The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-23
erm emit to the present propretos and would greatly re

of the of light and knowledge mas an eWuen 'eh
dency 10 corr ant of the people, and to damp the
spirit enterprise by accustomng The rising generation
to look with contempt upon Of b u II so
useful and industrious class o. people from settling among
us by rendering The mean, o. more
1t diminshes the resources of the community, by throw
Ing earnings the into the Golfers of the rich thus
rendering former dependent ssryie. and mprovden
while the latter tempted to become, in the
portior, luxurious and prodigaL
That these disastrous results flow from the existence of
slavery among is sufficiently conspicuous when we con
rounding with the prosperity of those parts OF the
Union which less favored in point Of climate and loca
We would thersore respectfully pray that these grew
.nces may claim the attention Of you, BODY ana
children the District Of Columbia after the
years and thai those laws which authorize the selling of
supposed for their prison lees or maintenance
And also that laws may be enacted prevent slaves
from being this District or brought in for ale
hire, transportation without however, preventing
members of Congress- resident strangers. ira velers
from bringing and taking away with them their domestic
servants.
This sir is petition from the inhabitants of this Dis
trct 1t was signed by 1865 persons 1t contained the
of some of the most respectable inhabitants OF
head OF the judiciary of this District recollect also
the of Jonathan Elliot. and also Of John T. Van
Ness, the largest property holder in this District There
also the OF many other persons equally re-
spectacle and equally well known -
This petition goes much further than the New York
resolutions 1t not only asks for the suppression OF the
traffic in slaves but asks for the abolition OF slavery in
this District. 1t much stronger language. 1t pro.
this traffic dsgracetn in It's character, and
of this kind in the New York resolutions. The
people of this District have done all in their power
10 rid themselves OF the evil which they believe as
their prosperity They have exonerated themselves
from all responsibility account of it; they have
thrown all responsibility upon Congress, believing
not propose to touch, but the State OF New York
as one OF the sovereign States of this Union, had
far
nfcan than those employed BY the nhabitahtso the
District seek exonerate themselves from the respon
sbility This all The Legislature in fact were acting
think gentlemen cannot fail to that if she merits any
Ieproach account OF this expression OF sentiment,
lar heavier burden of eproach falls upon the inhabitants
OF this District who have only asked the interference
OF Congress put end to the traffic in slaves but have
asked for the abolition of slavery itself
have nothing further to say in reply to the gees
tons of the honorable senator from Florida, [Mr. W.
LEE1 regret the necessity OF en- sagng in this discus
sion-a discussion forced upon me came here from
sick room and almost from sick bel, and was never
ndisposed tnan to enter into controversy of
any sort But will not sit in silence and listen to i'm
puati0ns on the legislature of the State have the honor
to represent. which consider wholly uncaled for.
Mr. MASON. do not concur in the opinions express
ed by the honorable senator from Florida upon the print
him But, sir. hold that whenever one of the
States OF this confejeracy addresses the Senate OF the
United States she has right to be heard; and if
speak the sentiments OF their people, use terms
which contumeous insulting to other confed
crate States, can do than TO remit them
TO their people, whom alone the State legislature
responsible, and let history record it. But, sir it be-
u.s. the Senate of the United States to extend
courtesy and respect ormalor substantial to all the
States of the confederacy when they address through
their constituted authorities shall certainly vote for
the printing OF these resolutions moved by the honor
able senator from New York, MIR. XXI
There Is another reason Tor so doing. desire that
these resolutions and all others of kindred stock, which
come from those States where slavery now no longer ex
N he an
guagc in which they written. 1t is time, SIR that
should understand each other, and that nothing
situations of their States terms of ndgnity and
contumely, ought to know it and ought to know
ss nSa
Sir, this question is thckening around US EVERY DAY
We shut our eyes to it no longer; and as one of
the representatives OF sovereign State OF this confeder
acy where this institution exists, am happy here 10
noance that the people OF that Sate-he State OF Viz
GINA aroused, and are alive upon this subject
Sir it may beanf reports are to be trusted II tcH be-
that the State of Virginia will address herself to the Sen
ate OF the United States before this week passes And if
she does, shall ask for the State OF Virginia what be-
leve has always been conceded every State that her
.resoutionsbe they what they may-shall be received
with respect, and shall be printed for the of the
Senate.
do not mean to go into this question at all now. Blu,
will submit to the honorable senator from New York,
tMr DIX, who has, as in duty bound. submitted these
the people of New York to draw distinctions between
intermeddng in matters where they have control,
anu expressing OpluOnS upon or
their sister States 'revolting to the spirit of the
age;" whether they should not draw distinction
between that sort Of interference, and memorials
coming from such source the people of the
District of Columbia, or the people of any other
community who meet in elaboration upon matters
Of common interest," and express themselves upon their
own institution. in the language which they deem best
The people OF Virginia Florida may their own
General Assemblies and speak of their institutions as
they think prope-hey may terms of reprobation,
and it is an insult to nobody; but when State where
this institution no longer exists although it did
st Observation-Disclosures this institution, existing in
fifteen States of this conederacy and cherished by many
of them reproach to the spirit of the ageI say, sir
that il is the language OF coniumey and indignity
Mr.. DIX If the senator from Virginia will permit me
to make brief explanations will thank him There is
no reference whatever these resolutions the instu
ion of slavery in the States 1t is the extension of slave
pronounced by the legislature of New York be revolt
ing to the spirit of the age.
Mr.. MASON Sir, do not mean to question either
the taste the courtesy of the State Of New York but
submit to the American people, well TO the Senate of
the United States that if institution existing pro-
tected by the laws and participated in by the people of
tain States this conederacy when extended beyond their
limits. called revolving to the spirit of the age whether
does not characterize the institution ITSELF existing in
ever with the State of New York in this matter of the Ian
guage she chooses to but desire 70 to the south
ern Stacs Every step taken thesa is nees,ng to II
speaks the seEenens of their people, the constituted
authorities properly represent ihen lad. dr. # such
be the sentiments OF the people of NSw YORK Maine,
or OF these sixteen States sir which the gentleman says
have passed similar resolutions is due 10 The safety of
in the very language in which it is spoken | mean air
IN pre1ict nothing: nothing I b.va ~ r;,L