The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-03

orable occasion-the introduction OF Mr.,
GoTT's celebrated resolution into the
House of Representatives on the 2lst De-
cember, l848. That resolution is as fol-
lows:
Whereas the traffic now prosecuted in this me-
tropolis of the republic in human beings as chat
tells is contrary to natural justice and TO the FUN
damenta principles of our political system and ls
VIGOROUSLY reproach to our country throughout
chrisendom, and a serious hindrance to the pro-
grcss of republican liberty among the nations of
the earth-therefore,
| ssResolped That the Committee for the District Of
Columbia be instructed 10 report bill as soon ms
practicable prohibiting the slave trade in said Dis
| trct"
Mr.. Corr having offered the resolution,
moved at the same time the previous ques-
ton. Without intending any thing inju-
rious to that honorable gentleman, it is
proper to remark here, that he took the
step without much, if any, consultation
| with the members from the free States,
and certainly without the concurrence or
even knowledge of the leading and expe-
rienced members from that section. 1t
was perfectly obvious to all who had any
just appreciation of the existing state Of
things, that the resolution, or rather the pre-
amble, was precisely adapted to defeat the
| object which the honorable member had in
view. The preamble was unnecessarily Of
| fensive and acrimonious, and rendered fa-
vorable action on the subject morally i'm
possible. Itiscertain that large majority,
including many Just and liberal-minded
men from the slave States, were favorable
to the Introduction of the trade; or, in
other words, to an assimilation of the laws
of the District to the modern benefcent
Legislation of the adjoining States Of Ma
ryland and Virginia. This was proved
conclusively by subsequent events. Soon
thereafter the corporate authorities of this
city memorialized Congress on the sub
ect, with entire unanimity, and prayed
for such legislation. The memorial was
presented to the House by the gallant Ma
jor GAINES, of Kentucky-was referred to
the Committee on the District, which
soon, with great unanimity, reported a
bill to the effect above mentioned, in which
two, at least, of the Southern members
thereof concurred, TO wit, Major GAINES
and Governor BRowN, of Mississippi.
This bill took its place on the calendar,
and ultimately fell through for want of
time. There was then a proper DISPOSE
ton in the House to entertain the sub
ject the Northern members, with entire
unanimity, desired the exclusion OF the
trade, and many, if not most from the
South, were not indisposed to concur at
least to the extent of conforming to the
laws of Maryland or Virginia. But the
ill-advised preamble was adapted to in
volve the subject in a sectional quarrel,
and would, inevitably, call up opposition
from the South. Hence many of the men,
bers from the free States desired to get
rid of it; they were sincere friends of the
contemplated amelioration, and the great
difference between them and the agitators
consisted in this that the former desired
to carry the measure peaceably and with
the general, if not the universal, assent
of Congress and the latter only amidst
the violence and turmoil of sectional
contest.
Having thus explained the DISPOSE
ton of Congress and the state of the
question, we recur to the proceedings
which ensued on the introduction Of Mr..
GoTT's resolution After the proposition
had been submitted, and the previous
question demanded, Mr.. HARRISON moved
to lay the resolution on the table, which
failed by vote of 81 to IS; and then
came up what is called the previous ques.
tion-ShaH The main question be notc put 2
In this stage of the proceedings, the
Hon. Mr.. VINToN, of Ohio, ever distin-
guished for his moderation, arose and in
CURED Of the Chair whether the resolution
was open to amendment, and received
for answer that il would be if the previous
question was not sustained. He then ex-
pressed hope to the House that il would
not be, as he desired to amend the resolu-
ton by striking out the worse than useless
preamble.
The sense of the House was then Ia
ken on a call Of the yeas and nays, and
the main question was ordered to be
pot, by vote of l13 in the affirmative &c
! SO in the negative. Our readers canno
fail to be struck by this surprising change
, If the main question had been refused, W.
have seen that the effect would have beer
precisely the same as il the resolution ha'
been laid on the table. How came II
1 then, that the motion TO lay on the tabl'
: failed by only four majority, while tn
$ main question was ordered by no less thai
e fifty majority The mystery is soon solved