Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05


the language be had intended express substance The
words had been published he referred to them
But his colleague had referred to the Wg party and was
willing 10 vote for any Wing He unwilling to be d-
into any remarks relative that party But the House
would bear him witness that this discussion was not his seek
ing He was driven into il in sell defence But he was con-
strained that the action Of that party for the last wear
had been any thing but consistent
On the 2lst of December ls47 he had presented to this
House petition from the people Of this District praying the
abolition OF the slave trade carried n this city, and
moved its reference to the Committee for the District Of Co
umba, with instructions report bill agreeably to the
prayer of said petition. motion made lay his pro-
position on the table, Against this motion every Wing north
Of Mason and Dxon line voted The vote was such as he
expeced-such did them credit But mark the change
Just one year subsequently, the gentleman from New York.
on his right offered his resolution 10 instruct the same COM
mee to report bill abolishng the slave trade carried
and motion was made to reconsider the by which it
was adopted That motion up the 9th Of the same
MONTH and the gentleman she way from Illinois (Mr
WEsrwoRTH) moved to lay the motion reconsider on the
on this they rallied their forces they regarded
tue most favorable for strong in favor Of freedom If
~ would leave the resolution in force and the bill to
aoosh that traffic would have come before them But be
'na every man in the nation could hear him. On that
oe Northern Wings recorded their against
the moon thereby lending their influence in favor Of that
a,ssaceu commerce in our own species. Sir said he Gen.
ayol haa been elected and these Northern Whgs being
majority OF that party who then voted against the motion In
he space OF one year and SIX days. faced to the
changed heir position on this subject
Mr. o. said he wished just to state in the most pro-
fbA
House with much ability, one Of those who had thus
suddenly turned political somerset.
Mr. SCHENCK interposed, and said that his colleague
spoke Of Mr. Gorrs resolution. He (Mr s. was not here
when that resolution passed. having called away by
sickness in sfamy he had been here he should have
attempted to have had the resolution passed without the pre-
ambe which be considered unnecessarily offensive to the
people of the South When the question on three consider
alton of the resolution up he had returned to this city,
He voted against the motion lay the table but he
to move to reconsider one Of his colleagues whom
ne haa consulted Knew because he deemed proper if the
resolution passed. and he in favor Of the resouion)
that should not be done in the offensive language of the
preamble II his colleague would read that preamble he
would what its terms were.
Mr.. GIDDINGS resumed He said his colleague referred
to Ma preamble of the resolution offensive the South
aege there any thing in that preamble that was
not icty true And was he afraid that truth would be
offensive Again he asked his colleague if Southern gen.
emen made any objections to the preamblel He believed
the South had at all times been able take of them
selves Indeed he had generally found them able and willing
to take Of the North Also But his colleague had voun
teered TO take them under his protection extend these
shareholders parental Why, sad he,) does he
see that he going entirely beyond the shareholders that
he out-Herods Herod He sensible that gentlemen
could at all times find for keeping up this slave
trade such excuses had been found for the last forty years.
Mr. VINTON inerposed and said that when the resolu-
ton first offered by Mr. Corr that gentleman moved
the previous question He (Mr. W had then risen and
said that he hoped the previous question would be second
ed because before the vote aken he desired to to
strike out the preamble His colleague, Mr.. GDDIsGs,)
however, and sufficient number of other members, voted
for the previous question, which sustained thus cutting
off motion to strike out the preamble. AS Of
course, he (Mr. had voted for the resolution. That vote
had placed him in false position and he voted reconsider
had originally avowed his intention do to to strike
out the preamble, which he considered offensive but with the
intention of voting for the resolution Invested of the pream
be- His colleague had held conversation with him on the
merits of that preamble
Mr.. GIDDINGS said that he entertained no doubt that
his colleague last up Mr VIsros) had felt that these slave
dealers ought to be treated with great decacy For bis part
he had such tender sympathies We hang those who fol-
low that the eastern shore Of the Atlantic
fit for human associations but his colleagues treating
those guilty with unusual delcacy. The of his
colleague last also appeared the Journal voting against
the proposition to lay the motion to reconsider the table,
and then moving to postpone the subject for weeks
He had at the time been unable himself any good
for the posponement But he would return to the Wing
party II would be remembered that this change had taken
place after the election of General Taylor when gentlemen
sometimes suspected of being DESTROYS Of propang the
Executive
Mr.. sCHENCK interposed, explaining what his action
had been Mr.. GoTT's resolution. His colleague had
charged him with of holiness in facing the truth
His Colleague well knew that he not afraid avow his
opinions in relation to slavery the slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia He (Mr dared to entertain opinions
upon those subjects which his colleague thought very
unpopular at the North.
Mr.. GIDDINGS claimed the floor a..
Mr.. SCHENCK inquired whether his colleague would not
give him the opportunity to state his opinions.
Mr.. GIDDINGS said he would bring his remarks to a
close Immediately. When last interrupted he was referring
to the fact that gentlemen sometimes suspected Of
deavong by votes in this hall to propae Executive favor
He would not say that gentlemen voted the occasion refer
red to for that purpose but it certain that gentleman
who then voted against laying the motion to reconsider the
table, thereby sustaining the traffic in Species had
received offer of seat in the Executive Cabinet but de-
cined it. Another who thus voted presided the
Naval Department. and Of the Presidents constitu-
tional advisers Another, who had voted either way
the head Of the Post Office Department another
Minister at Madrid another represented this nation
at the court of the Grand Sultan Of Turkey another
Commissioner Mexican claims another had been appoint
ed Marshal Of the Western District of Pennsylvania another
inspector of hospitals in the United Sntes and the
in law Of another chief clerk in the Home Department.
He could not say that these rewards given copen-
saons for sustaining the crimes connected with the slave
trade but is extraordinary fact that far his know
ledge extended who then voted against this slave
trade had received much smile from the President
Yet he told that obligation rested him for
the gentleman from Massachusetts, because he belonged to
this party. He said that had little weight with him.
He would be willing to vote for Democrat who protected
the slave trade, for Wing who committed the Deeds
He would vote for who thus sustained course at
which humanity revolts He would refer fact that
PRED the week which most Of the members reached this
city, the week before the present session commenced
Most of the old members would reeoect colored man who
last yeas waited in the rsectory below He fearing that
he to be sold under your law, attempted to make his
escape land Of freedom He arrested, and knowing
his doom, he drew knife from his pocket and, in the pre-
sence Of his capors his throat and appealed the
God Justice against the law which has been sustained in
this District for the last forty years But such suicides
among the victims Of this traffic. He repeated that
those who deal in slaves here far guilty than those