Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-28
louise of Representatives January 26.

tic appropriation bill.
The question was taken upon the proviso
submitted by Mr.. Curry yesterday, i'll regard
TO the appropriation for the payment OF ex-
pcnses incurred in pursuance Of the act OF
1919. and it was lost.
Mr.. Crawford, of Georgia, said he could
not support the appropriation of SI5.oOo Tor
carving into effect the provisions OF the act
of 1919. because $4,000 would 90 10 the
Colonization Society for supporting and cdu-
eating the negroes taken from the brig Echo;
and moved ~ strike il out The law Of 1919
ONLY authorized the President 10 provide for
the support of the negroes while here, and
effect their removal beyond the limits of the
nitci States.
Mr.. Stewart. of Nd. sustained the action
Of the President ~ cmincmtly wise and pro-
per. The law of lSl9 required him 10 take
charge Of these negroes and deliver them 10
a proper agent. II, in cticctng that result,
it became necessary To make contract with
that agent for their support for year, he
could see no good ground for objection. In
CARRYING out the law he thought the President
should be- guided 10y principles OF common
sense. lie WAS opposed to these supertlnc
distinctions made by gentlemen.
Mr. Millson. of Virginia, WAS surprised AZ
the scnsitiyeness of southern gentlemen upon
this subject. who seemed disposed 10 treat 1t
as Il matter affecting the slave trade. lie
did not so regard it, for in his opinion If the
South condemned the slave trade, she rcpu-
dated the basis on which her institutions
rest lie Thought the President had pursued
the proper course in the premises, and quoted
from Mr. Monroe to show that i'll Il previous
case he took the same ground a. Mr. Buch-
anan.
Mr.. Case. of Indiana, moved to strike out
the whole section. He thought 1t should be
stricken out rs al act Of consistency III II
country where rights of every sort were de-
MED to negroes Under the very shadow ot
the capitol they were subjected 10 outrage
and wrong and consistency required that the
same policy should be carried out.
Mr.. Kcitt. of s. c., said gentlemen from
his side Of the house had not contended that
this appropriation had anything t" d" with
slavery OF the slave trade. They had oppo-
scd il On the ground that it was IN violation
of law. The gentleman from Ohio yester-
dav. found the point Of law against him. and
made out his argument by an appeal 10 the
svmpathcS of the House \ great deal had
been said of the horrors Of the middle pas
sage. Of IN unregulated slave trade, but they
were fully equalled, il not surpassed by the
horrors OF the emigrant passage between Flu
rope and the Northern States. The shores oil
New Jersey were whitened with the bones OF
the victims OF the cupidity Of eastern ship
owners and the carelessncSs of those having
them in charge
He would not now discuss the question Of
re-openimg the slave slave trade. lie regar
dcd that rs Il great economic problem which
would resolve itself by it, own inherent Vi
tally.
Mr. Whtcley. of Del, moved to strik" out
the enacting clause-loSt.
Mr. Crawtord'S amendment to reduce the
to S45 ,0Uu was carried, by ayes
10. nays IS.
Mr.. Seward, of Ca. offered as an amend
ment Il proyiso for abolShing all the laws for
the suppression Of the slave trade, leaving that
matter under the control of the several States.
Mr. Bonham. of South Carolina. offered IN
striking ont the two last lines;
which was adopted.
Mr. Seward, of Ga, said he looked upon
all laws for the suppression of the slave trade
rs miscellaneous and unconstitutional. lie
would not take ground in favor Of the revival
of that trade but the laws on the subject con !
tanned provisions which were, in his judy |
mcnt, clearly unconstitutional.
Mr.. Burnett protested against this revival !
of the slavery agitation. The question Of the
revival of the slave trade was not involved |
in the appropriation under consideration.
and he appealed t. gentlemen not 10 engage |
in exciting debate upon Il subject not before |
them.
Mr.. Singleton said it was not his desire to
precipitate IL discussions that the only hope |.
of the South was in strict adherence to |
law. She was the weaker party: the aholi- !
tionistS were constantly gaining upon her |
and she must intcrpose the law between her |
self and her ASSISTANTS. The appropriation |
asked for was in violation of law, and he had
opposed it on that ground.
Mr.. Cochrane Of n Y, said the House |
was discussing propositions not lcSltlmately |
before it. If it was proposed 10 repeal the
law suppreSsing the slave trade, he was
ready to meet the issue when it was prcScn-
ted.
Mr.. Groesbcck said he hoped if that issue
was to be made it would he made mt once
He was ready to meet it. In his opinion it
was more likely that laws would be passed to
more faithfully execute those in force than to
repeal them
Mr.. Hughes, Of Ind. said that the demo
,ratic party was based upon the constitution
and therefore he belonged to it; but when
ever it should propose to repeal the laws for
the suppression of the slave trade it would
ease to exist.
Mr.. Barksiale, of Miss. regretted this de-
bate. because it was not the proper time to
discuss the subject. He was ready to take
MS position when the issue came up. He
believed the President had violated the law
in making the contract, but he believed he .
vas actuated by pure and honest motives.
Mr.. Clay, of KY. rose to personal eXpla-
lation. He had said yesterday that he was
opposed to all the laws for the suppression of
the slave trade, because they were too Sc
'"re. He had also opposed the 9Th article Of
he treaty Of Washington. because ont of that
lad grown the entangling alliance with
treat Britain which had led to the pcrpetra-
ion ofthose outragcs in the Gulf Of Mexico
~ her cruisers. He also objected to the ex-
,rnsc we were subjected to in keeping
squadron on the coast of Africa; but n0twith-
Standing these views, no man was more OPP
,osed to revival of the African slave trade
han he was, and he believed the people of