Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 2 (of 16)

by United States. Congress

Monday, April 28.

The Slave Trade.

Mr. Rutledge moved that the Committee of the Whole, to whom were referred the bill for preventing the carrying on the slave trade, &c., be discharged from further consideration thereof. He conceived it to be one of the most defective bills that ever was before Congress, because the object intended was in nowise provided for, or utterly impracticable.

Mr. Bayard was of the same opinion. He had taken some pains to examine the bill, but was obliged to conclude it extremely imperfect. The objects of the former bill, and which was intended to be improved, were, to prevent the citizens of the United States having any right in vessels so employed; and also to prevent the citizens of the United States being employed on board any such vessels. He trusted that a great majority of the members of the House would be in favor of those principles, and effectually promote them. It would indeed be extremely dishonorable in a country like this, to affirm such a trade, so contrary to all those principles held dear in the United States, and which ought to be promoted. His desire was, that a bill should be constructed upon the true principles of the intent of Congress: so far he thought they might go, but no farther. To be sure, as the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. J. Brown) observed, the Government could derive revenue from the encouragement of this trade, but he thought a more dishonorable item of revenue could not be established.

The committee was discharged.

Mr. Bayard then moved that the bill should be referred to a select committee.

Mr. Rutledge hoped this would not be agreed to; he was not disposed at this late day of the session to take up any new business that was not of urgency. He thought it was perfectly unnecessary to make a new act upon the subject; he believed the former act did every thing that was necessary or practicable to be done. What more could be wanted than that persons engaged in this traffic should forfeit their ships and pay a fine, besides, in many instances, imprisonment of the person offending? Surely that was all the occasion required. The different States which had heretofore imported those people into the United States had established the policy not to import any more; but in addition to this willing restriction, the Federal Government thought proper to prevent the trade being carried on, by our ships, to those countries which did suffer their importation. This was going very far indeed, but so far it was thought proper to go, to furnish a peace-offering to those philanthropists whose urgency was great to accomplish the general destruction of the trade. However, the activity of the people of the four New England States first engaged them in this profitable traffic; their produce would bring a good price on the African coast, and why they might not enjoy the profit of it as well as the English he could not conceive. He believed it to be impossible effectually to prevent it. Some gentlemen, indeed, had talked of authorizing our cruisers to seize vessels of this kind, but, suppose they were confiscated, what was to be done with their cargoes? They could not be brought into the United States. Where could they be carried? It was not consistent with the policy of the West India Islands to suffer them to land there, since it was their practice to keep these people in bondage, and they did not want, nor could they suffer free men to inundate those colonies. He knew of no place where they could be landed but St. Domingo, and as these people would not have been of those who had procured the freedom of slaves there—were not of those who had spread devastation and murder throughout that island, it was probable they would spurn them from their shores. What then was to be done with them? Surely no gentleman would wish them to be drowned, and it would be as absurd to think of sending them back to Sierra Leone! These difficulties he thought insuperable.

Mr. Waln hoped the bill would be committed, and that the provisions of it would be made effectual to its object. As for the people of Pennsylvania, he believed he could say they were unanimously in favor of the trade being put an end to most completely; which was in nowise done by the law now in force, nor by the bill now proposed. He said it was well known, that great grievances did exist for want of the due execution of the law, and much greater than were generally known, and hence it was that no more was heard of it from the people on this subject. He had been well informed that great evasions had taken place, and that this unlawful trade was becoming more and more in use. In the last year he believed that near forty vessels entered the West Indies with this illicit species of commerce. In some parts of the United States, he had been well informed, it was become so popular, that if a vessel was seized and sold, it was impossible to get any person to bid for her, and therefore the owner was enabled to repurchase her at a very low price indeed. It would be much better to repeal the old law, and open the trade, than to suffer the law to continue when nearly a nullity. But this he believed was not the disposition of the House; he believed the House could carry the principle into effect, and he was sure that a very great majority of the American people would wish them to do it.

The motion for recommitment was carried by a very large majority, and three members appointed.

Military Academy, &c.

Mr. Eggleston said, since he found the House so much disposed to prepare for the close of the session by postponing unnecessary business, he would move that the bill for establishing a Military Academy, and for the better organization of the corps of Artillerists and Engineers, be postponed till the first Monday in December next.

After some observations against the motion, by Messrs. Parker, Champlin, and H. Lee, and in favor of it by Messrs. Eggleston and Shepard, it was carried—yeas 64, nays 23.

Treaty with Great Britain.

The House went into a committee on the bill for the execution of the 27th article of the Treaty with Great Britain.

A motion of Mr. Nicholas was under consideration, that no person whose case was cognizable in any of our courts should be delivered up. This caused a lengthy debate; it was advocated by Messrs. S. Smith, Nicholson, and Gallatin, and opposed by Messrs. Bayard, Dana, and Dennis. It was negatived 45 to 42. After which the committee rose, obtained leave to sit again, and the House adjourned.