on the subject of the Blare-trade; a reference vehemently opposed, not only by Rutledge, Harper, Lee, Randolph, and other southern members, on the ground that the petition intermeddled with matters over which congress had no control, but also by Otis, of Boston, and Brown, of Rhode Issland, whose vehewas even greater, if possible, than that of the members from the south. Wain, Thacher, Smilie, Dana, and Gallatin argued, on the other hand, that, as parts of the petition were certainly within the jurisdiction of congress, it ought to be received and acted upon. The particulars of this debate are very im perfectly preserved; but, as usual on this subject, it was a very warm one. Rutledge called for the yeas and nays, wishing, as he said, to show by how decisive a majority all interference had been declined, and so to allay any fear that the matter would ever again be agitated in congress. Wain, however, anticipated the vote by withdrawing his motion, and substituting another, for the reference of such parts of the petition as related to the laws of the United States touching fugitives from service, and the supply of foreign countries with slaves. Rutledge raised a point of order as to the reference of a part of a petition, but the speaker decided against him. Gray, of Virginia, then moved to amend by adding a declaration that the unreferred parts of the petition, inviting congress to legislate on subjects over which the general government has no jurisdiction, "have a tendency to create disquiet and jealousy, and ought, therefore, to receive the pointed disapprobation of this house." Objections being stated to this amendment by Dana and Thacher, Gray agreed to modify it by substituting for the last clause, "ought therefore to receive no encouragement or countenance from this house." Against the amendment thus modified but one vote was given in the negative, that of Thacher, who had represented the district of Maine ever since the adoption of the constitution, and who had lost no opportunity to signalize his hostility to slavery. In the course of the session, the committee to whom the petition was referred brought in a bill which passed to be enacted, restricting, by more stringent provisions, the supply of slaves to foreign countries by ships of the United States.[1]
- ↑ Hildreth's Hist. U. S.
