Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Twentieth Congress Page: 175
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OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
175
Jfia* 7, 1829.]
Slavery in the District of Columbia.
[H. or E.
we determined to erect forts for the purpose of defend-
ing our citizens against aggression : what protection
could a fort at the mouth of the Columbia afford to
traders and trappers, four or five hundred miles dis-
tant, in a rugged and almost unpassable wilderness}
Surely none, either against a savage or a British rival.
Avarice and revenge, as heretofore, would continue to
perpetrate deeds of blood, and find impunity in the deep
recesses of the forest. Is it wonderful that murders are
committed in the Indian country? Who does not know
with what deadly hate the tread of a white hunter is heard
by the Indian watching his traps? The deer and the buf-
falo fade away before the march of civilization, and the
hungry savage, turning his back on the bones of his fath-
ers, vexed by the ploughshare of his abhorrence, directs
his indignant steps towards the setting sun.
Even there he is to be met by forts useless to us, but an-
noying to him. Does not this broad continent contain acres
enough to satisfy the cupidity of Christian men, without has-
tening to cross the Rocky Mountains to disturb their red bre-
thren on those streams whose banks are washed by the west-
ern tide? Of the public domain in our organized States and
Territories, already surveyed and offered to the selection
-of settlers, we have more than eig-hty-three millions ofacres.
Let us encourage settlements here, and not invite our peo-
ple to scatter themselves along the banks of the Pacific
Ocean. At least let us first send explorers and collect in-
formation concerning this disputed country—disputed not
only in regard to title, but also in regard to its climate,
soil, and natural productions. Oil these subjects, up to
this moment, the gentlemen from Massachusetts and Mis-
souri, [Messrs. Evshett and Bates] differ from each other
totocoslo. And yet the gentleman from South Carolina,
[Mr. Drayton] objects to my amendment, because it will
occasion some delay. What is, with him, an objection, is,
with me, a strong recommendation. In my judgment, it
• is better to go safely than hastily. It is no ordinary busi-
ness in which we are engaged. We are about to plant a
nation; to lay the foundation of a government on this conti-
nent, which it is not even pretended can constitute a part of
this republic. The gentleman himself [Mr. Dbaytok] is
willing to authorize the President, in his discretion, to sus-
pend the ereetion of forts, until after a survey shall be
made by a corps of engineers. I am unwilling-, at this
time, to authorize the erection of forts; to "take this
plunge in the dark, with the scanty and contradictory in-
formation we possess. He objects, in the second place,
to a preliminary exploration, as unusual, it not having-
been made in any part of the territory which incontestably
belongs to us, and therefore ought not to be in this, which
-perhaps never will belong- to us. To this i reply, if it be
inexpedient merely to explore a territory on our borders,
to which we claim title, because, by possibility, that title
may prove invalid, a fortiori, ought we, to abstain from in-
curring- the expense and endangering the public peace,
1 by erecting forts in the same territory ? Geological and
topographical information concerning foreign countries
may be eminently useful; but forts, in the hands of a rival
nation, erected by us, would strengthen them at our ex-
pense. In regard to the third objection, which is, that
the expedition would be exposed to great, danger, ! think
it must be apparent that a corps of persons, each of whom
should be selected with a view to his especial qualifica-
tions for this species of service, acquainted, in some de-
gree, with the; country, its inhabitants, and their customs,
would be less exposed to danger than ordinary troops and
engineers of the United States—less, indeed, than ordinary
traders in the country, because they would conic in colli-
sion with none of the interests'of either traders or Indians.
The fourth and last objection urged against the amend-
ment which I have proposed, is, that it does not define the
country to be explored with sufficient accuracy. In
this respect, I have followed the words of the treaty.
The instructions to be given by the President will di-
rect their labors in a proper channel. Much, however,
must be left to the sound and intelligent discretion of the
chief of the expedition. The latitude allowed appears to
me necessary to accomplish the objects in view.
Mr. T. closed his remarks in support of his amendment
by adverting to an observation made by his colleague, [Mr.
Cambeeiesg] to wit: "that our right to the country is
undoubted, and our traders must be protected." Mr. T.
said he considered our title better than that of any Euro-
pean nation, but yet it was going too far to say it was un-
doubted. It not only had been doubted, but adverse
claims had been interposed. He wished to have them am-
icably adjusted. He was persuaded neither this country
nor Great Britain would be foolish or wicked enough to
go to war about a degree of latitude on the Northwest
Coast; but if difficulty should arise in regard to other mat-
ters, this might be brought in to widen the breach. He
wished to see the limits settled, and the provisions of our
treaty with Great Britain enforced in relation to the In-
dian trade. We then should need neither forts nor ar-
mies to protect our traders in the Indian country. He was
willing to extend all reasonable protection to the branches
of' industry mentioned in the course of this debate. He
would protect a trader in the wilderness, a merchant or
navigator on the ocean, and a manufacturer in his work-
shop, each according to the magnitude and value of the in-
terests at stake. '
Mr. CAMBRELENG replied to his colleague, who in-
quired how a military post at the mouth of the Columbia
could protect our traders hundreds of miles in the interior;
how were they cut off? that it was by the secret agency of the
Hudson Bay Company. Establish your posts inthe neighbor-
hood of Fort George, and our traders will not be missing.
They will go, in perfect security, from the mountains to
that post, whenever the Hudson .Bay Company know that
there is a power at hand to protect them against the. au-
thors of such atrocities. Too much had been conceded to
Great Britain in the debate; even more than she herself
pretended to claim. The country, it was true, was, by
the treaty, "free and open" to the traders of both nations;
but the rights and claims of botli parties were not chang-
ed in any manner whatever: our right to possession, which
carried with it the right to establish military posts to pre-
vent massacres in that region; and her mere claim, which
gave to Great Britain no right whatever to establish a gar-
rison, or place a cannon, within the boundaries of that
country, the possession of which she had formally con-
ceded to the United States.
The question was then stated on Air. TAYTOli'8 amend-
ment, and a division upon it demanded: but the hour be-
ing late, and no quorum voting:, the Committee rose with-
out having- decided the question.
v, Jaw. 7, 1.829.
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT 01' COLUMBIA.
The question recurring on the motion of Mr. WICK-
LI ERE, to strike Out the preamble to the resolutions of-
fered by Mr. MINER, on the subject of slavery within
the District of Columbia—
Mr. MINER continued his remarks, cut short vesccrda^ .
Sir. 51. in commencing* his speech, observed thai, as
"doubts had been expivs.-x-d of the correctness of the alle-
gations set forth in the preamble, it bccamc his duty to
the House to show that they were well founded. His pur-
pose in presenting the matter in this form was, to arrest 1
the attention of the House, by concentrating", in the nar-
rowest compass in his power, some general principles and
striking* facts, bearing- upon the subject. In the first place,
[said Mr. M.] I have set forth the constitutional power of
Oongres.i over this District. On this point, 1 suppose
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Twentieth Congress, book, 1830; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30754/m1/179/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.