The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-03-20

qualification having the privilege Of exchanging nu
nents with the able gentleman from Virginia Mr. Latch
An who represents different section Of the country from
thai which represent pleased 70 say that the gen
eman from Virginia and myself can talk over TINS matter
like men as become statesmen without undue excitement
am wing-haying held seat here for some time, and
expecting continue here for two years moreto
say 10 this House and the country what understand TO he
the northern sentiment prevailing in the free States % Jar
as gadcgsfand and wish 10 do II IA disPassonate
manner that all shall explicitly comprehend my views
do understand that IN the convention which framed the
constitution il was understood distinctly and
peitIy thar slavery State institution confined to
State jurisdiction with which the federal government
neither had should have any power 10 interfere.
Mr. LETCHER. | want the gentleman TO come 10 the
present issue want know what may expect now,
not what has occurred heretofore.
Mr. GIDDINGS will do so. Mr.. Gerry declared IN
the convention that slavery State institution that
while the federal government had jurisdiction over IL
we should be careful lend il sanction To this that
body implied approval member dissenting from
but all apparently eoneding with the view OF Mr. Ger
ry Now, sir, say the honorable gentleman from fr
GINA and the House thar the eemen Of the free States
intend carry out in practice this doctrine Of the const
tuition and OF the fathers Of republic We intend to
separate this and the people Of the free States
from all responsibility and all guilt of sustaining oppres
sion of unfolding slavery and direct its action TO the
enlargement OF liberty virtue, and the elevation OF our
Our people intend be purified from the crimes and
niques of slavery and the slave trade While leave
the Institution. with the slave States untouched by our
egsation while guard all the States in the enjoyment
Of their privileges will protect our own rights with
equal assduity
Now sir in order 10 do thisfor only state TO
my friend what understand he the issues involved in
the present conflict TO slavery in the District OF Column
ba which the gentleman last alluded will first reply
that we viii secure to the people here popular soreeg
We viii repeal the laws which we have enacted, which
sustain slavery and the slave trade here and leave
the people of this District maintain their popular
rsigHty of which heard much from my friend and
his party the last session of Congress- all the
people, black and white permitting each be sovereign
of his conduct long he nterferes with the
rights of no other person That win not by the law of
Congress rvet the chains nor put handouts upon our
fellow-nen here; that will withdraw power from
the support of slavery and leave the whole people of this
District TO enjoy their popular sovereignty do not think
shall ask the people of the District whether may
separate ourselves from the support of slavery here
will do it of our emotion, Judgment We will
not share the guilt, the disgrace of uphoiding the
slave trade here of sustaining the practice of rearing boys
and girls for the market in this city. We going to
interfere with slavery here; will interfere with
that institution but viii encourage freedom, not
slavery We do not intend TO say that here shall be
treGod and Nature have said that and will protect
the rights which Creator has conferred mankind
And further say TO the gentleman that, in the next
place we will take good TO follow in the footsteps OF
Jefferson and of the Congress of 1887 and exclude slavery
from every foot of territory belonging TO this government
by ian Of Congress.
say again have had experience here and expect
10 be member of the next Congress and do expect
expect to live and get back here the next Congress
bring in bill, and pass it through this body, that shall
strike the chains from every slave within the territory of
the federal government This sir is the great and princ
pal issue which nearly all of all parties at the
North unite, which no party can withstand Some may
hesitate on other points but this Is which IN
tend unite in all elections making with all
ddaes for office; but will do it without excitement
Laughter With this, however, isconnected another
the exclusion of slave State which may seek admission
to the Union We will never give TO another State the
odious superiority ourselves Of holding influence
the free States proportional to The number of their
slaves allowing five slaves to be equal to three of free
The man who would thus degrade the freemen of
the North will be regarded traitor northern honor
and northern interests We intend doing this, and
would respectfully say that threats of dissoying the
Union win deter That mode of frightening people
has been too often and too long resorted II has lost
It's prestige 1t has ceased TO brighten school girls
We hope to act like statesmen like who have their
country and their counys good at heart who labor for
freedom, for the happiness of mankind We expect to
maintain the rights which ourselves hold under this
government We intend that freedom, the liberty of
shall be the objects of this government and not slavery
Understandfor have been misrepresented for twenty
years. have thought of interfering with the rights
Of the slave States have never maintained upon this
floor by the waysde, by the reside have in pub
lie private in;mated that possess the power TO in
terere with slavery in the States On the contrary,
peat that while protect the constitution and asduous
maintain it in its full force win take main
tain the rights which it confers upon the North well
as the privileges of the South will maintain the rights
the free States well those of the slave States Our
rights in those Of the other States
to WELD the government for the purpose of maintaining
the freedom of every foot of soil subjected to the laws of
Congress and against the extension of the slave power by
admitting any new slave State
The next point Mr. Chairman is that OF prohibiting the
sale OF human being under process issued from the
federal courts We will not prostitute the process of the
federal courts to the purpose Of selling men and women at
public auction want my friend to understand this issue
in its full length and breadth.
Next will repeal the Law Of 1907 authorizing the
coastwNe slave trade We will protect the slave trade
our southern coast will lend power to en-
courage while dealing slaves The pirate that hangs
the yard-arm the coast of Africa is less guilty in
opinion than the who deals in Christian slaves
in this city We WILL therefore, repeal the law referred To-
which authorizes the transportation of slaves under the
flag OF the United States 1t is flag, and it shall not
be prostitued such damnabe and dgaceul purposes
We will purify it, and leave savedeaers TO take OF
their slaves in their We will not suffer our
moral purity to be contaminated by this infamous traffic
in human flesh We viii lustrate ourselves from IL. We
win purify the government from it, DO not talk about the
dissolution of the Union elevate the people
of the southern well those of the northern States Our
object the increase of intelligence virtue and happiness
of all the people.
Mr.. Chairman besides all this We of the opinion
that shall let the shareholders catch their slaves
We win go step beyond the law of lT93- That
law gave process but allowed the stakeholder to catch
he could That law signed by Washington. II was /
enactment of those who had framed the constitution in
part That law gave process authorized officer to
issue process made it the duty of officer to arrest
slave nor did il require northern TO aid in such ar
rest nor to pay the expense of taking such slave back TO
seryitude The law of 1850 is in all these poin uneon-
stituona Our feelings revolt at these previsons-we
will carry them out viii obey them. there
fore say that the furthest which will go will
be to restore the law of 1893 We will catch your
slaves for you 1t is humliang degrading TO our natures
Why sir let ask the gentleman Of Virginia whether be
would out after and catch slave for any other
man under heaven
Mr. LETCHER Go
Mr.. GIDDINGS. Will You answer viii reply 10 any