Slavery in the District of Columbia: The Policy of Congress and the Struggle for Abolition |
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abolish abolition Adams adopted Alexandria Annals of Cong anti-slavery appears asked attempt authority believe Benton bill blacks bring brought capital carried cause citizens committee Cong Congress consideration considered constitution County Court Cranch debate discussion District of Columbia early effect emancipation evidence existence fact favor fees force free negroes freedom give given Hening History House importation influence inhabitants interests introduced January laws legislation majority Maryland and Virginia matter measure motion mulatto necessary never North Northern notice object opinion party passed Pennsylvania person petitions position practice presented President probably proved punishment question reason received referred regard Register representative resolutions respect runaway says seems Senate servant session slave trade slavery sold South Southern speech taken territory tion Union United vote Washington Washington County whole wished York
Popular passages
Page 79 - ... adulterated or misbranded, within the meaning of this act, or any person who shall sell or offer for sale in the District of Columbia or the territories of the United States...
Page 10 - Resolved, 6. That they are entitled to the benefit of such of the English statutes, as existed at the time of their colonization ; and which they have, by experience, respectively found to be applicable to their several local and other circumstances.
Page 74 - That all petitions, memorials, resolutions, propositions or papers, relating in any way, or to any extent whatever, to the subject of slavery, or the abolition of slavery, shall, without being either printed or referred, be laid upon the table, and that no further action whatever shall be had thereon.
Page 92 - I have never doubted the constitutional authority of Congress to abolish slavery in this District; and I have ever desired to see the national capital freed from the institution in some satisfactory way. Hence there has never been in my mind any question upon the subject except the one of expediency, arising in view of all the circumstances. If there be matters within and...
Page 22 - ... with large amounts of public property, and the management of public business, yet it has never been subjected to, or received, that special and comprehensive legislation which these circumstances peculiarly demand. I am well aware of the various subjects of greater magnitude and immediate interest, that press themselves on the consideration of Congress ; but I believe there is no one that appeals more directly to its justice, than a liberal and even generous attention to the interests of the...
Page 93 - ... capital freed from the institution in some satisfactory way. Hence there has never been in my mind any question upon the subject except the one of expediency, arising in view of all the circumstances. If there be matters within and about this act which might have taken a course or shape more satisfactory to my judgment, I do not attempt to specify them. I am gratified that the two principles of compensation and colonization are both recognized and practically applied in the act. In the matter...
Page 88 - I must go into the Presidential chair the inflexible and uncompromising opponent of every attempt on the part of Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia against the wishes of the slaveholding States, and also with a determination equally decided to resist the slightest interference with it in the States where it exists.
Page 83 - Adams, IX, 275, I found this entry from Adams' diary: "Jan 18, 1836. . . . A petition from 366 inhabitants of Weymouth, praying for abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia was presented to the Congress.
Page 84 - Resolved, That all petitions, memorials, and papers, touching the abolition of slavery, or the buying, selling, or transferring of slaves in any State, District, or Territory of the United States, be laid on the table, without being debated, printed, read, or referred, and that no further action whatever shall be had thereon.
Page 34 - Felony, but the master (or that other person appointed by the master to punish him) be acquit from molestation, since it cannot be presumed that prepensed malice (which alone makes murder Felony) should induce any man to destroy his own estate.