1842, March 21. Congress (House): Giddings's Resolutions.
Mr. Giddings moved the following resolutions:—
§ 5. "Resolved, That when a ship belonging to the citizens of any State of this Union leaves the waters and territory of such State, and enters upon the high seas, the persons on board cease to be subject to the slave laws of such State, and therefore are governed in their relations to each other by, and are amenable to, the laws of the United States."
§ 6. Resolved, That the slaves in the brig Creole are amenable only to the laws of the United States.
§ 7. Resolved, That those slaves by resuming their natural liberty violated no laws of the United States.
§ 8. Resolved, That all attempts to re-enslave them are unconstitutional, etc.
Moved that these resolutions lie on the table; defeated, 53 to 125. Mr. Giddings withdrew the resolutions. Moved to censure Mr. Giddings, and he was finally censured. House Journal, 27 Cong. 2 sess. pp. 567–80.
1842, May 10. Congress (House): Remonstrance of Mississippi against Right of Search.
"Mr. Gwin presented resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, against granting the right of search to Great Britain for the purpose of suppressing
the African slave trade; urging the Government to demand of the British Government redress and restitution in relation to the case of the brig Creole and the slaves on board." Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. House Journal, 27 Cong. 2 sess. p. 800.