Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-03

AAS
Record.
Our investigation Of Mr.. Bells record has
touched the "Whig" to the very quick; and
well it might, for, as it was not original with
US, but made up Of selections FROM contempt
raneous history, there could be no evasion, and
its damage must be most disastrous.
To avoid the consequences of such al expose
the "Whig" charges US with having made
.ga.bled extracts" from the record Of iIr. Bell.
There can be nothing more unfair or dishonest
in public discussion than to misrepresent a
man by ''garbled extracts and in order to
clear ourselves of the charge, we publish the
entire chapter from "Benton's Thirty AeaFs
View" Our readers will thus be enabled 10
Judge whether we have made 'garolea e"
tracts" and il any unjust Impression has been
made, the whole history is before them, ana any
error wc nav have made can be corrected:
uCu.sreR XXXvI, Vol. II.-Sarery Ag'ta,
tim in TIE lH2asc 81 Representatives., dnd
Retiring 81 S3Hthsr" Members from inc
HuM. 49,,
The most angry and portentous debate which
Ind yet taken place IN Congress occurred at TINS
timei in the House Of Representatives. It was
brol ,ht on by Mr.. William Slade, Of Vermont,
who. besides presenting petitions Of the usual
Abolition character, and moving to refer them
to = committee, moved their reference to a Sc
|rct committee, with Instructions to report a
bill in conformity to their prayer. This mo-
ton, iuAammatory ard irritating in itself, and
without practical legislative object, as the great
-: -, "a ,ha In,sa ,yos kp0Wn fD M OnnN-
sei 70 II, was rendered still more cXaspcratlng
bv the manner Of supporting it. The mover
entered into 4 general disqnisition on the sub
ice: Of slavery, all ~dcnunciatory, and was pro-
c.eiias TO speak upon it in the State OF. Virgil
GINA. and other States, il the same spirit,
wh-u Mr.. Lega.e, Of South Carolina %interposed,
and
Hoped the gentleman from Vermont would
allow him to make a few remarks before he
Proceeded further. He sincerely hoped that
gentleman would consider well what he was
about before he vcntured on such ground, ana
that he would take time to consider what might
be its probable consequences. lie soicinniy en-,
treated him 10 T, lcct on the possible results oil
such : course, which involved the interest OF a
nation ard a continent. He would warn him,
not in the language Of defiance, which all brave
and wise men despised, but he would warn him
in the language vi 4 solemn sense Of duty, that
if there was u spirit aroused in the North in
relation TO this subject That spirit would en-
counter another spirit in the South full as
stubborn. H. would tell them that, when this
question was forced upon the people Of the
South, they would be ready TO take up the
gauntlet. lie concluded by urging on the gen.
tlenan from Vermont 10 ponder we'll on his
cou,s So before he vcntured to proceed"
Mr.. Siade continued MS remarks when Mr..
Dawson, Of Georgia, asked him for the hoor,
tina, he might move an ad journIncn evidently
to carry of the storm which he saw rising. Mr..
Slade refused 10 yield it.; so the motion to adj
iourn could not be made. Mr.. Sladc continued,
and was proceeding to answer his own inquiry,
put ,o himselC-what aras sldrery: when Mr..
Dawson aglin asked for the floor, 10 make his
motion OF adjournment. Mr.. Slade refused
il; a visible commotion began to pervadc the
uou>e-nsmbers rising, clustering together,
and talking with animation. Nj. Sladc con-
timed, and was about reading c judicial opinion
in che of the Southern States which defined a
slave 10 be Il chattel-whcn Mr.. Wise called
him to order for speaking beside the question
the question being upon the abolition Of slave
re IN the District Of Columbia, and MI. SHADES
remarks going 10 It's legal character, as
property in a State. The Speaker, Mr.. John
Waite. Of Ncatucky, sustained the call, saying
il WAS not in order to discuss the subject Of
slavery in any OF the States. Mr.. Slade denied
tina, he was doing so, and said he was merely
cuo,in.a Southern judicial decision as he might
quote Il le=al opinion deliVcredi in Great Britain.
MIR. Robertson, Of Virginia. moved that the
House adjourn. The Speaker pronounced the
motion (and correctly, out Of order, as the
member from Vermont was in possession Of
the T. ,r and addressing the House. He would,
however. suggest 10 the member from Yer
mont, who cou!3 no. but observe the state Of
the House, to conine himself strictly to the
snLircs OF hi: motion. Nj. SlaGc went on at
c-ca, length, when sir. P%ctrikin, of Pennsyl-
rania, called him 10 order; but the Chair did
not sustain the call. Mr.. Shade went on, quo
ting from the Declaration Of Independence, and
the constitutions Of the several States, and had
got 10 that Of Virginia. when Mr.. Wise called
lin t. o:acr for reading papers without the
lea"c o. the House. The Speaker decided that
no paper, objected TO, could he read without
the leave Of the House. Mr.. Wise then said:
Thar the gentleman had w~antcnly discussed
the abstract question Of slavery, going back 10
the very first day Of the creation, instead of
slavery as It existed in the District. and the
powers and duties Of Congress in relation 10 il.
II. was ;low examining the State constitutions
TO show, that a il existed in the States, it was
ogains; ;hem and against the laws Of God and
man. THIS was out order"
Mr.. Slad- explained. and argucd in vindica-
ion Of his course. and was about TO read 4 me-
MORA! Of Dr.. F.anklin. and an opinion Of Mr..
Madison on the subject o. slavery-when the
reading was objected to by Mr.. Griffin, Of South
Carolina; and the Speaker decided they could
49,, -. -aas .y,tt,pf , no r.rp,iscipp oS Tho IJn,rn
Mr.. Sladc, without asking the permission of
tine ii5uSc, which he knew would not be grant
ed, assumed 20 understand the prohibition as
extending only u himself personally, said
.7Aen send them to the Clerk: let him rcaa
them The Speaker decided that this was
equally against the rule. Then Mr.. Griffin
withdrew the objection, and Mr.. Sladc proceed
ed 10 read the papers, and to comnent upon
them as nc wen: on, and was about to go back
to the State CT Virginia, and Show what had
been the feeling there on the subject OF slavery
previous to the date of DR.. Franklin's memo.
rial: Mr.. Rhett, Of South Carolina, inquired Of
the Cnair what The opinions Of Virginia fifty
years ago had to Go with the case? The Speak
er wasatout to reply. when SIr. Wise rose with
warmth, and said-"He has discussed the whole
abstract question Of slavery: of slavery in
Virginia: Of slavery in my own district and
| now ask ali my colleagues to retire with INC
from this hall" Mr.. Sladc reminded the
Speaker hat he had not yet yielded the floor;
but his progress was iGapeded by the condition
Of the HOUSE. and the many EXPLANATIONS OF
members, among whom Mr.. Halscy, of Georgia,
was heard calling Oh the Georgia delegation to
withdraw with him; and Mr.. Rhett was heard
p~roclaiming that the South Carolina members
had already consulted together, and agreed to
have d meeting at three o'clock, in the commit
tee room OF the District OF Columbia. Here
the Speaker interpoSed to calm the House,
Standing no in his place, and saying:
1.-The Gen leman from Vermont had been re-
mind:d by the Chair tn, the discussion Of
slavery, rs existing within the States, was not