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IMiliiAl DBDHIOOMT.
Ihe mobl perfect Coveiniueiit would be that which, emanating directly from the People, Governs best —fosts least —Dispenses Justice to all, and confers Privileges on None. —BENTHAM.
VOL. U PR* WM. GREEN-EDITOR.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
IN THE REAR OF J. BARNES* BOOKSTORE.
COTTON AVENUE, MACON, GA.
AT TWO Z>Oli£.AT*3 P3R ANNU3I,
tO- *N ADVANCE. «jC3
Rates of Advertiuug, Ac.
One square, us 100 wtvOs, or lew, in small lype, 75 cents
j„ r tiie Jim tMscrtioi., aud .» cents Jor subsequent inser
tion.
Ail Advertisements containing more than 100 and less than
200 tv*fits, will be charged as two squares.
To Vearly Advertisers, a litoral deduction will be made.
N. B Sales of I.AND, by Administrators, Executors
i. r (*nard<an«, are required, by law, to be held on the firs,
Tuesday in the month, between the h »wr» of 10 in the !o*e
ii i mi. an 4 3i» ;Ko after**<»<»«, at the Court-If aare in ihe Coun.
iy in Wului the nfopefty U suutredt Notice of mus'
te given in a public Gxact.e, SIXTV I).\\S, previous to the
I* iy of sale.
Sales of PSiISONvT. PROPERTY, must be advertised in
» m uitfer, FORTY DAYS previous to the tlay of sale
Notice to D ditors and Creditors of an Estate, must be pub
; !-ed FORTY Days.
Notice ill ifc application will be made.to the Court of Ordi
t..irv for leave to soil LAND, must be published FOUR j
MONTiH.
Sales of NEQIIOE3, must be made al public auction, on
t he first Tuesday of the month, between the legal hours Oj
ilc at the place of public sales in the county where the let
testamentary, of Administration or Guardianship, shall
hive In'en SIXTY DAYS notice being previously
civen in one of the pnMlc gtvae.too of this State, and at the door
v s the Oiurt-House, where such sales are to he held.
N nice lor leave to sell NESROES, must b puldished for
FOUR MON before any order absolute shall be made
I thereon by the Court.
A!! business of 'bis nature, will receive prompt attention, a'
M O.Ti a of the AMERICAN DEMOCRAT.
REMITTANCE* ISV MAil.. —“A IV.stmaster may cn
if t a? e money in a letter to the publisher of a newspaper, tn
L,ytlie jiuhfcripti<in of a third person, and frank the letter, if
written by himself.” Awus KrndaMi I*. MG.
COM MUNICATIONd ad Lrcasetl to the Editor Post
Paid.
I .-a.*. •--«**.? • nMnnaww
I SR 11 ..
I UATTIIIS WITH TIIE INDIANS.
AM; cxciliiit: M »rv.
11l was a sultry evening towards the
| isl of June, 172-!, that Capt. Har
mon mul li,is Eastern Rangers urged
iiloir canoes up the Konebcc liver, in
pursuit, of their savage enemies. For
hours they toiled diHuenfly at the oar—
ihe last trace of civilization was left be
hind : mid the long shadows of the
striking forests met and blended in the j
middle of the broad stream, that wound
darkly through them. At every sound
from the a Ijaeent shores—the rattling of
some night bird, or the quick footsteps
ofsornejwild beast—the dash of (he oar
was suspended, and the Hanger’s grasp
lightened on his rifle. All knew the
peril of the enterprise, and that silence,
which is natural to men who feel them
selves in the extreme of mortal jeopardy,
settled like a cloud upon the midnight
adventurers.
“ Hush —softly, men !” said the watch
ful Harmon, in a voice which scarcely
rose ateve a hoarse whisper, as his canoe
swept round a ragged promontory, ‘there’s
a light ahead I”
All eyes were tent towards the shore.
A tall Indian fire gleamed up amidst the
great oaks, casting a red and strong light
upon the dark waters. For a single and
breathless moment the operation of the
oar was suspended; and every ear lis
tened with painful earnestness to catch
1 lie well known sounds which seldom
failed to indicate the proximity of the
savages But all was now silent. With
slow and faint movements of the oar, the
ranoes gradually approached the suspect
ed spot. The landing was effected in
silence. After moving cautiously for a
'onsiderable distance in the dark shadow,
Ihe party at length ventured within the
broad circle of the light which at first
it t meted their attention. Harmon was
it their bund, with an eye and hand as
jnick as thoseoftlie savage enemy whom
lie sought.
Tljtj body of a fallen tree lay across the
nth. As the Rangers were on the point
>f leaping over it the hoarse whisper of
Harmon again broke the silence.
“See here,” he exclaimed, pointing to
Ihe tree ; “ it’s the word of the redskins.’
Smothered wrath glowed on the lips
of the Rangers as they bent grimly for
ward in the direction pointed out by
their commander. Blood was sprinkled
in the rank grass, and a human hand
the hand of a white mm—lay upon the
bloody log.
There was liot a word spoken, but
CVery countenance worked with terrible
emotion. Had the Rangers followed
their own desperate inclination, they
would have hurried recklessly onward to
the work of vengeance, but the example
of their leader, who had regained his
usual calmness and self-command, pre
pared them for a less speedy but more
certain triumph. Cautiously passing
over the fearful obstacle in the'palhway,
find closely followed by his companions,
he tdvanced stealtlnly and cautiously to
the light, hiding himself and his party as
ranch as possible l>ehind the thick trees.
In a few moments they obtained a full
view of the object of their search.—
•Stretched at their length, around a huge
fire, but a convenient distance from it, lay
die painted and half-naked forms of
twenty savages. It was evident from
threi appearance that they had passed the
fiay in one of their horrid revels, and
that they were now suffering under the
effects of intoxication. Occasionally a
DEMOCRATIC BA2T2TER FREE TRADE; LOW DUTIES; ITO DEBT; SEPARATION FROM 3ANK3; ECONOMY; RETRENCHMENT;
AND A STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE C. C.ILHOU.W
grim w arrior among them started half
up-right, grasping his tomahawk, as if
to combat some vision of his disordered
brain ; but unable to shake off the stupor
from liis senses, uniformly fell Lack into
his former position.
The Rangers crept nearer. As they
bent their keen eyes alongtheir well-tried
rifles, each felt sure of his aim. They
waited for the signal of Harmon, who
wasendeavoringto bring his long musket
to bear ujion the head of one of the most,
distant savages.
“Fire !” he at length exclaimed, as the j
sight of his piece interposed full anddis-,
tinct between his eye and the wild scalp j
lock of the Indian. “ Fire and rush on!’
The sharp voice of thirty rifles thrilled
through the heart of the forest. There
was a groan—a smothering cry—a wild
convulsive movement among the sleep
ing Indians, and all again was silent.
The Rangers sprang, forward with
their clubbed lilies and hunting-knives,
but their work was done. The red men
had gone to their last audit before the
Great Spirit, and no sound was heard
among them, save the gurgling of the
hot blood from their lifeless bodies.
A curious Dream Story.
Miss TL B. was on a visit to Miss An
dre, and, being very intimate with tho
latter, shared her bed. One night she
was awakened by the violent sobs of her
companion, and upon entreating to know
the cause, she said, “1 have seen my dear
brother; and he has been taken prisoner.”
It is scarcely necessary to inform the
reader that Major Andre was then with
. tiie British army, during the heat of the
American war. Miss B. soothed her
friend, and both fell asleep, when Miss
Andre once more started up, exclaiming
“They are trying him as a spy,” and she
described the nature of the court, the
proceedings of the judge and prisoners,
with the greatest minuteness. Once
more the poor sister’s terrors were calm
ed by her friend's tender representations,
but a third time she ewoke screaming
that they were hanging him as a spy, on
a tree, and in his regmentals, with many
other circumstances! Tlierewas no more
sleep for the friends; they got up and en
tered each in her own pocket-book the
particulars stated by the terror striken
sister, with the dates, and both agreed to
keep the source of their own presenti
ments and fears from the poor mother,
fondly hoping they were indeed built on
“tiie fabric of a vision.” But, alas ! soon
as news, in those days, could cross the
Atlantic, the fatal tidings came, and, to
the deep awe as well as sad grief of the
young Indies, every circumstance was
exactly imparted to them as had been
shadowed forth in the fond sister’s sleep
ing fancy, and had happened on the very
day preceding the night of her dream !
The writer thinks this aneddote has not
lieen related by Miss Seward, l)r. Dar
win, or the Edgeworths, father and
daughter who have all given to the pub
lic many interesting events in the bril
liant but brief career of Major Andre.
The Pyramids of Ancient Times.
The great Pyramid of Memphis ori
ginally covered more than 13 acres of
ground— contained more than 80,000,000
cubic feet of stone, and the weight of its
masonry is estimated at nearly 7,000,000
ot tons! The three Pyramids ofGheizch
contain nearly 13,000.000 tons of stone.
Compare this with the Bunker Hill
Monument, said to contain 6,448 tons.
The stone of the Great Pyramid alone,
would construct 4062 Monuments. As
Light-houses, ten miles apart,they wojihl
surround the entire North and South
American, Continent, and yet leave a
heavy balance.
True Inspiration.
1\ c have seen a great many affections
about tiie feelings inspired by traveling
through the “ Holy Land ;” but we have
never seen any thing more beautiful or
full of sacred feelings, than the follow
ing, from the painter, Wilkie’s life :
“‘When I went,’says Collins, the ar
tist,‘to bid Sir David Wilkie farewell, a
day or two before he left home for his lttst
journey* 1 found him in high spirits, en
larging, with all his high enthusiasm,
on the immense advantage he might de
rive bom painting upon holy land, on
the very ground on which the event.he
was about to embody had actually oc
curred. To make a study at Bethlehem
son some young female and child, seem
ed to me one great incentive to his jour
ney. I asked him if he had any guide
book. He said 1 Yes and the very best;'
ana then unlocking hi? travelling box
he showed me a pocket Bible. 1 never
saw him again ; but tho Bible through
out Judea, was, T am assured, his best
and only hand-book.’ ”
Qu'ck Irish Wit.
“What arc you doing there, all alone
in that large house?” said a gentleman
to an Irishman, the sole occupant ot a
dilapidated, building in Pine street.
“Sure, and it’s an officer I am, your
honor,” said Pat.
“Ah officer ! how so ?”
“Why, you see, the others arc all gane,
1 and I'm a bflcnant."
MACON, W EDNESDAY, J.'NUARY 10, 1841.
a o.BTsm iia awmaa.
The Nfgto Memorial.
Mr. SAUNDERS said that the laws
upon this subject were ample in every
respect. All he had to do was to bring
the subject before the judicial tribunal of
this District, under a writ of habeas cor
pus, which would, upon an investiga
tion of the facts, liberate the individual,
if it should appear that he was entitled
to his freedom. He would inform the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Giddings)
that on a certain occasion a negro, whom
he knew to be free, but who had teen
imprisoned, was advertised to be sold for
his jail fees for having come into the
District in violation of the law ; paid the
fine, amounting to some two or three
dollars, and he was immediately libera
ted and restored to his freedom; and he
called upon the gentleman from Ohio to
come forward arid give to the world a
practical illustration of his benevolence
by following bis example. Let him go
and pay the fine, and. his word for it, this
negro citizen would be immediately lib
erated, if there should appear no evidence
to the Judiciary that lie was a slave.—
'l’lie burden of proof, however, falls up
on the “ negro” and not upon the prose
cution, wh.cli to this day is the law of
the land. Let the subject go before
Judge Ornnch, whom he believed to be
a humane Judge, on a writ of habeas
corpus, and justice would be done to
him—this was all he asked.
Mr. GIDDINGS said lie did not care
to what committee the subject was refer
red, so it was acted upon immediately,
and the unfortunate individual liberated.
He referred to the course which Con
gress had pursued on a subject similar
to the one under consideration, and ho
ped this case would receive the same at
tention. It mattered very little to him
whether it was referred to a Select Com
mittee or the Committee on the Judiciary. I
in whose judgment and liberality he had 1
the most unbounded confidence;' but he j
preferred a Select Committee from vari
ous consid'-rntipns; the first was, he did
not wish to burden the Judiciary Com
mittee or any other Standing Committee,
with this subject, because they already
had as much before them as they could
well get through with. It was far from
his disposition to discuss this exciting
question, but it was w ith him one of prin
ciple, in which was involved the liberty
of an American citizen—a native of Vir
ginia—and he felt himself bound as a
Representative of the free People of Ohio
to do all in bis power to secure liberty to
this unfortunate individual, whose only
crime it was to have a dark complexion.
His object was not to discuss, but to act
upon a question of such magnitude and
importance—in which was involved lib
erty, the bulwark of the American consti
tution.
He said the gentleman from North Car
olina (Mr. Saunders) had referred to the
law of 1798, which according to its pro
visions, allowed a fine to be paid in to
bacco. Does that gentleman wish the
people of the District of Columbia to be
governed and controlled by this law, at
this enlightened day? Does he want
them bound down by laws passed fifty
five years ago? Or does he wish to see
laws passed one hundred years ago,
which would bring this nation back to
colonial vassalage enforced ?
He believed the people of the District,
if they were consulted, would be in favor
of repealing this obnoxious and abomina
ble law, which bad been brought before
this House previously, and examined by
slave-holders, who were in favor of its re
peal. Is it right or just, because a free
citizen has the misfortune to have a dark
complexion, that he should be sold as a
slave, to pay jail fees? He did not be
lieve the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr Saunders) could prove his freedom,
if lie was confined in jail—for himself he
knew that he could not prove that he was
born free.
Mr. S AUNDERS explained. Tie said
the negro was not to he sold as a slave,
but for his jail fees. If they were paid,
and the evidence should prove that he
was not a slave he would be discharged.
The State of Ohio, he believed, had a
law upon Iter statute book which prohib
ited free negroes from residing within
her jurisdiction, to which he called the
attention of the gentleman from Ohio
who affects so much sympathy for this
class of persons.
Mr. GIDDINGS continued: Tie said
the gentleman from North Carolina eva
ded his question, and he would inform
him that there was no law in Ohio which
confined freemen -r chile or black, and
sold them ns slaves for jail fees. To this
obnoxious and unjust law he did interfere
with, and his feeble efforts should be ex
erted to have it amended or repealed.—
But ns to the laws of North ,or S. Caro
lina. he would not interfere with them
—he httd no right to interfere—and God
forbid that he should. We abolitionists
do not wish to infringe upon the consti
tutional rights of the slave States ; but as
a representative of freemen, he would Op
pose all such laws, bearing upon their
face moral turpitude, teing enforced in
the District of Columbia. This law was
a stigma iqion the country.
1 He did not care to what committee
this subject was referred ; all he wanted
was that it should be referred, and a re
port made upon the facts of the case, and
and the abominable and contemptible
law repealed. The gentleman from
North Carolina had called upon him to
follow his example, and go to the mar
shal and pay this fine, which would se
cure the release of this unfortunate indivi
dual ; but he would inform him that the
borte and muscle of the freemen of Ohio,
who toiled hard for all they got, were not
to be expended iu jail fees to accomplish
that which the Constitution should give.
Mr. CAMPBELL, of South Carolina,
said he agreed with the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. l)i 1 left) that this was a ju
dicial question, with which this House
had nothin? tn do. Let this individual
be carried before Judge ('ranch, on a
writ of habeas corpus, who was known
to be a him fa tie judge, and would deal
fairly l.y him, although the face of a
“ negro,” by the laws Os the District, was
prima facie that he was a slave, and the
onus proba’-di— the burden of proof—
rested upon him to regain his literty,
which muld he easily done, if he was
actually free, as stated in the memorial.
He had consulted with a highly respec
table law} er of the District, who inform
ed him that cases of this kind had never
been carried beyond me mere advertising,
if the individual was actually free; but
he did not wish this subject referred to
the Committee on the District of Colum
bia, but to the Committee on the Judici
ary, who could report upon tiie law and
the facts.
Mr. DAVIS, of N. Y., said Tig had but
a few words to say on this subject; but
he should vote iu favor of a select com
mittee, striking out calling for persons
and papers. Tiffs Congress, he was
proud to say, had paid mom attention to
this subject than any oilier, and he was
glad to see it, as a Northern man, because
lie believed it would allay this exciting
subject, and forever put it at rest. He
was confident there were more abolition-
ists at 1 1io South than at the North.
Mr. SAUNDERS. It is not so—it is
not so. The gentleman Jiimself is an
abolitionist.
Mr. I). continued, lie said it was im
possible for the North to be in favor of
abolition, because if the negroes were lib
erated they would overrun the free States,
which would prove the greatest calamity
that could befall them. If the slave
States were to abolish slavery he would
be in favor of an immediate dissolution of
the Union, rather than encounter such a
course of being overrun with negroes.—
Yes,immediate abolition would tea sig
nal for a filial dissolution of the Union
on the part of the Northern States, if it
should ever take place, it must he gradu
al, or that population would fall upon
them, and thoit poorhouses would be fill
ed with this class of people. As much
as he prized the Union, lie did not hesi
tate to declare that lie would rather see'
it dissolved than to.encounter the effects
of immediate abolition of slavery. He
was no abolitionist, find he wanted South
ern gentlemen to divest themselves of all
apprehension upon this subject, because
he assured them that it was not to the
interest of the North to have this popula
tion let loose upon them. True, he did
not regret that slavery had teen abolish
ed in the State of New York, but he
would regret to see slavery abolished in
the South, which would prove a burden
and a tax to them.
The North do not wish to interfere
with the rights of the Southern States,
but leave this subject entirely to those to
whom it of right belongs, that they may
exercise their own will and pleasure iu
the premises, lie wanted this law, by
which this freeman is imprisoned, repea
led: because the North would stand up
against it as unconstitutional. The Dis
trict of Columbia was common ground,
and he believed it was constitutional to
abolish slavery within it, and ho, for one,
would exercise that power if necessary.
This was his private opinion, although
expressed here, and by which be did not
wish other gentlemen governed, if it did
not comport with their views of the Con
stitution, for the maintenance of which
there must be a mutual concession. He
wanted other sections of the country to
concede something as well as the North.
New York, the State which he had the
honor its part to represent, had conceded
more to this Union limn all the other sec
tions put together.
[Some person said ; In the way oi
Presidents she had not conceded much.]
The moment the District of Columbia
came into the possession ol the General
Government, that very moment slavery
was constitutionally abolished, and the
States which ceded this District as a per
manent seat of Government, gave away
all right and sovereignty to it.
Mr. PAYNE, of Alabama, inquired if
it was in order to discuss slavery iu the
Territories ?
The SPEAKER replied in the nega
tive.
Mr. DAVIS: Let a select committee
have this subject, and report upon the
law tmd the facts, and once more restore
tranquility to the country.
Mr. HARALSON, of Georgia, said the
Southern members had kept their seats
during this exciting debate ; but it was
time, after such declarations, to which
he had listened, to know upon what
ground they stood. The South knew
their constitutional rights, which they
would maintain at every hazard. In the
formation o r the Constitution, this ques
tion of a right to our slave property was
acknowledged, without which there
would have teen no Constitution, no
Union, which we all should prize; but
this tampering with Southern jights is
no way to perpetuate this inestimable
prize given tn us by our revolutionary
fathers. In every question that is intro
duced on this floor, slavery is dragged in ;
and lie, as a Southern man, did protest in
the most solemn manner against tiffs
course. In ti ie discussion of the resolu
tion of Mr. llalk, of New Hampshire,
calling upon the Secretary of the Navy
for information, with an eye to economy,
slavery is introduced, and it was high
time that it should be brought io a close.
He was ns much in favor of economy as
any"'other gentleman on this floor, and
wished to see it carried out practically.—
A great deal had been said about the Ar
my and the Navy, to which we must
look for the maintenance of the integrity
of the Union. It was not to these branch
es of the public service to which we
must look, blit to the chivalry of the
American people the volunteer militia
of the country—*vho would take care to
guard the public weal against encroach
ments, foreign and domestic. He would
let tho gentleman from New York know
that the South did not intend to abolish
slavery within their borders ; but in the
name of their fathers they would main
tain their constitutional rights in their
purity, and he did not wish gentlemen
to be uneasy upon this subject, for they
were able and capable to defend them
when it shall be necessary so to do. He
was a Southern man in interest and in
feeling, and God forbid he should be oth
er than a Southern man, but at the same
time lie bad a feeling in common with
the Union. This memorial called upon
him to investigate the ease of a “ negro”
unaccompanied by any evidence whatev
er to guide him in coming to a decision.
Is the habeas corpus suspended in this
District that this Houso is called upon to
throw aside its legislative character, and
try cases belonging exclusively to the ju
diciary of the country? It lias been in
timated on this floor that no SLAVE
HOLDER is in favor of acting against
this illegal confinement of a negro.—
The Courts of this District sit almost ev
ery day, yet this negro has not applied to
be discharged from confinement, which
has teen asserted is illegal, unjust, and
tyrannical, is an insult to the Judiciary
of the District. If this law be wrong let
it be repealed and a general one enacted
—not one to suit a particular ease to grat
ify the views and feelings of the gentle
man from Ohio, or any one else. In my
mind he is a slave, or he would have ap
plied to the popular tribunal to have Leen
discharged. This is prima facie evi
dence of the fact, and the very best of
reasons why the House should not inter
fere in the matter.
He laid said more than he intended,
but it was done to le' gentlemen from the
North—the peculiar guardians of the
South—know that they would take care
of their own interests, and abolish slave
ry if they thought proper, or let it alone,
just ns they chose; and it they (the
North) were tired of the Union, let us
know it, and te off, which they (the
South) would extremely regret, because
they loved the Union.
Mr. BEARDSLEY' spoke in favor of
amending the law, and said he had vo
ted for the reception of the petition, that
it might be referred, and a report made,
so as to know whether there were any
oppressive laws in existence in the Dis
trict ; and if so, abolish them. [Mr.
Beardsley’s sent being in sleepy hollow,
it was impossible to hear him distinctly. [
lie was ui favor of referring the subject
to the Judiciary Committee, that the
House might know whether the law
should be repealed or not.
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, said he
agreed with the gentleman from New
Y ork, (Mr. Beardsley) and thought the
proper course to pursue was to refer the
subject to the Judiciary Committee, who
would report upon the facts, and allay all
unnecessary excitement, which he was
sorry to see on every occasion when sla
very was mentioned. It was a question
of freedom which should be investigated.
One gentleman had stated the law in this
case to be one thing—and another a dif
ferent thing. He wanted to know 7 the
true slate of the case, the law and the
facts, which the House could only know
by a report from the Judiciary Commit-
tec. A great deal had been said about
dissolving the Union, hut the feelings of
the whole People were lor the Unit n, lo
which they were ardently attached.—
Politicians may talk about dissolving the
Union, which w r us nothing hut a spirit of
demagoguism, audio which the People
would never subscribe, and which can
never be accomplished without their con
sent. In Georgia the moment a case
was adjudicated, whether white or black,
the was released, if innocent,
and not sold a slave ; and if this law 7 was
oppressive, he would vote for its repeal.
Mr. KING, of Massachusetts; said he
concurred with the sentiments of the
gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. Stephens J
1 NO. 34.
and read from a report of the trraird jury
of this District in support of his views.
Mr. SAUNDERS, of North Carolina,
explained and said that he had stated
what the gentleman had rend, and was
aware that the grand jury had asked a
modification of the law. *
Mr. KING said that be read thesa
opinions that the House might know how
to act—and that sjieedily—and he hoped
the subject would te referred to a Select,
Committee, ns the other committees were
overburdened with other business.
Mr. C( >BB, of Georgia, said lie did not
concur with the views of his colleagtie(Mr-
Stephens) who had caught up the spe
cial arguments of the gentleman from'
New York (Mr. Beardsley) and reitera
ted his sentiments. He wanted to know
by what authority this House could re
solve itsell into a court o [ habeas corpus,
to investigate particular subjects? It~
was directly at war with the Judicial v
ot the country —it was at variance with
the course of the Legislatures of tho
States. Congress is called here in a le
gislative capacity, and not judicial ; and
he had no objection to legislate upon the
defects of this law, but he did protest
against acting judicially iu this-especial
case. He agreed perfectly with his col
league (Mr. Stephens) in his interpreta
tion and illustration of the law of Geor
! gia upon this subject; but this case was
different, because (lie judicial tribunals
ot this District are competent to grant
relief in the premises, without interrupt
ing the legislation of the counjry. He
would vote for amending the law, if de
fective, but he was utterly opposed to re
ferring this particular case to any com
mittee whatever.
Mr. STETSON, of New' York said lie
differed with his colleague (Mr. Davis)
upon this subject in toto, because he be
lieved the riglits of the States were the
bulwarks of this Union. New York had
abolish, and slavery it was true, and he was
glad of it, but lie would not interfere
with those belonging to oilier States.—
His.colleague had said that if the South
were to abolish slavery he would te foi*
a dissolution of the Union. This is the
strongest sentiment he ever heard in his
life, and he was sorry it escaped the lips
of his colleague.
Mr. PAYNE called Mr. Stetson to
order for irrelevancy ; but withdrew his
objection, having misunderstood him,
Mr. DAVIS rose and said he was not
an Abolitionist, and could not be one, for
he believed it was against the interests
of the North to abolish slavery. He vo
ted for the reception of this petition, not
as an Abolitionist, but to release an Amer
ican citizen.
Mr. STETSON. My colleague out
Herods Herod —he is not in favor of abol
ishing slavery in the South, and should
the Southern States do it of tlieir own
accord, and to whom it properly belongs,'
he would be in favor of a dissolution oi
the Union.
Mr. DAVIS. Yes,- sir, I would.
Mr.‘STETSON said he could not
concur in such a sentiment, because he
prized the Union too much ; and he was
opposed to referring this subject to a se-'
lect committee.
Mr. A. V. BROWN offered an amend-'
meat to refer the subject to the commit
tee on the Judiciary, with instructions to
report the defects in this law.
The previous question was here de-'
inanded, and lie withdrew his amend
ment.
Mr. ADAMS said according to some
gentlemen’s views, the blackness of a
man's face was considered prima facie
evidence 6f his being a slave, until he
proves otherwise ; atm Southern gentle
men seemed to him to be vory tenacious
on this subject. To satisfy them upon;
this subject, he would inform them that
Mr. White, of Louisiana, a Southern man
and a slave-holder, had introduced a bill
here, the effect of which was to reach a.
case similar to the one under considera
tion, except that his face happened to te
white, and not l lack. He then read
from the Journal the proceedings of the
House, the number of the bill, and the
proceedings had thereon, and held it up
as a precedent to goyem te House in the
case now before it. lie said a great deal
had been sad about excitement; but no
thing had taken place in this, to compare
with the last Congress; and alluded to’
the mismidetstanding between Mr. Botts
and Mr. Giddings, which caused him to'
resign Ins seat upon this floor.
He said the negro in jail was as much
a citizen of the United States as any oth
er man —he was a citizen of Virginia,
whose motto was the personification of
liberty—it was sic semper tyrannis —■’
and he was now’ in jail, advertised to te
sold for his jail fees ; and w e are told we
have no right to interfere. Congress has
a right to interfere. Let the subject be
referred to a select committee, who
would report upon the facts, and then
repeal the law, and set the American cit
izen at liberty.
Mr. PAYNE, of Alabama, said he had
studiously avoided becoming excited ;
but he could not help becoming so when
this subject was introduced here, w’herc
it did not of right belong. He w’ent into
a logical argument to show the ill effects
of the repeal of this law upon the States
of Maryland and Virginia, who were
deeply interested in this nattier.