Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-01

weeks. He had at the time been unable himself to see
any good reason tor the postponement. But he would
return to the Wing party It would be remembered
General Taylor, when gentlemen are sometimes sus-
pected OF being DESTROYS OF proptatng the Executive
Mr. ScHENcK interposed, explaining what his action
had been on Mr.. Colts resolution. His colleague had
charged him with a OF bodness in facing the truth.
His colleague well knew that he was not afraid to avow
his opinions in relation to slavery or the slave trade in
the District OF Columbia. He (Mr 81 dared to enter
tain opinions upon those subjects which his colleague
thought were very unpopular at the North
Mr. GIDDINGS claimed the floor.
Mr.. ScHENcK inquired whether ibis colleague would
not give him the opportunity to state his opinions.
Mr.: GIDDlNGS said he would bring his remarks to a
close Immediately When last interrupted he was re-
erring to the fact that gentlemen sometimes
peced OF endeavorng by votes in this hall to protnte
Executive favor He would not say that gentlemen vo-
ted on the occasion referred to for that purpose; but it
was certain that gentleman who then voted against
laying the motion to reconsider on the table, thereby
sustaining the traffic in own species, had received
offer OF seat in the Executive Cabinet, but declined
it. Another who thus voted presided over the N a
val Department and one of the Presidents consti
utional advisers. Another, who had voted either
way, was at the head of the Post Office Department.
another was Minister at Madrid; another re-
presented this nation at the court of the Grand Sultan
OF Turkey; another was Commlssi oner on Mexican
claims; another had been appointed Marshal OF the
western District OF Pennsylvania; another was nspec
tor OF hospitals in the United Sates and the son-n-law
OF another was chief clerk in the Home Department.
lie could not say that these rewards were given as COM
pensatons for sustaining the crimes connected with the
slave trades but 1t is an extraordinary fact that so Tar as
his knowledge extended mo who then voted against
this slave trade had received SO much as smile from
the President.
Yet he was told that an obligation rested on him to
vote forhe gentleman from Massachusetts, because he
belonged to this party. He said that names had little
weight with him. He would be willing to vote for
Democrat who protected the slave trade, as for Wing
who committed the same deeds He would vote for no
man who thus sustained a course at which humanity
revots He would refer to fact that transplred the
week on which most OF the members reached this city
It was the week before the present session commenced
Most OF tne old members would recollect colored
man who last year waited in the reecory below u.s. He
fearing that he be sold under your law, attempted
to make his escape to land OF freedom. He was ar
rested and knowing his doom, he drew knife from his
pocket and ia the presence his OF captors his own
throat and appealed the God oJusce against the law
which has been sustained in this Distrcto for the last fifty
years But such suicides are among the victims
OF this traffic. Herepeated that those who deain slaves
here are tar more guilty than those who follow the Atri
can slave trade. Their victims more enlightened
and suffer more.
And one fact certain this slave trade had been
sustained for the last two years by the Wing party OF this
House. The records OF the nation showed this fact,
and still gentlemen urged that he was bound to sustain
aman for Speaker because he belonged to that party
tie denied any such obligation He would be as willing
to go down TO the slave pen the OF 7h street and
Maryland Avenue, and take the dealer in human flesh
who presdes over that piratcal establishment to ociae
as Speaker OF this House. as he would vote tor any man.
call him Wing or Democrat, who lends his influence to
protect and shed that execrable traffic
His colleague and the gentleman from Massachusetts
had said that bill at the last session to abolish the
slave trade here had been introduced by the Committee
this District. Gentlemen need not msrepresent re-
corded facts. There such bill introduced
hat committee had introduced bill to prohibit the
bringing OF slaves from Maryland and Virginia this
city for sale; but made a!usion the traffic carried
on within the District. The coored people here were
Lett to all the horrors and crimes of that commerce
The slave pens here not forbidden. The slave |
merchants here, had that bill passed. would have con-
nued to purchase men, to obtain more women, and col
ect still greater number OF children, for the Southern
market Your slave auctions in this city would have
gone He declared it fraud upon the public to
present that bill as contemplating the abolition OF the
slave trade.
For years has been the practice in this House. when
Speaker was elected SO to arrange the committees
TO suppress all petitions sent to them praying the abo
ton Of this traffic; and those Committees thus uphold
trade at which all the feelings OF our nature revolt
Members here will say to their constituents that these
petitions were referred, but the committee made
port. Why not! Because they were placed there for
1he purpose OF suppressing those petitions Look sad
he to the last two years; have not these committees
the thousands OF petitions sent to them!-
Certainly they have Not one has been reported on
Why not! Does not the voice of the nation reply that
And who arranged them? The very who the
Wings say he ought to have voted Tor to the office OF
Speaker They insist that he was bound to become
party to the stupendous fraud.
He believed that Governments are constituted among
men to secure the people in the enjoyment of their in
aienable rights. These undying truths were proclaim
Gu ny idlielS anu HlaCcu OH lIley, Sli,
were not afraid nor ashamed to avow them. He most
soemny, most devouty cherished and sustained them.
or would he at any time sustain any tor the office
of Speaker of this house who dsbeieved in these tunda
mental doctrines. Nor would he vote for any who
dares not avow them.
Mr.. GlDDINGs, in pursuance ola promise previously
made by him, then demanded the previous question:
which was seconded by the House.
And the question being first taken the amendment
OF Mr. Sacket it decided in the negative without
division.
The question then REQUIRED the resolution OF N.Y.
Burt and being TAKEN the resolution passed with
out division,