The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-08
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty-E1rst Consrsss- First ssssIoa.
THURSDAY, JUNE 8. 1850.
I'm CONTINUATION


I'm coETMuAros.l
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GovERNMENTs--
The Senate as in committee OF the whole resumed the
consideration Of the bill for the admission OF California
ments T or Utah and New Mckee, and making proposals
TO Texas for the settlement OF her northern and
boundares-the question pending being upon amend
posed BY Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. the 10th section
OF the bill.
When the Senate adjourned yesterday. the following
Mr.. WAIKEa had moved 10 amend the 10th section by
inserting the following:
And slavery Is abolished and forever prohibited in
Mr. DAYTON moved to amend this amendment by
adding
Growing out OF or connected with any future con-
tract.
The VICE PRESIDENT to-day stated the question
first upon the latter amendment,
ted by the senator from New Jersey [A1r DAYroNl
from apprehension that there is some constu-
onal difficulty in The way Of the adoption Of the amend
form myself am inclined to think that the apprehension
IS not well founded Peon slavery OF servilude. as It
EXISTS amy q nsse - e not LIE e grew
would apply, but to grow out OF kind Of local
institution ordinance therean ordinance different
from anything that exists in other communities coun
tries il appears that thereis kind Of contracting there
in advancing wages that the individual who enters into
the contract to serve can work out and extngush
the debt But then the servtude becomes perpetual by
the fact that there is no way Of escape from and this
fact arises from system ordinance that has been in
stiiued in the country Il will again read one OF these
ordinances brought to the notice Of the Senate yester
day. and it is one which compes servtude. which COM
pes the party to remain in servitude, 60 without
ployment of any kind Il is this
That person whatever shall henceforth hire take
into his service any lndian without certificate from the
former employer Of that Indian, stating that the said
poyer has no claims the services Of that Indian tor
Any person taking his employment any Indian. with
to the said Indian shall forfeit any money Or property %
advanced and II should be proved that Indian has
son convicted OF having enticed him shall be liable
fine not exceeding twenty dollars nor less than i've dol
lars.
Now, i will be perceived that the servant cannot get
subsequent employment until he has procured the cert
cate from the employer who last employed him. Failing
to get that certificate he has to continue in the employ
ment of the who refuses him the certificate In that
way his services pcrpetuated there is thus perpet
nity OF contract and perpetuity OF these oppressive
ordinances 1t is not the contract, which nvadate
the n servitude, by refusing to give him cer-
cate, and in compelling subsequent employer not 70 en-
ploy him without it. has occurred to as think il
will readily occur TO everybody that we can easily abol-
sh that system OF pe0nage and that system OF odinan
ceshat system Of laws by which the Independence and
freedom OF q Indian, if you pleases placed
entirely under the control OF bis employer II is eec-
tuay placed within his conol all he has 10 do to
nue hun IN his service u TO refuse to grant him Ger
hcate cannot see, then, that this s system OF con-
tracts that the kind OF contracts OF such kind that
we are prohibited from inpairng their validity. there
fore hope that the amendment Of the senator from New
ss aG
stood this thing as do will be glad il arm wrong
be corrected itisa system OF oppression BY the employ
posed as every one ese seems to me- would be opposed
not only TO his power but this control and this custody in
the hands OF the employer because be has, at period
OF his life, advanced few dollars poor creature, in
n sub0if himself that
species OF employment II, however, am in errorif
there be anything in this institution that partakes OF the
nature Of contract, the validity OF which cannot
under the constitution impa-l will be far from risk
ing my oath any other senator. propose TO vote Tor
the abolition of this system None take pleasure in
the perpeuation Of the system OF peonage was moved
when heard the eloquent remarks OF the senator from
louisiana lMr. SoULE] the other day, who spoke OF
American citizen being in bondage-in peonags, and
revolted it, and my feelings still revolt at il and any
other species Of slavery. not familiar with II
others which renders Il to them less revolving. and il is
Mr. DAYTON said, Mr.. President. yesterday. thai
had anxiety for the passage oil this amend
ment, If IL should be amended by my proposition.
On the contrary, am under the impression that II would
be better that the proposition OF the senator from Wis
consn shall be amended as proposed and then TO vote
down the whole amendment II will be better II Il be
passed, senators upon the other side OF the
chamber look fayoraby upon it. IL u passed. desire 10
put in the most unexceptonabe shape The objection
have TO this amendment Of the senator from Wiscon-
which do not profess 10 understand Ii is making the
federal government take the initiative as TO the mdnci
pal regulations OF either the State or Territory what
ever Il may be. am not disposed, for one, TO legs-
late, changing materially the municipal and long
tinued law OF that country. | think vote without
due light and due knowledge II seems to me- upon the
statement made by the senator from Wisconsin, and the
decree read by hmbeng the the decree read by
the senator from Missouri yesterday perbatmtha all
of this shows the propriety Of adopting the amend,
ment The amendment is, that this peon servude shall
not exist as connected with or growing out of future
contracts. The senator says that he does not know
that IL is servitude of that character, which comes
within the provisions OF the constitution which
prohibits US from destroying contracts. | do not
know that IL is, but that IL exceedingly
doubtful question and in my judgment, far under
derstand that institution II Is an institution connected
with growing out Of contracts II il does not grow
out OF that, what does grow out OH II entities the
master the labor Of the Indian, whoever il may be-
contract stipulation upon the part OF the Indian or
servant to work il outi You about say that stpu
latonhat agreement upon his par-shall have no efi
cacy, either as 10 time past or time future. mean ~
shall have no efficacy as respects this servude. His
binding as an obligation upon the person. rs ques-
ton Immediately connected with or growing out oil
contract and nothing else.
Again, sir admit that my feelings have not been so
excited in reference this doctrine OF peon servuae as
those OF some gentlemen in this chamoer nave got
10 all bis bad az il is parallel in history Why. sir,
within the memory of every man in this chamber, there
has been a worse than peon seryude in almost every
State in the Union and IN Great Briian--the system OF
mprisonment for debt II the debtor refused TO pay his
debts the creditor not only entitled to all hs prop
erty but il be refused TO give IL, he also entitled to
SEIZE upon his person. and shut him up in the four walls