teen years of age, from their parents, and it
is made a penal offence to do so.
Mr. SANDS. If my friend will allow me to
make a remark here, I am sure he is aware
that the provision in regard to marital rela-
tions among the slaves in Louisiana, do not
exist because of any State law. That is a
part of the French code which existed there
at the time we acquired that territory by pur-
chase.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. In an-
swer to that I will say that so much greater
the virtue in retaining it as a part of their
code. They would not change it, although
their Legislature had the power to do so at
any time. Instead of changing it, they con-
tinued it in operation. They saw the virtue
in it. It was a wise and moral provision,
and necessary to keep the slaves happy and
contented among them, and to make them
useful Christian people.
I have notes here which would, perhaps, oc-
cupy me an hour longer, but I will not trou-
ble the Convention except to say that whilst
you in your mad career—
Mr. SCOTT. I move that the gentleman be
allowed to extend his remarks till he gets
through.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I want
only a few minutes more.
The question was taken upon the motion
to give the gentleman further time, and it
was agreed to.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. I only
desire a few minutes.
The PRESIDENT. There is no limitation on
the gentleman's time now.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, I will not
certainly intrude my remarks upon the Con-
vention further than to say that you who are
now engaged in this wild career against this
institution, must take the responsibility upon
your own shoulders. Not only in overriding
all State laws, and ignoring the rights of the
citizen, but in destroying an institution which
is upheld by the law and the Gospel. Let
me suggest to yon who are prepared to do so
much injustice, that before the vote is taken
you may have an opportunity of going into
your closets and there communing with your
God. I hope He will enlighten and teach
you that fanaticism is not religion. That in-
justice is not justice; that falsehood is not
truth, and He will make you wiser and lead
yon to look to this subject in a true light,
and to consider whether your State or the
slaves will be benefited by the passage of
the measure, and to consider seriously of the
injustice that will be inflicted upon the mas-
ter. if you will do this and do it in sin-
cerity and truth, and not under the excite-
ment of the moment, but with a desire to be
led to the proper conclusions, I think you will
come back here better men, with different
conclusions and different purposes, that you
will, under His holy teachings, be able to |
say boldly upon this floor before High Heaven,
that yon will henceforward be governed in
every action in life by the immutable princi-
ples of truth and justice, and not by the
teachings of fanatical parties. Then, and not
till then, will you have done justice to your-
selves, justice to the slaveholder and slaves,
and justice to your State.
Mr. MARBURY. I did not intend saying
one word further upon this question. But
what I have said was said within the hour,
and I hope that in consideration of that fact
I may be allowed, merely as a matter of ex-
planation, to set right certain historical
facts, and to reply for a few moments to the
gentleman from Cecil (Mr. Pugh.)
Mr. PUGH. I certainly cannot consent to
that. unless I am also allowed the privilege of
replying to the gentleman from Prince
George's (Mr. Marbury.)
The PRESIDENT. One of the rules of the
Convention requires that no member of the
Convention can be allowed to speak twice
upon the same question until every other
member of the Convention who desires to
speak has had an opportunity to do so. If
no other member, who has not spoken, de-
sires to speak, the gentleman from Prince
George's (Mr. Marbury) can speak again.
But if there be any other gentleman who de-
sires to address the Convention upon this
subject, he must be first heard.
Mr. BARRON. Well, Mr. President, I desire
to say a very few words upon this subject.
You need not be alarmed.
The PRESIDENT. I am only noting the time
at which the gentleman commences his re-
marks.
Mr. BARRON. You need not do that. I will
not detain you the hour, you may be sure of
that. I wish to do as some other gentleman
are doing here; I want to put myself ex-
actly right upon the record, and in doing
this it will be with no expectation upon my
part of converting any one in this Conven-
tion over to my side. For I do assure yon
that I am perfectly confident that at this mo-
ment the lines are drawn as tight as they
possibly can be, that they will not vary more
than the needle from the pole. I do not ex-
pect to convert anybody to my side of the
question, and not even the Apostles if they
were here to-day could convert me from it.
Now, in the course of my remarks, it is
very likely that I may say some things that
will be as radical, as extreme North, as gen-
tlemen upon the other side are extreme
South.
And before I go any further, I must pay
my respects to the gentleman from Kent ( Mr.
Chambers.) I was taught to believe that he
was pretty nearly one of the worst men in
the world; upon honor I was, [Laughter.]
Bat the other day be got up here and delib-
erately said to this Convention that he had
been a whig as long as there was any whig |
