The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-22
For the National Era
THE SOUTHERN PLATFORM
MANUAL OF SOUTHERN SENTIMENT ON THE
SUBJECT OF SLAVERY

Federal and State Conventions Which framed
and ratified the Constitution of the United
! Stdtes-thOSe uhich occurred an the first Con-
crosses whieh SGT during the administration
Of General Pahington--dnd extracts from
he Debate in the VirginiG Legislature an
1892 ;'oith various letters Judicial decisions &c
, BY DANIEL R. GOODBYE, or NORTH CAROLINA.
ANNALS OF CoNGRESS.-Continued
THURSDAY, MARCH ls.
The House again resolved itself into Com.
mittee of the Whole on the Report of the Com.
mittee on the Quakers' memorial, &c; Mr.
Benson in the chair.
| The subject underwent some further discus
sion and the Committee rose, without closing
it and obtained leave to sit again.-Page l464
MARCH 10.
The House then went again into a commit.
tee on the Quakers' memorial, &C. Mr. Ben
son in the chair.
The fourth proposition, respecting a duty OF
/, ten dollars on slaves imported, being read. il
d was moved that it he struck out which motion
I after much debate, was adopted.
Several mod fcations of the fifth proposition
were offered, but the following in substance
offered by Mr.. Madison, was agreed to- viz
Congress have authority to restrain the citizens
OF the United States, who are concerned in the
= African trade, from supplying foreigners with
slaves, and to provide for their humane treat
ment while on their passage to the United
States.
The committee then rose, and the House ad-
journed till Monday next-Page 1866.
MARCH %.
The House again went into a Committee of
the Whole on the Quakers' memorial, &c. Mr..
! Benson in the chair.
The sixth article was further discussed
Mr. Scott commenced the debate advocating
the prayer of the memoriaists, and was replied
to by several of the Southern members.-Page
1866.
! Here Mr.. Boudn0t defends the memorial at
some length, and replies to Mr.. Smith, after
which
1t was moved that the sixth article be struck
out but the motion was negatved. The COM
mittee then agreed to the proposition The
seventh article was, on notion struck ont
The committee then rose and made their re-
port to the House, which was laid on the table
Page l47l.
MARCH %.
1t was then moved that the House should
take up the report of tho Committee of the
Whole on the report of the committee to whom
was referred the memorials of the people call
cd Quakers, and of the Pennsylvania Society,
for promoting the abolition of slavery.
This motion was opposed by Mr.. jackson,
Mr.. Smith, Mr. Burke and Mr.. Bland thew
severally observed that the discussion of the
subject has already excited spirit of dissension
among the members of the House. and that
every principle of policy and concern for the
dignity of the House, and the peace and tran
quillity of the United States, concur to show
the proprety of dropping the subject, and let
ting it sleep where it is. On the other hand,
Mr.. Vning, Mr.. Hartley, and Mr. Page, OBJ.
served, that there was the same propriety in
taking up the subject at the present moment.
and bringing it to q conclusion, as there was
for first taking it up; that it has been 30 fully
discussed it cannot be supposed gentlemen will
20 over the same ground again it may soon
be determined; to pass it over will be unprece-
denied, and will leave the public mind in the
same state OF uncertainty from which so mpch
danger is apprehended. The motion for taking
up the report was warmly contested in a len cthy
debate, and finally passed in the affirmative, by
a majority of one. Whereupon, on motion that
the said report of the committee and also the
report OF the committee of the whole House. of
amendments to said report be inserted on the
Journal, it was resolved in the afiirmative-29
votes to %. The yeas and nays were as follows
Those who voted in the affirmative, were
Messrs. Boudinot, Brown, Cadwaader, Con.
tee, Floyd, Foster, Gerry Gilman, Goodhue,
Griffin, Hartley Hathorn, Hester, Huntington,
Lawrence, Lee, Leonard, Madison Mullen
burg Parker, Partridge, Schureman, Scott,
Sedgwick, Sherman, Sylvester, Sinnickson, Vi
ming, and Wynkoop.
| Those who voted in the negative, were
Messrs. Ames Baldwin Benson, Bland Burke
Carroll, Coles, Gale, Grout Jackson, I.ivermorc,
Matthews Moore, Page, Van Rensselaer,, Smith
of Maryland, Smith Of South Carolina, Stone
Sturges Sumter Thatcher, Trumbull, Tucker,
White and Williamson
The said reports are as follow.
Report Of The Special Committee.
The committee to whom were referred sun
dry memorials, from the people called Quakcrs,
and also memorial from the Pennsylvania
Society, for promoting the abolition of slavery.
submit the following report:
That from the nature of the matters contain
ed in these memorials they were induced 10
examine the powers vested in Congress under
the present Constitution, relating to the aboli.
ton of Slavery, and are clearly of opinion,
LIST. That the General Government is express
ly restrained from prohibiting the importation
OF such persons as any If the States now ex.
listing shall think proper to admit, until the
year one thousand eight hundred and eighth
eddy That Congress, by a fair construction
OF the Constitution, are equally restrained from
interfering in the emancipation of slaves, who
already are, or who may, within the period
mentioned, be imported into, or born within,
any of the said States -..-,
| IL ~. 4
cr iss in tbs no authority to in
States relative IN sos. regulations Of particular
the nr;nciples, 40 the instructions of slaves in
comforte,S Of morality and religion; to their
s;sten. -.1le clothing, accommodations, and sub
. = Zee to the regulation Of their marriages,
eand the prevention of the violation of the rights
thereof, or to the separation Of children from
their parents; to comfortable provision in
cases of sickness age or intirmity or to the sell
cure, transportation or sale of free negroes; but
have the fullest confidence in the wisdom and
humanity Of the Legislatures of the several
States, that they will revise their laws from
time to time, when necessary, and promote the
objects mentioned in the memorials, and every
other measure that may tend to the happiness
of slaves.
4thly. That nevertheless, Congress have au.
thority, if they shall think it necessary, ~ lay
at any time tax or duty, not exceeding ten
dollars for each person of any description, the
importation Of whom shall be by any of the
States admitted rs aforesaid
3thly. That Congress have authority to inter
dict, or $50 far as it is or may be carried on by
citizens OF the United States for supplying for
) cigners) to regulate the African trade. and TO
make provision for the humane treatment of
slaves in all cases while on their passage to tho
ia ~
spects tho citizens of the United States.
6thly. That Congress have also authority to
prohibit foreigners from fitting out vessels in
any port of the United States Tor transporting
persons from Africa to any foreign port
7thly That the riemorialists be informed