The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-15
DEFERRED REMARKS.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER ii, ls5
SENATE.
SIIppR EssION OF THE SLAVE TN pr

hs amendment proposed by the senator from New York,
mir SEwARDl has rankled little in his bosom
Sir would willingly retract that word would will
nsly acknowledge that whatever the senator does is
wises vruousest discreelest, best" But my difficulty
in doing this moent is in the fact that the hoRora
bic senator himself has formally admitted the charge
He has first pleaded guilty and then has gone into argu
nept TO prove his innocence The honorable Senator rose
hs mornn 8 and asked tave OF the Senate to do what
Why sir TO withdraw his amendment because II was
out of me-because il was onable--because he
desired do that to-day which desired 10 do yesterday
TO give an opportunity for passing the main body Of this
bl-the two original sections OF the bi-beiOre he in
sisted on pressing an amendment which he knew must
embanass il not defeat It's passage. Well, sir, regret
led exceedingly that tie senator was not allowed 10
withdraw his amendment on that occasion He had ad
m,led all that had aveired with regard 10 II, and had
asked leave 10 Withdraw II; but the yeas and nays
having been ordered, and one or two objections being
made the senator was compelled to leave where ii was
And now orsoaih, no sooner is this settled than he
proceeds argue that il was entirely in season. entirely
suitable, that there was no objection to il at this time,
or at any other time and that in using the word ''ndis
ceel yesterday qule ovtrstepped Lac propreties Of
the occasion Nay more, sir: the honorable senator
somewhat stung apparently by my application OF this
phrase-which certainly regret il It gave him offence
proceeds argue, BY way o retaliation, that in IA
vcr Of this bill as il stands your table In quasi com
mlilee He charges that WAS opposed to his bill being
substituted for the original bill, with view OF saving the
bill il now stands IN committee, hot yet reported 10 The
Senate.
Now, sir, might well charge the honorable senator
With want OF generosity, with want OF candor, with a
want OF justice towafts this point That senaor
knows perfectly well that my vote is already recorded
against both The amendments Of the senator from Mary
land, LMr PEARCE hat senator knows perfectly well
tia, throus hou my whole course in Congress, in either
wing OF the Capitol, have been uniformly opposed to all
provisions OF law like that contained in the last and most
obnoxious of these amendments. That senator knows
perfectly well that It Is the original BILL reported by
The distinguished senator from Kentucky which intend
10 support, and which desired to by opposing the
unreasonable and injudleious amendment which he has
thought proper TO propose Sir, shall not yield to The
himself in the earnestness OF my opposition to the
amendments which have oeen adopted In committee on
motion OF the senator from Maryland; and have been
anxously waiting an opporianty-ihe only opportunity
which can be fairly a.in'ded-whcn those amendments
shall be reported TO The Senate TO make that opposition
again manifest!
AS, however, comparison OF the whole bill with the
substitute which has been offered by the senator from
New York is now the legitimate subject Of consideration,
suppose may be allowed 10 say word Two on those
amendments. Certainly, sir, am oIposei to the bill
now stands upon your table, il those amendments are
to be persisted m J regard the amendment which au-
lhozes the corporations u Georgetown and washington
and the levy court of Washington county to prescribe,
exile and drive out OF their respective Jurisdictions
tain class of ireemenfo hey called freemen in the
bill seitas utterly unconsutnonai and as utterly un-
uslhabe. Why, sIr, these amendments are OF nature
change the whole character OF the measuTe and this
BILL in the foIm in which stands your liable at this
moment liable TO be made the instrument oil policy
odious and oppressive the very traffic which orig
naly proposed 10 suppess Instead oi being bill 10
abolish The lrahc in slaves seems rather about 70 be
made bill 10 create aihc IN ifeemen tor you allow
the two city governments 10 do whatl To remove, TO
exile 10 drive out from their respective Jurisdictions any
free colored persons whom they shall not think nj TO
have among them; and any such persons should
not exactly comply with certain laws or regulations which
may be prescribed the subject oil their residence or re
noya you authorize these authorities TO imprison them
abor and all this the mere ground OF Their color
all this on account OF their complexions Why, the very
Jail the very depot which has been rendered so cous by
this domestic traffic in slaves which the senaior from
Ssgs 70 mny Ts ases ss 0i olo
slaves by making them work for the public service against
their will and tor no fault but that OF their skins
therefore Cordially unite with he senator from New foIk
his opposition 10 that part OF the bill, and shall gladly
cooperate with him in striking out But his amend
ment goes iuriher II proposes to strike out The whole
BILL Il proposes 10 strike out The two original sections,
BY which, and by which alone, the slave trade can be
abolished repeat, again, that the senator 10 this case
sks the substance for the purpose o sisnalzng himself
10 vain attempt TO grasp The shadow lie Knows lhst
the present sessioR OF Congress no bill like that which
he proposes car possibly be passed through the two
houses But, sir II il should be passed. what would
hefesult' Why Il the people Of thus Ds,fel-as IN
my Judgment ! am sorry 10 say think they would
should that slavery should not be abolished m This
District al six months notice, and upon the precise terms
Which the senator proposes, then what becomes OF inc o
i l0T suIITesslng the slave trade
The senator perls upon The vote OF the people oil this
District the whole question al issue. II the people shall
declare against emancipation, then we are neither 10
have slavery abolished nor the slave trade suppressed
Sr for one, cannot consent such policy. The sen
sOrma feel justified in declaring that slavery shall no,
be abolished here, unless the people oi The District say
IL Dul 20 WIN Dlnl III uo CDulrc MhhSh ica'N7
'hesuesson OF the slave trade in any degree contingent
upon popular vote.
ht Piesldent, | would gladly do every Thing IN my
"ef to promote the Interests and true welfare oil the
Uanct oi Columbia desire 10 vote for the two origi.
hai sections reported by the senator IRON kentucky.
uesfe 10 saye those sections II possble by voting
against all other matters which may interfere with and
tin arass Their passage But cannot violate great
lrhc1le caEnut establish what | hod 10 be an un.
Constitutional discrimination between different classes oil
American iTecmen III oGdeT To subserye mere local
Nehence. As To the difficulty which has been suggested
W regard 70 tue influx OF Tree negfocs into this District,
why, yoh nave he SAME means dealing with them
you nave WIN All ollef persons who come here II they
he VICIOUS, ulsordtfy, and uolous as they have been
PesPhed 10 be, you have all the moral anu legal fee-
esat your Command against vice, disorder, and otons
ness " They are yagfants, you can tes,faiu them II
tty are paupers you can put them to labor II they are
gaIy OF bfearbes oi the peace crme oil any kind
you cah arrest them on proper evIdence, and lmprson
Zen on due conviction IN your Jalls ard penitentiaea
lou have your work houses Tor them by day AID your
warehouses; Tor them by night And YOU have OF
1gh 10 have the better security o schools and churches
Io 'helt reformation and improvement Whatever you
tah 40 lof others, you can do Tor them And, sir,
should like 10 ask what clause there Is ~ the coBstitu-
', aha What authority there is TO be found anywhefe
m making distinctions between class OF reenen and
o"e, lass OF iesnien IN this counlryi II has been
cPaaeuy asked here, whore yet authority for dis
nduhs between different classes Of property, between
'e Totily and other properly should like 10 know
''e we gel authority or DETERMINATIONS between dIf.
tn' cassts o pefsuns-beiween different classes oil
skho"edstd ireemeh' Where Is the provision IN the
Constitution oi tie United Statesl Upon wbat principle
Sots snch discrimination rest How is the assunip.
n 10 De uslhtd that certain class o the lice people
VI mese United States shall ENJOY the prefos alive.
"u privileges oil tTeemen, Whtre they please. ard