The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-24
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, January %, 1850.
SENATE.

feutlons, OF private Character, were presented
BY Messrs. ConwIS, DIcKIssos, YuLEr, WALKER,
BOWS, WHTcoMB, MAseum, CHASE, BENTON,
and CAss
Memorable, praying indemnity for spoliations by
the French, were presented by Messrs GREENE,
CooPER, CHASE, and PEARcE.
=. Papers, ON. file, were allowed TO be Withdrawn,
and referred to appropriate committees, on mo-
ton by Messrs. YULEE, DfcKINsoN, Downs, and
RusK.
Mr.. WALKER presented petition from citizens
of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, praying that Congress
may establish some mode of settling disputes be-
tween nations 50 as TO dispense with the necessity
Of war
MIR. CHASE presented a petition from a society
Of Friends, praying the abolition, by Congress, Of
the army and navy, Of the Military Academy at
West Point, and that all national disputes be re-
ferred To arbitration. i f9th
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
IL Mr.. BRADBURY, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported back, without amendment, a
bill 70 establish an additional term Of the United
States district court for Illinois, at Chicago; and
bill to divide the State of Arkansas into two judi
cial districts, with recommendation that they be
passed.
Mr.. KING, from the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, to whom had been referred petition from
Messrs. Tochman and Waukowicz, attorneys for
the heirs Of Kosciusko asked to be discharged from
the consideration thereof and that it be referred
the Secretary Of State.
HOME DEPARTMENT.
N, Cc,
bill to repeal SO much Of the act of March g. lS49
refers to the establishment of the Department of
the Interior. Read twice, and referred to the Com
mittce on Finance, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. HUNTER also introduced q bill to establish
a Board of Accounts.
Mr.. CLAY submitted the following resolution:
Rssolped That the Joint Committee ON the Lii
brary of the Senate and House of Representatives
be authorized and directed to purchase the manu-
script of the farewell address TO the people of the
United States, Of George Washington, if the pur-
chase of it can be effected Just and fair terms in
the opinion of the committee.
ton:
Resolred, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to inquire into the expedicncy of a-
thorzing the circuit and district courts of Missouri
of procedure those used in the courts of the State
as prescribed by law.
sLAvERY-vERMoNT RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. PHELPS moved, and the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the notion print the
lutions of the State of Vermont relative to the sub
ject of slavery.
Mr.. p. considered, after what had been said on
this subject, he was called upon to vindicate the
resolutions of his State. The subject of slavery had
never been introduced as topic of debate by him.
It had been always resisted by him in every posi-
BILE mode. But the question had been forced upon
the country as the natural consequence of certain
measures which, foreseeing the difficulties he had
resisted and opposed. These measures were those
OF terrtoral extenslon territorial
and foreign conquest He had opposed those mea-
sures, foreseeing they would lead to the endanger-
ing Of the Union. What he then thought had been
verified, and this question Of slavery had followed
those measures 1t could not now be avoided. He
had made professions, the other day of sincerity in
saying that he wished not TO agtate this question
Those professions had been doubted II desired, he
could point as evidence of his sincerity to his
support Of the Clayton bill. wherefor he had been
denounced by some of his friends of the North had
he been DESTROYS Of seeking popularity, he would
have thrown himself into the body of his northern
friends, and denounced the bill But he, believing
that that bill was the measure most calculated to
settle the subject for ever, had rsked all hopes Of
popularity at home, and voted for that bill. He
GREETED now that the bill had not passed, and be-
Heved that the people of the country would all
regret that it had not been passed. The subject
had come to them uninvited and unwelcomed; but
it must be considered. The resolutions had been
denounced, and the vocabulary of dcnunciaton
had been exhausted by the Senators from the
South The resolutions did not deserve this vitupc-
ration. They pronounced slavery evil on
the body polite; and who denied it3 They also
declared slavery only excused by the trainers
of the Constitution in spirit of compromise This
had been termed as language insulting to the
South, where slavery existed. No one pretended
to charge the owners Of slaves at the present day.
with being in any way responsible for the sin or
crime OF slavery. IL was wholly chargcablc upon
those who first introduced it.. Those who came
upon the stage of life finding this institution in ex-
stence would not be held responsible orit When he
had expressed the other day. that these resolutions
contained the sentiments of the whole civilized
world, he bad not spoken without being prepared to
maintain its truth. IL the sentiment Of the whole
civilized world, that slavery a sin--a crime.
Was therea single spot in the civilized world where
this institution did not exist where the people de-
sired to introduce III Did not every people, once
being rid of the institution desire to be forever re-
leased from III Great Britain had long since
abolished IL. The first act of the French republic
was 70 deInolish It at single blow; and those
countries now regarded il a crime. Slavery
held to be a sin and crime by the best the
wisest, and the greatest men Of the Union both nj
the North and South. Thomas jefferson, the great
patriot statesman and philosopher, declared slave
subject, he declared slavery to be great political
and moral evil, and trusted that the minds Of the
people Of the State of Virginia would soon be
hghtened to an universal emancipation. In an
other place Mr. Jefferson, speaking Of slavery, said
he "trcmbled for my country when reflect that
God is just" Why tremble for his country, il
slavery be no sin, no crimel
The action OF Congress In relation to the prohibit
ton Of tho importation of slaves, and the slave
trade, was cited ms evidence that Congress always
looked upon slavery as a sin and as crime. II
not, why was the slave trade made piracy, and
punishable with death9 In the very act providing
this penalty for practising the slave trade, slavery
was pronounced a crime, The people Of the North
now entertained the very identical sentiments ex-
pressed IN the acts OF Congress, and the sentiments
Of the southern patriot and statesman, Thomas JEFF
because entertained at tie North, fanaticism.
The second resolution Of the State of Vermont de-
clared that slavery was restrained, by the Const-
tuition, 10 those States where il existed when the
Constitution was adopted Upon this resolution
there bad been placed construction that the Lee
gislaturc of Vermont intended TO assert that Con-
gross had the power 10 interfere with slavery In all
The new States, The resolution perhaps had not
been very sklfully drawn; but no such doctrine
was contained in IL. The Senator from Arkan-
sas had thus construed the resolution, and chal-
lenged the North to argument upon the propo-
sition. All he had 20 say was, that he knew that
such n construction Of the resolution was unjust;
and, while he admitted that such doctrine was
indefeplbe, he answered the Senator from Arkan-
sas that he would not argue the point with him.
He conceded Congress bad no such power.
He maintained that Congress had the power of
logslating ON the subject Of slavery in the District
Of Columbia and in the Territories The power of
Congress on this point be considered beyond a
doubt. And IL the doctrine lately advanced in the
Senate we're correct, he knew no term 10 apply TO
the situation of the Territories. II Congress had
no power of control over them, and the United
States had only claim 10 the land, and not over
the inhabitants, he know but one term applicable
TO their condition, and that was they we're adrit.
He had heard much upon the subject Of encroach-
ments by the North upon the South In what were
these encroachinents declared 70 existl The at
tempt TO exclude slavery from the Territories was
considered an epcroachment upon the Sotuh. Who
was the author OF this exclusion Of slavery Thomas