Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-04-27

Mr.. SEwARD-I hope the motion to strike
out will not prevail. 1t appears to me that
the information sought to be obtained by this
clause is essential. II is interesting to us all
as n question of political science, to know
the actual condition of every class of popula-
ton in this country aud certainly il concerns
the public, as well as the Government, to
know the actual relative condition of the diff
ferent classes of population. The Commit
tee desire TO procure information in regard TO
the comparative longevity of the white and
black races in their various conditions. They
desire to ascertain the number of children
that each woman has borne, the number that
are living, and the number that are dead,
with reference to the question of compare
tive longevity
But there is another point. There is no
woman, with great Difference to the Senator
from Alabama, who can have forgotten the
number of children that she has borne. If
II be true, as il is said, that there are women
who do not know whether their children be
living or dead, aud even how many they have
borne, should like 20 ascertain The number of
such that there are Of all races. And | desire
this information because we have all cher
ished hope that the condition of African SER
vitude in this country was in stage of tran
sition from state of barbarism to a state of
Improvement hereafter. / wish to know how
rapid that progress is. believe il cannot be
possible that there are any women, even in
Africa, who have forgotten the number of
children they have borne. II there he any
in America who have forgotten that fact, so
important and interesting to themselves, l
wish to know it, for the purpose of ascertain
ing the operation of our social system, and
the success of that system as leading TO the
improvement of the African race. / wish to
know also what is the extent of the educa-
ton or of instruction that prevais, so as to
ascertain whether they are advancing to-
wards that better condition which constitutes
the only excuse, as l understand, that we
have for holding them in servitude.
Mr.. KING--I am not at all surprised TO
hear the Senator from New York attempt to
throw an imputation upon the South TO an
swer his own purposes. Sir, what l stated
was, that in many instances you could not
even get from the mother any correct know
ledge of the number of children she had. Go
into the white settlements in many portions
of the country, and you will find women in
the same situation. Docs the Senator mean
to say that all the women of his own State |
arc so highly intellectual, SO bright in their
perceptions. 90 acute =, tlieir understanding,
IHul tntN cuuIl EItt ttifttuf ntfnffNHftnu AZ n
were required ofthem? sJailI al loz, = 81
Sir, ] have listened TO the Senator's re-
marks. He comes forward here on all occa-
sions, when the slightest opportunity is al,
forded to him, to endeavor TO produce q feel |
ing of prejudice against that section of coun- |
try in which live, in order to minister to |
TINT miserable fanatical spirit. HoT gti3 |
Tie VICE PREsIDENT-The honorable SEN
ator is out of order. ls asafi sitfa fI.ll
Mr.. KING-Wcll, Sir, let the Senator not
attempt, by a sneeriDg manner and insidious |
language, TO produce an effect which he dare |
not do directly. would like to be informed |
whether all within the State of New York |
are so intelligent, so well informed, and have |
lived in such way as TO justify the belief
that upon application TO them TO know the |
number of their children, the information |
could he obtained? Go into New York city, |
or into any portion of the State, andyou will
find persons of that description.
MIR. SEwARD-In reply to the question
which the honorable Senator asks me in re-
gard to the women of New York, have TO
saw that they are able TO read the question,
and that they will read il, and he will not
find one, white or black, in the Stnte of New
York, that hos forgotten the number of her
children. That is my judgment. For the
rest, repeat that think the information is
important for social, political and benevolent
and am sincere in desiring that it
may be obtained. l,...
Mr.. RusK-Sir, the information sought TO
be obtained is ofno earthly use. When il is
il amounts to nothing. II may be
used for the purposes of agitation; il may be
used in stump-oratory, TO awaken prejudice
i'm one section of the country against the 9th
er, but it is of no practical value. Indeed,
YOU can obtain no correct information on the
subject. 1t is of piece with the proceeding
Yesterday, when petition numerously signed
was presented, asking Congress to enrol the
slaves in the militia of the country. Now, is
this not irritating? What is il supposed will
be the consequence of enrolling them in the
militia, and putting arms into their hands,
and that, too, when prayer is put up by men
in authority here that civil war, serylle war |
shall come, rather than that Slavery shall be
extended into any other Territory.
will put one question TO the gentleman,
MIR. Seward,) and, if he will answer it
think he will reiute himself: Would he be
willing TO insert in tho Census Bill propo-
sition that, in New York, one of these inquis-
itorial census. takers should he authorized to
go into the houses and ask every woman |
how many children she has had and ask 9th
tr questions which may very well be conjec-
tured, but which my regard for decency, and |
other considerations, induce me to forbear
mentioning? Would he, when he chooses to
institute this inquisition, SO far as regards the
black population, 20 TO a mother and ask |
which would be regarded as indel-
icate ifput to any white woman? j ask, is
he willing 10 have the census-taker 20 round |
in his own State and ask every woman how |
many children she has had' And, Sir,
gentleman who regards all colors alike ought
not TO make the distinction. Why, he is per-
fectly Indifferent TO color. lie has as high
ofa black woman as he has OF |
white; he cannot object, then, TO put upon
the same level white and black, so far as this
inquiry is concerned