The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-12
CON ssIoN Al
IN SENATE, !
WEDNESDAY, Sept IL, 1850.
DRAWBACKS.

| original packages to chihuahua and Santa r.
in Mexico, and to the British possessions, ap
proved March 8, l845. And the bill was ordered
to a third reading. 81.
| SLAVES OF THE BARQUE PoSs.
On Mr. UNDERWOOD'S motion the bill
was taken up for the relief OF the American
! Colonization Society Some yearsag the slave
ship Pons, was captured by an American eruizel
on the high seas, retaken to Africa, and there the
slaves on board were liberated and turned ovei
to the Colonization Society, who took them to
Liberia. The bill provides to indemnify the so
ciety for the support for one year of these lber
ated slaves, (some five hundred OF them) in Lii
IBERIA, large proportion of them being children
| The bill. was opposed by Mr.. TURNEY and
defended by Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and the ques
ton at length being upon the third reading,
MIR. BENTON rose to some inquiries upon
the constitutional questions involved " They
were nice questions, requiring some examina.
ton. To-day, however, it seems that the United
States are about to undertake the guardianship
of negro children in Africa and he thought
such proposition had better be laid over till
we take up that other question Of the steamboat
line to run to Liberia. s.,
Mr.. UNDERWOOD defended the bill. -
| Mr.. HUNTER thought this bill proposed the
opening OF an extensive policy--the policy of
first recapturing slaves from the slave ships, and
then OF colonizing and supporting them in Lii
beria. He moved to lay the bill upon the table.
Lost Is to %. ...r = ,"s~H..' ....
Mr. BUTLER could not support the BILL It
was making this Government the underwater
for voluntary society OH the coast of Africa.
Mr.. WHITCOMB thought the society ought
to be reimbursed. 8"
+ The bill was ordered a third reading-29 to
16. ...'.4. ..,~,r g..
SUPPRESSION OF THE DISTRICT SLAVE TRADE.
This bill was resumed as the special order
the question being upon the amendment of Mr.
SEWARD, providing the abolition, Of slavery in
this District. .r.t.....
Mr.. HAMLIN rose to explain why he should
have to oppose this amendment
:, Mr.. SEWARD, with the hope of yet passing
this bill, as rcputed by the ;: Committee of Thir-
teen," for the simple suppression of the slave
trade, and nothing else, asked to withdraw his
amendment for the present.
Objections were made.
Mr.. HAML.IN expressed his objections to Mr.
Stewards amendment. 1t was not proper at
this time. 1t was exceptionable in proposing to
pay 100000 for the slaves TO be liberated or
any other sum. He wished to see every measure
stand by Itself, and if this bill were even mixed
up with the supervision of free negroes, he
should oppose it.
Mr.. BADGER explained his remarks yester-
day as not in the slightest degree intended to
reflect upon the senator from Massachusetts,
(Mr. WINTHRoP)
MIR. CLAY was glad of this friendly eXpla IA
ton. There We're several occasions Yesterday
in tie debate which were to be regretted. The
discussion, however, was resumed under better
auspices to-day. He urged the Importance of
the bill as reported from the Committee of
Thirteen, for the suppression of the slaye-trade
here, and for nothing else. He believed that
such bill would give peace to slavery in this
District till exhausted by the lapse of time
MIR. SEWARD continued that the abolition
of slavery wherever it could be lawfully effected
was a good thing, ard u wise measure He
continued that Congress had the full consttu-
tiona power to abolish slavery in this District.
fIe defended his amendments submitted the
question to the people of the District to be tried
by an electon-it proposed to pay for the slaves
emancpated. There were only six hundred
slaves in this Dstrict--they would average the
value ", Of $500 e&ch-so that the appropriation
Of 100000 was ample compensation to the
masters of the slaves He objected to the bill
rs amended. The amendment of the senator
from Maryland, (Mr. PEARcE,) giving to this
corporation the power to exclude or drive out
free people of color, prescribed freedom, and
attached penalties to freedom for the protection
Of slavery. He believed that the abolition of
slavery in this District was just and right-that
freedom was right ut all times, at all places and
under all circumstances. Some gentlemen were
against this proposition because it was not the
right time. He was afraid that in the opinion
of many gentlemen the right time would never
come. lie believed the right time had come,
and that this was the occasion for the abolition
Of slavery in this District.
Mr.. BUTLER thought that ultimately the eff
feet of the amendment of the Senator from
New York and of the bill simply for the sup
preston of the slave trade in this District, was
the same--in either case it was an attack upon
the institution of slavery in the South, whatever
the object or motive might be. As to the power
III this matter, admit it. Admit the rower of
II man to burn down,his own house, will not the
act be resisted, because Of the danger to his
neghbors! So of the power to abolish slavery
in this District. From Il ere particular points,
Mr.. BUTLER enlarged upon the general questions
involved in the disposition Of the North, to pros
trate the institutions of the Southern States.
Mr.. FOOTt felt Inundated and mortified that
he had said one word in this debate. He should
not have noticed this amendment, had he known
that it had originated with the senator from
New York Self-respect would have forbidden
1t. (The Chair called to order)
Mr.. FOOTE, then, in conclusion hoped that
no further notice would be taken of anyth OF.
this sort emanating from the senator from the
Empire State.
Mr.. DICKINSON was opposed to this amend
ment because he believed it to be wrong now,
wrong as against the whole spirit and force, and
good sense Of the Constitution. He thought,
however, tina: the abuses of the slave trade here
ought to be Topped Off
Mr.. WINTHROP made a reply to the re-
marks of Mr.. SEWARD, persisting that his amend
ment was "indiscreet." But Mr.. WINTHROP
was opposed to the license proposed in the bill
to the corporations of Georgetown and Wash
ington to drive out free negroes This feature
was as odious as the slave trade itself, for the
slave pen may be made Jail for the incarcera.
ton of free people, and simply because Of their
color. Mr.. w. was in favor Of the bill reported
by the Senator from Kentucky, and against the |
amendments since appended to it for the pro-
scription of free men Of color.
Mr.. FOOTE regretted that the timely and