The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-24

TR1cT OF CoLuMB1A-As the Buchanan journals
at the south have been for weeks pastcharging
Mr.. Fillmore with having voted, while in con
gress, in favor of the reception of abolition pc
titions, we will present for their consideration
an incident in the congressional career OF the
hon. James Buchanan himself, where he, upor
a test vote. voted in favor of the intervention o
congress with both slavery and the buying anc
selling of slaves in the district of Columbia
On the 9th January, 1929, while Mr. Buchan
an was a member of the Z. S. house OF repre-
isentatives, Mr.. Charles Miner, Of Pennsylya
MIA, Ia quaker and bitter nti-slavery man,
moved the following preamble and resolutions
"Whereas, The constitution has given to con
E gress, within the district of Columbia. the pow
er of exclusive Legislation in all cases what
soever:"
'tAnd whereas, The laws in respect to slave
ry within the district of Columbia have beer
almost entirely neglected.:
..From Which neglect for nearly thirty year:
it is alleged there have grown up numerou:
and gross corruptions:
'sThat slave dealers, gaining CONFIDENCE from
impunity, have made the seat of the fedora
government their head quarters for carrying or
the domestic slave trade: 4
"That instances of death from the anguish
of despair, exhibited in the district mark the
cruelty of this traffic: ..-
That instances OF manning and suicide, ex
ecuted or attempted, have been exhibited
growing out of this cruel traffic within the dis
trict:
'tThat advertisements, beginning, s'we will
give cash for one hundred likely young ne
groes of both sexes, from eight to twenty five
years DID, contained in the public prints OF the
city, under the notice of congress, indicates the
openness and extent Of the traffic:
''That scenes of human beings exposed at
public vendue are exhibited here, permitted by
the laws of the general government, woman
having been advertised ssto be sold at Lloyd's
tavern, near the Central market house, dur
ing the month of December: x
'sThe house of representatives of Pennsylva-
MIA, at their last session, by an almost unani-
nous vote, expressed the opinion that slavery
within the district of Columbia ought to be abo-
Hshed: -.rs
Numerous petitions from various parts OF
the Union have been presented TO congress
praying for the revision of the laws in respect
to slavery, and the gradual abolition Of slavery
in the district:
"a petition was presented, at the last session
of congress, signed by more than 1000 inhabi-
tants of the district, praying for gradual abo-
lition of slavery therein:
#"And whereas, The ten miles square, con-
fded to the exclusive legislation of congress,
ought, for the honor of republican government,
and the interest of the district, to exhibit spe-
cimen of pure and justhws:
"Be it Resolved, That the committee on the
district of Columbia be instructed to take into
consideration the laws within the district in re-
spect to slavery; that they enquire into the
slave trade AS it exists in and is carried On
through the district; and that they report tc
the house such amendments to the existing laws
as shall seem to them to be just.
"Resolved, That the committee be further
Instructed to enquire into the eXpedlency o.
providing by law for the gradual abolition O
slaveay authin the district, in such manner, thai
the interest Of no individual shall be injured
! thereby"
The foregoing resolutions, together with the
preamble thereto prefxed, being read, Mr.
Weems, of Maryland, demanded the question:
'Wll the house now proceed to consider the
same?'-[ House Journal, session 1889, and
/ pages 1857. ---@-
| Mr.. Weems, who demanded this question
fought against the preamble and the two reso
lutons from first to last. The question which
he demanded, was not usually raised; but eve
ry member had the right Of raising it whenev-
er he thought proper; and its use was to ex-
clude at once from The house a subject which
was viewed unfit to be considered. He raised
the question for the purpose ofhaving the intro
duction of the resolutions rebuked il the most
signal manner. the vote upon i, therefore, be-
came a test question. On calling the ayes and
nays, Mr. Buchanan voted IN favor of consid
erng the preamble and resolutions introduced
| By Mr. Miner; while NJ. Alexander VIM. s
Archer, John S. Barbour, Philip P. Barbour
N. H. Claiborne, [. Dattershort, Tho. Newton
John Roane, Alex Smyth, John Taliaferro and
JAS Trezvant, of Virginia; Willis Aston, D. l.
/ Barringer, John P. Bryan, S. P Carson, H.W
Conner, T. H. Hall, G. Holmes, L. Sawyer and
D. Turner, of North Carolina: J. Carter, VIM
Drayton, VIM. D. Martin, Geo. McDufie, W
7, Nuckolls and S. Tucker, of South Carolina
Weems, of Maryland; John Floyd, T. Fort, G
r. Gilmer, c. E. Haynes Wilson Lumpkin, W
Thompson and R. Fl. Wilde, of Georgia; R. A
Buckner, H. Daniel, j. Lecompt, R. P, Letch-
er, G. Lyon, r. NJ Hatton, G: A. Wcklffe and
J.. Yancey, Of Kentucky; John Bell, David
Crockett, Robert Desha J. G. Isaacks, Pryor
Lea, j. e. Marble and James K. Polk, of Ten
nessee; H. H. Gurley, Of Louisiana; Gabriel
Moore, g. w. Owen and J. Mckee, Of Alaba,
ma; Thomas Kinds, Of Mississippi, and the
entire southern delegation, with only three
.or four exceptions, voted against it House
Journal, 1929, page 1873. The hon. Chas
a. Wickliffe, Of Kentucky, then moved to strike
out the preamble, and the subject remained.un
der discussion for several days. Mr.. Alexander
of Virginia, afterwards moved to lay the pre-.
ambe and resolutions on the table, but his mo.