Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-01-19


Military officers are the agents of Govern.
ment, to do all things pertaining to their Of
fee, and which come within the line of their
duties. General Jesup was an agent to send
ont Of Florida all enemies Of the country; but
he was not cur agent to send The friends of
Government west OF the Mississippi. If he
has done so, the act is his, not ours. 1t was
unauthorized, and he alone is liable. Now
| understand the gentleman from South Car
DINA Mr.. Burt, TO urge that he was an en-
envy, and dangerous TO The country. | admit
the fact, and say that he should be treated as
an enemy. But if he were not an enemy,
then there is NJ claim on the Government.
But the committee are not content with
urging that he was an enemy to the country,
and dangerous they suddenly change the ar
gument, and say that he was taken Tor public
usc. An enemy 10 the natiOn is taken for pij-
lie use! Well, sir, the argument is ingen-
ious. 1t never found a place III the mind Of
Giotius or Pulfendorf, or Of any writer upon
the law Of nations, or the rights OF Govern
meni. But the point was adopted by the ar
guments Of the gentleman from South Caro-
lima, and perhaps | ought TO notice it. For
what use was he taken! To what use was
he applied? The gentleman admits the right
10 shoot or to hang him. Would not that
have been as much "taking for public USE
as it was to Danish him! The use of send
ing him out Of the country was the preserva-
ton of the lives and property Of The people.
That would have been equally attained by
shooting or hanging the negro. But the re-
ply to this is, that he Was property. Well,
| repeat, suppose he had been a rabld dog or
a vicious mule, killing people and destroying
their property, and General Jesup had shot
or chased him out of the country to prevent
him from killing his master or others; would
the Government have been liable will not
argue the point further.
Again. it is said, that by the act Of hiring
we admitted the slave to be property, and
that the Government is now estOpped from de-
nying that fact. We are bound 10 treat all
arguments on this floor with respect. But 10
suppose that this obscure lieutenant, who,
perhaps, read a commentary on the Con-
s|titulion, and who, | dare say, never dream
ed that he was affecting, or doing anything
to affect, our rights or our duties: | say, to
suppose that his acts would eSt0p Congress
from maintaining the Constitution, or that
such acts would have any weight whatever
with this body, is a proposition which | Will
not deiain the House TO examine lie was
our agent for the purposes OF doing his mill
tary duty; Oul we never duthoiIZeu Nun u
legislate for us, or 10 give construction TO on:
constitutional rights. Why, sir, may hire
out my son, or apprentice, or my hired ser
want: hut would that be an admission thai
they were my property? Or suppose | agree
that the gentleman from South Carolina Mr.
Burt, shall attend the Speaker to a glvoI
place; does that imply that | hold him al
property! No, sir; the only fact implied is
that have a right to receive the wages wheI
the labor or duty is performed, according t
my contract. In this case, the claimantagreeC
that Lewis should accompany the troops, AM
the officer agreed to pay the master twenty
five dollars per month. The claimant ma,
have made the same arrangement in regar
to any freeman as he did in regard 10 Lewis
and when the labor was performed, he woul
have the same right to the money. But i
such case, would the Government be obliga