Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-07


local authorities Of the District with the power to prohibit all
being established within the District the confinement
f slaves have visited Of thess depots and
erssnd from the public authorities Of the District that there
perhaps but remaining at the present time, but
vh slaves continually in it, These depos nothing
Dor less than private a subject inspection Of public
authority, under the exclusive control Of those who erect them
r for whose they erected and all the prisoners
slaves confined in them subject the police regulations
which may be established from time to time by the owner Of
The object Of the bill to discontinue this foreign slave
nde respects the District and to let them 60 somewhere
ebeeither to Virginia. slaves be deposited there,
Maryland, If they can be deposited there-but to exclude
hc within the District which has connection within
the District and which has other result remarked be-
fore than Of bringing degree of odium the District
hs been denounced more less during the last forty
in tie first instance by distinguished and lamened citizen
Of Virginia, who believe, first brought il to public notice
andbgain and again, from time to tme has 1t met with de-
nuaton from other persons II ID not my purpose,
before 70 90 into any elaborate argument the subject
prove the popey Of abolshing trade thus foreign
people Of the District think it has been fully discuss
and my object to economic time much possible.
hFe two unmPorant amendments to propose, and then
will let the measure take its course.
III the FIRST section after the word place. in the eighth
lind propose insert the words be sold merchan
Disc" believe that such win be the construction Of heaw
without hese words but il is BETTER perhaps to insert them
Tho section will then read
That from and after the - day Of 1905 next, it shall
not be lawful bring into the District Of Columbia any
a whatever tor the purpose Of being sold for the
Of being placed depot be subsequently transferred
to ny other State place be sold merchandise And
dave sba be brought into the said District its owner
the authority consent Of its owner, contrary to the
proons OF this such aave shall hereupon become hber-
The amendment was adopted. ~ 9sts ,s5s
Mr.. CLAY. The next amendment is in relation to the
proper denomination of the court of Washington county,
the second section. It reads "the county court Of
Washington" The technical term s the "eyy cour, Of
Washington county,. move to amend it by striking out
the words couny court Of Washington wherever they
cur, and inserting in lien thereof the words levy court Of
Washington county, Il is merely informal amendment.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. CLAY now to insert in the llth line of the
FIRST section before The word limits the word "jusdic-
tonal," that twould read sjurisdconal limits" There
is distinction Of limits Iunderstand-one being territorial
and the other jurisdctonal.
The amendment was adopted and the section. amended,
is as follows:
Sec 2 aad Be il further enacted That it shall and may
be lawful for each of the Corporations Of the cities of Wash
ington Georgetown, from time to time, and often
may necessary aba break up, and abolish any depot
place OF confinement Of slaves brought into the said District
merchandise contrary TO the provisions OF this act by such
appropriate appear to either the said Corpo
expeden and proper Andths same power is hereby
vested in the levy Of Washington county, any attempt
shall be made within its jurisdcona limits to establish de-
Dot or place Of confinement for slaves brought the said Dis
trict merchandise for sale, contrary to this act
Mr. FOOTE. merely rise to offer amendment to the
BILL which have adopted the suggestions Of the Senator
(Mr. BrRRIES.) il
The amendment was read as follows:
"Ske out all after the enactng clause and insert the fol-
lowing 2
the corporate authorities of the city Of Washington for that
part the county Of Washington lying east and south Of Rock
Creek and the corporate authorities OF tor that
part the county Of Washington lying north and west OF Rock
Creek shall have power within those limits respectively to
regulate law the ingress into and egress from the District
Couba of people of color whether free slaves and to
he
hereafter to reside within the said limits respectively and
prohibit the coming Of free to reside within the said
limits respectively and to enforce all such regulations and
prohibitions BY suitable penalties Imprisonment at labor, and
expulsion beyond the limits Of said District.
That the said corporate authorities within the respective
limits designated the FIRST section Of this act shall have
make such regulations and such laws may
be expedient and necessary guard against the kidnapping
or abduction the District of Columbia any slave
free negro, and to punish by fine, not exceeding
dollars and by imprisonment in the penitentary common
jail Or BY any individual ndvidua
against the 1xs Of those corporations. any ss
tempted to kdnap abduc to ence decoy any slave
from the District of Columbia"
"SecS And be IL farther enacted That in where
there good ground to believe and where c
shall under oath that he has believe that
coored has been brought into the District OF
lumbia and held slave, who entitled eedomtat
coored person has been placed in custody confinement
through that any coored is about to be sent
from the District Of Columbia slave who !. entitledt free
DOM them and in either the said cases. the application Of
the party friend Of the party interested other person.
the privilege of the of habeas corpus shall be extended
such party with view Of bringing the point at issue and the
facts Of the before Judge Of the Circuit Court of the
United States for the District Of Columbia who shall decide
according the laws Of the District Of Columbia, and dis
charge from custody imprisonment remand to custody
imprisonment in conformity with the evidence, the facts
and law in the
ec T. That all laws regulations made by the corporate
authorities Of the city Of Washington under the provisions Of
this act shall subject the revision of Congress- and if
dinpproved, shall remain in force"
Mr.. FOOTE. do not rise for the purpose Of debating
this amendment for il to not to need any explains
ton. It treats this whole subject proper Of police
regulation and leaves such the corporate authorities
Of Washington and Georgetown to enable them to control
in such manner may most conduce to their own welfare
and safety subject the controlling authority of Congress-
am decidedly Of opinion that the power necessary present.
to be exercised for the advancement the welfare OF the peo
pie Of this District well for the purpose Of obtaining the
great object Just enforced in hearing BY the Senator from
Kentucky is best confded to the corporate authorities Of
Washington and Georgetown the people most interested in
amendment further than that understand the Senator
from Virginia desires be heard in opposition to this BILL
he should become satisfied that it will have the effect of
moving those evils which supposed exist shall
certainly be graiifed receiving his support otherwise
trust the Senate will manifest disposition to to the
rescue Of the amendment and sustain it.
Mr. HUNTER then addressed the Senate for upwards of
an hour in opposition the bill His Speech having been
withheld for revision, will appear hereafter.
Mr. PEARCE moved to amend Mr.. FoorE's amendment
y adding the second section thereof the following words
20 And that Criminal Court of the District Of Columbia
regulations laws ordinances may be made passed by
the said corporations in pursuance of this and shall have
full authority after indictment and conviction enforce the
penalties prescribed by said regulations laws ordnances
Mr. FoOTE accepted the amendment to the amendment,
after discussion by Messrs. PEARcE and Car.
M, pEARCE offered the