Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-12-29
VIM. w. FLOYD.

The following IS copy of the substitute of- fered by the Hon. John II. Askew:
 WHEREAS, It is the opinion of this General Assembly that the institution of slavery is sane. toned by the Bible.
 And Wemeas, aLso, the same was. at the lima of the settlement of this country by our ances tors part of the Common Law of Enolana and that they, in their emigration to this conn. try, brought with them the common law of England as their birth right; by virtue of which in addition to Divine right, the institution of slavery became, and was, on the fourth day of July, l776 a part of the common law of this country.
 Am Whereas, also, the declaration of Inde- pendence did not destroy any of the rights of our ancestors, enjoyed by them at the time they severed the ties that united them to the mother conntry-but all their rights of property still existed.
 And Whereas, also, the institution of slavery at the tune of the adoption of the constitution ot the United States existed in the same right in which 1t did at the time of the declaration of Independence
 And Whereas, also, the constitution of the United States recognizes and protects, the rights o' the master to his slave wherever that con- stitution has force
 And Whereas, also, the constitution of the United States Is the paramount law of the land any laws or State constitution to the contra " notwithstanding.
 And Whereas, the principal staple production of the south IS the result of slave labor.
 Anm Whereas, the action of the government of the United States, in lending it's aid to the interdcton of the importation of Africans to the United States Is ln derogation of the rights of \ ast,r,
 Resoo0ea 6y the General Assembly of the State ct Arhansas That our senators and representa- tlyes in Congress be, ami they are hereby re. qiested, to use their influence for the abroga- tion of all treaties with any and all the nations of the earth, requiring the United States to keep naval force on the African coast:-and also tor the repeal of all laws declaring it pira- cy for American citizens to import Africans to the United States
 MR. PREsIDENT--The subject now under consideration Is the adoption of a series of re solutions, proposed by the senator from Union county, as d substitute for the original resolu- tlon offered by the senators from Monroe and Hot Spring counties. The first proposition of the original resolution was to announce. by our instructions, the re-openins of the African slave trade. The second went so far as to strike at the foundation of the ev or impocy. by ask ing Congress to give notice for the abrogation of all treaties that require the general government to keep large naval force on the African coast. The substitute offered by the senator from Union seems to strike with a great deal of force at the error, and embraces the whole scope of the subject. The substitute asserts national right in all its bearings, which I think its the duty of the senators upon this floor to vlndlcate and uphold. The question then be- fore the senate, is not the re-opening of the African slave trade, but the immediate abroga- tion of all treaties with every nation that re- qulred the United States to keep up and SUD- port large navy on the coast of Africa, or that make 1t piracy for an American citizen to purchase slave in foreign nation and im- port him into the United States.
 Sir, l put this question on higher ground than Is usually assumed. As nation of freemen we should take the position at once before the world, that all treaties should be immediately aorogated that infringe our rights as great po- iitcal community, and that prevent us from exercising that undisputed and inherent right which is connected with sopereignty. It is a principle that rises far above all other consider atlons with sovereign in the exercise of his supreme power, he should be free to act, with-