The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-08-22
BUCHANAN IN FAVOR OF THE ADO
LTTION OF SLAVERY IN THE DIS


TRICT OF COLUMBIA.
A correspondent Of the New York Herald
writing from Lancaster, Pas furnishes the
following Important extract from Niles Regis
ter, BY which it appears that as long ago as
1929, Mr.. Buchanan was leading hg'tator'
and voted for the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia.
We ask The readers attention to what fol-
lows-wonder what Mrs. Grundy will say to
this expose.
IN the 10th day Of January, 1929, Mr.. Bu-
.han,, in Congress yoted-the question be-
inn made test-to proceed to the considera-
lion of the most outrageous abolition propO-
.ition ever voted on in COngrrss-one which
shows him to have been 'ngger worshipper"
of more enlarged proportion than even Sew
ard, Giddings, Hale, or any Of that llk. by
reference to Niles Register vol. ] ! p. 327,
YOU will find that Mr.. Minor moved the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions, and that
lanes Buchanan voted TO proceed to consider
the expediency Of abolishing slavery IN the
District of Columbia:
Whereas, the constitution has given to
Congress, within the District of Columbia, the
power of exclusive Legislation in all cases
whatsoever, and whereas, the laws in respect
to slavery in the District Of Columbia have
been wholly neglected:
From which neglect, for nearly thirty years.
have grown numerous and gross corruptons;
Slave dealers, gaining confidence from i'm
punity, have made the seat OF the federal
government their headquarters for carrying
on the domestic slave trade;
The public prisons have been extensively
used (perverted form the purposes for which
they were erected) for carrying on the do
niestic slave trade; aa.
Officers of the federal government have
been employed and derived emolument from
carving on the domestic slave trade;
Private and secret prisons exist IN the DIS.
trict for carrying on this traffic in human
beings;
The trade is not confined to those who are
slaves for life, but persons having limited
time to serve are bought by the slave dealers
and sent where redress is hopeless;
Others are kidnapped and carried away
before they can be rescued;
Instances of death, from anguish and des-
pair, exhibited in the District, mark the cruel
ty of this traffic; ;,
Instances of manning and suicide, executed
or attempted, have been exhibited, growing
out Of traffic within the District;
Free persons of color coming into the Dis
trict are liable to arrest, Imprisonment ana
sold into slavery for life, for Jail fees, if una
Bile, from ignorance, misfortune or fraud, 10
prove their freedom;
Advertisements beginning, "we vii! give
cash for one hundred likely young negroes,
of both sexes, from eight to twenty hive years
old" contained in tn, public prints Of the city,
under the notice of Congress, Indicate the
openness and extent of the traffic;
Scenes of human beings exposed Mt public
vendue are exhibited here, permitted by The
laws of the general government, woman
having been advertised to be sold Mt Loyd's
tavern, near the Central Market house, during
che month of December;
A grand jury of the District has presented
the slave trade rs ii grievance;
A writer in public print in the District
has set forth that, to those who have never
seen a spectacle of the kind exhibited by the
slave trade) no description can give an AIDE.
quate idea of its horrors;
To such extent had this been carried in
1916, that member of Congress from Viz
ginia introduced n resolution into the House,
athat a committee be appointed to examine
into the existence of an inhuman and Illegal
traffic in slaves, carried on in and through the
District of Columbia, and report whether any,
and what measures ARE necessary Tor inc put
ting stop to the saine;"
The House of Representatives OF PennsyI'
vanin. Mt their Inst session, by an almost
unanimous vote, expressed the opinion that
slavery within the District of Columbia ought
to be abolished;
Numerous petitions from various parts OF
the Union, have been presented to Congress,
praying for the revision of the laws in respect
10 slavery, and the gradual abolition OF slave
nv within the District of Columbia;
A petition was presented to the last session
of Congress signed by more than one thou
sand Inhabitants of the District, praying for
the gradual abolition Of slavery therein;
And, whereas, the ten miles square, coniid-
ed to the exclusive legislation OF Congress,
ought, for the honor of this republican gov
eminent, and the interest Of the District, 10
exhibit a specimen Of pure and just laws
Be il resolved, That the Committee for the
District of Columbia be instructed to take
into consideration the laws within The Dis
trict, in respect to slavery; that they inquire
into tie slave trade rs it exists in, and Is car
red on through the District and that they
report to the House such amendments TO the
existing laws us shall seem to them 10 Do
just.ss'
Resolved, That the Committee be further
instructed to inquire into the expediency OF
providing, by law, for the gradual abolition Of
slavery within the District, in such manner
that the interest of no individual shall be in
jured thereby.
When the above abolition preamble and
resolutions were read, Mr.. Weems, Of Mary
land, moved the question of consideration, on
which question Mr.. Minor demanded the yeas
and nays, and they were ordered by the
House. So the question being or the con-
sderation, il was decided in the affirmative
yeas iO4, nays 10. Among the yeas you will
find the names of all the democrats in the
Pennsylvania egation-James Buchanan
Henry A. Muhenburg, George Wolf, Cam
breleng, Coulter, MKean Switzerland, and
others. The vote was in the main, sectional
one-the measure being regarded as radical
abolition aggression upon the rights and in
stitutons of the South.
Mr.. STEPHENS ENDORSING MR. FILLMORE.
in September, ls4s, the Hon. A. ii. Ste
phens, addressed a meeting of citizens at