"Whereas, more than eighty men, women, and children, are said to be now confined in the prison of the District of Columbia without being charged with crime or any impropriety other than an attempt to enjoy that liberty for which our fathers encountered toil, suffering, and death itself, and for which the people of many European governments are now struggling; And whereas said prison was erected, and is now sustained, by funds contributed by the people of the free as well as of the slave States, and is under the control of the laws and officers of the United States: "And whereas, such practice is derogatory to our national character, incompatible with the duty of a civilized and Christian people, and unworthy of being sustained by an American Congress: Therefore, _Be it resolved_, That a select committee of five members of this body be appointed to inquire into and report to this House by what authority said prison is used for the purpose of confining persons who have attempted to escape from slavery, with leave to report what legislation is proper in regard to said practice. _Resolved, further_, that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers." Objections being made, the motion was not received.--_Cong. Globe, 30 Cong. 1 Sess., 641._ =28. Giddings's resolution on the jail in the District of Columbia. [§ 28.]= =1848, April 21.= Mr. Giddings visited the jail in the District of Columbia for the purpose of interviewing the persons confined there on charge of carrying away slaves from this District. He was then mobbed and his life endangered. "_Resolved_, That a committee of five members be appointed to investigate and report to this House respecting the points alluded to in the above statement, and that said committee be authorized to send for persons and papers, and to sit during the session of the House."--_Cong. Globe, 30th Cong. 1 Sess., 664._ =29. Meade's resolution on more effectual enforcement of the constitutional article on fugitive slaves. [§ 27.]= =1849, Jan. 8.= Mr. Meade moved that the rules be suspended to enable him to offer the following resolution:--