The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-17

MI HALE Looking At the fifth section OF the bill as
II amended, there il difficulty that occurs to my mind
What is % become Of the Tree negroes the corporation
have power 70 send them out oil this District believe
that BY the laws Of Maryland and Virginia free negroes
are pron,Si'ed from gong TO reside within those Two
States Well ST. This i section Esses e The ccIpors
free negroes % reside IN their jurisdiction, and to remove
herefrom all free negroes thai neglect refuse 70 com
ply with the ordinances made be made touching
such residence or prohibition OF residence here, i
entirely uncertain what those restrictions may he But
suppose there should be within the District Of Columbia
coored persons who should not comply with this odi
nance: they to be removed from the District; and
where are they 70 goi The District Is bounded BY vr
States B, law aid be cannot stay here BY law What is
to become Of himl This is thing that ought 10 be
thought OF, il il is not below The consideration Of the
rightsthe right To breathe someuhe,e! But mere, sir
you prohibit him from staying here where he is and the
laws Will not permit him 70 80 nywhee else because
States. Now, what y be to. dol VIVA. can he do
That IL the position. understand the laws OF these
Viii Ss Thss say
q away should i s PB Bs day
not exist 70 have the senator who moved this amend.
Mr.. CLAY Mr. President, beg the attention Of the
Senate for few minutes--a very few minutes-for
really am as well aware as any member Of the Senate
Of the importance Of economizng the time OF the Senate
am extremely sorry TO find my friend from North Caro-
ma psrss,pg = ns desire 70 retain ahess
this bill to abolish the slave trade in the District of CO.
lumba. There have been five measures proposed
combined together hoped that if they were pass
ed ~ laws they would restore concord and harmony
The bin Il Fl svss
passed. learn, few days since, by large majority
in the other House Our northern friends have behaved
some Of them-with great liberay There remains but
one Of this series OF measures proposed to be passed
and th.t s the bill for the abolition Of the slave trade
Now, know that the northern portion of the people
OF this country attach much importance to the
under alton than 70 j in
Of whom profess TO be one, who have always opposed
the maintaining Of this slave trade here Now, sir, if
we rease TO pass this bill under these circumstances
and our northern friends return home and they inter-
rogsted upon this subject in this ways The fugitive
slave bill 10 passed all the other have passed
and how 10 that that measure, which we have hereto
fore more anx0usy desired 10 have passed. defeat
cd Why sir they will have to be told that iis defeat
public ssnOS and he attention Of tie Senate was
from Maryland ln Two subjects have been connected
with thai BILL The Z; Of which will BE- as
Now, sir. have no objection. as ! have repeatedly
said to the principle OF the bill Tor increasing the penalty
for enticing away slaves. have objection to the
principle but have some to the provision ii now
2; have repeatedly said that i bill y brought
pass this b which has been the subject Of constant
attention and much consideration during the session,
Of repressing the encement slaves so as to make il
proper. Now, AK my Trend from North Carolina il
these subjects have not remained for fifty Years without
there beng any complaint about the inadequacy OF the
law TO prevent the enticement OF slaves until the oc
cufrence OF the of Chaplin, within few weeks
Legislation to act upon question calculated 10 excite
irritation and feeling throughout the country. For nifty
years there has been complaint upon the subject Of
he law tor enticg slaves away. Until the last few
,ea be,n
the accumulation OF persons OF color in this District
Cannot these subjects lie over I'LL lie next session. or
cannot they be introduced in separate bill 1.-THE sepa
ration OF the subjects leading, as have repeatedly
said, most certainly believe, the passage Of both
measures, while both are endangered by Their conbina
ton together.
Now 10 look little into the details Of the bill There
are two provisions IN this amendment The FIRST relates
to the entcing away OF slaves and is as follows:
"And Be farther enacted, That If any person OF
porsons whn the District Of Columbia shall entice,
duce attempt by percussion ober means 20 ence or
their owner or lawful possesso or shall ID any manner aid
abe, assist any slave slaves running away
slaves shah narbor any slave slaves wih the intent
assist him. her Them escape from the service Of such
owner such thal be iaoe
indictment in the criminal OF the Disrct Of Cvum-
sa and upon CONVICTION by verdict confession Of other
ten nor less than Two years"
The FIRST penal offence denounced By the bill is that OF
epcing or attempting TO persuade without the consum
NATION OF the crime because all these attempts may be
made, and the slave the attempts 10 persuade him
TO away, and the possession OF his owner,
and thus crime be consummaed admit that the AT.
tempt 10 persuade the away is improper, and
ought to be punished but certainly not punished with
the same Measure OF punishment that yon would Inicl
upon the man who In The running away, or after
the slave has escaped, babors and conceas him from bs
master. Vel all these offences put together, and the
persons guilty OF item subjected TO imprisonment IN the
penitentsIy not less than Two Years, than
years Nov, sir, thus TACT OF pers'nd.g slave 10
away is susceptible OF much loose proof Why, slave
may think that lie has been per suaded run away
when man says to him in jocular manner, "Why do
you live with your master! Why not go away some. |
where else - This expression may be brought and
used before jury in such way TO subject the TO
Punishment Of not less perhaps than ten years There
10 proportion provided under the section for carrying
out the punishment for the crimes denounced under other
sections II subject requiring careful consideration
and principle OF the penal law IN the world there
about which 90 much soicude has been manifested,
portion OF penalty and the punishment OF accord
ing 10 its nature. The effect as we all know OF ex.
trene, harsh and cruel Of punishment, is TO
prevent any punishment whatever from being inflicted,
ures will be SO shocked BY its exuemeness tina, they
will not award it.
Now, a. regards the other provision I do not mean
TO dwell upon it, II relates to free people OF color
The number OF them has been increased, and in |
creased, admit, alarInngy, and something ought 10
be done. But whatever should be done should be
carefully done, and in spirit Of humanity and justice
II has been asked-and believe with reason--wbat is
to become Of them il they to be expelled from the
District account Of their increase IN number Where
they 10 20 There many Of the free States, as
well a. the Slave States who prohibit the coming OF free
negroes into their territories And s it possible that Con-
he ann Introducing