The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-24

FS~Sde ~ ~ ~ ~ A43 u03/~6e46 towards
Braz,li think tAs~Aslencvsasnt - h wrong.
be confined to the United States In relation g this
mattes- For that reason shall vote agsinst the
reference, a. would vote a3ainst any proposition
10 meet the object Of that resolution.
Mr. BERRtEN. Mr. President, there sssms
70 be an Importance attached - this resolution
which arm unable TO understal nikce. upor The
call OF The yeas and nays. spe1 b sssn 70 feel
themselves under the necessity 3FSj 70 think 4
proper, TO make explanations a. 70 the votes
which they are 10 give. To me, sir. it seems 10
be mere resolution of inquiry. directed 10 COM
mIltec, for the purpose Of nscertaining the most
electua means Of accomplishing the object which
y common TO US all. In that point Of view.
have no hesitation in giving an Affirmative vots
upon the resolution. But now. air. sueeestion
IL made which ssems TO show that there n moi.
perhaps, perfect unsDimty OF sentiment anon
the subject to which this resolution NAV BE- rsads
to extend While We have perfect right 10 pre-
vent the foreign slave trade between Xfica And
this country, il s suggested that we have no r;rht
to interfere with that trade from The coast Or Ar
rica to any foreign country. Sir, do not under
stand that to be the object OF this resolution md
to protect myself from the possibility Of missaae.
desire to say that although We have no right 10
interfere with any trade between the coast ofAE
RIGA and any foreign country, yet. in relation 10
trade which we ourselves desire TO discounte-
nance, we have the unquestionable right TO pre-
vent our own citizens and our own vessels, under
the protection Of our own flag from being engaged
in the trade. The Jurisdiction Of this country
| extends over it's citizens in every quarter of the
globe. We have right to see that our fac az.
fords only legitimate protection TO our own peo-
pie and our own property; end we have right 10
inhibit American citizens from being engaged in
trade which our own laws inhibit. Il e under
these views that It has seemed to me that this a.
resolution OF inquiry, might pass the Senate
without discussion: and have only arisen 10
make this brief remark, lest by possibility there
should be something embraced in the resolution
which am unable TO discover, and which would
influence my. conduct in regard TO it, stet
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. 1t 10 very proba-
BILE, Mr. President, as the senator from Georpia
suggests, that if this had passed an mere resolu
lion Of inquiry, should have said nothing about
il. But the resolution of inquiry was argued up
on. The policy was announced to the Senate in
the remarks made by him who introduced il. Il
was thus brought to the notice OF the Senate; and
thus was led to make the remarks which have
made. The senator from Georgia laws down
proposition, which certainly win not controvert,
that our laws follow our flag; and il applies to
our citizEns as long as they are in vessel bear
ing our flag. That is not the case. Our citizens
have the right if they choose, to expstriate them
selves. That will not be denied. The owner or
an American ship has the right to sell it, That
will not be denied. But when engaged in the
slave trade, he loses the American character; and.
so far as am acquainted. no vessel under The
American flag, under our jurisdiction, has been
detected in that trade.
Mr.. CLAY. The senator from Mississippi.
when he was up before, discussed question
which is not before the Senate--which il not In
volved in the resolution. The question which Il
senator discussed was, whether it was right and
proper to put an end, if we could put an end. to
the slave trade b-tween the Brazis and the COST
of Africa. Who proposes that. There Il po
such object indicated by that resolution But
have not we right to act upon our own neople
in our own vessels1 Is it not the policy OF rhis
country to suppress the African sFave trade s-and
not Of this country alone, but of all Christian
countries! If it is the policy of this country ID
suppress the African slave trade, have we NOT :
right to restrain the shameless abuse Of our fas
when employed in the prosecution Of that trade
Have we not right, and is il not our duty. 10
protect our seamen against being inveigled into
the trade and left to perish upon the coast OF AZ
RIGA That is the question. And while nobody
would be more unwilling than should be to it,
terfere with the policy of any foreign government
upon that question Of the savs trade, odious a.
regard it, consider il not duty only but an i'm
perative duty, to impose all proper restraints up
on our own people in prosecuting this trade, and
using our own flag, in our own vessels, our own
ships. for that pnrpose; and doubt upon this
question it is impossible for me for moment 70
entertain.
Mr.. HALE. As this is resolution OF inquiry
merely, propose an amendment to ito add the
following
"And also to inquire into the practical opera
ton of the legislation of the United States for the
suppression of the foreign slave trade and the ex-
pedency Of repeating or essentially modifying the
existing laws on thnt subject.
Mr.. Fl said Mr.. President. in the few remarks
that submitted to the Senate
Mr.. FOOTE. (in,erposing.) Mr.. President, I
want to know If it is strictly in order to offer an
amend@en; after the yeas and nays have been
called for s4r
The PRESIDENT. Certainly, at any time.
Mr.. HALE If that is settled, sir, | wish to
inquire, MS matter Of curiosity, if some other
senator has not point of order to raise. WINS
going on to say thai, in the remarks which sub
mitted to the Senate when | first spoke uron this
the policy fthe legislation for the suppression of
the African slave trade; but did give to the Sen
ate the authority Of very distinguished name
confess that | was little surprised after that,
when the senator from Kentucky, (Mr. CLAv,)
replying to the poor remarks | made, said the
opinion was UNIVERSAL; he did not know of soli-
tary individual, unless the senator from New
Hampshire, who would take the responsibility Of
avowing it-of being opposed to this legislation
Now, sir, expressed no such opinion; but did
give the opinion Of Governor Hammond that the
practical operation of this philsnthropic legislation
Tor the suppression or the slave trade had been
thus.
wnnt to call the attention Of the Senate and
the country to it. In 1887, 5000 were sent be-
vond the sens slaves by this trade. The deaths
by the middle passage did not exceed nine per
cent. In 1870, iftyseven years sfier the COM
bined legislation ofths country and Great Britain,
making it piracy and punishment by death, the
number Of victims had increased from $4,000 10
10000. The deaths had gone up from nine to
thirty per cent-and Governor Hammond SAYS in
consequence of your efforts to suppress it, Now,
sir that opinion stands. II is of some years
standing; some FIVE years ago it was written.
say nothing about it, whether it is true or fasr
did say that if such be the fact-if your legisla-
ton only increases the number of victms--in-
creases the horrors and the deaths Of these victims
it is time for to IL there is not some other
mode we had better pursue. 1t is time to see If
the distinguished gentleman who gave these opin-
ions not right when he said it would be far
better for the African himself. the unhappy VIC
tim Of this trade, were these laws repealed, and
the trade left to the mitga,ions and notifications
of time, humanity, and decay. If, sir, all our
efforts have been destructive to those for whose