The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08

them In eternal bondage, ne snoulu Ieci nv VI"
easiness or alarm on account OF the present
measure, because he should rely upon the vir-
tue of Congress that they would not exercise
any unconstitutional authority.
Mr. Madison. The debate has taken Sc
rious turn, and it will be owing to this alone II
an alarm is created; for, had the memorial
been treated in the usual way, it would have
been considered, as matter of course, and
report might have been made, so as to have
given general satisfaction. If there was the
slightest tendency, by the commitment to
break in upon the Constitution, he would OBJ
iect to it; but he did not see upon what ground
such an event was to be apprehended. The
petition prayed, in general terms, for the In
reference of Congress- 30 far as they were con-
stitutionally authorized; but even if its prayer
was, in some degree, unconstitutional, it might
be committed, as was the case on MIR. Church
mans petition-One part OF which was sup
posed to apply for an unconstitutional Interior
ence by the General Government He admit
ted that Congress is restricted by the Constitu-
ton from taking measures to abolish the slave
trade yet there are a raristy Of tcays by whieh
1t could eotntenanes The abolition, and regttia.
tlonS ma ght be made in relation 10 the intrOdue-
ton of thsm into the new States TO be formed out
of the Western Territory He thought the OBJ
ject ueH ,corthy of consideration.
Mr.. Gerry thought the interference of Con-
gress fully compatible with the Constitution
and could not help lamenting the miseries to
which the natives Of Africa were exposed by
this inhuman commerce. He never contem-
plated the subject without rejecting what his
own feelings would be, in case himself his chill
dren, or friends, were placed in the same de-
plorable circumstances He then adverted to
the fragrant acts of cruelty which are commit
ted in carrying on that traffic; and asked
whether it can be supposed that Congress has
no power to prevent such abuses He then
referred to the Constitution and pointed out
the restrictions laid on the General Govern
ment respecting the importation of slaves. 1t
was not, he presumed in the contemplation of
any gentleman in this House to violate that
part of the Constitution but that we have 6
right to regulate this business is as clear as
that we have any rights whatever; nor has
the contrary been shown by any person who
has spoken on the occasion. Congress can,
agreeably to the Constitution, lay duty of ten
dollars on imported slaves; they may do this
Immediately. He made a calculation of the
value of the slaves in the Southern States, and
supposed they may be worth ten millions of
dollars Congress have right, if they see
proper, to make proposal to the Southern
States to purchase the whole of them, and
their resources in the Western Territory might
furnish them the means. He did not intend to
suggest measure of this kind; he only in
stanced these particulars to show that Congress
certainly has right to intermeddle in the
business He thought that no objection had
been offered, of any force, to prevent the com
mitment of the memorial
Mr.. BoudinOt had carefully examined the
petition, and found nothing like what was COM
planned of by gentlemen contained in it. He
therefore hoped they would withdraw their op-
position, and suffer it to be committed.
Mr.. Smith, of South Carolina, said that as
the petitioners had particularly prayed Con.
gress to take measures for the humiliation of
the slave trade, and as that was admitted, on
all hands, to be beyond their power; and as
the petitioners would not be gratifed by a tax
of ten dollars per head, which was all that
was in their power there was, of consequence
no occasion for committing it.
The question on the commitment being about
to be put, the yeas and nays were called for,
and were as follow:
YEAS Messrs. Ames, Benson, Boudinot,
Brown, Cadwalader, Clymer, Fitzsimmons,
Floyd, Foster, Gale, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue,
Griffin, Grout, Hartley, Hathorn, Heister Hun
tington, Lawrence, Lee, Leonard, Livermore,
Madison, Moore, Muhlenburg, Page Parker,
Partridge, Rensselaer,, Schureman Scott, Sedg.
wick, Seney, Sherman, Sinnickson, Smith of
Maryland, Sturgis, Thatcher Trumbull, Wads-
worth, White, and Wynkoop-43.
NAys-Messrs Baldwin, Bland Burke Coles
Hugcr, Jackson, Matthews, Sylvester, Smith Of
South Carolina, Stone, and Tucker-11.
The memorials were referred accordingly.
Pages 1897 TO 1905 inciusiue.
FRIDAY, MARCH s, 1890.
Mr.. Foster, from the committee appointed
for the purpose, made report on the petitions
of the people called Quakers, and also of the
Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Adolf
ton Of Slavery.-Pdge lAl3
TO BE CONTINUED.