Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-24

Government-nay, from the origin Of the Revolu-
ton; never angriy, except when political power
was connected with the decision. had occasion,
eleven years ago, to participate in such debate
here, although never alude to the subject unless
it is introduced by others for, from my expe-
rience, it has not proved profitable one of dis
cussion in Congress, and but for that experience
should not now address the Senate.
Mr.. President, when look over this body and
am unable to recognize single individual here
who was member of 1t the fret year of my SER
vice here, am taught profitable lesson. look
again, and find but one whose service here dates
prior to my own, and turn naturally to him for
counsel and for guidance.
What are the recommendations of that Senator
Mr.. CRIrrENDEN to US? Do they breathe any
spirit ofill-will? Do they regard this question
too difficult to be surmounted by the wisdom and
patriotism of the Senate? No. sir. The course
he points out is as obvious as the path at noon
day; do right that is all that is wanted. We have
had difficulties from the outset this question of
slavery; but they have always been surmounted.
| 1t was brought into discussion when the Declara-
| ton of Independence was made in 1776. 1t was
presented to the convention of Virginia, which
sent delegates to the Congress of l774; and was
never presented to Congress of the Colonies or
States of the Union, without elictng some differ
ence of opinion If not dissatisfaction and yet for
more than eighty years, those difficulties have been
overcome by fraternal and liberal regard to the
interests of the whole country.
The Senator from Virginia Mr.. Mason invited
us, the other day. to go back to the course of the
fathers of the Republic; to deal with this subject
in their fraternal spirit and according to their
teachings. l am willing to meet him on that
! ground, and to meet Senators from the South OH
the precise ground, to deal with the question it
has been dealt with, in a spirit of candor and
frankness, with no desire to excite unkind feeling
in any one 1t has become environed with diff
culties, which did not originally exist desire
the Senate to recoect the history of this contro-
versy. It has been made to embrace some points
which are contained in a recent decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States often referred
to in this debate as to who are citizens; and also
the power of this Government over the Terrific
ries of the United States-questions which origi-
mated before the Constitution was formed, and
which, in my Judgment, was settled either before
the Constitution was made, Or when it was estab-
lished. .... ......r '. .....
If Senators will consult the record, they will be
in no doubt as to who were made citizens, and
none as to the powers of this Government in the
Territories. will read as to the first introduction
of slavery into these colonies. 1 do not find the
account to be, as stated by the Senator from Vir-
ginia, [Mr. MASON in 1920. Mr.. Jefferson, one
of the fathers, says:
"The first establishment in Virginia which be-
came permanent was made in 1907. l have
found no mention made of negroes in the colony
until about 1850. The first brought here as
slaves were by Dutch ship; after which the
English commenced the trade, and continued it
until the Revolutionary war;"
Mr. jefferson is pretty good authority as to the
early history of Virginia, and he says slavery
was first introduced in 1850, by the Dutch. Eff
forts are now made to show that the trade was
commenced by England, and that slavery existed
by the common law. do not know how that
may be, that il is MATERIAL but the court in the
hDred Scott case say, that at
-"this day it is difficult to realize the state of
public opinion in relation to that unfortunate race
which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened
portions of the world at the time of the Declara-
ton of Independence, and when the Constitution
of the United States was framed and adopted.
They had for more than a century before been
regarded as 80 far inferior as TO have "no rights
which the white man was bound 70 re'pect and
that the negro might justly and lawfully be re-
duced to slavery for his benefit" &C.; that up to
the time Of the adoption of the Constitution this
right had not been called in question, or words to
that effect and that all public acts and records are
to be construed in reference to the opinions pre-
vailing at the time they we're written, and not as
If written in our day, with our enli ghtened and
humane opinions of that unfortunate race, &c.
But to return to the history Of African slavery in
the colonies, which was introduced into Virginia
in 1850. / find in the annals Of Rhode Island
that in 1852 the government there passed this
order:
| "Whereas there is a common course practiced
amongst English men 10 buy negers, to that end
| they may have them for service or slaves for
'ever; for the preventinge Of such practices
among us, let it be ordered, that no blacke man.
kind or white, being forced by covenant, bond,
or otherwise, to serve any or his assignees
longer than ten yeares, or until they come to be
'twentie four yeares Of age, If they bee taken in
under IA from the time Of their cominge within
the liberties Of this coonic. And at the end
or tcrme Of ten yeares to sett them free, as the
manner is with the English servants."-
That does not look much as if, by the common
law of England, they were dfbngcr.
-"And that man that will not let them goe free,
'or shall sell them away elsewhere, to that end
that they may bee cnslaved to others for long
time, bee they shall forfeit TO the collone forty
pounds"
suppose that is about as early law for the
prevention of slavery as can be found upon rec
ord. The next law, suppose, was made against
the Dutch slave trade, and was in this form:
Ordered That all Dutchmen, except inhabi.
tants amongst us, arc prohibited to trade with
'the Indians in this collonie aud in case they be
found to ransgress herein, they shall forfeit to
the collonie goods and vessel il proved and this
'order to be in force two months after the date
hereof; and if this case come TO be tried, it
shall be tried in the General Court of Tryalls.
"The President, Mr.. John Smith, is chosen
| Moderator of the Assembly this Goth of Nav