Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-28

he must take it without asking Senator's on the one
side or on the other to repudiate their liked and depe
ate opinions; il he does not want compromise tneil
let him insist that one class of Senators shall surrender
the opinions which they hold to the other class 1f'
thought that the committee were on that suoees DIS nap
py they could be. The report nelther arffns nor
denies the mower of Congress to abolish slavery Wtnn
the District of Columbia. 1t says that 1t ought not TO
be done and be who thinks it ought not to be done
upon constitutional grounds, ought to be satisfied !;
and he who thinks it may be done eonsttutlonay, but
who believes that ought not to be done from consd
eratons ofexpedency or kindness, fraterna regard
towards other portions OF the country ought also to be
satisfied. Thus by neither affirming nor denying the
pow but by asserting that the power ought not to be
exercised sayit is compromise with which all ought
| think to be perfectly satisfied. Does the honorable
Senator expect that my learned friend IN my eye,
(Mr Webster0 who has no doubt about the power
will give up that opinion? Does he expect that he
will renounce his deliberate, well considered andiwell
formed opinions which he has entertained for years
Does the South expect succeed in any such demand
as that? Will the Senator from Louisiana demand
it? II he does he demands that there shall be no
compromise no settlement of the questions which are
now agitating the country
But sir the honorable Senator has misconceived the
bill for abolishing the slave trade which the committee
have reported. This bill is adoption of the law
of Mary land. will here mention a fact which shows
how wrong it is TO PREJUDICE thing. An honorable
friend Of NINE, in my eye, has suggested that the object
can be accomplished in certain mode; and | should
like to know, from the Senator from Louisiana, whe
Their he thinks it atainabe and acceptable in that way
trct either for sale for being placed depot for sub
sequen transportation, arises out OF two laws which
were passed by Congress ITSELF in the year eigh-
teen hundred and two and the other years after
permitting it TO be done The Senator to whom have
referred observed to some time ago: "Mr. CLAW
you accomplish your object simply by repeating
these two laws, and by leaving the state of the law
where it was before Congress all owed by law the in
PRODUCTION OF slavery into this District" have not ex-
amlned the two acts of Congress; bat as | know the
Senator be familiar with the laws Of this district and
the laws OF Maryland, have no doubt that is right
Now, ifn,tead adopting the law OF Maryland, which,
other words, is the bill proposed by the committee
we had proposed simply to repeal these two acts OF
Congress, in virtue OF which alone slaves have been in
roduced into the District for the purpose of being trans
ported to New Orleans and elsewhere, would he think
it wrong would he think it unconstitutional! Would
he think it alarming to the rights ofthe people of
the South for Congress to repeal its own laws? Sir,
where there disposition to look at things with an
impartial and candid eye, and to look al all the inte-
rests OF all the parts lthe country and all thelopnions
and all the preudices if you will -four fellow citizens
shall be much more ikeyto arrive at satisfactory
and harmonious result than by attaching ourselves to
single position and viewing from that point every thing
and seeking to bring every thing to the standard of our
peculiar opinion, our own bed OF Procrustes
The Senator is mistaken in saying that resident of
the District cannot go out of the District and purchase
slave and bring him here for his USE.
Mr.. SoULE. feel assured that the honorable Senator
has misunderstood me. have merely stated that the
effect OF this section if understand it we'll will be to
preclude the Introduction into the District of any slave
for the purpose OF being sold il it for the pur-
pose of supplying the necessities OF those nhabpg the
District; and know that the honorable Senator will
do me the justice, looking at the section, to admit
that such will be its legal effect.
Mr.. CLAY. Well, what's the inconvenience ofit?-
slave cannot be brought within this place for sale and
to the distance of five miles and purchase one and bring
him here, not for sale, but for his use. The real
amount OF inconvenience then, is that resident within
the District will have to travel five miles to purchase
slave instead of the slave being brought here be sold
There is nothing whatever in the bill which prohibits
resident within the District from going out of the Dis
rct and purchasing slave for his use. The only
prohibition is, that slave be brought into the
District into market for sale, merchandise without
forfeiture But sir, Irepeat that by the repeal OF the
laws under which this done all difficulty might have
been obvated and so it will probably be- if the bill be
allowed to take Its usual course.
Nc part OF this compromise seems to receive the COM
mendation OF the Senatortrom Louisiana, to afford
him any solace satisfaction. He says that has been
conended by andby others, that the law of Mexico
abolished slavery and that it does not exist there by
law and is likely to be introduced there in point OF
fact cannot renounce that opinion. 1t is impossible
in my nature tor me to do SO. cannot disbeleve wha
believe But the honorable Senator has taken up tine
greater portion OF the time in which he has ably ant
eloquenlly addressed u.s. to prove-what? That tina
opinion of mine is incorrect. He has gone into an his
torical account OF the abolition OF slavery in Mexico
he has gone the negotiations which led to the con
cusion of the treaty OF Hdalg o; he has gone behne
the NEGOTIATIONS into the instructions pyen with repare
to the proposition of the Mexican commissioners for.
bidding the Introduction OF slavery into the ceded Ter
rores. He has into the Senate, and traced wha
has been done in this body in order to prove that even
here by the negative of proposition, moved believe
by Senator from Connecticut there was an implied
purpose the part OF Congress allow slavery OF ra
ther to recognise there Now cannot the Senator be
satisfied with his own view! lie thinks that slavery
abolished there. know that he is much more emf
nen lurlst than ever aspire to be- Why, then is
he not satisfied with his own opinion! Will he not in
spirit of liberal tolsration allow opposite opinion
to be entertaned But the objection to the measure is
that although this proposes to be settlement of all the
questions involved yet there is question which is left
unsettled that OF the e1 loci in regard to slavery in
these territories which ought to have been adjusted
Will he tell me how it could be settled? Will he OF
any body else tell me how it can be settled otherwise
than by the Supreme Court of the United States whe
her the law Of Mexico did or did not abolish slavery
within the limits OF those Territories That is wha
the committee proposes to do They have recommend
ed this plan the consideration of the Senate, and
the country, measure OF general compromise, which
would settle all the questions that were practicable
possible Tor legislation to settle The question which
the Senator supposes left unsettled can only be settle
by the Supreme Court OF the United States and Their
it is left.
Now, sir, it is little remarkable that the Senate
argued with such great ingenuity and great earnesness
that, according to the local law of Mexico slavery wa
not abolished that, according to the local law OF Mex
CO. there right on the part OF the Shareholder
carry his slaves there that according to that local law
and the constitution OF the United States, that RICH
exists does, ought not the Senator be satisfied
Why, | should suppose that 1t was all that he wanted
He says that the right to carry slaves there exists ano
that Congress has power to legslae on the subject
Of slavery way or the other. What then, does
he want He says that the ler loci admits the exis-
euce OF slavery Then has not the honorable Senator
! got precisely what he wants!
| Mr.. SoULE. The honorable Senator does me inius-
tice. expressly admitted that slavery was abolished
by the Mexican law never raised doubt upon that
question. Slavery has been abolished within the limits
OF Mexico by the constitutional power OF Mexico. SO
far that goes therefore, there be the shadow
of doubt in the mind of any one, that, if the Mexican
law prevails, slavery is already abolished and utterly
eradicated.
Mr.. CLAY l understood the Senator to be assailing
the opinion which entertained and expressed
Mr.. SouLE. certainly did not.
Mr.. CLAY. Be that as ii may the honorable Sena.
tor contends for that which is equivalent to the non
abolition Of slavery by the Mexican law-that the right
TO carry slaves into the ceded Territories was restored
by virtue OF the constitution of the United States.
Mr.. SoULE. That sit
Mr. CLAY. That, then, is what the Senator contend
United States, there is right the part of every