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

crosses phtch sat during the administrator
of General WdhingtOn-dnd eIirdctS from
tie Debate in the Virginia Legislature an
1882; nth uarious letter., judicial decisions, &C.
BY DANIEL R. GooDLoE, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ANNALS OF CONGRESS-.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1790-Continued.
Mr. Sylvester said that he had always been
in the habit of respecting the society called
Quakers; he respected them for their exertions
in the cause of humanity but he thought the
present was not time to enter INTO conSd-
GRAFTON Of the subject especially as he con-
ceived it to be business within the province
Of the State Legislatures.
Mr.. Lawrence observed, that the subject
would undoubtedly come under the considera-
ton Of the House and he thought, as 1t was
now before them, that the present time was as
proper as any. He was therefore for commit
ting the memorial and when the prayer Of it
had been properly examined they could see
how far Congress may, constltutlonally inter-
fere. As they knew the limits Of their power
ON this, as well as every other occasion, there
was no just apprehension to be entertained
that they would go beyond it.
MIR. Smith of South Carolina, insisted that
it was not in the power of the House to grant
the prayer of the petition, which went to the
total adjustment OF the slave trade, and it was
therefore unnecessary to commit it, He OBJ
served that In the Southern States, difficulties
had arisen on adopting the Constitution, mas
much as it was apprehended that Congress
might take measures, under it, for abolishing
the slave trade
Perhaps the petitioners when they applied
to this House, did not think their object un-
constitutional; but now they are told that it
is they will be satisfied with the answer,
and press il no further. If their object had
been for Congress to lay duty of ten dollars
per head on the importation of slaves, they
would have said so; but that does not appear
to have been the case. The commitment of
the petition, on that ground, cannot be con-
tended. If they will not be content with that
shall it be committed to investigate facts The
petition speaks of none For what purpose
then, shall it be committed If gentlemen can
assign no good reason for the measure, they
will not support it, when they are told that it
will create jealousies and alarm in the South
ern States; for | can assure them that there is
no point on which they are more jealous and
suspicious, than on business with which they
think the Government has nothing to do.
When we entered into this Confederacy, we
did 1t from POLITICAL not from moral motives :;
and do not think my constituents want to
learn morals from the petitioners; do not
believe they want improvement in their moral
system if they do, they can get it at home.
The gentleman from Georgia has justly sta
ted the jealousy of the Southern States On
entering into this Government, they appre-
hended that the other States, not knowing the
necessity the citizens of the Southern States
were under to hold this species of property,
would from motives Of hum anity and benevo-
lence, be led to vote for general emancipa-
ton and had they not seen that the COnsttu-
ton provided against the effect of such dis
position, | may be bold enough to say they
never would have adopted it. And, nOtwith-
standing all the calmness with which some
gentlemen have viewed the subject, they will
find that this discussion alone will create great
alarm. We have been told that, if this would
be the case, we ought TO have avoided it, by
saying nothing But it was not for that pur-
pose that We were sent here We look upon
this measure as an attack upon the pailadiam
of the property of our country it is therefore
our duty to oppose it, by every means in our
power. Gentlemen should consider, that when
we entered into a political connection with the
other States, that this property was there; ii
was acquired under former Government, con.
Formally to the laws and Constitution there
fore, anything that will tend to deprive them
of that property must be an er post faciO law
and, as such, is forbidden by our political com
pact.
| said the States would never have entered
into the Confederation, unless their property
had been guaranteed to them; for such is the
state of agriculture in that country that, with
out slaves it must be abandoned Why will
these people, then, make use of arguments t.
induce the slave to turn his hand against his
master? We labor under difficulties enough
from tho ravages Of the late war. A gentle
man can hardly come from that country with
servant or two, either to this place or Phila-
dclpha. but there are persons trying to seduce
his servants to leave him and when they have
done this, the poor wretches are obliged to roll
their master, in order to obtain subsistence
All those, therefore, who are concerned in thi.
seduction, are accessories to the robbery.
The reproach which they cast upon the own
ers of negro property is charging them with
the want of humanity believe the propre
tors have as much humanity as any persons in
any part of the continent, and are as conspcu.
1t was said yesterday that the Quakers are a
society known to the laws and the Constitu
ton but they are no more 30 than other reli.
giOus societies they stand exactly in the same
situation; their memorial, therefore, relates to
matter in which they are no more interested
than any other sect and can only be consider.
ed ass piece Of advice, which it is not custom.
AIRY to refer to committee but if it is sup.
70 l.kt 49,, Il
pose, is that sufficient to induce us to commit it
What may appear moral virtue in their eyes
may not be 80 in reality. | have heard of a
sect of Shaking Quakers, who, presume, sup.
pose their tenets of u moral tendency. | am
informed one of them forbids to intermarry
yet you may see them with numerous off
spring about them. Now, if these people were
to petition Congress to pass law prohibiting
matrimony would gentlemen agree to refer
such u petition think if they would reject
one of that nature, as improper, they ought
also to reject this.
MIR. Page was in favor of the commitment
He hoped that the dssigns.Of the respectable
memorialists would not be stopped at the
threshold, in order TO preclude q tair discussion
of the prayer of the memorial. He observed
that gentlemen had founded their arguments
upon a misrepresentation for the object of the
memorial is not declared to be the total aboli
ton of the slave trade, but that Congress will
consider whether il be not in reality within
their power to exercise justice and mercy
which, if adhered TO- they cannot doubt mus
produce the abolition of the slave trade If
then the prayer contained nothing unconstitu
tional, he trusted the meritorious effort of tn,
petitioners would not be frustrated
With respect TO the alarm that was appre
hended, he conieotured there was none bu
there might be just cause il the memorial wa
not taken into consideration. He placed him
self in the case of slave, and said that, or
hearing that Congress had refused % listen I,
the decent suggestions Of respectable part o
the community, he should infer that the Gen
aral Envaro~aut Ifporu vvhioh xUas avoactar