The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-31

Confederation Is another equally summary Tor the az
iscs are connected IN The constitutional article and in the
act OF 93, and still more strikngy marking tncir oI9n
Any one who Il curious on this subject may md nc
New England articles in Humans Historical Colocuons
pages 81 aud a5a book that may be found In NE pub
lie Libraries OF this city and in private libraries Inc
Historical Collections Of Massachusetts w.i also snow
that other distant colonies eoniederaed with us, ~
Ear South as Virginia applied through their governors 70
tie authorities IN New England for the arrest Of iugl-
tlyes from their jurisdictions, which were Ieturnsd y
Them as matter OF courtesy and colonial common law
even without any articles requiring u When NE sct q
I7ss therefore. came before Congress, y not q al
his secion Of the country il was introduced ia hs
Senate OF the United States, and Is said TO nave pecn
penned by Mr.. Cabot; distinguished senator n ON
Senate that will enable me TO speak from me
record II passed that body, however, BY q unan
II hs hos 81 Of sc.
as yeas TO nays-the majority being composed
Of 90 members from northern and central States.
aud % from States holding slaves, The minority
was composed Of five members from the North and
two from the South. The northern and central States
had majority in the House. find Of the Connecticut
DELEGATION the names OF James Hhouse, jeremiah Wads
worth. and Amasa Learned, recorded as voting Tor the
bill-and but OF our members Jonathan Siurges 70
ting against it. This act will be found in the old edition
than Trumbu who then the Speaker Of the House,
and member from honofed name IN our
honored-Geoge Washing,on find also D,i among the
lsi OF those voting for il. Ebridge Gerry Fisher Ames
and Theodore VINO, y Y y %
greater pretensions now. find also therethe name OF
Elias Boudnot The father and first president Of The Amer
Bible S dd no mamie " tbs ~ Il Which
they lived This law, which they passed. mas been ~
free from abuse in practice as any other that could oe
passed on the subject When the constitution was adopt
ed and when this passed ia g3, slavery was not
confined TO the South il dlused over the nortnem
country also--sparsey, bnt still among u.s. Y existed 70
Connecticut and although there many in this meeting
older than myself yet have seen, here in New Hayep
slave sold ON execution. at post tor debt Many
OF our substantial farmers owned families OF slaves and
remnants Of the race may now be found n some Of our
country towns towering around the nre SIDES OF me lam
lilies 10 which their fathers belonged, holding 70 !ne very
hearth. stones as il were. with family affection II in the
days TO which have alluded slave had escaped fromtnis
Slate to neghborng State have reason TO doubt that
the master willingly avaed himself o .ne aci q "; Wv
\ What then would have been the feelngso Of menin Con.
neccu had persons been found here base enough 70 tell
that jues would probably disregard the obligations Of
their oaths they brought 10 aland q any
awaited them insy snoua es oy ns
would have brooked such interference more complacenty
than our southern brethren now do Immediate eman-
caton, now 80 loudly demanded in certain quarters,
was moi The policy which Connecticut adopted in
reference to the few slaves had among We never
law to emancipate one who born slave
say never ior the act 2. ne ge6eral assembly two
here, flourish of philanthropy, after slavery
had practically ceasedthe cheapest way Imaginable OF
making known our hostility e the system Ws dd IN
slaves born after certain tme shouid upon their arr
val at certain age become free and by this very grad
ual process the Institution was almost mperceptby uh
dsrmined We worked our way through he diffeayin
J our own good ime-a work which believe would have
been very much retarded, If not prevented had fotagn
and preaching they have since BEEN the modern doc
trnes of immediate emancipation, II our fathers with
few slaves among them found the subject SO delicate
to be dealt with. should we not draw from u lesson OF
the careful forbearance and faithful perfom9nce
OF constitutional duties towards those States which
have hundreds and thousands Of this population to
The many petitions got up, often by arfal managers,
and pressed upon Congress- for the abolition OF slavery
none Of affecting slavery il the States adjoining Indirectly,
have doubt done much to bring the present crisis
upon the country Here too we have wisdom 70 learn
! Columbia is one which any administration may De EN-
barassed with at all times, the opposition Is unscru-
psoas enough TO ring .ne changes necessarily upon IL
: 1905 not in proposition for immediate abolton-the
panacea OF modern phlanthropists merely that the
children born of slave parents belonging TO the citizens
OF The District Of Columbia should become free on their
arrival nj a certain age The administration was then
ia southern hands il during the presidency OF Mr.
jefferson, who, all know had IN the House OF
Representatives very talented and skifu opposition.
leader OF that opposition was from the state OF Lon
neciicut alude, oil course, 70 The late Roger cns-
void, of commanding intellect and sPoess honor.
\ However tempting the occasion might have been to
man OF less honorable bearing to turn the anti slavery
feeling NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Vel Ne Ooe
above any such pairy pocyi and when the question
was taken, he and those OF bis colleagues nom Con
nectcut who present on the occasion voted 70
man promptly against the proposition That vote Of our
delegation was censured BY the freemen o. Goa
neccu and the whole subject vas put Al resi- for the
quarter Of century that followed. Subsequent sgiA-
ton has brought us where we are. The act OF 90.
formed in good faith, and for many years executed 10
good fah had. by reason OF constant agitation On ne
subject OF slavery become imperative IL depended Tor
is Execution principally on State magistrates over whom
the general government had CONTROL and Who could
not Be required to carry the law into effect though the
act gave them the power II they chose 10 exercise
State Legislation also came to nulfy their proceedings
and make the law practically dead letter upon the stat
book This defect has been reneded By the new law,
which provides for the appointment OF United States
commissioners who are to execute IT, instead Of btre
magistrates and the penalties for obsucung the pro.
ceedngs are increased from i've hundred 10 thousnnd
dollars and Imprisonment not exceeding SIX montns u
is in principle substantially the same as that OF 80
The only question now is, my fellow cltizenss whemer
we will abide by and support this act with those diners
which are rightly named measures 81 peace ana compro-
MISE as fair and honorable, and amcabie adjustment
OF this distressing subject II there ever was tune
when men should step out OF the ranks Of party and
stand BY the institutions OF the country, now - the Gay
and now the hour When We see the most eminent men
of both political parties in our national counciis
men a. Cas- and Webster, Clay and Dickinson Houson
and Bell Foote, Douglas, and Pearces and others nse
lees MISUNDERSTANDING party In one untec enoss
for our glorious Union, is not time inat 'ns pI
should respond TO the movement throughout sne ionm
and breadth OF our common country Inc rfessoe.t
The United States has this subject fanfuiiy ana fe4r