The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-29
TIE RETURNED AFnLcANs.

The following remarks were made by Mr.. Stewart,
Of Maryland, in the House Of Representative on
"Wednesday last in explanation and defence of the
action of the President in dsposing Of the captured
Africans. The case is plain that we are surprised
that it could be possibly misconceiyed or misunder-
stood in Congress. The measures taken were COM
handed by the law. There was the narrowcst pos
sible margin left by law to the Executive discre-
ton and the objection TO the action that taken
by the President appears TO us to be nothing else
than an objection to his obeying the laws Of his
country
Mr.. STEWART said am opposed TO the amendment
OF the gentleman from Georgia have listened with pa
thence to the various commentaries made here in relation TO
this act of 1919 look upon this whole question
involving merely the consideration whether the President
of the United States in the execution OF the act of 1919
has exercised sound discretion have heard the
PLANTATION OF my friend from Georgia. Mr. CRAwFoRD
assuming the act of 1919 TO be within the purycw of
the constitution aud on that question do not mean to
commit myself Assuming IL to be constitutional then
the question arises, in such this what is the
duty of the Executive Under tho language of the act
of 1872 it is the duty Of the President of the United
States whenever Africans brought in by vessels of the
United States To sec that they taken of and TO
provide that they removed beyond the jurisdiction
OF the United States and they required be deliver
ed upon the coast of Africa to agentsome proper
Who is proper agent What is the duty of the Presi
dent under that part of the law Suppose proper
agent be found the coast of Africa to receive them
what is the duty of the President of the United States
These Africans have TO be kept and supported and it
may be one two five years and the government of
the United States may be involved in enormous
pense if there proper agent agents there To
| ceiye them.
Then may not understand the act of 1879 TO clothc
the President of the United States with power still TO
take charge OF and retain these negroes when transport
ell to Africa, if there agent TO receive them ask
gentlemen what should the President take under
such circumstances He is not authorized under the
act of 1872 TO set them at large but to have them
delivered to proper agent because under the phrase
oogy OF that clause they to be supported until they
delivered TO such agent say, therefore, that,
under the act of 1919 it the duty of the President OF
the United States to that propcr agent con-
sttuted to receive them; and if he necessarily
obliged to make contract STIMULATING for their support,
in order to carry out the provisions OF the act of 1872
aud he made reasonable arrangement under the act OF
1872 see objection which be made to the act OF
the President of the United States upon this subject.
The President to be between two fires both in
front and He is blamed by gentlemen of the
North il he undertakes to carry out the fugitive slave
law and by in the South if he to carry into
effect the act of 1919 l opposed TO all these super
fine criticisms and complaints whether from the North
the South. Without being the apologst of the Prcsi
dent maintain that in carrying out the laws upon the
statute book he has acted in good faith and with reason
and common sense State-rights man, of the
sctest sect and against loose construction of the
constitution any OF the statutes in force under
this government but submit it is not right WISE
according to the well defined principles of law OF
sense to adopt those sublimatcd constructions
and superne notions in relation to the conduct of the
President under the act of 1919.