The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-02
THE SLAVERY EXCITEMENT AT
WASHINGTON.

In another column will be found some ac-
count Of one of the most exciting scenes that
has ever occurred at Washington, occasion
ed by that most troublesome of all subjects
SLAVERY. Mr. Got.. of New York, offers a
resolution instructing the Committee on the
District of Columbia to report IA bill prohib-
iting the Slave Trade in said District" Mr..
HARRISON, of Georgia, (chiefy celebrated for
ist-fght with brother Locofoco, in the halls
of Congress, during the last SESSION. at once
moves to lay it on the table. The motion is
lost, and the main question being ordered by
the House, the bill passed--9S ioS7-45 men,
bers not responding to their names.
This was, of course, looked upon as di-
rect step towards the entire abolition of Slave
~ in the District. The excitement among
the Southern members was intense. Mr..
Holmes, of South Carolina, proposed that all
Southern members should retire from the
IIo1se-and suiting his action TO the word,
took his hat, and left. Nobody followed E.
ven the Southern members, it seems, regarded
the movement as simply ENTHUSIASTICALLY in
dignant as they professed 10 be-
A meeting of Southern members, of both
Houses, was secretly held Uhough consider
able portion of their proceedings leaked out,)
on the evening of the following day, to con-
suit as TO the course most proper to be pursued
in view of tho threatening aspect of. affairs
for the friends of the peculiar institution
Out Of ll6 Southern members, in all, only
CO attended the caucus. Such men as Messrs
Mangum, Badger, Bell and Clayton, and even
Mr.. Benton, absiained entirely from taking n
ny part in the proccedings-The whole oper
alton, in fact, seems TO have been little else
Than farce,-ac,ed for no better purpose
than TO" show proper resentment"
The North are prepared for the action con-
templa,ed in Mr.. Colts resolution. The pre-
ambie of that resolution sets forth clearly and
forciblv what Northern men have for long
time felt--the grounds taken al e grounds from
which the MOI tn will never recedc, and the ac-
ton proposed will not be long deferred for the
want of Northern woes. That such bill as
the Committee on the District are instructed
to report can at present pass the Senate, how
ever, we do not suppose anybody expects
and if it should, after Mr. Folks long disqui-
sition on the beauties OF free use of the We
TO Power, we know very well what its uti-
mate fate would be.-And on the whole, Just
at this crisis, when that most perpleAing ques-
ton of organizing governments for New Mex
leo and California is still on the hands of Con-
gress, and requires most calm, unimpassion-
ed consideration, and the evidence of every
thing tending unnecessarily 10 cxasperaie
Southern members, We doubt whether much
will be gained for Freedom by plunging with
such manifest haste" into this most exciting
of all all the topics growing out of the exist
ence of Slavery in this Republic.-A resolu-
ton like that of MIR. Colts will inevitably be
passed whenever fairly put to vote in the pop
ular branch OF Congress.-as now constituted
or as likely to be constituted ever hereafter.
When SO presented, no Anti-Slavery member
will be voting against it, or lodging it. 1t is
only the erpediency Of presenting such res
olution-at the present time-and under an
absolute certainty that nothing can be actually
accomplished by it-that we are disposed TO
question.
We dislike all sectional names, like North
ern and Southern. While Representatives Of
the Slaveholdiug States. however, manifest
such spirit as they do at prcsent-while their
jealous eyes are fixed upon every movement
in the Free States. tending in the least to-
wards Freedom, and the assertion of free prin-
ciples, as if it were a direct attack upon their
rights; and arc ever ready TO cry out for a dis
solution of the Union, on the first indication Of
any hostility, in any quarter, of the confeder-
acy, towards what is really curse to them
selves, as we'll as reproach to the whole na-
tioni VIC can hardly expect such sectional feel
ings TO subside,-nor is it at all likely they
ever will suhside, so long as Slavery exists
N our country.-lleanwhie, we cannot too earn
estly and assiduously strive to Keep within the
limits deeorum and good temper, at the same
time that we firmly and decidedly, on all
proper occasions. express cur utter hostility
TO Human Slavery. and to Oppression in ev-
cry form, as contrary TO the spirit of our insti-
tutions, and altogether indefensible on moral
grounds If any passions are % be aroused
on this subject. let it be exclusively on the
part of those who are responsible for this great
evil, and who, with suicidal policy, are strain
ing every nerve TO perpetuate ii.
Eggs THAT ARE. EGGs."-Mr. D. B.