Year: 1862




The bill for the abolition Of slavery in
the District of Columbia has passed both
Houses Of Congress, and is now law.


Previous to its passage Mr. Wright,
DemocraD of Ind, Said he hal hoped
when he came here that he might see his
way clear to vote Tor all measures to put
down tins rebellion, and that All these EN-
auassiGg questions would not have been
introduced TO interfere with measures for
the benefit Of the country. lie should not
90 back to inquire into the motives Of our
fathers who formed the constitution =
There is evil enough in every section of
the country, if sought out, for all of us to
look at with horror but he always held to
the doctrine that it was the better duty of
the citizen and the politician to look upon
the bright side of things. This evil was
among us at an early day, end he believed
our foretsthers did the best they could in
relation to it, but should leave that ques-
tion TO gentlemen who chose to spend
hours inquiring what was done by the
North and South in times past. He knew
however AS a matter OF history that the
remarkable provision which continued the
slave trade till 1905 was rot passed BY the
unanimous vote of anv one section. lie
represented here people who emphatical
u belonged to the Union, and if YOU wo'd
find any portion Of the country pre-eml-
nen,Iy loval and conservative, it is the peo
pie Of his own State, and in what he said
he should try to represent the views of the
people of that loyal State. But instead
of avoiding these questions, he found
measure after measure proposed here
such as allowing colored people to
carry the mails, aud the resolutions as 10
lhe condition 0f the States. lie must say.
in all respect he thought there were other
things 20 be looked at by this Senate. ss
peciais the ConhScatIon bill, which he re
garded As a measure Of more moment than
any before the Senate and calculated to
put dowr the rebellion He had present
ed bill for the abolition of slavery In this
District, which was copy OF bill pre-
sented by or honorea President when he
WAS member of the other House, not
that he full, favored that bill, but because
he deemed it better than the one now be
fore the Senate, and because 1t has two
features he regarded As very essential -
The frs. vas gradual emancipation. The
wisdom Of Franklin has been referred to In
this debate Yet that great statesman, in
a bill to abolish slavery in Pennsylvania
slaves, did not think it proper to change
this state Of things by sudden change
lut left II 10 work out by gradual pro-
cess-an example which, think. would
be worthy Of our attention at this day
History shows many instances OF men rush
ing and destroying, in their haste, the
very thing they ~i>h 10 accomplish. The
~i.e aud prudent statesman takes things
as h. finds them. lie could not cote for
the bill, "a introduced bv the committee.
for various reaoons One Was that there j
nothing to hinder men from Virginia
bringing in slavr- here worth $40. and
selling them for 5000 under this bill The
Senator from Massachusetts mas referred
to the opinions Of Mr. Adams. As far as
he knew and remembered Mr Adams he
Was no advocate for the abolition OF slave,
ry In tile District OF Columbia il 1881
SIR Adams said he had invariably decIare5
against the abolition OF slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia In 1899 he said. al
though he had advocated the right of per
sons TO petition for the abolition of slave
~ here. be WAS not himself prepared tc
grant their PRAYER. Mr Adams sad this
wien the slave population was double
what /, j. now. and when they had slave
pens and slave markets here, and leave i
10 the friends Of Mr.. Adams to say wha
lie would have said now. But We have q
class Of men who are zeaons to accomplish
much. and who are not willing 10 allow
natural laws TO work. Look Al slavery in
this District now. lie, il alone, and in len
or fifteen years you will have 10 slavery
here The true friend Of humanity vii
Il Al = -