Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21

aken place affirmed this fact at the moment bat have
in the made abstract of the laws of the State
this subject for the purpose of showing, by their PROVISIONS
the utter mposstly that such of facts could have
existed make this explanation at the disadvantage which
necessarily attends such procedure that adopted by the
Senator from Massachusetts, The statement which was
made yesterday is circulated throughout the Union The
people Of the city of Savannaha city comparatively small in
dimensions and populationare represented annually i'm
psoning three hundred coored persons in abuse of their
rights, and without charge of any offence committed by them
Now, only necessary look to abstract OF the
laws OF the State Of Georgia upon this subject for the Pur
pose Of making entirely apparent how unfounded is this
accusation have here an abstract Of the laws
RESTRICTIONS ON coLoRED sEAMEN AND OTHERS.
Not permitted leave the vessel from the hours of six
o'clock in the evening until FIVE o'clock the succeeding morn
ing The duty Of the captain report particular descrp
tion Of the seamen and their
Captain required bond with for the
of the seaman retaining him board of his vessel
and for carrying him away when his vessel departs.
Duty captain report within twenty hours after
his arrival the mayor Sc any coored persons and give
this bond under the penalty OF hundred dollars ter each
coored person omitted.
Vessels coming from any port any other State
egn country having board tree perscn Of CO.
Tor steward, Mariner or in any other capacity. or as
passenger liable to quarantine and negroes persons OF
color residing shore forbidden TO have communication with
them.
the Of the ntendan any judge justice
Of any superior inferior court and committed to prison
until the vessel is departing until otherwise by
law.
6. Negroes persons of color communicating with those
board liable to and conviction to corporal pun
ishment, not exceeding thrty-nine lashes
Captain take away such negro brought in and
the Of his detention when the vessel is ready to de-
part and failing do so shall be liable conviction to
penalty hundred dollars exceeding three months
imprisonment
s. captain negects the negro per.
color does depart from the State within days
liable conviction corporal punishment not exceeding
g. All negroes or persons arriving Georgia. and
all other exempted from the operation of who
arrive Of shpwreck of weather. other
visions of the act within month.
The selling of free persons of color slaves expressly
forbidden by law in Georgia.
You will perceive, hearing this abstract of the laws Of
Georgia, that there is inhibition the arrival of free
coored personsnohing which obds their going shore
perform their daily work. but that they only inhibited
from leaving their vessels at night You will perceive that
the law directs its penal provisions the captain who takes
the seaman and the hmse and that there
provision for the renewal of punishment from month to
month"; from months to months in Massachu
sets, by the law read by the Senator from Louisiana
These sir the provisions Of the law of Georgia. In
the exercise Of that which they to make such
police regulations necessary for their safety and look
ing to the peculiar institution which exists among hem they
have passed these The force and operation of the penal
provisions the Senate will perceive made chiefly apply
the captain bringing in the negroes and not the negroes
coored persons themselves They permitted
in, and allowed 60 ashore during the ordinary working
hours and only prohibited from landing during the hours
Of the night when their intercourse with slaves might be
abused to purposes inconsistent with our safety.
Let me addfor do not wish to occupy the time Of the
Senatehat the selling o free persons Of color slaves
under any circumstances expressly forbidden by the law Of
Georgia And now, upon this statement trust the
American people, before whom accusation has gone, will
at least acqu my constituents of the obnoxious and inbound
ed charge.
Mr.. WINTHROP. had not intended to say another
word this morning in regard to this ve1ed and exciting ques
ton; but the of the Senator from Georgia has
PEELED me to do Sir if understood mputation which
made in the opening remarks of that Senator, it
ungenerous it unjust If understood that putation,
sr It was as unworthy of him. and Of the Senate chamber
as it Of myself r"
The PRESIDENT. The Senator must not make such
remarks. The Chair cannot permit it.
Mr. WINTHROP. And may add, sir that that i'm
putation, understood it correctly direct
dcon the which that Senator himself madeyes
terday the floor Of the Senate and for which he
cord in the newspapers Of hsmornng understood the Sc
that had introduced here statement
upon the subject Of the imprisonment of free negroes the
port of Savannah and that not having inmated that did
credit that statement, did vouch for its accuracy,
had made it my own statement and that it thus the
statement of American Senator which had gone before the
American people under that authority And with this
utterly unfounded preface that he proceeded
that statement false. Why sir am fortunate in having evil
dence upon this subject The Senator from Georgia inter-
ruped yesterday for explanation, after introduced
this topic and what his remark al am pery glad
(sad hey 10 hear that the Senator from Massachusetts, did
not couch for the truth Of that statement" That his
own expression II is too late for the Senator to attempt to
get behind it. He is record for the very words and
leave, therefore, any impuaton upon myself which might
otherwise have resulted from his language to-day, de-
serves to be left, to return where it came from.
Sir every body knows how that statement introduced.
There mstake-here could have been uninenion
al mistake in regard it. said that which
had been furnished in relation TO this subject
eight years ago. inmated at the instant intro
duced that it might be extravagan appeared to be
its face stated expressly that did vouch for in
any degree; that did not vouch for it at a said this,
not in question put to by the Senator,
by any body else but original unprompted expression
of my But said, also, that if person in the
United States believed that such enormies pracsed
perpetrated to such extent, sufficient for
investigating the circumstances Of the and bringing
before responsible judicial tribunal The Senator oges
himself when he attempts make the slightest degree
sponsible for any thing which that statement contained He
must deny his declaration Of yesterday, he must
knowledge the wrong he has done to-day. There
alternative.
But sir, evidence upon this subject is emphatcaly
demanded- called upon substantae by respect
able witnesses the facts which have been alleged in relation
to this case, desire to the authority upon which have
acted this question, have had any connexon with
In either branch Of Congress. Here sir, is the original
memorial which my letter of instructions this subject
Let me read it, for the special edifcaon Of the Senator from
Georgia
10 the honorable the Senate and House of Represenaves of
tie United States in Congress assembled:
Your petitioners citizens Of the United States and of
them owners and masters of vessels respectfully represent
on board OF that large number Of vessels
touch the ports of Charleston Savannah Mobile and New
Orleans Is frequently necessary employ free persons Of
color
And whereas frequently happens such are taken
from the vesels thrown prison. there detained
their own EXPENSE greatly the prejudice and derment of
their interest," and OF the commerce Of these States