The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-12

same social platform with the whites And he had never
believed that those who desired the soil principle 10
BE carried would advance these propositions, looking
they did rather the Reorganization OF society than 10
! the extension OF that great principle.
In regard to the abolition OF slavery this DSrlct, ne
entertained doubt OF the power OF Congress lie en-
teained doubt of their power to abolish it at any
moment But whenever Congress should exercise thai
power (and he would not say whether this was
not the proper time for It's exercisewhenever Congress
should abolish slavery in this District, they should
make compensation to those who the OF the
slaves held in bondage within It's limits. However
ious he might be to abolish slavery here. he could not
sanction the broad and sweeping proposition which had
been made few days ago by the gentleman from Mass
chusels, which contemplated, at fell swoop, the
peal OF all laws recognising the relations of master and
| slave.
Mr., PALFREY rose in explanation AMI under.
stood to say all laws of Congress sustaining the insttu
tuition of slavery in the District.
Mr.. SMITH. | under the proposition of the gen.
tleman to be, that AT single blow all laws enact
ments sustaining the institution OF slavery should be
abolished.
| Mr.. PALFREY In the District of Columbia
| Mr. SMITH continued He had not, he said, applied
the remark TO anything else. The proposition to
destroy al the institution of slavery here Before
that was done, Congress (haying the power of egsla
ton hee( should inquire whether they had the right to
deprive those men who had invested their all in this
property, or persons (or whatever might be caed and
had made it available to them captalo all that they
possessed without doing them the simple justice OF re-
mune rating them.
|
the same right to do this (as gentleman from Ohio
him suggested) as they would have to repeal the law
which gave that gentleman title TO his land There
might indeed, be some great public necessity which re-
CURED Congress to change existing relations; but when
they did this, they must at the time do justice TO
the parties They could sacrifice private rights In
dependent of the question. whether the law OF God
cognisel property in slaves not, the municipal rela
tons by which we had been bound from the organization
of the government had declared that slaves should be
regardI property, and individuals had vested their
capital in it. H. therefore, Congress destroyed that nst
tuon he would at least open the public treasury until
justice should have been done to those individuals thus
Invested of that which the laws recognised property
and if necessary, he willing impose upon his
stuents whatever taxation might be necessary 10 do this
ii. hoped hoped that the vote would be reconsderea He
hoped that the House would take away the preamble
from the resolution and would put the resolution itself
in such form as would lead TO practical results and &C
complish the object which gentlemen had in view.
| Mr.. SAWYER said he had heard this question discuss
ed from time to time, and by gentleman after another,
until would really that there other sub.
ec which could be discussed in this hall but negro sa-
very Nearly half of le session had already passed away
bills yet 10 be acted upon, and petitions coming here
daily, asking that Congress would egsate on such
ters In addition to this there hundred
and fifty or two hundred general laws the calendar;
and yet from morning TO night and from week to week,
nothing wastalked OF here and nothing could get hear
ing that did not relate to negroes or negro slavery
Now, he would appeal TO The good sense of the House,
lie would appeal to the patriotism of gentlemen hereto
every consideration that sacred in their minds
spec 10 the Wellae anu interests OF Inc nato-to aDan-
son ms infamous manner OF legsa'ion' lot such ne
must can IT, lie meant NOT 10 cast censure upon the
House but he must say. that question had been aga
ted here for time which the House ought have
done win was one ABOUT "hcn MS constituents cared
nothhs lnere were olner suoe9's lar more important
anu interesting 10 tnem. Inc house was spendlhs us
lme day aer day 70 no Placuca goou arguing ABSTRACT
quss!ons ana certain gentlemen seemed 70 aspire 10
holhing more han raising quesons wnch must emoar-
rass o'hef gentlemen IN the votes whch tney were 70
give He' 1or one would experience 20 embarrassment
from this source HIS con sttuen's well knew TINS lhey
would not require nm 10 give MS voe unless upon some
Inc session. ne hau sad was apout nau over ihey
had now Vast amount OF puoic business 70 attend TO-
Ihe people Were suffering AN around the voice OF
warning was near1 me cnolefa was approaching
Before one week. he predicted It would De amongst us
ans IN MS Judgmeh' II II shoua come congress couid
| not De KEPT ,oSe,her one week afterwards
lie would ask gentlemen to LOOK seriously INTO this
matter 10 proceed to the despatch OF Inc pubic business
ana 10 let mis- aoomhaoe thhg OF negroes ana negro
slavery alone Inc people sent them mere 70 90 no such
business. How was II WIN ms own constituents, and
with the constituents OF otneI gehueneh mere mere
were questions in which their interests much
deeply nVoVeu ana winch ought 10 receive hef alten
tom
Inc course pursued mere reminded MN OF an anecdo'e
Wich ne nau nea1 OF mug ooy, VINO Weh' 10 woman
IN ms neghborhood TO ger her 10 patch his pantaoons
ne BOY was IKE the I boy OF the siashes, wheh ne
went TO 'he mn WIN ms bag OF corn ana me slreamers
hanging ~. ueiiu. ine mohan aSkeu nun Wny ms
no o u'u w. put .e paw vi ioi nun; Tnt' nc
ha sant tn Tho Gr.eks IValj :" yan;aJ t1s yon,n
ask your mother to come home and attend to her own
tn. Creeks"
on,, :, ,noc3ota t Tho c,,o /,f