The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-14
CITY OF WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER a. 1850

i've duty in the Stale OF Louisiana the subject ua.
der my notice. and ascerained that many OF these per-
sons had received certificates Of merit under the hand o
General Jackson himself. But il is not now, sir.
Free coored persons not 10 be found in the militia OF
Tennessee now. Why, gentlemen would have you be-
leve that the coored people OF New Oeans are the most
oppressed and injured people in the whole world If the
gentleman mad been careful collect accurate nforma-
ton he has been TO get this certificate of negro boarding
house keeper he would have learned that there are more
free people OF color in New Orleans than there are slaves
there and that great many OF them respectable peo-
pe owning property, owning slaves themselves, engaged
IN business oil various kinds, and conducting themselves
well II the gentleman will 20 there and examine those
persons who employed upon the Mississippi river
various capacities board steamboats, and otherwise he
Will nd that very large proportion OF them free
persons Of color, coming from The States OF Ohio Indiana.
and Illinois, as well as from the slave States, and that
they are entirely nnmolested My experience taught
me this and have learned by inquiry that is the
with many colored persons who upon ships, and
who know how 10 behave themselves, and not to inter-
medde with our institutions. Il is those only who
from ssuspiclous quarters such probably the Massa-
chusetts captain bad IN his employ who find il unsafe TO
visit that port those States which are always max ing
such noise about the character of institutions which
force US to condne their colored seamen. Coored
on board steamboats, enjoy all the protection they require
They know how to behave themselves, and we have
fault TO find with them Now, sir, when the gentleman
brings forward such charges, should like him TO bring
forward some law, case, or some fact with re-
gard 10 Louisiana, TO show that there is any law there
that there ever was any law authorizing those persons
thns put in prison to be sold into slavery. None such
exist am not prepared 10 60 into details; but
have general recollection of the law. Even il person
taken u there, SO far from being sod the punishment
s slight Imprisonment, for the first offence and for
the second offence it is but very little more severe.
There never has been case in which has under
these circumstances been sold into slavery.
Mr.. President, know pretty well the history of the
emissary who was sent to Louisiana upon this subject
CHR Hubbard,) about the time that Mr.. Hoar went
TO South Carolina He went there, not knowing very
well how to execute his mission He sent letter TO the
governor, OF which no notice taken. He found that
there was nobody there ready TO make disturbance,
OIL pdp he 9TH
prospect but that OF getting quietly possible, al
though il was utterly impossible Tor him to execute his
office He had letters of introduction TO gentleman who
called on me and showed me the letters, and asked my
advice as to how he should proceed told him that it
would be best to treat the gentleman himself with perso
nal respect but him that such proceeding
the interference OF foreign State in police regua-
ons would be tolerated that had lawyers and courts
Of our own where such questions were decided and that
man, bond or free, white black, who had rights
there but coad enforce them Such the pur
sued but, al the same tine, the governor though he did
not reply 10 the letter of Mr. Hubbard, n order to
vince Massachusetts that there was nothing harsh un
reasonable in the procedure, submitted the whole subject
the Legislature, when in session. 10 know il any legs
ative action was deemed necessary on the subject The
Joint committee OF the two houses, OF which was
Der. and OF which a distinguished gentleman, now
member OF the supreme court OF that State--a gentle
man from the North-was also member took up the
whole subject in the most deliberate manner and reported
upon it.
/ But now after the subject has been out of vew and
were likely to have le peace and quieuess with
respect 10 This agtsng question, IN order that Othelos
occupation may moi be enrey gone, but this agitation
may still be kept up here, at this last moment, alter all
eg tmae means have been exhausted-fearlDg lest this
agitation may cease allogetherwe have produced the
certificate OF the celebrated Captain Ranlt, and cerli-
cate from a negro boarding house IN New York, TO
sustain these charges against States OF Louisiana,
Alabama, and South Carolina. | do not think, SIR,
there is much danger OF those States suffering any injury
from the Eodqe5on OF testimony Of this description
/ MIR. WINTHROP Mr. President, when was boy
il a maxim that three upon two too macy.
II seems that | have aroused up first the senator
iron Mississippi, tMI DayIs.l and then the senator
from South Carolina Mr.. BUTLER, and now the SEN
aor from Louisiana has delivered himself of gava-
nzed torrent respecting some papers which ead but for
the correctness OF which did not at all voueh and to
which alluded, as had right to do. sand expressly
that The papers were testimonials placed in my hands
without having been sought for By me- sought no les
mony from any OF the sources to which the senator has
! alluded took such testimony was placed in my
bands, and have used il in such way as have a
right 10 do. am not disposed to prorac this contro
yeTsy further; but this say, that to be pre-
vented, either BY rdicue denuncaion, or any Other
effort which may be resor,ed 10 by those upon whom
the testimony presses too hard from bringing before the
attention OF the Senate Of the United States, during the
brief period may have an opportunity OF occupying a
seat here. the abuses which practsed, under the
sanction OF southern aws, upon seamen in our vessels
| Mr. PEARCE Mr. President, thought the question
before the Senate the motion OF the senator from
New York
The PRESIDENT. Tha, certainly is the question,
although IL would be difficult 10 discover II from the de-
bale. lLaugherl
Mr. PEARCE do not propose. sir. TO enter into the
discussion OF topics which are not properly before the
Senate But when the bill and amendments are re.
ported To the Senate shall feel myself compelled 10 an
OF the arguments which have been advanced
10 day think this whole debate has been entirely out
OF order, and is as mschieyous as II has been dis.
orderly shall no, contribute 10 that mischief hope
that on tomorrow we shall back to this chamber
prepared 10 discuss the true question before the Senate
hope snail not dgress into discussion about these
collateral maers-the negroes oil South Caroiina, and
Capt. Ran and forty other topics entirely irrelevant
and OF order, but that shall confne ourselves to
the question before the Senate. move that the Senate
adjourn.
| rhe question being taken. the Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1850