The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-13

and West-admtng as we all do perfect coincidence
OF opinion in reference to everything in the amendment
Mr.. CLAY was about to propose an amendment to
the amendment which think will meet the concurrence
OF the friends OF this measure; and ! think vote
something like unanimous as one obtained yesterday
on kindred subject will be given propose an amend
ment to the amendment Of the senator from Missouri az
follows:
Provided. That nothing the motion shall be construed
affirm the existence OF power In Congress over
the iour following POINTS,
l. The abolition Of slavery within the States
The suppression Of the slave trade between the States
dock ards, and navy-yards Of the United States,
The abolition OF slavery in the DistrcF Of Columbia
want 10 see the senators on all sides affirm that Con-
gress has power to abolish slavery in the States and
none to stop the slave trade; and when we come to
vote to alter the clause, propose amendment to
read "No to take into consideration what the fore
in Congress to abolish slavery in the States" SC.
Mr. CASS requested the honorable senator to with
draw his motion He had the same objection to i that
he had originally to the resolutions OF the senator.
They instructions to the committees and would
60 to the committee such They were mere. abstract
speculatons, and have nothing to do with the subject
MI MI. CLAY. Il struck me that the gentlemen who
voted against the instructions proposed by the senator
from Missouri Y would BE- placed in an embarrassing 20,
into consideration these subjects, i would be an mpca
ton of power the part OF Congress to act upon
i s aoGn e is bes me as
sire the amendment not to be urged, am willing to with
draw it
senator from Missouri will that his amendment that
is proposed not applicable to the matter There
instructions The proposition is to refer the reso
luons offered by the honorable from Kentucky
and Tennessee to select committee OF thirteen who
TO take into consideration the subjects OF which these res
outions treat, and those subjects alone There no
instructions that they should take anything else Al
though entirely with the honorable senator that
Congress has power whatever to treat upon the sub
ectmaer Of which his amendment treats, yet suppose
that there in this chamber who think that Con-
gress has the power cannot myself vote against IT, il
il is relevant to the subject II the honorable senator
wishes to give TO the country some assurance such he
by thus embarrassing the question. While think there
is decided impression with regard 10 the first two cases,
the others will lead to division The matter relating to
the District OF Columbia will lead to division. But the
matter not germane to the subject and think that the
Senate will find that these propositions will produce
essential result shall certainly give my vote in favor
of the whole of them understand them at the
time, think there will be some division in re-
gard to them Yet why send to the committee what we
believe and know is in violation OF the constitution of
the Uped States Yes, literally in violation of the con-
suiion OF the United States. The matter OF prohibiting
the slave trade between the States has been decided by
the highest judicial tribunal Of the land TO be unconstitu
tonal And with regard to the proposition TO prohibit
slavery in the dock and arsenals OF the United
States, have TO say that it is most useless PROPOSE
non There are no slaves n me Yards arsenals &c,
Iy, the exigencies OF the public service may require
think sir that under the circumstances can scarcely
be germane to the subject and strictly speakng is not in
Mr. BENTON. Mr. President, desire the Clerk to
strike out the word "instructIons and put in the word
in my amendment. have desire TO en-
barrass delay the action of the Senate. My object is
directly the reverse II is strictly in accordance with the
views that expressed in my remarks few days since,
that the votes OF the senators upon these matters would
60 further to quiet the country than anything in the
world besides when | stated that II was with view
of having the votes OF the Senate upon these points, for
Il II..s~
States that they have been alarmed without reason and
against reason that there is not the least foundation
for supposing that this Senate are going TO inter-
ere with that subject, about which they have been so
unusty alarmed that there is no necessity for any CON-
mee to mature schemes, to make contrvances TO
hatch anything for the matter IL in the power Of this
Senate 10 silence at and forever this agitation in the
country What is that agitation abouli II is the abo
ton OF slavery in the States in the forts and arsenals
which in the bosom OF the States as TO make asy
lums for runaway slaves IN their midst; the abolition oil
the slave trade between the States the abolition OF sa
very and the slave trade in the District OF Columbia
which is said to be the entering wedge to LET in the rest OF
these know that the country is alarmed and
useessly alarmed but they none the less alarmed
from the fact that they have ground for their fears
have good and staunch men as there are upon
Gods earth laborng under the most serious alarm about
the matter, and actually when they talk upon the subject
become nervous, under the belief that Congress going
to abolish slavery in the States endesyored TO show
that the legislation OF Congress for the last sixty years
shows the total absence OF any such intention; that they
would not exert the powers that they might strictly
have, which might annoy and disturb the feelings OF the
States Ii has been my intention from the beginning 10
obtain vote from this body upon the four points that
alarm the country The senator from Alabama thinks
that there may be lie embarrassment in voting upon
this question Of power But merely the fact that Con-
gress will not authorize this committee TO act upon these
subjects is a great deal.
Mr. President | rejoiced yesterday when saw the
senator from Kentucky come forward and made the ex
traordnary moton-bu justified by the circumstances OF
the caseto reject the measure imbodied in petition
reoiced, because the motion made implied not only
that the ought not to receive parliamentary ac
on but rebukes it improper thing. That motion
was strong test and do hope that the same motion
will be made upon Of each class OF petitions that
come here to annoy One motion Of the same kind
which the motion taken yesterday in open Senate,
will have influence upon the public mind than all
your arrangements. That Is precisely what wish TO
effect in this way.
When this matter goes the committee with the name
Of compromise il is thought by the people that it will
inch there, till at last something is arrived atagreed TO
by both sides. The idea is, that there is result pro-
duced by giving and taking How different is IL, when
senator in his placestands in his place here
aior, and speaks at once, when his name is called,
from his heart-lays his heart bare before the peo
pie, and lets them what is his opinion upon
the maiterwhen he is not giving taking anything,
is not leading anybody, nor is led by anybody
This IS what was done yesterday, and | reloiced at
IT, Now II Is my design TO have vote upon each of the
four great subjects which agiiate the country have
paid some attention TO these matters, and know
thing about them with regard the abolition OF slavery
within the ground granted the United States for naval
upon these subjects at ALL This power over these places
given in the clause Of the constitution that gives
them jurisdiction the District OF Coumbia butt do
not ecollect that Congress has exercised this power in