Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-14

proposed And why II is not because the rights
Of citizens Of Virginia will be impaired by this legislation but
is because the Congress Of the United States by the pas
sage Of this BILL will have egisaed upon subject which
they consider forbidden because Congress egsated
upon subject dangerous to her safety as dangerous 70
| the safety Of the slaveholding States
Sir we know that by very many Southern States this has
been made casus frderis, if may SO express t. We
might lust as well say that Interested In the abolition
of slavery in the District but the people OF the District be-
the slaves Of the people OF the District are to
be affected by it, because such legislation looks further
If this bill should pass by which this traffic in slaves to
be prohibited here-a traffic legitimate In the adjoining
States and in other savehodng Sates- Will be placing on
your statute books denunciaon as wrong OF this traffic,
which the interests these States obge them to tolerate and
| not to forbid
did not mean to detan the Senate. But did not feel at
liberty allow the occasion to pass as really desire to vote
for so much of the bill has been engraed IN by the
amendment of the Senator from Maryland, Mr.. PEARcE,
without making effort strike out the remaining portion
of the bill.
Mr.. CLAY. The amendment of the honorable Senator
from Virginia M Mason is strike out two sections of
the bill reported by the Committee of Thirteen The first Of
those sections prohibits the Introduction Of any slave into the
District of Columbia for the purpose OF being sold placed
depot to be subsequently transported to another market
The second Of those sections provides for the abolition OF
the depois themselves in which the slaves confined in the
District of Columbia. II, therefore, the motion Of the Se
from Virginia prevails all that portion Of the bill rela
ting the abolition Of the slave trade in the District Of Co
umba will be stricken out, and it will become one OF to-
tally different character, providing only Tor the punishment Of
persons encng slaves from the District and investing
power in the Corporation prohibit free persons OF color
from coming into the District. II is important for the Sc
nate understand the effect of the motion of the SENATOR
because if prevails there is end TO the attempt to abolish
the slave trade in the District of Columbia.
do not to at any length into the argument on
the subject NV principal object is to arrive at de-
cision. Senator from Virginia mr. MAsoS seemed to
suppose that was mistaken in the law Of Virgins, and IN
the law of Maryland ! think not sir. The law OF Viz
gnia, the of the cesson the General Government
of that portion Of the District which reoceded her, and
the law of Maryland both prohibited the introduction into
States respectively Of slaves to be sold and both pov
ded that if slaves introduced in conavenon OF those
laws the effect should be the freedom Of the slaves intro
duced That the law Of ENTHUSIASTICALLY altered
know-for long time. So was it the law OF Maryland,
though also has been recently altered by the Legislature OF
that State Both Of those States them at the time OF the
cesson Of this District the General Government exercised
the power which is proposed be exercised here with the
difference only that here propose to abolish the dePos
these foreign slaves brought within the Districts that is the
sole difference. The prohibition of the Introduction into
Virginia and Maryland Of slaves existed accompanied
with denuncaton of the penalty that they were introduced
they should become Free That the state Of the law IN
both States.
Now, sir all that is asked upon the present occasion is,
that should do what each Of those States did, with the
the further object of aoshng the depos themselves This
has been done by Of the slave States has been
done by the State Of Mississippi by her constitution and
has been done by many other States. It done by my
State though the law has recently been altered but
have doubt will be revived in the of few years
Sixteen seventeen years ago. had wished to purchase
slave and carry him into Kentucky, prohibited from
doing by law. The question is whether the Gov
may exercise this power under the general grant
contained in the constitution, and in conformity with the
action Of various States of the Union Sir the subject has
been much under consideration that do not to
dwell upon it, or to occupy unnecessarily the time of the
Senate.
The Senator from Virginia says that he makes this motion
In conformity to some resolutions passed by the Legislature OF
his State understand that the Legislature Of Virginia sub
sequeny modified its opinion upon this subject and although
it at one time attached TO consequence far beyond any
that it mered, yet that it subsequently modified it. and
does not insist qua in the arrangement Of
these slavery subjects. hope this motion will be rejected,
and that any further amendments which may be proposed
be received and acted ask for the yeas and
| upon the amendment. .-.
Mr.. PEARCE. Before the vote is taken the amend
ment Of the Senator from Virginia, (r. MASON, which
proposes to strike out the two first sections of the BILL de-
FIRE to submit amendment for the purpose of improving
the first section. There many Senators who have
objection to prohibiting the introduction Of slaves into the
District Tor the purpose of being sold to distant PERSONS but
they object TO the provision by which the violation of the law
Is 10 be punished. They object in other words, to the
numsson of the slave thus brought in in violation of this
law believe that votes may be obtained for this bill which
be obtained for unless the provision stricken out
therefore move to amend The bill by striking out all Of the
the first section after the word act in the lh line and
| inserting in lieu thereof the following
Such owner agent said owner bringing such slave
into the District shall be liable indictment therefor in the
criminal Of the District Of Columbia, and upon convc
ton shall be punished by fine less than hundred and
not more than four hundred dollars"
The words proposed to be stricken out are follows
And such slave shall hereupon become liberated and Free
Mr. CLAY wish only to say that prefer the bill it
stands though am Indifferent to the fate Of the amendment
which is proposed; excep. that think much larger fine
ought to be imposed ought at any to be equivalent
to the value OF the slave for with fine Of one hundred
dollars might be paid and yet profit made by the introduce
ton OF slaves prefer the bill stands for three
reasons which will briefly state. In the first place. that
is the law Of Virginia and Maryland it existed the
time Of the cesson of this District forbddng the introduc-
ton Of slave, and declaring that introduced contrary to
law, he shall be free but besides that the appropriate
penalty, and it is in conformity the law which generally
prevails upon the subject of contabands Where conaband
articles OF merchandise introduced there is forfeiture
| and so there ought to be in a Of this kind.
But further, is much likely that the law will be
efcacous if the person introduced is entitled his freedom,
in consequence of his introduction contrary to law than il
there is to be pursuit Of the party introducing him, and
pecuniary penalty inflicted upon him. If slave is intro
duced contrary to law, there will be motive the part OF
the slave and of his friends his freedom and law
will he much more ecacious than if you let depend upon
the infection Of pecuDiary penalty, which it would be
bodys business be inflicted But my great object
is the abolition ofthe trade. As the mode Of effecng it
whether BY declaring the slave free nfcng pecunary
nethe Senate decide between the two according tc
| its judgment
Mr.. FOOTE would suggest to the Senator from Mary
hand that he should increase the fine five hundred dollars
| instead Of four hundred. s.@.
| Mr.. PEARCE. Very WELL ! am perfectly content Il
modify the amendment increase the five
hundred dollars. ,.,@ .....
Mr.. BADGER. Do you mean not less than five hundret