The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-04-20


though no law YOU NAV pass can take pro-
hibitory effect till the first day of the year
l~no. yet the intervening period is not too
long To prevent by timely notice, cNpcdl-
tions which can be comple ted before that
day. congress responded, with cordhall-
~, TO the recommendation OF the Presi-
dent.
The Senate then sat with closed doors.
and reports Of its proceedings upon tins
subject have not come to M. but the
proceedings Of the House of Representa-
tive5 are iuil OF interest. One OF the mem
bcrs OF Georgia, a statesman OF aniity, VINO
Afterwards hllcd the highest Ju"lel'l an"
executive Offices of the Stite-UoFefhor
Eeafly-was placed at the head OF @ com
mittee TO report a suitable measure. IN
the course OF the debate. Governor Early
said, Il belIevcit is the view 81 every mem
Der OF the committee, and all part. "i the
nation, 70 pat an end TO tins traihc ana
! ann per uadcd shall We believed by the
committee when ! assure them that, IN
framing this bill, had my eye ON the pro
visions which ] thought wouiG be- best cal
culatcd TO effect this desirable object. -
/ Georgia as early as l7gS, had incorporated
into her state constitution prohibition OF
the trade. which remains iu her cpusutu-
ton al this time.
Mr.. Macon, Of North Carolina. who
was then the Speaker of the House, -aid,
| Il believe, on this subject, there Is but one
/ opinion, which is To ciiectually prohiblt
Z the importation of slaves into the United
/ States. This sentiment pcrvade- the
I breast of every member of the community.
| The great object is to prevent importa-
/ ton.
Perhaps | may be- under the influence
/ oI local prejudice. but there is no state oi
/ the Union more opposed To the Hnpot.a-
/ ton OF slaves than the State oi North Gar
oiiua. Il wa, proposed by her, ten years
[ 20, so To amend the Constitution a. 10
/ give Congress the power of prohibiting the
importation of slaves. ! believe the prop
. o-ltIon passed by an unanimous vote.
In the course of the debate Al was stat
"a that the trade was tolerated in only a
single state 40 that time. The House of
! Representatives passed the act of lso1
with only live dissenting votes, and two
OF the dIssents were from New England.
Subsequently. the opposition to the
trade increased in intensity throughout
the world. -IIsEafss have been made
among al The Christian states Tor rs abO-
htion. The laws Of the United States
have been made more stringent, and the
public conscience sanctioned the rigor OF
the laws. For more than fifty years ha,
the prohibition of the trade been absolute
and during that period all the indication,
were taat none would he willing To take
any step backward. / am sure that the
proposition 10 reopen the trade when sub
mIttud from some responsible source, thai
the whole country was a~tpni-hed with
great establishment. | am sure that tn,
fraudulent and pIratical efforts that hay,
been made 90 make slaves of Africans. il
despite oi the treaties and laws of the Uni
ted States. can awaken no other senti
meut- than those Of Indignation and dis
gust and prompt To no other resolution
than those that will aid to maintain TIN
supremacy oI the laws. In reference 4,
. the attempts 20 violate them i'm this lii
tTIot. ! invoke your active and diligent ei
forts 10 bring the Indicators to Justice