"Journals of the Convention at Washington," March 15, 1836

Summary: The Convention received a report from the committee dealing with the African slave trade. The committee opined that since so many Old World countries had banned the trade, and that Texas needed the support of those countries to survive, it was in the best interest of Texas to outlaw the slave trade within its borders.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1836.

The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.

1. Mr. Potter chairman of a select committee to whom was referred that part of the Constitution in relation to lands made the following report.* * * * *

On motion of Mr. Gazley the same was referred to the select

committee on the Constitution to correct errors and phraseology of the same.

2. Mr. Fisher of Matagorda, chairman of committee on Naval affairs made the following report on the African Slave trade.

"The committee to whom was referred a letter dated Velasco, March 2d, 1836, from Wm. S. Fisher, Collector, beg leave to observe, that the subject matter of said letter is of such a nature as to involve several important legal questions, which your committee do not consider come within the sphere of their duties; inasmuch as the private rights of some of our valued and respected citizens are therein involved. Yet your committee feel bound to give it as their opinion, that the introduction of African Negroes, is in contravention of the existing Treaties between most nations, and the existing laws of this land. And your committee have no hesitancy in stating their views and belief of the extreme impolicy of either covertly or directly countenancing a traffic, which has called forth the indignant condemnation of nearly the whole civilized world. It is to that civilized world that we now, in our present struggle look for sympathy, and hope from that sympathy to extract assistance.--Almost every nation has proclaimed against this traffic many years since, and denounced it as "Piracy;" and we are bound to believe from the late Message of his Majesty the King of Great Britain that, he has concluded with Denmark, Sardinia and Sweden, new conventions calculated to prevent it, and was in expectation of receiving a ratification of a similar treaty with Spain--that he was engaged in negotiating with other powers of Europe and South America for similar purposes, and hopes ere long, the traffic will be entirely suppressed.

Your committee therefore respectfully suggest that, as a nation just ushered into existence, it most eminently becomes our duty and policy to adapt our measures to the genius and spirit of the age. We must be governed by the opinions of others--we must so regulate our infant steps as to deserve the kind and watchful solicitude of older Nations. But while advocating the broad and abstract principle of justice, let us not by taking a retrospective view, of a doubtful and exciting question, interfere with or violate the just rights of our citizens.

Your Committee therefore in presenting their individual and collective views of the justice and policy of the Traffic in African Negroes, would respectfully beg that your honorable body discharge them from the further consideration of the subject, as being one which does not properly come under their notice."

On motion of Mr. Childress 1000 copies of the report were ordered to be printed.

Mr. Ellis laid before the Convention a communication from Edward Harcourt which was read and referred to the committee on Military affairs.

Source Copy Consulted: "Journals of the Convention at Washington," March 15, 1836, reprinted in H.P.H. Gammel, The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897, 12 vols., (Austin: Gammel Book Co. 1898), 1:895-896. http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/lawsoftexas