The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-11

shall entice or induce. or attempt,by persuasion or
other means TO entce or induce any slave or slaves
to run away from his her, their owner or lawful
possessor, shall in any manner aid abet, assist
any slave or slaves in running away or escaping
from the owner or lawful posi- ssor OF such slave
slaves, or shall harbor any slave or slaves with the
intent TO assist him, her. or them, TO escape from
the service Of such owner possessor such person
or persons shall be liable TO indictment in the Grim
nal court of the District of Columbia; and upon con-
viction by verdict, confession, otherwise shall be
imprisoned in the penitentary not more than ten
less than two years.
SEC. 4. And be IL further enacted, That in case
any slave or slaves 50 induced, persuaded,
ticed to away, or assisted in running away, or
harbored with the intent 10 assist him, her, them,
in running away, or escaping from service, shall
actually run away and escape from the service OF
the lawful owner or owners, any person convicted
aforesaid Of such entcng, persuading, assisting,
or harboring, shall also be sentenced by the said
court TO pay 10 the owner owners OF said slave
slaves the value of the same, TO be assessed and
determined by the said court to be recovered by
execution, as in cases of other judgments.
Sec. s. And be IL further enacted, That the said
corporations and the said levy court respectively
shall be and they hereby invested with the power
to prohibit the coming OF free negroes to reside
within their respective urisdictional limits, and 10
remove therelrom all free negroes residing,
ing to reside therein, who shall neglect refuse to
comply with the laws and ordinances made or to be
made touching such residence, or the prohibition
thereof; and To enforce such removal or compli-
ance with such ordinances, by fine and imprison-
mcnt at labor. or either at their discretion.
Mr. MASON moved to amend the bill by striking
from il the first two sections, to leave in the
bill nothing but what had been added theretoby the
motion of Mr.. PEARcE
Messrs. MASON, CLAY, PEARCE, and UN-
DERWOOD debated the amendment.
Mr. PEARCE moved to amend the first section of
the bill by striking out the following concluding
words: ''Such slave shall thereupon become Iber-
ated and tree;' and insert in lieu thereof:
"Such owner or the agent of such owner shall be
subject to penalty of five hundred dollars, TO be
recovered by action qu tam, one-h half to the inform
er the other half to the corporation within whose
limits the offence may be committed, and in every
such case bail shall be required, any law to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
This amendment was debated, and was then
iected-yeas 10, nays 26-as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchison, Bell, Berrien, Daw-
son, Downs, Footc, Houston, King, Mason, Morton,
Pearce, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Underwood, and
Yuee--l6.
NAYS Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Benton, Chase,
Clay, Davis of Massachusetts, Davis of Mississippi,
Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge
of Iowa, Ewing, Greene, iiamlin, Jones, Mangum.
Norris Seward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Stur-
geon, Wales, Walker, Whitcomb and Winthrop
20
The question then required on the motion of
Mr.. MASON to strike out the first two sections.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD asked division of the qucs-
ton, and it first taken striking the first
section, and decided in the negatve-yeas Is, nays
30-as follows
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchson Berrien, Butler, Da-
Wis of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs, Houston, Hun
X,
Soue, Turney ;. Underwood and Yulce-lS.
NAYS.-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Benton,
Bright, Chase, Clay, Davis of Massachusetts, Day
ton, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of
Iowa Ewing Fetch, Foote, Greene, Hamlin, Jones'
Mangum, Norris, Phelps Seward. Shields, Smith,
Spruance, Sturgeon, Wales, Walker, Whitcomb,
and Winthrop-3O.
The question striking out the second section
was also rejected-yeas II nays 81.
Mr.. SEWARD moved to amend the bill by strik-
ing out all after the enactng clause and insert
follows:
SEC. /. Slavery shall forever within the
District Of Columbia, and all persons held in bond
age therein shall be free. The Secretary Of the In
terror shall audit and pay, to all persons holding
slaves within the District at the time this act takes
effect, such damages they shall suffer by the
passage thereof, and the sum of two hundred thou
sand dollars is hereby appropriated to carry this act
into execution, outTof any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
SEC q An election shall be held in the District of
Columbia to ascertain whether this bill is approved
by the people thereof. Those who approve the act
shall exp their appreciation by ballot contain
ing the words "For emancipation in the District"
Those who opposed shall vote by ballot contain
ing the words GA gainst emancipation in the Dis
trict" All persons entitled to vote for any munich
pal officer in the District and all citizens of the Uni
ted States res ding within the District permanently,
shall be deemed qualified TO such election
Such election shall be held within six months from
the passage of this act and public notice Of not
less than three months. TO be given by the Marshal
of the District. II jority of the votes given at
such election shall be in favor of this act il shall go
into effect Immediately. If a majority of the
votes shall be against the same this act shall be void
and of none effect.
Mr. BALDWIN said that the resolutions of the
Legislature of Connecticut, W high lac had presented
| to the Senate a short time since, contained a
commentator in favor Of the abolition of slavery
in the District, with proper compensation to the
| owners. SO far, the amendment was in conior-
| nifty with his instructions. But he not pre-.
pared TO vote for the proposition of the Senator
/ from New York, amendment to this bill lie
said that its effect would be to embarrass the passage
of the BILL and prevent the suppression of the slave
trade in the District. The bill, it true, was
now in shape that could not receive his vote; but
! he had hopes that the amendments added TO it
would be stricken out by the House. and that when
| 1t came back it would pass the Senate. This
| amendment would prevent the passage Of any bill
! Mr.. MANG UNI said that he had been willing at
any time during the past twenty five years to vote
for the abrogaon of the slave trade IN the District
of Columbia. But it would appear, from the course
| gentlemen thought proper 10 pursue that nothing
| would satisfy them. They seemed determined TO
| go on, even If their would result in causing
| blood to flow knee deep at the South. For one, he
would 60 no further. He would not now vote for
| the bill
Mr.. DAWSON said that all knew the deep feel
ing and great excitement which prevailed at this
time in the South and in other sections Of the
/ try. Their efforts had been directed to the adop
ton OF such measures would tend to allay that
excitement and to restore the whole country once
more to harmony and kind feeling. lie was sorry
20 see that such feelings did not actuate all. Was
| this proposition calculated TO do good? Would it
alay excitement, tend 20 bring the two sections
to terms Of fraternal kindness? Was it not, the
| contrary, calculated 10 widen the breach already
existing, and cause those friendly relations which
may again exist to be forever destroyed lie
| could not regard the proposition having any
/ other than an immoral tendency. lie could con-
slider il as nothing more than an effort to build UP
/ the falling fabric Of party whose object has been
to divide the country into sectional divisions. II
was the last effort OF set Of disappointed politi-
clans who have separated from the great parties
| the Wing and Democratic and formed Themselves
into great Frce-soil party. Their object was to
build up name and reputation for individuals
who could never rise 10 distinction respectability
| in either Of the two great parties lie could sec
nothing but the most unkind and alarming effect to
/ result from the introduction ofeuch proposition.
! Mr.. DAYTON said that he was not in favor Of
the proposition submitted by the Senator from New
! York. He was not in favor OF the abolition of sa-
very in the District Of Columbia at this time. The
proposition had been sprung upon the Senate with
out notice. The citizens of the District had made
no movement in its favor; they had not been con-
suited they had expressed desire to have slavery
abolished. The proposition docs not come before
the Senate through any Of the ordinary channels
| through which measures Of its importance should