The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAy. Apri) O.

On motion of MFR. DANIEL, of North Caro-
lima. the House resolved that the debate on the
bill for the relief of the representatives OF Gen.
Watson, who claim: the amount paid for slaves
captured by the Creek nation during the war with
the Seminoes, should terminate IN TWO hours
after the House went into Committee.
Several motions to suspend the rules tor the
nurpose of submitting resolutions were objected to,
among which was the resolution submitted yes
terdav. circumscribing the proceedings of the
Joint Committee on Printing and the t1ouse
went into Committee on the private calendar
Mr. BARTLETT, of Vermont, having on IN
ou;rv learnt from the Chairman that members,
according to the rules, must confne themselves to
the subject under discussion, expressed his regret,
as he wished to reply to an alluslon made to him.
self at an early period of the session. ana 70 pour
out little Of the vinegar which he had been
treasurng up: He then went on TO define his po-
sition-not as fully, he said, as he wished, owing
10 the stringency of the ru,es-hdmltted that,
while the Constitution Of the United States recog-
nzed the institution Of slavery within those States
in which it existed, yet there was no proof before
the Committee that it existed among the Seminole
Indians; and said the articles of war did not au-
thorise military commander to institute 1t, and
that the fortune of war did not alter the social re-
lations or abrogate the rights Of man. Amer
various other remarks of general character, he
concluded with expressing his opposition to the
bill. and said that during the hour which had
what he intended, and that the performance had
M. WALSH, Of Maryland, followed, for the
purpose Of combating legal error, which had
crept into the debate, and which had just been al
luded to--that it was necessary to prove that
slavery existed among the Semin oles, and that the
negroes captured from them by the Creeks were
alnyes. He contended that the Indians are not an
independent nation, but are governed by the laws
Of lie community in which they are found, and
that they, as well as free persons OF color, are
permitted to hold slaves. lie cited the contract
entered into with the Creeks, by which they
oured the right of property to the negroes they
had captured, and which the government trans.
ferred TO Gen Watson, and it having permitted
the slaves subsequently, to be carried to the west
of the Mississippi, he considered the claim OF the
heirs Of Watson as just one, az was ever
brought before Congress-.
M. SUTHERLAND, of New York, con-
tended that the United States, never possessed any
property in the negroes captured by the Creeks
from the Seminoles, who owned them, and who
were admitted on all hands to be slaves. But, he
said, it was the policy Of the government, that
thew should not be carried West, by either of
these nations; and the result was, am arrange
ment was entered into with Watson, by which he
or. 4 induced to pay 900 for this property, and
which the government was bound to see delivered
to him. He considered the claim as being founded
in Justice, no matter whether the negroes were
OWN IN An arrangement made with the govern
mente Congress ought to see that it was restored;
il they failed TO carry tout:
~. SWEETSER, of Ohio, said he waived the
Question, as 70 the right Of property OF the Semi
noIes ia he negroes as slaves but commended that
the contract entered into with the Greeks conferred
no rigkl On them, and gave TO the government no
pov1r 10 dispose Of the property, under the Con-
rstitusicn; and which consequently could make no
such arrangements as that which had been entered
into With Y atson, Who, as prudent man, should
have ascertained that fact before he parted with