Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-14
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
SLAVE TRADE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1850.

The Senate having under consideration the bill suppress
the slave trade in the District Of Columbus
Mr. MASON moved strike out the fret and second
tons of the bill, follows:
Sec. 1. BE nenacted, sc. That from and after the
day of next, it shall not be lawful to bring into the
District Of Columbia any slave whatever for the purpose OF
being old for the purpose Of being placed depot TO be
subsequently transferred any other State place. to be sold
merchandise And any slave shall be brought into the
said District by its owner by the authority consent OF
its owner contrary to provisions OF this act such slave
shall thereupon become liberated and free.
Sec 3 find be further enacted That it shall and may be
lawful for each of the Corporations OF the cities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown from time to tme and as often as may
be necessary abae break up and abolish any depot
merchandise contrary the provisions OF this act by such
appropriate appear to either Of the sad
ratons exPedient and proper And the same power
shall be made within its urdictional limits to eabsha de-
pot place Of confinement for slaves INTO the SAID Dis
trct merchandise for sale, contrary to this act
Mr. MASON. Mr. President, am very DESTROYS Of vot
ing for the sections Of this bill which have been engaed
upon it, on the motion of the Senator from Maryland, Mr..
PEARcE) The amendments he offered now constitute the
fourth and fifth sections of the bill. In order TO effect my
object amend the bill by striking out the first two
sections which constitute the bill it reported by the
Committee of Thirteen.
wish to say few words, and but few, this subject
The sections which propose strike from the bill
those which intended in the language Of the day, to
abolish the slave trade and in the language under.
stood it, Of the Senator from Kentucky, mr. Clay to abo
h the foreign slave trade within the District Of Columbia
Apart from my opinions Of this NATTER under
mperous obligation against the bill if it should not be
the pleasure Of the Senate strike these sections because
the constituency which represent have through the General
Assembly Of Virginia, demonstrated in the strongest terms
against the passage Of any such measure as this. 1t
Mr. President, understood the Senator from Kentucky to
saw when this subject under consideration former
day. that but enacng, rather enacting within
the District of Columbia that which the law of Virginia
and Maryland respectively when the District coded by
ha TTp.foI thoS
tor correctly, take issue with him upon that proposition
There never law within the limits of the State of Vir-
gnia intended to effect by legislation what is intended to
effect BY this BILL And far am informed, having
looked the legislation Of Maryland there such
law within the limits Of the State Of Maryland
Sir it at time the policy of Virginia prohibit the
increase Of the slave population within her territory
policy which adopted in the spirit which Virginia then
entertained of preventing far practicable the increase
that population That policy she has since been obliged
change. Virginia, think among the earliest States
after the present constitution formed, which, in advance
Of the law Of the United States prohibiting the importation Of
slaves from abroad prohibited the importation within its limits
Of slaves Of that description. In 1892 passed the earliest
which find affecting this subject That law declared that
slaves which shall hereafter be brought into this Common
wealth and kept therein whole year together or so
long different times shall amount year, be Free.
The third section of the law of 1892 imposes fine Of $500
for importing slaves contrary to that act, and fine of 500
for buying selling slaves imported The fourth section
of that law, however, relieved from the penalties imposed by
it. all persons who removed into the State with the bona de
intention of becoming citizens and brought their slaves with
them. The policy Of this law in whatever
affect in slaves. II had such design, such
purpose 1t left slaves stand exactly where they had pre-
vousy stood, subject precisely to the that
other property subject Virginia did forbid her
citizens from dealing in them from confirming them from
treating them, far they represent property they would
any other property of any kind The prohibition against
bringing slaves into the State which intended prevent
the increase Of slaves within the State equally extended
buying and selling the slaves brought m after they
brought in. But that prohibition enacted part
general policy prevent the further increase of the slave po
puaon. They prohibited from bringing slaves the
State remain there, and equally prohibited from bringing
slaves into the State and selling them after they brought
in Bringing them into the State, buying and selling them
were all subjected to penalties.
In 1906 it found necessary, the part of the State
Virginia. because Of the increase of the free negro population
within the limits of the State while it retained the policy
the.prevous law far it intended prevent the in
Of the slave population, vary somewhat the policy
the State this matter. And passed which pro
vded that instead Of allowing slaves brought in TO become
Free they should be retained in slavery and sold by the
Of the poor for the benefit of the poor of the county
The penalties for buying and selling slaves brought in
~ to this act increased from 5000 to $780, By the
law evncive Of the necessary policy which devoved
upon her of preventing the increase Of free negroes in the
State the penalty for such importation changed de-
pving the offender Of bis property but retaining the subject
in slavery, and the tenth section provided that any slave
thereafter emancpated should leave the State within twelve
months or be again reduced to siate Of slavery.
Now, this first act 1892 the law Of Virginia in 1901
when portion of her limits coded to the General Gov
eminent The law Of 1892 law intended solely to pre-
the increase Of the slave population That law and the
law of 1906 remained the law Of Virginia until 1872 when
this whole policy changed in reference to the increase of
slaves the State Of Virginia In the year 1919 all the pro-
visions Of previous laws prohibiting the introduction Of slaves
into the State Of Virginia repealed and any slaves nigh,
be imported which born within the limits of the United
States, and which had been convicted Of crime Thus
the whole policy of the State Of Virginia in relation to this
subject changed. have sdduced this TO show un
dersand that there law in the State of Virginia,
and never was law in the State of Virginia, which in
tended strike that which the honorable Senator from
Kentucky considers the grievance to lie removed in the Dis
uc Of Columbathat of dealing 10 slaves merchandise
necessarily incident to the institution Of slavery
Sir, there provision of this bill which authorizes
the corporation of the cities Of Washington and George
town from time to ime and often may be necessary,
ito abae break up and abolish any depot place of conne
of slaves brought into the said District merchandise
contrary the provisions Of this act BY such appropriate
may appear either Of the adcoporations eIpe-
dent and proper"
Now things stand and understanding the law very much
expounded the other day by the honorable Senator
from Maryland Mr. PRArT slaves now be brought to
be sold within this District from nowhere except from the
State Of Maryland. And arm informed, upon inquiry,
that the fact is that within the last few years few slaves
brought into this District for sale, for the purpose OF
expectation, that the trade business which
engage n Of purchasing slaves for the purpose selling them
again. has dwnded down until has almost ceased to have
existence.
Mr.. President can condemn than do the pac-
ce which has been denounced here and elsewhere Of deal
ing In saves-purchasng them for the purpose Of selling
them again But such denuncaon should lie extended 10
those who participate in it. 1t cannot and ought not to be
o,tu Eoro M ire