The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-19
CON GREs SION AL,
IN SENATE.


Mr.. HAMLlN, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported back to the Senate, the bill pro-
yiding for the free navigation Of the ST. Lawrence
and for reciprocal Interchange Of domestic pro-
ducts between the United States and Canada.
wILmor rRoyIso ron THE TERRITORIES.
Mr.. CHASE, in pursuance Of notice heretofore
given, asked leave TO introduce bill for the pro-
hibtion of slavery in the territories of the United
States, New Mexico and Utah.)
MIR. CLAY objected TO giving the leave to in
troduce this bill. He hoped the Senate would set
its face against all further attempts to disturb the
peace of the country, or to violate the principles
upon which the measures of adjustment had been
SO happily effected. He asked for the ayes and
nays the question Of leave TO introduce The bill
MIR. CASS concurred in the sentiments of the
senator from Kentucky. Ii was the yainest and
most futile thing in the world TO attempt to revive
agitation upon such an expedient as this. Ii was
impossible to make platform upon this last plank
Ia plank SO frail and slender. He moved to lay
the question of reception upon the table.
Mr.. CHASE ntimatlng hereafter, his purpose
to introduce his bill, Withdrew it for the present
But he should introduce it at some other time.
RIGHTS SLAVE PROPERTY IN THIS DISTRICT.
Mr.. PRATT moved to take up his bill provid-
ing for the protection Of slave property in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr.. HALE objected He believed with MIR.
CLAY, that all the measures intended for the ad Just
ment of the slavery question had been settled; and
he was opposed to any fu,ther agitation upon this
bill at this time. He was opposed to any further
aggressive Legislation upon the interests Of free
dom for the support of slavery.
Mr. CLAY. This bill is simply intended to
prevent aggression upon the rights of slavehoid-
ers to their slave property in this District. Ii is
properly part of the general system Of compro-
mise.
Mr.. CHASE was disposed to regret that he had
not insisted upon the question upon the introduce
ton Of his bill. He regretted to that there
much willingness TO protect the interests OF sla-
yeryin this District land little forthe preservation
of freedom in the territories. The senator from
KY, tells this bill for the protection of slavery
In part of the general plan Of adjustment. If
this is so, the fact has been recently disclosed 1t
constituted no part of the report Of the Committee
of Thirteen.
Mr.. PRATT called to order.
Mr.. CHASE said he was only following the
commentary ofthe senator from Kentucky. That
senator says the questions relating to the terrltos
ries have been settled We will admit that Cali
fornia is settled; that the Texas boundary is set
tied but the question of slavery in the territories
is not settled. That question has yet to be settled
The Chair called to order. I.
E Mr.. CLAY explained the question, and the
propriety of taking up the bill, Notwithstanding
the objections of the senator from New Hamp-
shire.
Mr.. HALE remarked that the senator from
Kentucky had objected to giving leave to the sem
ator from Ohio to introduce bill: and if my OBJ
lection to the taking up Of this slavery bill is an
offence, the objection of the senator from Ken
lucky so unusual in this body, is sca,,dalum mag
nahum. CLaughter.)
o., ~ ,las ,nI1an M dat;,Ied y -,
- go '"' - Nf' Ne's's'.
"A bill 10 prevent The eniicng a,ray, The assisting
Of Slaves 10 escape from their nsters i The
District Of Columbia, and for other purposes.
THE hill proyides
rs Thai anv free nerson in This District. who
shall he guiltv of epioing. assisting or abettipe
tho ascane NJ n slave from this District or who
sh s I' he eniItv Of harborine slave with view
m his esrape from service due his owner, such
person shall be Subject to Pententiary imprison-
Tha, ,nv free nerxo, who shall have a..
se.,,red The escs ne az slave mr. in anv wav
:aa =, L. s,cb nerson snail no sbe;,
-, s,'a aoaI ~ ,5e value of sucb slave 30 90.
.;. .'''1 .lTS7
rsg ~,
.. me CofPo.auoue ~ on aiu
ueofSe'oWu, anu 'ie ,eNy Gu't ~ .,.'o .vo'sy
are empoWelru 70 mani ponsI a 20, ,h;s
me incoming VI i,ee eoof.u Po:sos IVY ..,,a
District' ana 10 oraer gu. % te Clsilo' SUN PEI
sons hereafter coming il.o snns alu VII
power W impose ii'i1 VI s:oo, ~ ~.
Tor SIX months, OF poth' asans. lree coiorea Per,
sons, e'tnel o1n, ~, - IA .eu''ia,;aS "
To agree to strike out the third section relating TO
free colored persons. Let us not drive them away
until some place of refuge is provided for them.
II we drive them out now, where are thew to go
The spirit of the age, and the suggestions of hu
manitv REQUIRED that the condition of these peo-
pIe should be considered, in any law authorizing
their exclusion from this District.
Mr.. PRATT replied that the bill did not have
retrospective operation II only provided for the
expulsion of such free coored persons as might
hereafter come into this District, in violation Of
the local laws.
Mr.. CLAY. with this explanation, had no fur.
tber objections to the section.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.
M HALE a,nealed 70 the friends NJ the doc.
trna &c The 'ahnI;t;on If slaveru in This District
no, ,o,v there u-as a chance for them withou
,hat tho n,o,;on ;s {. ;nd;screet ), 81
&c ;ynev,sd;an, y hecausa sr 7 nronose N len ',
ont tba details entirely | move sir. 10 refer th
LII 80 ~ cn,r,;,as on The Ds,,;ct of C,olnnh;a
r,,,h ;nstr,ctn,s 70 renor, b for me aboI;tio,
"f !, his D;str;c, and ash for the ava