The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-07-18
Slave Trade In the District.

:
to the District as merchandise, reported by the |
committee on the District of Columbia, of |
which he was member
Mr.. BROWN, of Mississippi, as a member of |
the committee on the District of Columbia,
desired to say word with reference to his own
position with regard to the introduction Of
this bill. The bill tUdS almost literal tram
script of aohat aoaS the lap of The State of Mis-
sissippi from The year 1897 down to a period
within some three or four years past, with one
material alteration, namely, a prohibition
against any citizen going beyond the bounda-
ries of the District and buying a slave for his
own use within the District. The law of the
State of Mississippi, to which he referred, was
founded upon a provision of the constitution
of that State which grew ont of apprehensions
(whether wellfounded or not) of servile nsur-
rectons in the minds Of the trainers of that
constitution. The provision was at all events
incorporated into the constitution, and The act
IN pursuance thereof, 10 a0hich he had referred,
0laS drdtcn by his oton hand as member Of The
Mississippi Legislature. In his capacity as a
member of the committee on the District Of Co
Iumbia he had pointed to that lalo as containing
suitable provisions TO be incorporated into the bill
,chich they uere 10 report The lao icdS accep-
table 10 the committee; and lcith The material al
teraton 10 achich he had referred, ii acas copied
and reported 10 the House.
A word in regard to his own position. He
had aIa0ayS believed that, in his representative
character upon that floor, he loaS called upon TO
represent the expressed eiH and ioisheS Of the
people of the District Of Columbia, having at
the same time, due regard TO the rights of the
people of the several States, and to the restric-
| tions of the Constitution of the United States.
| If the people of the District Of Columbia pc
titioned for any object which might be granted
without violation of the Constitution, or in
! frigment of the rights of other citizens Of the
United States, he was bound to support their
petition; and it ought to be granted. He felt
that he should no more claim for himself the
right 10 represent the people of the District Of
Columbia, IN accordance aoith The DiSheS Of the
people Of the Fourth Congressional District Of
Mississippi than that the gentleman from Ohio,
| Mr.. GIDDMGs,] should claim 10 represent them
IN accordance Nth the aoishes Of has constituents
He was willing to meet gentlemen here on
common ground, and claim no more for his
particular section than he was willing to accord
to every other section of the country. The
District of Columbia was no gladiatoriai re-
gion, where opposing parties were to meet IN
conflict. This was neutral ground, where the
wishes Of the people should be fairly repre-
sented, having respect always to the rights oi
others and to the Constitution. He did not
believe that the strong party in Congress hac
any right to pass any law for the District
without respect to the wishes of the people o.
the District, and without reference to the Con
stitution and rights of the people outside oi
the District; but that in all this brunch of thei
public charge, they should have an eye strictly
to the Constitution, and TO the rights of tht
whole people. Such was his policy, and woult
continue to be so long as he remained repre-
sentative on that floor He should neuer loo
TO the Stae Of Mississippi for the sole rule Q
his conduct IN ttiS department Of has duty. Fol
if gentlemen were to look to the wishes 0
their constituents in these cases, it would no
/ be long before we should have laws for th
| District of Columbia framed in obedience t
I the wishes of the people of New England, 0
: the great West, and having no regard TO tn
! wishes of the people here. He wanted n
such thing.
f In acting upon petition from the people Q
: this District, his first object was tonquire hol
far he might 90, and still remain within the lin
E its of the Constitutions? and then how far b
: might 90 without infringing upon the deed {
cession by, which the District was acquire
, from the States of Mrryland and Virgini;
? These limits being ascertained, he should
{ prepared TO 90 for any law desired By the PEI
: pie of the District, which did not require thes
r fixed limits to be transcended. If gentleme
; from New England, New York, and elsewhel
were prepared to act upon this rule, he W;
5 prepared to 60 with them. He was glad TIL
t the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. TAYLOR hi
o introduced the authority of late venerab
representative from Massachusetts, Mr., Jol
e Quincy Adams, in support of the principl
S that the people of the District of Columb
e were not to be represented according to Il
d views and wishes of the people residing els
d where in the United States. IF his oicn rie:
did not happen to accord erGctLy acih those Of
people here petitoning, ii aoas has duty 10 confor
il has uiencs to heirS; and this lcGS nlanyeStLy
n o1alu right rule upon ,chich these people could
e represented. He appealed, therefore, to /
d friends, the southern delegation, to do VIII
d was right upon this question, while he ask
) only the same thing of gentlemen from 7
i North He thought gentlemen on all. sid
/ might shape their conduct according TO the ru
s he had laid down, doing no injustice to Z
n District, and giving no just ground ofcomplal
to the States north or South.
81 The people of this District, IKE erery OH
't people, had the right to be represented Gf tn
'r were represented at alp according to their o.
n uieos and aoistes, and notaccordng to the yie'
g of the people residing elsewhere in the Unit
is States. They had no right to ask, nor b
le Congress the right to grant, laws for their bs
1T eft which would outrage the rights of othe
whether citizens of the State of Virginia, y
i ryland, or any other State. He should alwa
e expect every gentleman who desired to prot'
~ the rights of the people, whether citizens
=, Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columt
i to vote against the abolition of slavery he
n for such a policy would make Of the Distr
a nothing but receptacle for all the free negro
: in the country. He could moi go into the qlt
tion of the constitutional poaeer Of Congress
to abolish slauery here acds IN no lcGy iaroii
" IN the biz But he would take occasion to s.
IS he had never conceded the power; and it
as had, there were abundant reasons without
as Constitution to determine his vote against su
a measure. N
One word with reference to the eompla
II made as to gentlemen voting here contrary
e, their own convictions of right, because of
" fear Of their constituents. He knew not h'
'e it was with the gentlemen from New York, !
le when such charge was made against him,
reply was, that he was not afraid to give a
3 L I !, III