Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-06-15
Remarks OF Hon. r. A. Pryor, of
Virginia..

VzEBkas1SSs
The bill appropriating money for the pur-
pose OF defraying the expenses of the return
OF captured Africans, and their support for
one year in Africa after their return. &c,
being under consideration in the House Of
Representatives
Mr.. Pryor said: Mr.. Speaker, I have nc
speech to make I rise merely to express
my regret that gentleman on the other side
should persist in precipitating the passage
Of measure against tho enactment of which
exist, in nay judgement insrperable Difficult
ties of constitution i objection. l am not
caviing, sir, but am sincere in this opinion
and frankly stain : my scruples, I submit
the question to fair minded gentlemen on
both sides of the Chamber. Let me be IN
derstood. I am not of those who deny alto
gether the authority of the Federal Govern
ment to suppress the slave trade l admit
the power nay, / affirm it. But what,slr
is the proposition before us9 Not to enact
more stringent legislation against this traf,
fic but to inaugurate policy quite beyond
that object. IF the power to prohibit the
slave trade resides in the Federal Gov
eminent, it 10 derived from that clause OF
the Constitution which invests Congress With
authority
Mr.. Bingham. I rise to question Of
order The gentleman from Virginia is enc
tering upon line Of argument to show that
there is no constitutional power for the en-
actment of bill which has already passed
this House. I make the point that all de-
bate must be now confined to the proposition
of tie gentleman from Alabama to amend
the title Of the bill
Mr.. Miilson. hope that my colleague
will be allowed to 60 on, and that will then
be permitted to reply to him.
Mr.. Bingham It would be agreeable to
me, personally, to hear debate en- the con-
stitutionallty of this bill between the two
gentlemen from Virginia; but there is other
business pressing upon the House, and this
extended debate, [ admit, cannot be INDUCED
in.
Mr.. Pryor. If permltted to proceed. |
vii. not detain the House more than tee XIII
ntes Cries of Go ONT
Mr.. Bingham. Very well, then, make
40 further objection.
Mr.. Pryor Mr. Speaker. say if the
power to prohibit the slave trade exist. it
results from that constitutional provision
which authorizes Congress TO regulate the
foreign commerce oftbe country. But, sir
tho trade which the bill before US proposes
to regulate is not commerce between the
United States and another Government. 1t
IL conmercs carried on between the coast
OF Africa and colonial dependency CT Spain.
The case. | submit. is clearly beyond the
jurisdiction of the American Government.
The bill makes provision for the suppression
of the slave trade between the Island of Gu
ba and the dominions of Dahonley-all ex~
ertion Of power for which no man can adduce
constitutions! authority. Wherefore, | OBJ
,iect that the measure before Us Involves a
hagraat aud unjustiiable usurpation.
But again whatever power tie Constlth-
tiou confers for the suppression If the slave
trade is restricted to necessary acts of penal
and prohibitory legislation. Now, tie bill
before US reaches far beyond that limitation !;
;lasmueh as it proposes to embark the Gov
erumenf on a stupeadous enterprise Of hu
iDanitarian and missionary propagandisn.
1t Congress may appropriate money ffon
the public Treasury to the support of negroes
IL the interior Of 4 frea fer Que year, why
not for twenty years, and so cd injsHifaH I
If the Federal Government .nay appoint and
empower agents to look after the physical
welfare of these negroes; why net also dis
patch religious missionaries to provide for
their intellectual and moral culture If it
b. iuhuman to deposit them Oh the coast Of
Africa without Subsistence and protectIou
alrslv it is equally unkind and inexcnsable
t. deny them, while under our jurisdiction,
the facilities of mental aud religious improve
Meut. So, sir. repeat, in no cariling spir-
it, my remonstrance against this measure.
on the ground of its obvious and undeniablc
anconstitu.ionality. My colleague Mr,
NIillsonl intends to respond to me and TO
him, as we'll as to the learned patron Of the
bill, Mr.. Reynolds appeal for a solution
OF my doubts and difficulties
There is another objection, upon wich. if
/ were permitted to go into the merits Of
this measure, might rely with infinite eff
feet. Do gentlemen app eeiate the enorm-
Gus expenditure upon which the policy Ct
this bill will precipitate the Government .
Do they know that the present appropriation
of $3.50, 600 is only for the support of sim
gle months operations in the capture of
slavers
Mr. Winslow. Not for all of them, even.
One cargo is not provided for.
Mr. Pryor. And the officers engaged in
the business inform US that the increase Of
captures Will probably exceed all calculation
Thus the policy Of this till contemplates an
illimitable perspective Of expenditure and
that at period whau an exhausted Treasu-
ny cries in vain for replenshment
But gentlemen say it is inhuman to make
no provision for these wretched beings and
the bill before us processes to respond to the
dictates philantbrophy. Why, Mr.. Speak
err, it is suggestion Of benevolent impulse
which prompts me to resist the adoption of
this measure. Here are fifteen hundred
miserable Africans spatched from the mex
orable rule of barbarism, rescued from the
remorseless domination Of cannibal tyrants,
aud delivered over to the benefcent infu-
ences of Christian civilization and yet gen
tlemen, on the plea of humanity, propose to
return them to the darkness and despotism
and pagan degradation of inhospitable Eth