The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-04
m e UNION.

for the present at least will stop debate. may state
very briefly that opposed this bill 10 the COMMITTEES Of
Thirteen, and shall oppose II IN every stage of us pro
gress And my object now is not 10 debate the bill. but
10 suggest whether under all the circumstances Is not
better thai the bill should not be disposed OF al this time
IS now late IA The session very large portion oil TINS
sesslon--sone seven eight monlhs-has been taken
up almost exclusively BY the debate OF tins slave ques.
lion respectfully suggest the Senate, then, whether
tits not lime nowwheiher the country does not expect
that in the small remnant OF the session we shall do
something OF the ordinary business OF the country
We cannot stay here always. We have done next
TO nothing as yet We have never taken up the cal
endar regularly; We have been absorbed during the
Whole session 4y ,hs question o. slavery Is evil
will be debated, all the other bills have been, indef
nltelyperhaps montbfor II opens the whole question
upon single point OF This debate OF this agtatng ques
lion without opening the whole again. II does seem 10
me that as there Is no urgency upon this question even
admitting that II may be desirable proper time,
should have a recess of few months
have not been made sensible oil the enormty OF these
slave depots which are spoken OIL have been here
heard SAID IN Congress- should not this moment have
been conscious that there slave depot in the Dis.
trict of Columbia have never seen slave manacled
here-never heard OF his being brought mere Tor sale
heard oil any OF these things except upon the floor
of Congress Oh the thousands OF people that here
venture say that one in thousand would have
been conscious OF H. except for what is said here There
| is no urgency for This do not believe
that ought TO be pressed but if should be done, there
ed now, those from the southern States who differ IN
opinion from those who desire this thing must
rly go and show that the habit OF keeping slaves here
is not monsrous as il is represented TO be; but, on
the contrary that necessary and indispensable at
tendant upon the OF slavery itself and that you
ought not to intermediate with i, unless you 60 one step
fufher and abolish slavery here altogether These
questions necessarily involved IN this NATTER and must
produce very long, excited and agtating discussion
submit, therefore, the Senate whether have not
duty to the country to perform nowwhether we ought
under all the circumstances, to proceed to other
busmessi But, Mr. President even II that were not the
if be proper 10 go al this session OF Congress
with this slave questions if il be proper that nothing else
should be done, nothing else discussed bat this eter
nal slave question, submit again whether, snpposng
that be the case, The Senate has not done It's part
whether is not the dictate OF wisdom and prudence to
wait the action OF the other branch OF Congress- the other
branches OF the government in what has been already
done by the Senate before go into other measures
that may result in mischief think we have done
large portion Of this business Tor the settlement OF the
slave question We have done enough of il until
what will be done elsewhere; and cannot be expected
OF to proceed further although may be proper to do
So Therefore, Mr. President, seeing the necessity Of
this measure, doubling the propriety of the Senate IN adj
oil every other branch OF the government pressing
upon this subject at this particular time in con-
sdera,on OF the great injury that may result from another
potracted debate this question OF slavery and TO
gain little time also for other subjects. would submit
the motion TO lay upon the table but that has been
fused be adopted once, do not propose 10 do il now
But order to gain time for the transaction OF
other business, will move 10 postpone this bill to some
particular day-pehaps this day week will do as well
!
do, what before and can then see how we can
get in the ordinary business. 1t is certainly great
object that should do something OF that business
This bill can be taken up next week. or two weeks hence
well now, if il becomes ndispensaby necessary 10
do think ihere time now for doing great deal OF
the ordinary business move to postpone tue further
consideration Of this bill 10 this day week
MIR. CLAY. have only one or two words to say.
think many OF the arguments of the senator from Louis
that we have had this bill before IS for six months So
have-the whole of that time, the greater portion OF
IT. Ii has been considered and debated and we are now
ready to act upon it, With regard debate far de-
Ponds upon me, ready TO take the question upon
amendment after amendment without word, and let the
act be faay disposed Of But with regard TO what may
be done another branch OF the government think the
Senate il TO itself and the country TO do its duty,
and its whole duty, and leave TO the other branch TO
consider whether VIII do It's duty OF not inns Is the
last of series OF measures looking to the restora
ton OF harmony and concord, and hope that will not
be delayed, but finally acted upon ask the yeas and
nays upon the question oil postponemen.
The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. FooTE am opposed to the postponement oil This
measure, am satisfied that II - our duty TO act upon
pared act upon this subject that would be
likely 10 be satisfactory and constituents here
after. Sir, have looked upon all the power proposed to
be exercised in this amendment oil NINE, and m the bill
reported by the Committee OF Thir,eenor all OF whose
abors entertain the most profound respect-as nothing
than police authority, such police authority as must
be exercised within the limits of this District have
10 the conclusion that II should be embraced IN this
bill in all its branches, else those who nhabt this DIS
TlCt tntlf most
TO that if the honorable senator from louis
iana-with whoa am always delighted 10 concur, and
from whom | dissent always with pain-bad examined
the amendment which have had the honor TO introduce
he would not have introduced this motion OF his TO post
pone action upon this subject for week two must
think that that honorable gentleman will like myself II he
will duly consult his judgment about this matter perceive
the necesstythe propriety, at leasof our giving the
corporate authorities OF Georgetown and Washington as
police reg ulaop for their safety and security
the right control and regulate the ngres and eess OF
persons OF color whether these persons OF color are the
subjects OF slavery not IL is supposed that these cor
potato authorities have not that power and IL IS pro-
posed by this bill TO besow such power upon them
Those who reside here the competent, certainly
understand their local interests. They feel the
pressure OF the evils here existing and operating upon
Them They comprehend the whole form and pressure OF
every local evil they thus subjected to
We possibly be better prepared than we are 10
administer the proper remedy for this evil The people
OF District cednly desire some legislation upon this
subject have no doubt that they would be satisfied
with the bill OF the Committee OF Thlrteen but have
come the conclusion upon very thorough examination
which have given the subject during the last three
-four weeks, since we have had opportunity OF alb
stractng ourselves from higher matters, that both their
good the good OF the country would be promoted by
some such provision that which have had the honor
to introduce this morning will say 10 my honorable
friend from Kentucky, [Mr CLAY,l whom have deemed
il my duty have considered my great privilege, to
consult that have also consulted with the OF w ash
ineton this morning He is very nie gent gentleman
and find that he approves entirely, oris ready TO approve
of such bill as this amendment would become, should
we give 1t our legislative sanction; and he believes that
such bill would be entirely satisfactory 10 the people OF
this District, and that il would contribute effeciuay to
| the promotion of the local interest here