The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-11

,r slep by step; while in the Senate-the more IA
,ona rule having been adopted OF laying such petitions
~ be table without discussion-it has scarcely been a
Snr considered, until some very JEALOUS over -pous
day saints have come into the Senate to force this
ropstion upon us
Sir we are told about the charging of the circle of hu
man sympathy and affection; and those who warn Us of
Inn, enaging this circle. such never in
ny other circle than that OF affection for the negro Ii
helms and ends there IT hear of nothing else that
;.nrogressve in any human accommodating which does
moi centre in The single question of aboltonism,
What now, is the proposition Ii is to take money
from the treasury and besow 1t upon certain class of
passengers What right have you 10 distinguish between
one class of passengers and another' sorry that
when my friend from Kentucky speaking, he did
mi saw TO the North, You the who imported
these slaves from Atrica-who have enjoyed the benefit
n the carrying and selling of these saves-who have
RAPED the largest proportion OF the profit and you
be men who should contribute the largest proportion of
,he money carry them back
As to any influence TO be exerted upon the conven-
ton in Kentucky | have only to say that agree
with nv friend from Virginia, Mr.. Mason | am un-
willing 10 attempt any interference with the convention
ey are able to take of themselves. and they have
right do as they please. If they wish TO emancipa,e
heir saves-ahough should regret it would inter
pose no obstacle, by showing them that we would not
transport their slaves and most certainly Involvement,
by showing them that we would And it would be well
SIR for those who cry out good Cod" (and think
there is propreiy in crying out " good devil" when
their whole purpose is to scatter seeds of discussion in
this Unon) it might be well for them during all their
lamentations about slavery, to look upon the other
SIDE of the picture, and ask. If it has brought evils,
what evils has it presented Has it made one man
more slave, than would have been slave with
out that institution Has it reduced man from
liberty to slavery this is the question answer, moi,
one Under laws older than the records of history,
were taken IN bondage and made slaves as capves
Of war Those slaves purchased of chieains,
ring with coniending clans who held them in slavery
and that purchase saved them IRON more lgnomnIous
slavery than that which exists this side the Atlantic
That purchase bought them. too from the dreadful dark
ness which hung the savage interior of Africa and
brought with il enlarged products-enlarged commerce
the palm OF civilization and OF International amy, and
all those blessings which bind the people OF the re
quarters OF the world together. These some oil
tue fruits which are to be considered, before yoa con-
deEn so freely this institution.
Il is only the libellous ISLANDERS of this nsti
mion-about which know something uttered by those
who entirely ignorant of it, that have entered into
the discussion thank the senator from Illinois Mr.
DoucLAsl for the manly manner IN which he has dis
cussed this question; and il all those of equal nell-
gence, representing like constituency, would thus
speak to those they representa- appealing to their pa
'ollsm and good sense it would prevent this agitation
which can be productive Of nothing but evil. This
is the question, the ag ation of which is destroying
institutions, it, indeed, they to fall Now is the
time for those men who love the Union better than
they love the negro TO speak plainly 10 those
whom they represent; to tell them they mistook
the issue-that when they argued about the exist
ence OF slavery, It was an issue OF their own there
was another which they were bound to consider, and
the question OF non-ntererence with the rights OF
the States, the question of the disunlon of this go
ous confederacy and of all the bright hopes of human
liberty which have been built upon t. With this issue
let northern friends appeal to their constituency and
they are not far deseDeraed from such sres as Han
cock and Adams they will return to their allegiance Ia
the constitution and forbea 10 interfere with the rights
OF the southern States.
Mr.. BUTLER | understand the motion before the
Senate is, to refer the petition to the Judiciary Commit
Tee. Am correct, MIR. President!
The VICE PRESIDENT Perfectly, sir
Mr.. BUTLER. Then, sir. | object 10 it. shall not
men who choose present petitions Of this kind But
Mr. President am member of the Judiciary Commit
tee and if petitions and resolutions of this sort TO be
given to it, must beg to be discharged from the pain
iul duty of entertaining them; for while am willing
from sincere respect TO this body to obey all its instruc
tons. trust in God that you will make the instru
ment of my own degradation, and that OF my country.
Mr.. DAYTON remarked that that part of the resolu-
ton which proposed instruction to the committee, had
been stricken out
Mr. BUTLER. do not want any reference at all
Mr. DAYTON. | conceive that ii must be referred
somewhere
Mr. BERRIEN. Mr. President, desire to say word
preston which have in relation to that petition
be that of the Senate, and whether have correctly
ders.ood its object 1t states the fact that there are
a number OF persons of color who DESTROYS OF
emgratng 10 LibeTa but that they have unfortunate
ly-or perhaps fortunately" to the words of the
yel!ion-no Of defaying the expenses 1t there
preparation OF money from the national treasury for thai
purpose And II Is because it affords opportunity O!
making this appeal that the petitioners suggest that it is
perhaps Fortunate that these individuals, who desire to
emgrae to Liberia, have not the means OF defrayng tae
expense, 1t proceeds 10 present, inducement tc
this appropriation the allegation Of the fact tina
convention is about 10 be held in Kentucky, which
may probably devise system OF gradual eman
clpailon; and that, independent OF any action %
that convention, there muttudes OF private ind
vduals who would, in view OF this appropriation by
Congress- be disposed to emancipae their slaves. ii
wrong in this vew--whch have taken, at any rate
TO be the purport of the peton-l will gladly submit t.
,m you make T s
preparation from your treasury for the purpose OF ndu
cling the emancipation of slaves throughout the United
Stales' Sir, it is neither less than appeal t.
the Congress of the United States to appropriate
money annually out OF the national treasury, which shall
serve as encouragement to the owners OF slaves Il
emancpate them, and thus 10 produce gradual and gen
eral emancipation throughout the United States.
In this view OF the SUBJECT II appears to me that how
ever we disposed to respect the right OF petition ant
whatever opinions we may entertain upon the abstrac
question with reference TO this institutonlhe charace
OF which do not dscnss-we must all be sensible that
recognised as this institution il by the constitution OF tn
United States, and looking to the purposes Tor which tn
powers which we exercise were conferred upon us, 1t 4
not of these powers, neither within its letter it
SPIRIT TO draw from its treasury and appropriate mone
10 aid in the emancipation OF slaves throughout tn
United States And this, understand is the distinc
object and puspor OF this petition In this view OF tn
subject, Sir, shall unquestionably be opposed to it
passage.
Mr. NILES remarked that as the ayes and noes wer
asked he desired to say few Words lest his vote shout
be misunderstood. There was no power to make ap
preparations of this kind-not only for the reason
suggested by the senator from Georgia, MIR. BER
REM that it would be indirectly interfering witt
those rights of persons, and those social relations
which by the constitution were exclusively confined t
he State authorities; but for the additional reason that
would be appropriation from the public treasury TO
an object not contemplated by the constitution. Ill
knew that the power OF government to make such appro
atl,,s Lua..