three persons willing for
in committee, aud in the House only forty 1t was hurled
unceemoniously from this body, and stamped with the ex-
press disapprobaon Of the House and having lain over
recommended by the President make this appropriation to
tax their constituents pay this money these dealers
in human flesh.
The object his motion was not to send this subject TO the
Committee Foreign Affairs and in naming select COM
mee, he said be had desire wish to be placed upon
that committee But his desire that the venerable gen.
tlenau from Massachusetts, (M ADAMs who had stood in
the relation of counsel to this from its
should be placed upon and then he should like placed
upon of the abes statesmen and lawyers the other
side Of the that both sides Of the question might be
fully presented, and that should hereafter have the
records of the country alsfed.
II his object therefore, send this subject to select
committee that report might be drawn up and the
people, that they might be thoroughly informed in relation TO
He did know but that il his duty speak more
length this matter but would only say that the Pres
dent had urged themto do what To sustain the Spanish
slave trade He asks tax the people, to take that which
they by the sweat OF their brows pay engaged in
the slave trade for the failure Of their specuaons This
subject agtaed by him urged upon them by the
President and had been again and again urged upon them
by the Committee Foreign Affairs. He wished 10 dabuse
the minds any who thought he had agaed this question
He would take this occasion 10 say that he had agacd
the question Of slavery here but redeem the North
participation in it-from all unconstitutional participation
in it, He held in his hand resolution which had been
passed by the Legislature of South Carolina and he rejoced
hat he bad occasion to speak with appreciation Of the
action Of South Carolina on the subject Of slavery.
The honorable gentleman here read the resolutions which
REFERRED which understood to deny right the
free States interfere with slavery in the South and also to
Congress under the constitution to exercise any control
by the North For himself he responded most heartily
he resolutions They had power the abolition Of
slavery in the South bad Congress the right require
he North give the institution Of slavery any support He
Iesred emphatcay repeat that they bad here power
in connexion with the institution of slavery. This
position clearly sustained by the constitution that he
who runs may read The doctrine then Of the South Carroll
la resolutions was true We have right ointerfere with
had any right TO interfere with it. Every
heretofore by which this House has taken jurisdiction of
was violation OF the constitution. And yet the President
now asked them to interfere with that around which the
ituon had thrown barrier. He asked them do that
which the people had right to medJe with, establish,
UPHOLD put down. and he hoped this House would refuse
crafty the President in this particular. Would the Repre-
,entaves Of the North make such concession Would the
Wing party yield their such dogmas Of the President
Il the chairman Of the Committee Of the District Of Columbia
present he would ask him there any probability OF
heir repeating the of Congress by which they had
Used jurisdiction this subject in this District He directed
attention the slave pen view Of this Capitol in which there
sghng and weeping, and goanng and more human
suffering than Imagination could paint. From all connection
with such crueles he wished the people that he represented
be absoved He hoped therefore, that Congress would
refuse entertain the subject and not invited by the Pre-
den the people perpetuate and the inc-
ion OF pain and misery He desired 10 wash his hands OF IL
He called the attention Of the House the effect Of such
II encourage the slave trade the coast
of Africa il involve in the crime Of piracy This
interference with slavery had involved in war; in which
much American blood being poured out and the
Of the nation ssuandercd with extravaganza