New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-23
xxxrs. CONGRESS-. :. Second Session

<Ah<A1"s
SENATE. WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Jan. %.
Mr.. SEWARD presented two petitions for the re-
peal of the Fugitive Slave Law, and moved refer
ence. Motion to refer laid on the table.
Mr. YULEE, from the Naval Committee, report
ed back the Joint resolution allowing Naval Sur
geons while doing land service the same rations
ms Army Surgeons, and it was ordered to be en-
crossed;
Mr.. FooTF, from the Committee on Foreign Re.
lstons. reported bill to re0rganize the State De-
Mr. CLAY's resolution, directing inquiry into
more effectual measures to suppress the African
Slave Trade by preventing American vessels and
seamen engaging in the trade, and to refuse sea
letters to American vessels trading from Brazil
Jan ports to the Western coast OF Africa, was
taken up.
Mr.. HALE said that in the mornings paper ap-
peared the following article:
ITO crafty public Curiosity in regard to the
character Of the paper which it is understood is
being signed by many Members of Congress, we
have procured a copy for publication in our paper
of TO day. The undersigned members OF the
Thirty. first Congress of the United States, beev-
ing that renewal of sectional controversy upon
the subject of Slavery, would be both dan
gerous to the Union and destructive OF its
objects and seeing no mode by which such
controversy can be avoided except by strict
adherence to the settlement thereof, effected
by the Compromise acts passed at the last
tentiop 20 maintain said settlement invioate, and
10 resist all attempts to repeal or alter the acts
aforesaid unless by general consent of the friends
of the measure and to remedy such evils, If any, as
time and experience may develop; and, tor the
purpose of making this resolution effective, they
further declare that they will not support for
abe Office Of President, or Vice President, or oil
Senator or Representative in Congress, or as
member of the State Legislature, any man OF
whatever party, who is not known TO De opposed
= Al fnraC
and to the renewal In any form OF agitation upon
the subject of Slavery"
He ikir HALE did not know but those who vote
Tor the resolution may come within the ostraclsm
of this document, published to crafty public Gu;
riosity, though he thought public curiosity would
not be satisfied until the names OF the slgners were
also published. He would like TO know how this
subject was to be discussed without treadIng
on grounds forbidden by this publication
How was trade to be discussed when the article
traded in was not to be mentioned or alluded to-
II the duties on Iron was the subject Tor discus
sion it would be strange il the article Iron was
not TO be named. How could the Slave trade be
discussed without abiding to Slavery, and il Sla.
very be discussed, will not the agitation be re-
newed and all taking part IN It be liable to the os
fracsm OF the document He had little fear of any
such thing, however, and would say what he de-
sired oil the subject. He read from letter OF
James Hamilton of s. c. written in ls45 to Ne.
Clarksou OF England, upon the subject Of the slave
trade. in which the measures adopted to suppress
fhe slave trade, through efforts Of Abolitionlsts
and others. were shown 10 have been most injuri-
pus upon the slaves In 1857 the annual number
Of slaves imported from Africa did not exceed
$4,000, and the mortality Of slaves during the
s'middle passage was not over per cent. In
3S40 the number of slaves annually imported into
america was over $50 900 and the mortality during
the "midde passage had incre ased to 25 or 80 per
ct Mr. Hamilton further argues that ifmeasures to
prevent be withdrawn, and the trade allowed to
continue in vessels afording comfort to slaves
then humanity will not be shocked by great NOR.
tality The slave would then be brought from
Slavery and darkness at home and given knowl-
edge OF humanity. He also argues that Slavery
Is an institution ordained by God from the time OF
Moses and sanctioned by Christ and his Apostles
AZ TO bring savages from darkness and to
place them in a God.ordaine6 and Christsanc-
1oned Institution, was so horrible and impious as
20 excite tins great outbreak of philanthrOpc ire,
he could Lot see it. He had long remarked that
when the North was stirred up on the subject Of
SLAVERY there always followed an excitement
among the pous philsnthrOpists of the North d.
rected against the horrors and inhumanitv Of
abe foreign trade. Now, instead of mourning
over the defeat Of Freedom, and the sar-
render Of everything a. the last session to
Slavery, there is an excitement about the
foreign trade. He had no respect for such
philanthropy, which permitted the battle
10 be lost at home, aud then turns ali its efforts
safely derounce. He thought Colonization no eff
iectual remedy against tbs Slave Trade, and that
30 long as there was market or a spot where
slaves were bought and solo, so long would trade
continue lfcol0nization were TO prevail here. he
desired 20 know whether /. was Northern or
Southern colonization. He had seen colonization
agents at the North, pious men, who declared i.
was the oaly effectual mode Of Kidding the c0un.
try Of Slavery, and he had seen che Southern tale
of the same agents that il was the only means TO
protect The South against the nuisance of afree
negro population.
Mr.. CLAY asked for the reading OF the resol0
lion, and II was read. Mr. Clay said the reading
of the resolution was the best answer 20 the
speech iest made. The resolution was only one
of inquiry, and was founded on information com
municat to the Senate IA public documents
called .or by IT, The subject OF the Slave Trade
IN Amer can vessels between Brazil and Afrcr
had beer the subject Of various communication,
IRON American Ministers, Messrs. Wise. Tod
and others He then detailed the mode by whcl
American vessels and seamen were under tht
protection OF the American hag-the only ont