The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-20
Southern Congress.

The Permanent Constitution having been
adopted, the Congress will take recess
until the Conventions Of the several States
shall have met and ratified it. or have had
an opportunity Of ratifying it,
1t is said that the announcement Of the
Commission to Europe was premature. 1t
is believed that none Of the foreign appoint.
nj ents will be confirmed until the Confer
ence at Washington is concluded.
The Tariff Act has been made public
1t is to 60 into operation on the frs, of
May. Compared with the Toriff Act of the
United States, most of the 80 per cent du.
ties have been reduced to as per cent. Ar.
ticles admitted at "a and 10 per cent. under
the Tariff Of 1857 will be admitted at Is
per cent There is a large 10 per cent.
schedule and very small free list.
The special telegraphic Correspondent of
the Charleston Mercury says, under date of
18th inst: "The injunction Of secrecy was
to day removed from the veto of President
Davis, OF the Act lately passed by Congress,
prohibiting the African slave trads. 1t is
as follows:
THE VETO.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Feb. %, 1861.
Gentlemen Of the Congress.-With sin.
cere Difference to the judgmen, of the Con.
gress, | have carefully considered the Bill
in relation to tho slave trade, and to punish
persons offending therein, but have not
been able to approve, and therefore return
it. with statement of my objections.
The Constitution, section article |, pro.
vides that the impo rtaton of African me- gros
from any foreign country other than the
slaveholding States, is hereby forbidden
and Congress is required to pass such laws
as shall effectually prevent the same. The
rule herein givin is emphatic, and distinctly
directs Legislation which shall effcctualy
prevent the importation of African nepros.
The bill before me denounces as high
msdemcaner the importation of negros or
other persons of color, either to be sold as
slaves, or held to service or labor, aftxing
heavy and degrading penalties Oh the act, if |
done with such intept. To that extent it
accords with the requirement of the Const.
tuition; but in the 9th section of the bill
provision is made for the transfer of negros
who may have been illegally imported into
the Confederate States to this custody of
foreign States or societies, upon condition
of deportation and future freedom; and if
the proposition thus to surrender them {
shall not be accepted, it is then made the
duty Of the President TO cause said negros !
10 be sold at public outcry to the highest
bidder, in any cf the States where such |
'aes shall not be Inconsistent v ith tho laws
hereof. &c, &c,
The latter provision seems to me in op. r
ostion to the policy declared 10 the Con- |
ttution, Of prohibition of tho importation
{ African negroes, aud in derogalion Of a
10 mandate to legislate for ihe etf.ciuation /
f that object. Wherefore the Bill 10 re- b
uTnrd for your further consideration, to- I
ether with the objections.
Most respectfully submitted. t
JEFFERSON DAVIS. 4
An effort was made to pass the bill over
he veto, but WAS lost by vote OF yeas IL,
ays -.
Congress will certainly adjourn ,o.mor.
ow.
The Tariff bill has not, rs many suppose.
sen passed. 1t was simply reported by
he Committee on Finance, and made pub
&c for the purpose of eliciting discussion
f its merits. 1t will not be acted on un.
Il Congress shall re.assemble."