The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-27

asly laws would BE- pased for the fishiuI execution
nn for the repeal Of those tho Etatute-books he
.nnEoyed q every act Of the President
Mr HUGHES said the democratic, party never was
s0nal party but whenever that party or any con
erabe portion OF H. By direction indircction adopt
"A proposition 20 foster encourage the slave trade
then Il could longer exist He did not wish sec
hs issue postponed, but ready to meet il at
Mr. SINGLETON stated that the gentleman was mis-
aiken in supporng that they advocating the reopen
g Of this trade He had only opposed the establishing
d the precedent that returned negroes should be edu
c4ted
rbts of the States but would go FAR a. the urhest
me- believed however that they would be placed la false
tjon growing out Of the discussion of this question
H. was or enforcing the laws, and opposed TO this higher
law whether in the North or South.
Mr. JONES, OF tennessee, hoped the Chair would con
fne the debate strictly 10 the amendments under eonsd
Grafton
inc clause be stricken which motion not agreed
Mr. BARKSDALE was satisfied the President in re-
turning these Africans violated the law but he believed
he vas animated 10y pure and patriotic motive and he
vas not prepared TO condemn him. lie believed the
amendment Of Mr. SINGLETON ought TO have been adopted
Under this amendment the motives Of the President would
not have been condemned simply his official conduct
rut upon bill like this the DISCUSSION upon the reopen
inc Of the slave trade III timed At the proper time
ard under the proper circumstances he would be pre-
rare
Mr. NICHOLS Of Ohio took the same ground with
reference 10 acts Of the President that he occupied yester
dAv and was Of the opinion that enough Of time had
been consumed in its consideration.
Mr. CLAY, Of Kentucky. made personal explanation
IN relation TO the remark which he made Yesterday that
be opposed to all the laws in reference 10 the slave
trade, 10 prevent misconstrneon. There
upon the floor opposed TO the reopcning OF the slave
trade than himself He also opposed to the law
rendering the slave trade piracy because he believed the
tho he
and gave this explanation Of the manner in which
he desired his remarks 10 be interpreted.
Mr., BURNETT inquired whether the gentleman would
enfggce them as they now exist.
Mr. CLAY replied that he most certainly would
Mr. MILES OF South Carolina had listened with some
regret 70 the discussion He that hideous thing-a
sectional man He the representative OF sovereign
State OF the weaker section and they could not but be
SECTIONAL because they must be united in order to main
tain their rights He did class himself in the great
NATIONAL democratic ranks He would go with that party
honestly where he could conscentiousy and consistently
with the honor Of his section but when they called upon
him depart iota FROM that course, he turned his
back upon them, and left them forever. Aud while he
was prepared TO advocate the reopenng Of the slave
trade he prepared to advocate the sweeping away
from statute books o the laws which stamped the PEG
pe OF his State pirates II impossible TO escape
the logic OF the gentleman from Ohio Mr. GEoEsHEcK
that Il piracy. il always had been pracyif
crime against religion, il always had been. He would
never consent to allow this stigma remain which de-
graded and put sur upon the people of his section Of
the coneieracy.
Mr. GoOCH, Of Massachusetts,, did not regret the dis
cussion. If the people had known the views of many
members upon these questions before they elected
very different result might have taken place.
Mr. HOUSTON, OF Alabama, reinarking that the
chairHan Of the Committee of Ways and Means would
permit the amendments already adopted TO before
the House. moved that the enaciing clae be stricken
out,
Mr.. GARRETT, of Virginia, inquired whether the
a.