Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-07

mat 10 my opinion there cannot % tho least paruc
Of doubt unless launch into the regions Of sb
sracons and metaphysics. What is the power Congress
shall have power, says the constitution to egisae in al
whatsoever within the District ceded Congress by any
State for the seat of government There H. therefore, NJ
Limitation restriction in that grant which circumscribes thu
power Of Congress to break up this deestabe slave trad
within the District Of Columbia. ~ s 1Attass
Now, with regard all the arguments Of the Seaator will
to the benefits from emigration whether voluntary
involuntary whether bond or has that to do will
the particular before us Here are six miles square,
not much believe since the retrocesson Virginia. II
which trade is carried on, not in the property of the Dis
nic not in the slaves Of the District but the slave trader
finding convenient their depos within this District
have from time time erected them am very glad to earr
from the highest authority, the mayor of the city, that there
but depot remaining where slaves be found constant
for sae have heard that nhabant the District
ever known TO have purchased slaves from these depos
Slaves brought here from Virginia and Maryland and
perhaps from other States, and kept here till suits the per
engaged in the trade TO transport them to New Orleans
Mobile, some other Southern market And now Is
sious conended not only that there power on the pa
Of Congress abolish this trade, but that If Is abolished ia
this miles quarehereby giving greater security agains
the agitation Of the question Of the abolition of slavery tse
within the Districtthat il is Of these circumstances
which is ghten the whole Of the South out Of its pro-
priety Ha1t t5a fIs ft
Sir offer advice one, but beg leave to suggest tina,
if gentlemen coming from that portion Of the Union would be
less liable to take alarm upon the slightest circumstance and
not be deadng every possible lest il should touch
the particular institution which they cherish so much be-
eve they would add safety and security to that institution it.
SELF and there would be less Of agitation through
out the country at large. What cannot Congress- with
to legae in all whatever put end to these
ss in which, without the authority Of law the owners q
traders the aers and the subjects Of this imprisonment
slaves brought from distance and perhaps under cir
cumstsnces shocking to humanity Cannot Congress- with
10 this small circumscbed District and under an authority
to egislae in all whatsoever put end to this traffic
without creating sensations of alarm from the shores of the
Potomsc to the Rio Grande should really hope So But
do not mean to dwell longer these general topics which
me senator from Virginia has thought proper urge upon
| this occasion. 7 .gtf
wish to say few words with regard TO the amend
ments which have been offered As the proposition Of the
Senator from Mississippi am disnclned to it, prefer the
bill reported by the Committee of Thirteen and feel it
my duty insist upon it. The bin reported by the COM
ittee is direct straightforward, appropriate M object and
employing the requisite and proper carry that object
into effect The amendment of the Senator from Mississippi
introduces great variety Of subjects It relates to the ab
Of free persons Of color and the seduction Of slaves
from their owners and provides for the bringing by habeGs
corpus before the proper tribunal the question Of freedom
slavery in Of person alleged to be improperly held
in slavery So also Of the amendment of the Senator from
Maryland, Mr.. PEARcE.) II relates to matter Of very
great Importance and proposes to impose very heavy PEN
atty for the seduction Of slaves from their masters Now all
these matters might be very proper in code of regulations
about to be adopted by Congress for regulating the conduct
and condition Of the persons Of color whether free bond
within the District but hope they will be introduced in
separate bill too late in the session take up all
these Subjects discuss the and dispose of them and trust
the amendments will be concued n but that the bill as
has been before for months and has been discussed
and considered will be disposed Of the Senate may think
proper ,H
The suggestion made by the Senator from Maryland that
the present penalty imposed under the laws in force in
the District for the seduction Of slaves from their by
abolonss whatever else they call themselves ine
Gent may be very but let him introduce bill to rene
dy that evil At this late period of the session. however,
hope no new bill will be taken up, but that shall conne
Il
tore US 50 long, and dispose Of it.
With regard to the effect of the amendment of the Senator
from Mississippi will add word. There no provision
10 it. as in the bill for sboshing the depot Of the slaves
and those provisions making the ngess and egess
Of color whether bond free, in the District Of Columbia
to be subject to the legislation Of the local authorities
definite and uncertain.
Again the language of the amendment Of the Senator
from Mississippi is indefinite, and liable different inter-
preaton Similar words ia former act received very linn
it'd Interpretation indeed should doubt whether, under
the language employed in the amendment the local author
law Ss G " y s
depos which located here for the purpose Of carrying on
the slave trade The bill which have before ii clear
and distinct approaches its object without disguise, and
will be understood BY the whole country shall therefore,
vote against these amendments and for the bill as it was re-
ported by the Committee of Thirteen. aS
Mr.. FOOTE. | accept with pleasure the amendment
offered to my amendment by the Senator from Maryland,
lML PEARcE) Hprovdes for an omission which did not
discover. i.
Mr.. PEARCE then offered substitute for the bill, which
was read printed on the third page of this paper
Mr.. PEARCE. Mr.. President do propose to detain
theSenate longer than necessary to explain very briefly the
object Of the amendment. Thes amendment have offer
ed at the instance and suggestion Of the corporate authorities
Of Washington. This city infested with free negroes of
worthless character the laws in relation negroes other
States furnishing frequently fresh supplies Of this dsordery
rioous and troublesome population They find that free
negroes in this District have increased since the last census
from between four and five thousand between eight and
nine thousand They find free labor coming into the Dis
tc constantly driving out the labor Of this class Of their
population, who in consequence Of this becoming every
day and dpedators upon the property and peace
of the community And they desire to adopt such regulations
have been adopted in the adjoining Statessuch in
force in Maryland They desire to have the power to make
such regulations, and to enforce them This explains the
object Of the first amendment.
have already perhaps, explained sufficiently the other
amendments No doubt sir, that it is the duty Of
the awmaking power while the laws which guaranty pro-
perry negroes citizens of the District remain, provide
adequate punishment for such gross violation Of their rights
of property have Witnessed recently We know the
Systematic efforts which have been made and are made to
carry othe slaves Of residents Of the District and Of gentle
men temporarily soourning here, by individuals who to
be acuaed by the fasest spirit of enthusiasm, the most
infamous Of principle. Combined with these efforts at
seduction these to be determined to violate the law
by force, that be necessary to carry out their purposes
We have already human life threatened and over
again in efforts to effect this nefarous purpose. n .ai
Sir, it the duty Of the Government apply remedy.
Il is the duty Of the Government to apply the remedy now.
II seems to that my amendment is quite germane to the
general subject which before the Senate. do not
know who doubt the duty Of this Government provide
remedy for the acknowledged evil which this amendment
is intended to remedy.
will detan the Senate further Every body must
ha Q - ~r4 Il