The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12
CONGRESS-.
THTRTY.FIRST CONCRESS-FIRST SESSION
SENATE.
Salem, Apra 81, 1850.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1850.
Mr. Clay moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration Of the bill to suppress the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia
Mr. c. said that he had no intention 10 enter
into any lengthy discussion of this bill; 1t bad
already been fully debated and considered lie
would confine his remarks to mere explanation
of the bill The object Of the bill was to abolish
the slave trade in the District of Columbia lt
was 10 suppress that traffic which was called the
slave trade in this District; it was to prevent the
introduction of slaves into this District from other
slave States, and placing them in the depots here
for the purposes Of sale The slave, which were
brought here were but rarely, if ever, introduced
into the District for the purpose of finding masters
for them here; such thing was hardly known;
but they were brought here, and deposited in
these depots to be there retained till such time
they could be transported to Southern markets, or
the Southern cities of Mobile and New Orleans
The inhabitants of this District have no interest or
concern in this trade; it is carried on by persons
from other places. The inhabitants Of this Dis
trict have no interest in the trade except in the
obloquy with which it is considered by those who
are opposed to it.
This bill did not prohibit the owner of a slave
in the District from selling him to another in
habitant of the District nor did it prevent an in
habitant of this District from going beyond the
District and bringing in slave for his own
The bill was only the revival Of a law Of Mary
land. lie said that he understood, from one Of
the corporate authorities of this city, that there
was at this time but one of these depots for slaves
These depots were nothing else than private
jails, which were open to no public inspection,
examination, or any of the other discipline which
is observed in public prisons. This bill broke up
these private jails, and put end to this foreign
slave trade, and excluded from this District a
traffic in which the inhabitants have no interest,
except perhaps in the odium which it attaches to
the city.
lie moved some verbal amendments, which
were adopted, and the bill was read as follows:
A bill to suppress the slave trade in the District
of Columbia
b. II enacted by The Senate and House Of Represent
G,ires of me Untef States of Am.Tioa "a Congress
assembled, That from and after the - day
of - next, it shall not be lawful to bring into
the District Of Columbia any slave whatever, for
the purpose of being sold, or for the purpose Of
being placed in depot, to be subsequently trans
ferred TO any other State or place TO be sold as
merchandise And il any slave shall be brought
into the said District by its owner, or by the au-
thority or consent Of its owner, contrary to the
provisions of this act such slave shall thereupon
become liberated and free
Sec. 2. Aad be IL futhH enacted, That II shall
and may be lawful for each Of the Corporations OF
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown, rom
time to time, and ms often ~ may he necessary,
abate, break up, and abolish any depot or place OF
confinement Of slaves brought into the sa'u p''-