The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-19
DEFERRED DEBATES.
IN SENATE. ~
WEDNESDAY,, September II, 1850.


,,,y a,rono language, too, TO what he is pleased
,ayn, the :" abuses arising under the police
r.oniations Of some OF the Southern States, South
Csrnlina included, by which discrimination is
made between white citizens and free negroes II
snmebow happens that the Commonwealth of
M,ssacbusetts and South Carolina are continually
in controversy, yet, notwithstanding, hope we
shall continue TO MAINTAIN our mutual respect Tor
each other have heretofore thought IL entirely
unnecessary to reopen this matter again, after 4
had been, as supposed, once disposed OF; but
will take the liberty of propoundmg a question TO
the senator from Massachusetts. l believe the
Romans and Greeks regarded the right 10 be
soldier and to in their armies, as the nigh
est franchise that could be conferred on a man;
and in some of our States think II enters INTO
the right of citizenship. Now, ask the senator
if he ever saw black man carrying arms III Mas
sachusettss ~.
Mr. WINTHROP. 1t is very true, Mr.. Presi-
DENT that, under the laws of the United States
for the laws of the United States are paramount
an the aubiect-none but whites are enrolled 10
the Massachusetts militia have an impression,
however, that, not indeed in these piping times OF
neace but in the time of war; when quite u boy,
| have seen black soldiers enlisted and trained IN
defence of the country, IN my own State II IS
an unreasonable fact that they were so enlisted,
and did faithful and excellent service. But, how
ever il may have been in the Northern States,
can tell the senator what happened IN the South
era States at this period. believe that shall be
borne out in saying that no regiments did better
service at New Orleans than the black regiments,
which were organized under the direction OF Cen
eial Jackson himself, after most glowing appeal
to the patriotism and honor OF the people Of color
of that region; and which, after they came out OF
the war received the thanks of General Jackson.
Ia a proclamation which has been thought worthy
Of being inscribed on the pages of history,
Mr.. BUTLER The senator has answered me
by saying what could not have said so we'll
The senator says that by the laws of the United
States black men are not allowed to serve IN the
militia, and that answers my question precisely
When the Constitution was framed, and When
the law Of l794 was passed, the Federal Govern
nlent, in my opinion, never dreamed, certainty
they never expressed the opinion in their leglsa.
tive acts, that the black man had the eigpilty te
become a citizen, and they were, therefore, no
even allowed to enter the militia or TO hold com
mission in the service Of the Government. Ant
If we look at the old laws in reference TO sailors
we shall find that in the foreign commence OF The
country none are allowed to become sailors but
citizens of the United States, native colored
men; thus clearly and distinctly discriminating
between citizens of the United States ana coored
men And ifthere is this discrimination in the
laws of the United States, should like TO know
- what there is to prevent South Carolina or Louis
lana from making Il similar discrimination IN their
laws? These very determinations are recognized
snd acquesced in by Massachusetts herself. J
doubt very much if the senator ever saw black
nlaa on jury there. lido not know whether they
are allowed to in.ermarry with the whites, though
! believe the senator from New Hampshire SAID
that in his State the black and white men and wo-
men were REGARDED alike Laughter.l Sir, these
men repudiate the discrimination here whsn il
su Is their purpose to assall the South, but they
preserve it at home, and there degrade the very
PERSONS whom they here elevate by their voices,
The black man is put in much higher scale by
there rhetoric than he is by their practice.
repeat this is discrimination which is recng-
1zed by the Constitution ITSELF and by the old
laws Of Congress, before they were tainted by
this new spirit of abstract philanthropy IN Oppose
ton to the practical wisdom Of our ancestors.
do not therefore, regard it an abuse in South
Carolina with these presidents before her: and
there il no Just reason for singing out that State
for particular animadverslon on the subject.
There are local laws in many of the States recog-
iiizing this discrimination, to which might al
lude. On former occasion alluded to the fact
that q free black man cannot go to Illinois, and
they are to be prohibited from going to Ohio, u
one of the provisions proposed TO form part o.
the new constitution shall be allowed TO go into
elect In Connecticut, they are not allowed tc
vote, nor are they, believe, in New York; and
am informed by my colleague, as the result OF
his own observation, that in Massachusetts such
il the aversion of the white to the black man. that
the voters absolutely drive them from the polls at
all election, and scorn and spit upon them IL Is
only ia the Senate chamber, when II suits the
purposes of gentlemen, that we hear SO much
rhetoric on this subject 1t is rhetoric without
the heart sir The heart is not the source from
which it flows. And, therefore, say that wher
this discrimination is made In the Southern
States for their very safety, we are not to be tolt
so emphatically by gentlemen that it is an abuse
Of the Constitution. | insist, sir, that they hav'
no right to make q black man a citizen IN Massa
chusetts and send him to South Carolina-an en-
tireiy different position from that which is con
ceded TO persons of the same class there.
~ AZ hn s.P III
senator from South Carolina would seem to ind
cafe so alphabetically that there had beenno abuses
under thsse Southern laws, beg leave to read to
the Senate letter received few days ago, in
regard 10 the debate which recently occurred here
OH his very subject. 1t is as follows:
CHARLEsrowN, Mass, y Aug. %, 1850.
"Dear Sir In reading over the remarks made
by a number ofhonorable senators on the 23d inst
on the amendment proposed by the Hon. Johr
Davis to be affixed to the fugitive slave bill,
find that Senator Davis, of Mississippi, challenges
any gentleman in the Senate or elsewhere, to poin
out single case where the steward of vesse
has been seized from the vessel and carried o,
shore | am astonished at so Earned man pro
posing such question, that thought every South
ern man must be so familiar with. Why. few
years since, it took place daily in New Orleans
Yes, hundredrs have been taken out of ships sixty
feet from the soil of Louisiana, on the waters o
the United States; for the river, think, belong
10 the United s aes, and sixty feet for the accom-
modauon of travellers and ships
81 am a shipmaster, and have traded betwee
New Orleans and Liverpool for many years, an
have seen cooks, steward and seamen taken hand
cufYed from many ships by the harbor-masters
each municipality, whose duty it was, and hay
seen them in prison afterwards and 1t is dor
nuw in every instance of free colored man goir
into most ports south of Charleston, including tn
city.
. will now answer the question from my ov
experience. In 1897, commanded Bostc
ship and went from Liverpool to Matanzas, load
for ST. Petersburg, Russia, and two days out 10
my ship in hurri ,ane. When she went dow
took to my boat and got on board a Charies,t
brig, which was partially abandoned also, too
her into the port OF Charleston against the reno
srances of my crew, especially cook and atewa
---one black man, the other mulatto, beongii
to and a native of Boston, by the name of Dunla
On my arrival, both cook and steward were TAX,
Immediately to prison, and were kept there viii
I was there, and how much longer do not kno,
nor do know whether they were sold for the
expenses or not l went TO the prison, and the
| saw many other cooks and stewards Of sh
then in port, and tried to get mine released and
Il