Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-14

YEAS-Messrs Atehison. Barnwell, Berrien, Butler
Davis, Of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs, Heuston Hunter
Mason Morton, Pratt Rusk, Sebastian, soue, Turney
Yulee-l7.
Chase. Clay, Davis Of Massachusetts, Dayton, Dickinson
Dodge, OF Wisconsin Dodge of Iowa Douglas Ewing Feleh
Greene, Hamlin Jones, Mangam, Norris Phelps, Seward
Shields, Smith, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Wales
Walker, Whitcomb, Winthrop-Sl.
Mr.. DAYTON submitted the following amendment
In the Sd line of the 5h section strike all after thu
word "power," and insert the following:
To pass all necessary ordinances or police laws in
consistent with the constitution touching the residence
conduct Of free negroes residing and coming to reside within
their respective jursdcona limits and to enforce such ordi
upon the breach thereof by fine and mpron
ment, either. at their discretion"
Mr.. BADGER wish to suggest to the Senator that his
proposition is modify motion which has been voted on
/ The PRESIDENT. The amendment made in CON
mitee, and not subject to amendment at this tme II will
be open amendment however, when the bill shall re-
ported to the Senate.
Mr. DAYTON Very well, sir, when the bill shall be
reported will offer the amendment
i Mr. SEWARD proposed the following a substitute fol
| the whole bill
Section l. Slavery shall forever within the Dsric.
of Columbia and all persons held in bondage therein shall
free The Secretary OF the Interior shall audit and pay to all
persons holding slaves within the District the that this
takes effect such damages they shall suffer by the past
sage thereof and the of hundred thousand dollars
hereby appropriated carry this into execution out
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated
Sec O. An election shall be held in the District Columbia
ascertain whether this bill approved by the people thereof
Those who approve the shall their by
ballot the words,
trc Those who opposed shall by ballot contain
ing the Words Against emancipation in the District" All
entitled to vote for municipal officer the Dis
c and all citizens of the United States residing within the
District permanently shall be deemed qualified vote at such
election Such election shall be held within six months from
the passage Of this act and on public notice Of not less than
three months to be given by the Marshal of District
majority Of the given such election shall be in favor
Of this act it shall go into effect Immediately. If majority
OF the votes shall be against the same this shall be void
and of none effect.
Mr.. PRATT demanded the yeas and nays, and they were
| ordered. p.I..
Mr.. BALDWIN. The Senate will recollect that a few
days since introduced to their notice certain resolutions
by the Legislature of Connecticut one of which was
in favor Of the immediate prohibition Of the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia and Of the abolition of slavery upon such
Of compensation to the shareholders may be Just and
reasonable In that respect therefore, it accords with the
motion which is made by the Senator from New York.
am not prepared vote this proposition as an amend
men to the bill before the Senate have hoped and still
hope that the bill reported by the committee for the abo
ton OF the slave trade in the District may he adopted by
Congress and should be very unwilling to do any any
thing which would have tendency prevent the favorable
action OF the two houses Of Congress upon the bill as it was
originally reported. 1t is true that the Senate have already
adopted in Committee Of the Whole, amendments this bill
Of character which will prevent me- if those amendments
shall be finally retained from giving to the bill nv vote but
should pass the Senate in its present form with
out hope that the Objectionable amendments will be stricken
BY the House. and the bill be returned u.s. and cencur
red by the Senate in the form lin which was originally
presented think there to believe that such may be
the results and certainly very great object will be
attained object in the immediate attainment which the
Legislature Of the State of Connecticut have manifested deep
and special interest Now in my view, any action which
the Senate may have upon the amendment which offered
BY the Senator from New York, and the amendments to
which will very probably be proposed BY others, will tend
and prevent the favorable action Of Congress upon
the proposition now before us for the immediate abolition Of
the slave trade in the District, apd prefer myself that the
two houses shall act finally upon this bill separate
su before we enter upon the consideration Of any other pro-
position, which, however desirable there is less to be-
eve will be Immediately successful Such course will in
opinion, better compo with the resolutions Of the Legs-
atue OF my own State to which have referred
Mr. MANGUM have already remarked, sir since this
subject has been under consideration before the Senate
there has been period for years. when if
brought forward under proper auspices would not with
coday and pleasure have voted for the abrogaon of
the slave trade in this District have changed my
course i shall not vote for it. am satisfied from devel
opments that made that is impossible satisfy certain
gentlemen To attain their objects they would wade through
the blood kneedeep Of the whole South and the wreck
Of this Union. The further discussion of such subjects
this, in my Judgment only tends to operate entering
wedge to enable these gentlemen attain the object which
they have sought at all times hazadng the existence of the
Union and the safety snd liberties Of the South
Mr. DAYTON. The Senate will | think indulge me in
remark two in relation this amendment as is my
purpose to vote against it. do question the
motives Of the Senator who has brought forward this amend
ment bound to believe that they such should in
fuence all in the fair discharge Of respective duties
here. DESIRE however, say few words in reference to
the ubectmatte OF the amendment ITSELF 1t proposes the
immediate abolition Of slavery in this District Mr.. President
not prepared to vote for proposition of that kind under
existing circumstances. The public mind is not and
has been recently called this question: nor has public
sentiment been developed hereupon the Of the
people this District has been consulted the subject
This important matter, and should be acted upon in
the first place upon the application Of the inhabitants them
selves should through the regular channels to the
committees Of this body should be carefully examined and
reported upon, is every other and important subject
and be dealt with in this brief ohhand, and unpemed
tated way. Every must that this amendment is
crude l-dgesed, and hastily consdered affair. cannot
but see too, that its adoption by this body will tend in its
result not abolish slavery here but to defeat the very bill
before the Senae and for that reason, if there
other, would oppose it. Here is bill for the aboli
ton of the slave trade in this District and it harmonzes with
the kind feelings Of most Of this chamber drawing
centre the good feeling both Of the North and the
South. 1t promises something, it promises much in
neIon with this unhappy agtatng question holds to
the certain Of aboishng here this discrediabe
traffic. offensive the moral and right feeling of this
District well of the country large. To adopt the
amendment of the Senator from New York. with the
anty that il become law, would be destroy
all that this bill promises The very vague and imperfect
form Of this amendment shows that the Senator himself could
not have expected to become law again repeat that its
only effect is to do harm, and open at the present period Of
hopedo harmony another deeply agitaing subject Of dis
custom Sir the time is auspicious the close Of the
session just hand the patience Of the country exhaust
this subject has not Of late been agtated here public
feeling about settling down temporarily least upon the
ghu wrongful Is it wise prudent at this point Of
time to open this subject Of agitation Sir bills have
passed this Congress in which not able concur, in
which think the North sacrificed too much but they hare