The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-15
II was finally ordered that the report be
taken up tomorrow week.
Pages l4l4 TO i4l7, 'neirare.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH IL.

~ WIZ unhily VIuOiON N-N NAs~ a~f~-N -
taken up Tomorrow week
Pages lIl4 TO 1417, 1ncfuaue
"WEDNESDAY, MARCH II.
The House again resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the report Of the com
mittee 10 whom was referred the memorial OF
the people called Quakers Sc, Mr.. Benson IN
the chair)
The question of order was put, when it was
determined that MIR. fuckers last amendment
was not in order.
The report was then taken up by paragraphs.
The first proposition being read :,
Mr. White moved that it be struck out. he
did this he said, because he was against enter
ing into q consideration, at this time, OF the
powers of Congress He thought it would be
time enough for this, when the powers are
called in question. He then read the next
which he said was entirely unnecessary, as Il
contains nothing Lioro chan what IL contained
in express terms in the Constitution. he passed
on to the third. which he said was equally I'M
necessary; and to the fourth, which was pro-
yided for by the Constitution. He said that he
should agree TO the fifth and sixth, with certain
notifications. Agreeable 10 this idea he Of
fered those two in a different form. He disa-
greed to the seventh proposition, as unnecessa-
| ~ and improper. He concluded by observing
that his wish was to promote the happiness Of
all mankind, and, among the rest, those who
are the objects Of the present consideration !;
but this he wished to do in conformity to the
principles of Justice and with due regard to
the peace and happiness Of others. He would
contribute all in bis power to their comfort and
well-being while in state of Slavery but he
was fully of opinion that Congress has no right
to interfere in the business any further than
he proposed by the two propositions as modi-
fed. He did not, however, anticipate the diff
culties from a total prohibition which some
gentlemen seem to apprehend; and if Congress
had it in their power to interdict this business
at the present moment, he did not think the
essential interests of the Southern States would
suffer. Twenty years ago, he supposed the idea
he now suggested would have caused universal
alarm. Virginia, however, about twelve years
since, prohibited the importation of negroes
from Africa, and the consequences apprehend-
ed never were realized; on the contrary, the
agriculture of that State was never in more
Furnishing situation.
Mr.. Hartley. have the honor to be one Of
the COMMITTEES on the Memorials, and will, with
the leave Of this committee, mention some par
ticulars which took place in the course of the
investigation of the business. He promised
that he was sorry that the question of right
had been brought forward yesterday and was
not little surprised to hear the cause of Sla-
very advocated in that House, and language
held towards the petitioners which his expert
ence had never shown to be Parliamentary.
He read some memOrandums taken in commit.
tee and had particular reference to law
passed in Grenada, which he applauded for its
humanity and truly benevolent spirit He rep
rotated the illiberal treatment which the me-
moralists had received, and asserted that they
were friends to the Constitution, and that on
the present occasion they came forward from
the most lsudsble motves-from wish to pro-
mote the happiness of mankind; that their con-
duct, SO far from meriting censure, deserved
and would receive the applause of the civilized
world
Mr.. Brown, in q considerable speech, adgo-
Gated the motion of MIR White He enlarged
on the pernicious consequences that may be ex-
pected to flow from the interference of Con-
gress He pointed out the effects which had
resulted from the interposition of the Quakcrs,
by which the prospects of the Southern States
in slaves had been rendered very precarious
and if Congress should adopt the report, as it
stands the consequences would be pernicous
in the highest degree. The negro property
will be annihilated. The emancipation of
slaves will be effected in time--it ought to be
gradual business but he hoped that Congress
would not. TO crafty people who never. had
been friendly to the independence of America
precipitate the business, to the great injury Of
the Southern States
MIR Burke entered into very extensive con-
sideration of the subject He gave an account
| of the humane treatment which the slaves of
the Southern States received--their habitations,
families, children, privileges &C., &c. He then
| showed that their emancipation would tend to
| make them wretched in the highest degree. He
animadverted with great freedom on the past
and present conduct of the Quakers He dc.
MED that they were the friends of freedom he
said that during the late war, they were fol
bringing this country under a foreign yoke
they descended to the character of spies they
supplied the enemy with provisions; they were
guides and conductors to their armies ant
whenever the American army came into Their
neighborhood, they found themselves in al
enemy's country. Mr.. Burke was proceeding
in this strain, when he was interrupted by
being called to order A warm alteration en-
sued and in the midst Of it a motion was made
that the committee rise.
This motion was negatived, and Mr. Burke
added a few more observations on the I'M Justice
of the measure of interference, as it respected
the property of the Southern States.
Pages i45l 10 1853.
Here Mr.. Smith, of South Carolina, enter,
upon long argument in favor of Slavery.
TO BE CONTINUED