Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-04

tnoy were vi coursc ircc, huu Wpuo - PAi'.'-'
of their own happiness When the Executive
OF the United States, ever alive to the interests
Of the slave trade, called on the British Minis
ter for indemnity, this rule Of international law
was referred to, and the payment promptly 70
jeoted
This left the slave merchants rcmediless
But distinguished Senator from the South
endeavored to avoid the difficulty, by intro.
ducing resolutions to change, to modify, and
repeal the law Of nations, so far AZ to make IL
conform to the interests Of tho slave trade II
Is true that every Wing Senator, North Of Ma
son and xon's line save one, fled from the SEN
ate Chamber; they dared not vote either one
way or the other. Ispeak Of those gentlemen
| with respect, but it ia due to them, to this
body, and to the country, that should speak
frankly, thai facts should 80 down to postcr,ty
as they transpire around us. For us to do
otherwise, would be to deceive those who shall
succeed us.
The re solutions were passed BY the unani
/ nous vote Of Southern Senators and Northern
Democratic Senators, lcifh one Northern Whig.
/ He was from Rhode island and honor him
for his boldness in placing his name on record
in favor of that most singular attempt to
change the law Of nations like to zee men
| bold even in their crimes. 1t looks as though
! they might be honest even in tho preparation
Of their niquities
The resolutions were carried, and Senators
slept more soundly But 10, and behold the
next day the sun rose in the East and set in
the West, precisely as it had done since its
creation. And the next storm which swept
over the Atlantic, drove British, and French,
and Swedish, and Russian vesses into our
ports When they came within the jurisdic-
tion Of our laws, they yielded obedience to
them; indeed, our own officers did not appear
conscious that these resolutions had ever been
passed And doubt whether an officer of any
foreign port in the civilized world has yet
heard of their existence. Yet this report can
| find no better arguments no better grounds on
which to recommend the payment OF this
money to the slave dealers, than those resolu
tions Of the Senate, which have been regarded
| by the nation and the world as the production
1 Of an overweening anxiety to support the slave
trade; resolutions which | do MT hesitate to
say have never been recognised by the lowest
officer engaged in our own revenue service.
And, sir are we, the representatives of the
people, to be guided by them in the discharge
Of our duties!
Why, sir, the very next year after the pas
sage Of these resolutions, the American slave
ship Creole with her cargo of human be-
ings, when within some twenty -four hours sail
Of New Orleans, was taken possession of by
the slaves on board; and when one of the
slave merchants attempted to reduce them to
subjeciion, they laid him low in death, just az
you, MIR. Chairman, would have done, had you
been in their place just as would have done,
and as any other man, who has the heart Of
a man, would have done. They took the ship
into the British port Of Nassau, and so soon az
they came within the jurisdiction Of British
laws they were free.
This report says that our Government re-
guired their surrender, and quotes that reqni-
sition of slaveholding Executive, as evidence
of the law of nations and proper 10 guide us
in the discharge of our duties.
Surely need not say to this Committee that
when the letter Of instructions from our Secre-
tary Of State to our Minister at London was
published, its doctrines were denied on this
floor by resolutions presented to this body. Ii
is true that the humble individual present
ing them was driven from his seat for that
avowal Of truth, but the public press spoke
forth its denunciations Of that letter, and its
doctrines SO abhorrent to American liberty
The popular sentiment Of the nation condemned
them; but the author of tho resolutions, which
denied the doctrine of that letter, survives
tradiction Of the sentiments and the doctrines
Of the Secretary of State. Why, sir, the Sec
rotary himself receded from his own position
The demand on the British Government was
suffered to sleep. Neither Wing nor Demo
cratic party has since renewed the demand
| And although Mr.. Webster again came into
the off,e Of Secretary Of State, under the late
| Administration of Mr. Fillmore, have yet to
learn that he ever renewed the demand, or
that he or any other Secretary Of State has yet
reassertcd the doctrines OF that letter. Yet
this demand, which was so suddenly aban-
doncd, 80 universally condemned by the public
press and by the people and statesmen Of the
United States, given up by its author, and dis
carded by every Administration since 1912 is
quoted as an authority to guide us on the sub
| ject Of paying for these Africans. Sir, will
| spend no moro time on this report than to say
il assails our courts Of justice, charges the
judges with ignorance, derelction Of duty, with
being swayed by popular sentiment, and con-
tains labored argument in favor Of Slavery
and the slave trade.
have now examined tho facts and argu.
| ments Of this case in very brief and hurried
manner, and will for q moment look into the
objects and policy Of those who advocate its
payment.
Mr.. Chairman, il is very properly asked,
| why does the President thus exert his influence
in favor of Slavery? What object has he FOR
80 doingi What motive stimulated the author
Of this report What was the design Of the
former Secretary Of State What feelings
prompted the Senate to pass the resolutions
referred to- answer, the same motives which
have prompted oppressors in all ages Of the
world. IL is that desire Of man which has ever
prompted men in power to seek selfaggrand-
izement by degrading their fellow men. Why
do men in the slave States hold their fellow
men in bondagel Because it gives them pecu-
mary and political power Why do Northern
men lend their influence to continue the slave
trade in this District? Because il secures to
them the favor Of the Slave Power. Why, cir,
| rocolect that this body a few years since
adopted resolutions which, If carried Out, would
have abolished the slave trade here. motion
was made TO reconsider the vote by which they
were adopted. The motion prevailed, by the