The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
WASHINGTON, D. C..
THE AMIsTAD CASE.
Men not Recognised as Property By the consti-
tuition
SPEECH OF HON. De WITT C. LEACH,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JYyAaY ~, 1858.

SfteIn VI nVNs uC VIII w. LEHUn,
OF MICHIGAN,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JSyAsY ~, 1858.
Mr.. Chairman II il the unquestioned right of
the sovereign people to understand fully, in ell
It's bearings, whatever 10 recommended to the
favorable consideration of Congress by the
Chief Magistrate of the nation. And, sir, it is
evidently our duty, ~ Representatives of the
people, 70 investigate thoroughly all matters
ihst-have thus received the Executive sanction;
to receive, approve, and adopt, what il just and
urjlst or inexpedient. This is not simply our
privilege-not . matter optional with rs, to be
done or left undone, but an imperative duty,
faithful performance Of which our constituents
have q right to expect at our hands. Hence,
] rejoice ct the entire freedom with which the
annual message of the President is examined
and criticised, both in this Hall and in the other
wing of the Capitol. 1t is. necessary, highly
necessary, and eminently proper, that this
should be done. These annual repetitions of q
close and searching examination of that i'm
pcrtaut document are essential to the highest
usefulness, the purity and permanence of our
system Of government. A fearless and manly
exercise Of this inalienable and constitutionally
guaranteed right of freedom of discussion, can
not be neglected or surrendered without i'm.
perilling all that we, as American citizens, most
sacredly cherish.
/ am aware, sir, that discussions on these
occasions are sometimes deemed unnecessarily
severe on the Executive; but it must be remem-
bered, that when q man assumes the direction
of the affairs of this great nation, he voluntari-
ly makes himself the servant of many millions
of freemen each Of whom has q right to know
how be discharges his duties, and to proclaim
his approval or declare his disapprobation, in
such terms as he may deem most appropriate.
And it should be further remembered, that or
binary men only are reached by ordinary means
Those in high places, who have power and
patronage In their hands, may commit with i'm
punity deeds which would be regarded as in
famous, if perpetrated by the untitled and the
weak. Hence, q more thorough exposure,
more emphatic and severe condemnation, be-
come necessary, when men in high places make
serious mistakes or commit great crimes.
The people, sir, have q high regard for the
Presidential Office, aud, when worthily filled,
for the President himself. But they do not
alswys receive with confidence, and unreserved-
ly adopt, the opinions of him who many happen
to bear the honored title; for since the fathers
of the Republic fell asleep, they have learned,
by sad experience, how often and how far even
a President may stray from the landmarks of
Freedom. Often has been verified to them the
truth of Jefferson's declaration, that eternal
vigilance is the price of Liberty" and they
have learned TO know that the higher the sphere
in which public functionsry moves, the great
er the necessity for closely scrutinizipg his
acts, and cautiously weighing his recommends
tons. No mans opinion, in matters of mo-
ment, is to be taken upon trust; and least of
all that of public officer, on matters of grave
political import. And the subject becomes of
the first Importance, and demands cautious,
wise, and decided action, when that opinion
bears directly or indirectly on the freedom of
of any part of the great family of man, or
when it tends toward the establishment of rules
that are liable to be construed a. favorable to
Slavery, or as hostile to any of those 4" inalien-
able rights which are the birthright of every
member of the human race.
Hence, sir, have few remarks to offer upon
what the President has been pleased to recon.
mend, relative to the Africans liberated from
the Spanish ship Amistad, by the authorities
OF the United States, some eighteen years ago.
i choose to speak upon this part of the message,
rather than that other and more important Dor.
ton which treats of popular sovereignty"
and African Slavery in Kansas, for the rea-
son that in both branches of Congress that
subject has already been ably discussed, and
other gentlemen around me, am sure, will
pursue it still further, until the unparalleled
inquiries praeticed upon the freemen of that
unhappy Territory shall be exposed to the view
of an indignant and outraged people. At the
same time, / am anxious that every word the
President has uttered in his message, at the
behest and for the interests of Slavery, should
receive due attention for / am confident in
the belief that there are multitudes in the free
States who supported him for the Office he
now holds, that did not do it designedly for the
benefit of Slavery, and that will repudiate with
scorn his efforts in its behalf, and henceforth
give their influence and their votes to men
whose lives are sufficient pledge that they
will ever be found true to the cause of Freedom. |
Hence, 1 pay my respects to that portion of
the message which relates to the Amistad Afri |
cans. |
This subject has been at least twice before |
brought to the attention of Congress once by |
President Polk, and once by the Immediate |
predecessor OF the present incumbent Yet |
Congress has not hitherto deemed it WORTHY of |
serious consideration and trust that since
the matter has slept 80 long and 80 quietly. il |
will not now meet with favor at the hands of |
TINS body. And am not without confidence
that 1t will be permitted to sleep on; or that.
IL brought into the House, it will meet the fac
90 eminently deserves, and be Indignantly
rejected by an expression 30 emphatic that nei. |
Their the present incumbent of the Presidential |
othce, nor any of his successors, will ever again
venture TO intrude it upon the attention of Con
gress Sure l am, if gentlemen will but give |
The subject the attention it deserves, they can |
arrive at no other conclusion than that it has
no business here
But let Us hear what the Executive says rela. |
tive to this matter. quote entire his remarks
nnpp olot, -
regret TO say thai progress whatever has been
uemeni OF any Of he claims of our citizens
ssansi ihe Spanish Government Besdes, the outrage
committed On our flag by the Spanish fripae Ferro
lara on the high of the coast of Cuba i'm March
~ nrng INTO the American mali FL Dora.
oo ehd tanning and searching nm kuo
edged and unredressed The general tone and Of
me spanish Government towards that of the United
freordinary and Minister TO Madrid H.
asked 10 De recalled and my purpore 10 send out
questions pending between the two Governm.n,s ana
with de,e, on TO have them speedily and amicsblv
our minister urges the just claims citizens ON m.
notice OF the spanish Government he is met with The oh
recomme nded by President Polk in his ANIMAL pessaS
Of Decemefr 1sa7, 10 be paid The Spanish Govern
in the Amisiad case similar recommrnSa NON s
made by my immediate predecessor in his mrss.es a.,
opinion indemnity is Justly dne nnd yoso IN inc
with Spain Of the 27th October 1895 eaTnes,Ix
ZION Of Congress" 'o"'oefa'
So, if the President is correct, our Minister |
at the Court of Spain !: unsuccessful in nrss..
ing the Just GAINS of our citzens,n partly be.
oAn'. > of the neglect of this Government to paw
for the Amistad Africans. And to remove this |
difficulty, TO put that kingdom in better " tone |
and temper" the President "earnestly recon-
mends an appropriation to the favorable con-
s;deration of Con0reaan