The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-29
NUMBER 3S.

IJ
allowed him to collect his witnessed and to at
tend the sessions of the court; and his claimant
is placed under bond and security, or is divested
OF the possession during the progress fthe trial
to ensure the enjoyment ofthese privileges; and
if there be any leaning on the part Of courts and
juries, it is always on the side of the claimant for
! freedom '.*.''' a. | ~" @''tt&" Il j. f.
sin Difference to the feelings and prejudices
which prevail in the non-slaveeolding States 1.-THE
committee propose such trial in the State from
which the fugitive fled, in all cases where he de-
clares to the officer giving the certificate for his
return that he has right to his freedom. Ac-
cordingly the committee have prepared, and re-
port herewith, (marked CO. two sections, which
they recommend should be incorporated in the
fugitive bill pending in the Senate According
to these sections, the claimant is placed under
bond, and required to return the fugitive to that
county in the State from which he fled, and
there to take him before a competent tribunal,
and allow him to assert and establish his free
dom, if he can, affordng to him for that purpose
all needful facilities
"The committee indulge the hope, that if the
fugitive bill with the proposed amendments shall
be passed by Congress, it will be effectua to Sc
cure the recovery of all fugitives from service or
labor, and that it will remove all causes Of COM
plant which have hitherto been experienced on
that irritating subject. But if in its practical op-
Grafton it shall be found insufficient and if no
adequate remedy can be devised for the restora-
ton to their owners offugitive slaves, those own
crs will have Just title to indemnity out of the
Treasury of the United States. '- '' . "'
sit remains to report upon the resolutions in
relation to slavery and the slave trade in the
District of Columbia Without, discussing the
power of Congress to abolish slavery within the
District, in regard to which diversity Of opin-
ion exists, the committee are of opinion that it
ought not to be abolished. 1t could not be done
without indispensable conditions, which are not
likely to be agreed to. 1t could not be done
without exciting great apprehension and alarm
in the slave States. If the power were excised
within this District, they would apprehend that,
under some pretext or another, it might be here
after attempted to be exercised within the slave
holding States. 1t is true that at present all
such power is almost unanimously disavowed
and disclaimed in the free States But expert
ence in public affairs has too often shown that
where there is desire to do particular thing,
the power to accomplish it, sooner or later, will
be found or assumed. ST..
"Nor does the number of slaves within the
District make the abolition of slavery an object
OF any such consequence as appears to be attach
ed to 1t in some parts of the Union. Since the
retrocession of Alexandra county to Virginia, on
the South side of the Potomac, the District now
consists only of Washington county, on the
North side of this river; and the returns of the
decennary enumeration of the people ofthe Uni
ted States, show rapidly progressive decrease
IN the number of slaves in Washington county.
| According to the census of 1890, the number
was 4, 4,505; and in 1910 1t was reduced to 1890:
showing reduction in ten years of nearly one
third lfit should continue in the same ratio,
the number, according to the census now about
10 be taken, will be only little upwards of two
thousand. '.ar /. ~ ). 7s
"But majority of the committee think differ
emily In regard to the slave trade within the dis
trict. By that trade is meant the introduction
OF slaves from adjacent States into the district
for sale, or to be placed in depo for the purpose
OF subsequent sale or transportation to other and
different markets. That trade, majority of the
committee are ofthe opinion, ought to be abol.
f lshed. Complaints have always existed against
it, no less on the part of members of Congress
from the South, than the part of members
from the North. Itis a trade sometimes exhib-
iting revolving spectacles, and one in which the
people of the District have no interest, but, on
the contrary, are believed to be desirous that
it should be discontinued. Most, if not all, of
the slaveholding States have, either in their con-
stitutions or by penal enactments, prohibited a
trade in slaves merchandise within their re-
spective jurisdictions. Congress, standing in
regard to the people ofthis District on this sub
ject in relation similar to that of the State Leg.
islatures to the people of the States, may safely
follow the example of the States. The commit
tee have prepared, and herewith report a bill for
the abolition Of that trade, (marked d. the pas
sage ofwhich they recommend to the Senate. -
i This bill has been framed after the model OF
Il what the law of Maryland was when the Gen
eral Government was removed to Washington
ssThe views and recommendations contained
in this report may be recapitulated in few
words 5l yaaH W. ..gftfsf aal,t.. oas YtEofu1af
i "The admission of any new State or States
formed out of Texas to be postponed until they
shall hereafter present themselves to be rccelv.
ed into the Union, when it will be the duty OF
:. Congress fairly and faithfully to execute the
compact with Texas by admitting such new
State or States.
as.2.. The admission forthwith Of California in
: to the Union with the boundaries she has propo.
d sedra@ 5ify g s4ta5h Ill to suauia.ss54a .s..,3u
s3. The establishment of territorial govern.
ments without the Wilmot proviso, for New
recently acquired by pthe United States from
| Mexico, not contained in the boundaries of Cal
i ifornia tt,si.s,.s ,,.-
"a. The combination of these two last-men.
toned measures in the same bill. - e4JffE
Il KS. The establishment ofthe western and nor
thern boundary of Texas, and the exclusion
from her jurisdiction of all New Mexico, with
the grant to Texas of pecuniary equivalent;
and the section for that purpose to be included
IN the Dill aQmttlng Sall1Ornla, ana establishing
4 territorial governments for Utah and New Mex
II leo. 4d 2} ,a1-12Aq&t 81 1fts 2f sjsttf "a isR
Il &c More effectnal enactments of law to se-
cure the prompt delivery OF persons bound to
service or labor in one Siate,l under the laws
n thereof, who escape into another State. ils1s
VI "And, 4. Abstaining from abolshing slavery;
but under heavy penalty, prohibiting the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia. ~ I #sa ~
\ ..If such Of these several measures as require
Legislation should be carried out by suitable acts
Of Congress, all controversies to which our late
: territorial acquisitions have given rise, and all
existing questions connected with the institution
Of slavery, whether resulting from those acquisi
tons, or from its existence in the States and the
Z District Of Columbia, will be amicably settled
and adjusted, in a manner, tits confdenty be.
lieyed, to give general satisfaction to an oyer.
whclming majority Of the people Of the United
n States Congress viii have fulfilled it, whole
duty in regard to the vast country which, havinI
], been, cededby Mexico to the Unit1 States, haa
Y fallen under their dominion. Nll have cx
tended TO II protection, provided Yor lts severa
parts tle 'inestmable blessing Of free andrcgulsl
: government adapted 70 their vefi6us wants, ant
! nlaced the tstrfr tsfider fhn banner and na0 O