The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-20

the District o. Columbia with their slaves Of bring
,ng theme here and hiring them out 70 add % the slave
population the pe . ses ~ % re os wny ANY
s,a ~ MARYLAND think. therefore. that this provis-
on ~ The act of 1902 under which so many slaves have
been introduced into the District Of Columbia. should
n1 M PRATT Mr. President it is necessary should
sav word or two by way Of explanations certainly
shall moi introduce debate upon this question for know
4 would be- fatal 10 The passage OF the BILL The honora
bic senator from Connecticut Mr. BALDWIN, has stated
with considerable degree Of correctness the law as II
stands and had he honor 70 explain = ne nae sS
citizens Of Maryland are enjoying, under me act Of Con-
qress Of 1902 privilege which no other people or slave
State enioys Now 10 him. sincerely that the peo-
Die Of MARYLAND are perfectly willing that the people Of
Virginia. Kentucky, and every other slave Stale IN the
Unon who may choose 10 bring their slaves into the
District OF Columbia should be authorized to do II
san exclusive privilege 10 the people OF Maryland
der the law now exists and II results from the fact
that this territory belonged 10 them and was ceded to the
United States Il was thought right and proper that the
people going the Territory who had been citizens Of
Inc State of Maryland should be permitted to enjoy the
laws of their native State
Now. sir, ask the attention Of the senator himself
and of the Senate TO the only effect OF the proposition he
has made to repeal the act OF 1902 The senator has
adveried at all 70 the action OF the bill which has been
discussed and passed during the present session. al
ude to the bill introduced BY the honorable from
Kentucky, [Mr. CLAY,l Under the operation OF that
bill. no one, either from Maryland or anywhere else.
can bring his servant here Tor sale Slaves cannot be
brought here under that bill for the purpose OF being sold
Under the Maryland law, which will be left in force if
repealsdundsr The Maryland law which he does not 10.
tend desire, propose to interfere with, any person
coming TO reside in .he District may bring his servant
brought here under the Mary law until he shall have
resided in the District for the period OF three continuous
years. That the old law Of Maryland, and that is
The present law OF the District OF Columbia. The law
which has introduced by the senator from Kentucky.
MIR CLAY] and which has already passed both branches
Of Congress- prohibits the citizens OF Maryland, as
bringing their here for the purpose Of selling
them and therefore, under the law Of Maryland, which
the senator does not propose to interfere with the ci
may come 10 The District o Columbia to reside are now
privileged under the law Of Maryland 10 bring their SER
wants with th.m Therefore, the effect OF the repeal OF
necticut. [Nr. baldwin, would be very limited. am
not prepared 70 whether would have any operation
which would be different from that OF the law which has
been already passed. and which was introduced by the
honorable senator from Kentucky
a SEsxToR: What is the amsndmentl
Mr. PRATT. The senator has offered an amendment
as an additional section, repeating the act Of Congress
Of 1902 have not that act before me- but am sure. II
the senator will reflect, he will see that the true effect
most limited one, If il has any effect at all. do not al
all propose to discuss this question, and will not De
drawn into any debate if can help IT, One other slate
Under the law of Maryland, in order to produce reci
procity the people OF the District were privileged 10 carry
their servants TO Maryland Tor the purpose Of nlring
them and many OF the czens OF the District own farms
in Maryland. They were privileged under tins law 10
take their servants there the purpose OF having them
work on ss ana y SaS 81
into the District Of Columbia The effect oil TINS amend
men passed. will be to prohibit the citizens of Mary
land who may come here reside portion OF the year.
from bringing their servants them That will be the
onlyefec OF tine amendment a the senator IRON Connec
ticut Moh
amendment place the people Of the State Of Maryland
upon precisely the footing that upon which the
people Of tie State OF Virginia and the other slave States
stand in regard TO the right OF introducing slaves
into this District The senator from Maryland [Mr.
PRArrl says that by the law il now exists notwth-
standing this amendment persons removing into the Dis
trict from the State OF Maryland bring their slaves
with them because such the law OF Maryland at the
time of the original cession WE'LL sir, in that respect
the inhabiaR,s Maryland will stand in no different po.
stion from the inhabitants of the State Of Virginia. Tor,
the Inv stands-whch this proposition does not
afect-lhe citizen OF Virginia removing bona ide nlo
this District i9r the o. 'sas hers ss 81 oTh S, hs
them But the c,zen Of Virginia cannot send his slaves
into the District be hired and form part of the popu
ation OF this District unless he himself comes here, and
brings his family and his slaves with him The citizen
OF Maryland has this privilege and, under the pro-
visions Of the law comforting IT, very large portion OF
the coored population and OF the slave population now
existing in the District introduced II is to put an
end to this unjust discrimination between the people oil
Maryland and the people OF Virginia that have intro
Sir the fact that sixty years ago the District Of Coum
ba composed part OF the State OF Maryland can make no
difference whatever with regard TO the rights oil the people
OF Maryland al the present time to introduce their slaves
into the District Was there any such privilege reserved
Not at all II required act OF Congressthe act OF
ls02--to confer it, II did not originally exist, and II
would not have existed now but for the positive legisla
ton of Congress and is for the purpose OF repeating The
act which confers -unjustly as II respects the other
slave Staies-thai now propose this amendment
Mr. HALE Mr. President, understand, from the ex-
PLANTATION made by the honorable from Maryland,
tMr PRATr,l that the law il now stands gives the
citizens OF Maryland the monopoly OF the right OF bring
ing slaves into this District for hire and as an induce
ment to continue this Of things, told that in
slaves the Legislators OF the District Of Columba, have
a night TO carry saves-for hire into the State OF
Maryland and that, therefore, il is not by any means
one sided business because there secured 10 uwhen
say as, speak OF the Legislators OF the District
of Coumbathere secured 10 u.s. and our constituents
in this District, the right TO take slaves into Mary
land for the purpose OF working them and this said TO
be fair trade Now, sir, for one, want to make no
such bargain do not want to make anything by hiring
slaves God knows do not want TO make anything BY
hiring them out willing TO give up all privilege
of that sort that pertains TO as one OF the Legislators
OF this District am willing TO yield all the golden
prospects that lie before the result OF that scheme
OF combining capital and labor which 10 be realized BY
taking people-our colored people Of this District
down into Maryland, and working them out and taking
pay for IT, II may be esteemed by some very great
privilege but for one. must confess that do not wish
TO enjoy any part OF IL am willing to give up and re;
linquish entirely all claim TO it On the other hand,
am willing TO submit any longer to the right which
seems 10 be monopoly on the part OF the citizens o.
Maryand, OF bringing their slaves into this District and
working them out for hire want all TO stand upon an
equality want 10 repeal this law, and lei. Maryland
and ali the rest Of the slave States stand upon an equal