Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-12

to popular sensbiities And believe that but for this
baneul and mschieyOus agitation at the North, notony
the sale and transfer Of slaves in the States would have
been subjected to limitations maag theekercse q the
right less repuguant to oar own eelingsn the SOUTH
but that many other and still greater ameiorauos IN
the condition Of the slave would have been ehec9t long
since by State legislation believe that gradual and
progressive ameliorltion in the saves oil
the South such took paee in the progress OF Roman
civilization in softening thsgors OF the servie popua
ton would before now have marked the legislation oil
the Southern States upon this subject but for the ON
cious Intervention Of Northern faRatcism. alude 10
such ame0ratons as forbid the separation OF families
the separation OF husband and,we sfparent aud child,
either by the voluntary act Of the MASTER or by judicial
prOcess-the right OF the slave under certain crcum
stances and with proper limitations, 60 choose new
master and TO pass to him at an appraised value Veri
" believe that these Improvements in the condition oil
the slave would have been effected or in progress years
ago in many not in all the slave States but for this
iiudged agitatioa at the North The consequence OF
this agitation however, has been that instead OF these
amelOrations we have been compelled to impose new
restraints upon the slave-to ryet more strongly the
chains that bind him. Were member Of the Legisla-
ture Of my State at this period and under the pres
ent excited state Of public feeling, would not dare to
propose any relaxation Of existing restraints, or any
ameoratiOn of tho general oondinon OF the slave But
sir were member Of a town or city council think
should not hesitate to give my voice for the suppress
sion Of these slave depos slave pens they are call
cd within the precincts of the corporation would ban
ish them at least from public view; would suppose
that thereby infctng any wound upon the insuu-
ton of slavery. STILL such proceeding as this In
these distracted times might be misunderstood; and
would think expedent to pass this bill in any shape
at this time but for theconnecton in which il Is found
with other measures, particularly with the iugliVe slave
bill Il was on account OF this connection and with the
hope that all the questions relating TO this subject which
had so long distracted the puplio mind, might be har-
monousy adjusted that gave my assent TO the princ
pie OF this bill, as reported from the committee =
There very fair and reasonable considerations
which should dispose the South to liberal course on
ths Question OF the slave trade in the District This
the of the National Government The gentlemen OF
the North are compelled meet here, at this common
and central pout Of legislation Il is not matter OF
choice with them, whether they come as members Of
Congress or upon business connected with the Govern
meut They must come. renounce the benefits OF a
National Government. They complimentary appeal 10
u.s. they say that this traffic is offensive to them, and
whether they any of the revolving exhibitions
connected with this traffic or not they are compelled TO
hear of them The idea of human beings not criminals,
in chains kept in these Stare pens within the verge
of the Capital wounds their sensihties have been in
the habit Of spending part Of my time in this District
annually during period OF near twenty years, and
must say that have never seen slave in chains but
upon one OCCASION and that, was told was purposey
and mischievousy contrved As for slave pens knov
nothing OF them and suppose they nothing more or
than private houses in which traders secure their
slaves az lnst escape until they transferred to
extent Of this traffic IN the District northern breh-
rem call upon Us TO prohibit it, They inform that there
are thousands the North who have tender conscien
ces upon this point this stumbling block out OF
their way aud of the chief grounds OF agitation they
aver will be removed -.I
And now that in Difference TO the sensibties Of
Northern friends we agree TO that want TO AJAX my
friend from Ohio another question. said that wanted
70 reason with him little this subject. Here are ten
or twelve thousand free persons Of color in the District
Coll nd he slave DOnuatiOn
70 from twelve 70 fifteen hundred. This small slave pop
uhon are in the midst Of this larger class OF free peo-
PIE OF color many of whom have little else 10 do-or they
will not WORKMAN to dfuse discomfort among the
slave class Besides they must live; but how they live
no one can certainly tell. Few Of them make living
Oy light service house servants but the mass Of them
derive subsistence In form other, from the sub
stance OF the Industrious portion Of the community
This evil has increased TO alarming extent in the last
few wears and since The rer0cesSon OF Alexandra 70
Virginia slave property 10 the District is not Only great
" diminished in value by this large accession OF free
people of color hut It's security IS diminished in asul
greater degree Does not my friend see that under the
circumstance there necessity for some very stru-
gent legislation for the protection Of this kind OF proper
" in the District? And why not make suitable pIoyis
ions, with that object in this bill
Mr. Ewing Why, my objection IS mainly on the
ground that 70 attempt 10 aLlend the bill in this way
Soud NECESSARILY result in its defeat and for that re
son would vote against the proposition to amend it.
Mr.. Bell. But, if this bill would do so much good at
the North the hand, and TO pass in its naked
form rs il now stands, would do much harm at the
South is Appreciated by some, wouldt not DO worth
while 10 make an effort to satisfy both sections if
should take US whole day week to do it? This sub
iect las come somewhat suddenly upon members; mean
as 10 the statistics connected With it. have known but
little heretofore about the number OF eOOred pe-osns in
the District nothing further than the fact there were
great many very vicious and centous free persons OF
color here; some of them, admit orderly and hon
est and make faithful house servants and personal atten
dluts the larger portion of them worthless and
mschievous iders THIS is great aud grosing evil, and
one which is likely TO become formidable and most dill
cult TO manage. IL will not be confined TO this District
il will extend to the whole country When slavery shall
have been abolished in The District, the question viii
next be- how this mass Of tree cO0red persons shall
be governed What restraints can you impose -
How eau YOU discriminate between a free black man
and free whiieman? When it shall be proposed in
Congress TO make any special provision for the tegul
/ ton aud control Of this class, We shall have the
usual magic exclamation "These are human beings and
by the law Of nature cur equals!" We shall have the
Declaration Of independence, proclaimng the universal
eouaty OF human rights read in our from day 70
day as now and the contest the subject Of slavery
will never cease long this class OF inhabitants ex
iss in the country. II the District of Columbia shall be-
come or rather continue open receptacle for all the
free persons of color OF the surrounding States instead
OF zen thousand shall soon see congregated here
twenty, perhaps forty, perhaps hundred thousand.
There is great danger Of this result Sir there great
danger that from the difficulty OF egsatine upon sub
eot nsrsgard 20 which there l. 50 decisive difference Of
sentiment and opinion between the two great sectional
divisions Of the Union preventive measures can be
adopted There are already half million of this class
of persons dispersed Overthe ULion and they are with
few exceptions standing agtAiors-alWays ready TO get
up mobs and Instructions There can be very little
doubt that most cases OF disturbances in arrestng fug
tive slaves in the free States are insgated by the pres
ence aud active interference OF these free people of COZ
Or They viii continue to multiply. They nuisance
and pest not only in the North, continually fomenting
agitation and supplying material for It, but they
nuisance the South also dangerous alike 10 the inter
ess of slave property aud tho security of society This
evil is co-exteusiye with the Union and calls imperative
| " for a remedy. ....,...,,,
But to come back to the District, if slavery IN the
District should be abolished and the whole coored pop
uaton could be removed that would settle the question
Nothing short of that will settle il. Though slavery
we're abolished in the District repeat that agitation
would be renewed aud the fires Of controversy rekinded
| in Congress- from time to time, as long as the
District shall be left open for the residence and adj
mission Of free negroes. 1t would soon come TO pass
| that Congress itself would not find it convenient
| il safe even, TO sit here beset and surrounded by
an overgrown population Of colored inhabitants
degraded in CASTE aud for the most part idle VICIOUS
and mischievous-desperate paupers, sustained blythe
sympathy of one section and eHasperated by the oppd
stion Of the other ask my friend from Ohio whether
this state Of things does hot present question worthy
of serious consideration now? This sir is destined 70
become one Of the great questions Of the day particu
ary with regard TO this District What We to do
with this growing evi How are We TO control or dis
pose of this growing population? If We do not avail
ourselves of the present opportunity and ngrat upon
this bill some measure of precaution relief what bet
ter prospect j. open TO us in FUTURE If we pass this
question over now will up at the next session,
and shall then be met repeat by the standing ar