BY A. S. JOHNSTON.
VOL.. 2S--NO; 9.
COLUMBIA, S. e, MARCH 4, 1837,
THE
S0L7243L1 TEiSSCOFB
IS PUBLISHED BY
A. S. JOHNSTON,
Every Saturday Morning',
IX U EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING
DIKING THX SESSION OF THE LEGISLATE li? .
TERMS :
Three dollars per annum, if paid in advance, or
Foot dollars at the end of the year.
Advertisements conspicuously inserted at 75
cant per square for the first insertion, and 37 i cents
lor every subsequent insertion. AH advertisements
ordered I? the inside every publication ? or inserted
txjwrwise than regularly, to be charged as new for
fcrerr insertion. Advertisements not having the
huttiber or insertions marked on them wOI be contin
ued trS ordered out, and charged accordingly. All
Accounts for advertising, above $25 and under $50,
fcS per cent, deduction ? above $50, 40 per cent, de
duction.
J9 o t aloe Oats .
JUST received a few bushels of this valuable
grain, fromThorburn of New York, weighing 50
lb* per bushel. Also three bushels of the eight that
?Mr Tots of Cheater raised from one quart of the
Potato t)a t*, weighing 45 lbs to the bushel.
At the Grarden ? Apple Trees, Pear Trees, Green
Gage Plumb Trees, Damson ditto, Peach do. Some
very rare Fig Trees ; Ornamental Trees and Shrub
bery ; 1000 Giant Asparagus Roots ; Chinese Olian
thoa or free of Heaven, with leaves 4 feet long ;
Willow leaved Catalba, beautiful flowers ; Stercula
Ptatinafofia or varnish tree, leaves like a lady's para
?o) ; Mom Roses ; Lady Basksea Roses ; Velvet do.
II.BL The subscriber can always Le found at the
Seed Store or at the Garden.
R. E. RUSSELL,
jaa 13 % Seedsman and Florist.
State ofSonth Carolina.
UNION DISTRICT.
LV CHANCERY.
Willis Benson, et al.
vs. > BUI for Partition.
Hat Bensoa, et al. ).
? T appearing to my satisfaction that Eli as Bensoa,
JL Gabriel Bensoa, Nancy Walker, Jeremiah Greg
ory and Theresa hi wife, W. W. Stokes, and his
wife Elizabeth, late Elizabeth Foster, William B.
Stokes, Melinda Stokes, Hiram Tataa and his
wile Ellen, late EQen Stokes, James Tiquor, and his
wiie Eliza, late Eliza Stokes, Peter Stokes, John
D Martin, and his ? ife Rachael, late Rachae
Stokes, Rebecca Stokes, Nancy Stokes, and John
F. Stokes, defendants in the above stated case, and
heirs at Law of Abner Benson, late of Union dis
trict, deceased, reside beyond the limits of this State.
It is therefore, on motion of Dawkins, Solicitor for
complainants, ordered that the said defend an. s do
plead answer or demurt to the biU in this-case, within
three months from the publication of this order, or
the said Bill wife he ordered proconfesso, as to them.
Commkaioner's Office, ?
Union C. H. Jan. 10th, 1837. >
D. WALLACE, C. E. U. D.
January !1 ? 3 3m
Columbia, February 11, 1837.
Saluda Manufacturing Co -
- R**otr*x>, by the Board of Direct are of
Salad* Manufacturing Company, That the
Books ahall be opened on the 1st day of March
next, at the counting house of D. & J . E wart
& Cfc* for an additional subscription of one
iumdred thousand dollars to the capital Stock
of the Company. New subscribers will be
admitted into the Company on the same terms
and on the same conditions of original sub
scribers. Ten tiollars a share on each share
of obe hundred dollars, will be required at time 1
of subscribing, and ten dollars a share at the !
end of each and every 6ixty days thereafter, !
until the whole will be paid. A failure to com
ply with these terms, will inure in aforfei ure
of the stock for the benefit of the Company.
Tbe Company having one fourth of the mill i
filled with machinery, and now ia operation, !
and another fourth xo progress of setting up,
are able to calculate to a reaionable degree of !
certainty, the value of their undertaking. To
make the establishment available to the full |
extent of which it is capable, they have come j
to the determination, provided they can sell !
the stock, to fill the mill from the basement to ;
the attic story. The citizens gf our State, and ;
particularly the present stockholders, are called
upon to aid in an undertaking which will be a .
credit to our State, and will most unquestion*
?My exceed in profitable or pecuniary results ;
any joint stock company within the State.
. - ^ _DAVID EWART, President.'.
Mottticelio Academy.
THIS Institution, located in the western section
of Fsirfieid District, will be re-opened on the
1st day of February next, for the reception of Stu- i
dents, under the charge of the Rev. Joseph Holmes
as Principal sad Wm. W. Holmes as classical assis
tant. Under their instructions pupils may recieve a !
thorough Education and be considerably advanced i
in a knowledge of the Ancient I alia and Grecian i
languages.
In the choice of Mr. Holmes as principal of this
Academy, parents may have a guarantee ihat a
special regard wifl be bestowed on the moral as well
m mental improvement of their children; and that
the pieasing and persuasive manner of the Teacher
ininculcating truth will W 4 te ??biecte
i? uiku iro ioo apt to oe uninteresting end even be
come repulsive to youth. The budding is large,
^commodiees, and has recendy undergone a thorough
repair ; has four fire places, and is convenient to a
spring of tbe purest water. It is beautifully situated
Hna healthy and dehghtfol section of country, in the I
midstof a community characterized by a high degree ?
? of morality, intelligence, and refinement Xo haunts
-of dissipation and vice, ? no "grog shops" are tolera- '
*
There will be two sesziona. \;.The first ending on
"the last of June. The 3d commencing on the first
of July and ending on the 20th of December. There
wft be apublic examination of the Students at the
and of each session; and occassional visits during
the year, by a committee for the purpose of inspec
tion and examination.
Boarding can be had at the rate of $10 per month.
The Terms of Tuition are, in the English Depart
ment.
For Spelling and Reading, per session $6' 00
The above with Writing & Arithmetic, 8
Do. do. with English Grammar & Geog- ^ 10 00
raphy,
Do. do with History, 12 00
Do. do with Latin and Greek, 15 00
^tf"or firewood for the Academy 50
\o the MonticeUo Society tor initiation into ) , r
the Academy \ w
Pupils will be received at any time, and charged
accordingly ; but no deduction will be made when
they leave before the end of a sessiqp.
Letters to be addressed to the Rev. J. Holmes. ?
By the direction of the Board of Trustees,
W.J. ALSTON, President.
Jan. 13 4t 7
Dry Goods, at Cost, tor-Cash.
At No. 1, Cedar st* first door from Pearl, NewYork.
THE Subscriber is opening a new Stock of
Fresh Imported Fancy and Staple Dry Goods,
aridwifl be receiving further supplies from Auction
(iujy.Jior CasAat will be an invariable rule to sell any
article at Cost. ---
The usual credit of 6 months will be given when
desired, and Goods sold at the lowest market prices.
H. B. FIELD.
New York, Jan. 28 th, 1837 6 tf
5 Very Prime Negroes and 1
Old Woman.
W. B. Yates and wife,")
V<.
A Wallace and Sally
C. Taylor.
BY virtue of the Decree in Equity I will offer
for sale on the fiwt Monday in March next at
the risk of the former purchaser, five very likely ne
groes, and one old woman.
LEWIS, a fine driver and very trusty, 40 years,
ROSE his wife, 35,
JIM, a likely boy, 13,
JOSHUA, 12,
GABRIEL, 5,
OLD NANCEY, 70.
1, 2, 3, and 4 years credit, interest from date paya
ble annually, personal security and mortgago of
property.
JAMES L. CLARK, C. E. R.D.
Feb. 9, 1837 6
Splendid Real E state lor Sale
John P. Smith, and
Catherine G. Smith,
vs. i '
Judith W. Smith,
and Jas. McD. Smith,
Adm'x. and Adm'r. J
BY virtue of a decree of the Court of Equity I
will offer for eale on the first Monday in March
next, before the Court House, th it large and elegant
three story Brick House, in the Town of Columbia,
and the lot on which it is situated, fronting on Rich
ardson street, 57 feet 4 inches, extending back on
Taylor street, 263 feet more or less ; on the corner
of Richardson and Taylor streets, long known as a
superb stand for a Public House, and at present occu
pied partly by Jas- M'Fie, as a Dry Good and Groce
ry Store, and dwelling, and sold subject to a lease of
said Jas. M'Fie. '
Bill for account sale and
division.
Also a very good dwelling house, and the lot on
1 which it is located in the rear of the said Brick house,
on the north side of Taylor street and adjoining tho
house and lot lately occupied by W. E. Harvey,
being the same premises occupied by Dr. George E.
Smith, at the time of his death.
Also one square of 4 acres of land in the said
Town of Columbia, below the Steam Water Works,
and well adapted for planting, bounded by Pulaski,
Huger, Plain and Washington streets.
Also 2 acres of land in the same neighborhood com
posed of 4 lots known in the plan of the Town as
Lots No. 9, 10, 11 and 12, bounded south on Plain
street, east by Gadsden street, and west by Wayne
street. Terms, i Cash, ballance a credit of 1, 2 and
3 years, interest from date, good personal security,
and a mortgage of the premises.
JAMES L. CLARK, C. E. R. D.
Feb. 9, 1837 6
Splendid JFark Lands
IN EQUITY.
Wm. Scott and wife, and others,'
vs.
Adam Edgar, Executor of Wm. I Bill for account,
Ed mondson and others, heirs and Sale, and Divi
representatives of Axton White- sion.
cotton. _ 1
BY virtue of the Decree in Equity, I will offer
for Sale, on the first Monday in March next, all
that well known Plantation i n the Fork of the Con
garee and Wateree Rivers, whereon the late Axton
Whitecotton resided, between 600 and 1000 acres of
first rate lands, in tbe best cotton region this side the
Mississippi lands ? bounded by James Seay's lands,
Bab Carter's, and .George Pickering's, on Joe's
Branch. A more particular description will be sub
mittted on thedayofsale. Terms, 1, 2, 3, and 4 years
credit, interest from date, bond, personal security ,and
a mortgage of premises. The purchaser will be re
quired to pay sufficient money to defray the expens
es of the suit and costs of sale,
Also, at same time, a negro fellow, named Sharper.
Credit one year, interest from date, bond, personal
seeurity anp mortgage. J. L. CLARK, C.T5.R.D.
EebruAry 11, 1837. 6
Selling olTat Cost.
TIie Subscriber intending to relinquish the
Grocery business, offers for tale his entire stock
of well selected
GROCERIES, WINES, and LIQUORS,
at reduced prices. Merchants and Families wishing
to purchase w ill do well to call and examine the
stock.
The Subsriber will continue to keep on hand a
general assortment of
CROCKERY. CHINA and GLASS WARE.
. Together with the following articles :
Knives and Forks, Astral Lamps, Looking
Glasses, Waiters, Andirons, Shovels and Tongs,
Hearth Brooms, Bellows, Brass and Green Fenders,
Floor Mats, Straw and Hair Brooms, White Wash
and Scrubbing Brushes, and every other article in
that line.
Together uith a large assortment of BASKET
and WOODEN Ware.
I D MORDECAI.
No. 3 New Brick Range.
Feb. 11th, 6 4t
Beat this who Can.
117 E do challenge the world to simplify 'or im
ww prove the principle of Cooper s Tumbling
Shaft horse power.
It has only 2 small cast wheels, one with 29 cogs
and the other 9, with which any motion or power
that's required for Cotton Gins, horse Mills , turning
Laythes, Whetrtor Rice Machines, can be obtained.
The cost is nof half that of any of the old plans,
is mucl> easier gropelled, and moro durable.
The said power is now in operation, in the lot of
William W. Parse,, Cabinet Maker, near the Com
mercial Lank, where it can be seen at any time.
Auy person or persons wishing to purchase the right
for Machines or Districts, will apply to Dr. Frede
rick W. Green, our agent, just below the Branch
Bank, who will make conveyances for the same.
ROBERT M. MAUPIN,
JOHN W. LANGHORNE.
E A'TE R T.lI.VJtIE.VT.
THE Subscriber begs leave to inform his friends
and the public generally, that he h ts taken the
well known Public House, south of the Court House,
Congress Street, YORKV1LLE, So. Ca. (formerly
conducted by X. McNeel,) and solicits a share of |
public patronage.
This Establishment is in every way calculated to
render comfort both to the traveller and permanent
boarder ; every exertion will be given on the port
of the proprietor to accommodate those who may
favor him with a call.
A. S. WILLIAMSON.
Yorkville, S.C. Jan. 1st, 1837. 3m 2
?5" The Charleston Courier will publish the
[ above, weekly, for three months, and forward the
account to me afr Yorkville.
Reward .
| B * AN AW AY. from Thos. Evans, in Augusta
M?' Geo., about four months ago, a negro girl named
I SC1LLA, or PRISCILLA. She is aged 21 or 22
; years, dark mullatto, about 5 feet high very stout
make. She formerly belonged to Mrs. Jzard, of
| Chester district, now of Columbia. It is thought
she may have gone back to that neighborhood.
Having purchased the above described girl from
Mr. Evans, a few days ago , I wall give Twenty five
dollars for her apprehension, and a further sum of
twenty five dollars on proef that she has been har
bored by any white person.
JOHN J. GRACEY.
Feb. II, 1S37 & tf
Committed.
, rElO the Jail of Richland* as a Runaway* a negro
; i man who calls his name WINSTON, and says
i he belongs to George Daniels of Chester district,
So. Ca. Winston is about 37 years of age, five 'eet
| four inches high,has lost all the fingers from the left
hand and several of his front teeth. The owner is
j requested to corac forward, prove his property, pay
I charges and take him away.
JESSE DEBRUHL, S. R. D.
i February 22d, 1837 8
ON THE SHORTNESS OF HUMAN LIFE.
like as a damask rose you sec,
Or like the blossom on the tree :
: Or like the dainty flower iu May,
I Or like the morning to the day ;
; Or like the sun, or like the shade,
Or like the gourd which Jonas had :
i E'en such is man, whose thread is spun
i Drawn out and cut, and so is done ;
j Withers the rose, the blossom blasts,
The flower fades, the morning hastes ;
! The sun dcf.h set, the shadows fly,
The gourd consumes, and mortals die.
Like to the grass that's newly sprung;
Or like a tale that's new begun ;
Or like a bird that's here to-day;
Or like the pearled dew of May ;
Or like an hour, or like a span ;
Or likd the singing of a swan ;
E'en such is man, who lives by breath;
Is here, now there, in life and death ;
The grass decays, the tale doth -end,
The bird is flown, the dews ascend ; ,
The hotn- is short, the span not long,
Theswan'i near death, man's Iifeis done.
i .
Like to the bubble in the brook,
Or in a glass much like a-look ;
Or like the shuttle in the hand,
Or like the writing in the sand :
Or like a thought, or like a dream,
Or like the gliding of the stream .
' E'en such is man, wholives by broaih,
! Is here, now there, in life and death ;
The bubble's burst, the look's forgot,
i The shuttle's flung, the writing's blot :
The thought is past, the dream is gone,
; The water glides, man's life is done.
LINES BY THE LAKE SIDE.
This placid lake, my gentle girl,
Be emblem of thy life ?
As full of peace and purity,
As free from storm and strife:
No ripple on its tranquil breast
That dies not with the day:
No pebble in its darkest depths,
But quivers in it*ray.
And see, how every glorious form
And pageant of tne skies,
Reflected from its glossy face,
I A mirror' d Image lies.
So be thy spirit, everpure.
To God, to virtue grren!
And thought, and word, and action, bear
The imagery of Heaven!
Dr. Graham. ? *The most eminent quack
of the last generation was a Doctor Graham,
who tampered with electricity in a manner
too infamous to be reported ; and for which he i
ought to have received jhe most exemplary i
public punishment. This man was half mad; '
and his madness at last, contrary to the usual ?
process, got the better of his knavery. His j
latest method of practice was something vio- !
lent; it was to bury his patients up to the chin
in fresh moukl. J saw half a score of
them exhibited in this manner for a shilling:
a part of the exhibition was to see them per
form afterward upon shoulders of mutton, to
prove that when they rose from the grave
they were as devouring as the grave itself. ?
The operation lasted four hours; they suffered, .
as might been in their countenances, intense
ly from cold for the first two, during the third
they grew warmer, and in the last perspired
profusely, so that when they were taken out
the mould recked like a new dunghill. Sailors
are said to have practised this mode of cure
successfully for the scurvy. The doctor useel
sometimes to be buried himself for the sake of
keeping his patients company; one day when
he was in this condition, a farmer emptied a
watering-pot upon his head to make him grow.
When J? ? saw him, he was sitting up to
his neck iu a bath of warm mud, with his hair
powdered and in full dress. As he was haran
guing upon the excellent state of health which
he enjoyed from the practice of earth-bathing
as he called it, J asked him, Why then
if there was nothing the matter with him,
he sut in the mud 1 The question puzzled
him. Why, he said, ? why? it was ? it was
to show people that it did no harm, ? that it
was quite innorent ? 'that it was yery agree
able; and then brightening his countenance
with a smile at the happiness of the thought,
he added, It gives me, sir, a skin as soft as
the feathers of Venus's dove.' This man
lived upon vegetables, and delighted in de
claiming against the sin of being carnivorous,
and the dreadful effects of making the stom
ach a grave and charnrl*house for slaughter
bodies. Latterly he became wholly an en
thusiast, would madden himself with either,
run out into the streets, to strip himself to
clothe the first beggar whom he met." ? Es -
prieila's Letters,
We notice in one of our exchange papers,
that a person advertises for rent , for a number
of years, all his defensive arms, consisting of
ten Bowie knives, from six to forty-eight
inches in length ? ten brace of rifled pistols,
from six to twelve inches in length ? ten brace
smoothsbore pistols, from eight to fifteen
inches in the barrel, one brace double barrel
rifle pistol ? three brace, hair trigger, duelling
pieces ? eight dirks or daggers ? two rifle -gun
walking sticks, nice article ? two sword canes
? two sword umbrella* and seveial other
nice articles, necessary for self preservation. I
Which he is induced to rent , having joined
the church, and having no further use for them
at present. The person that gets them must
agree to return the same, when called upon.
? Gallatin {Miss.) Democrat.
At a debating club not far off, the question
was discussed, whether there is more happi.
ness in the possession or the pursuit of an ob
ject 1 and was decided, no doubt, in favor
of the following :
"Mister President/* said the orator, " 'spose
I was courting a gal, and she was to run away,
and 1 was to run arter her, wou/dn't I be hap
pier when I had cotched her than when I was
running arter her ?"
The Wandering Jew. ? "A few years
ago there was a fellow with a long beard in
London, who professed himself to be the
Wandering Jew. He did not adhere to the
legend, which was of little consequence, as
his visiters were not likely to be better in
formed than himself, but laid claim to higher
antiquity than the Jerusalem shoemaker, and
declared that he had been with Noah in the
ark. Noah, he said, had refused to take him ;
but he got in secretly, and hid himself among
the beasts, which is the reason why his name
is not mentioned in the Bible; and while he
was there, the he-goat had given hi. u a blow
on the forehead, the mark of which was visible
to this day. Some persons asked him which
country he liked best of all that he had visited
in his long peregrinations; he answered ?
v' /Spaing as perhaps a man would have done
. who had really seen all the world. 15ut it was
remarked as rather extraordinary, that a Jew
' ehould prefer the country of the Inquistion. ?
*God bless you sir !' replied the ready rogue,
shaking his head, ana smiling at the sslme
time, as if at the erroi* of the observation, M it
was long before Christianity that I was last in
Spain, and 1 shall not go there again till long
after it is all over V'-* Espriclla's Letters *
j . TO THE PUBLIC.
0^7" The undersigned is compelled by other
indispensable engagements to withwraw from
the publication of the ''United States Tel
egraph," the subscribers to which will here
after received in its stead **Tiie Reformer,"
smew paper published in this city by Messrs.
;W illiam W. Moors & Co. and edited by
&ICUAKD K. Cralle, Esq. j - *? - ?
DUFF GREEN.
Washington City, February 21, 1837.
The principles and purpose of The Refor>
mer are set forth in the subjoined prospectus
of Mr- Cralle, whose services we have en
gaged as the sole and exclusives editor of the
paper. It will be published daily at ten doK
Jars per annum ? tri-?veekly during the Session
of Congress, semUweekly during its recess at
six dollars per annum, payable in advance.
WILLIAM W. MOORE & CO.
Washington City, February 21, 1837.
PROSPECTUS.
It is now most apparent that the Executive
Department has obsorbed nearly all the pow
ers of the Federal Govornment, and that noth
ing short of a radical reform can prevent us
from sinking into a practical despotism. ?
More than the first step has been taken that
leads to this resul. No man can contemplate
the events that are daily transpiring before us,
and remain blind to the truth. Powers that
defy all constitutional restraints have been
usurped by the Executive; and, more than this,
have been transmitted in obedience to its will.
The President has nominated his successor,
and, by means of the patronage of Govern^
ment, has placed him in the Chair of State. If
some decisive measure be not adopted, this
example will be followed by his successors,
until an entire change is effected in our in
I stitutions. To prevent a result so disastrous
to human liberty, there must be a rally of all
those who are in favor of preserving our free
i institutions. The purpose of The Reformer
is to effect this, and to direct it most efficient^
ly to the object in view.
Executive usurpations rrmy be traced to an
excessive re vemle, and the consequent lavish
expenditure growing out of it ? to the vast in
flnence it exercises through its control over
the public lands ? to its arbitrary power of dis
missing from office independent and eapable
agents, and of rewarding its partisans without
regard to merit, at its mere will and pleasure
? and to the use it recklessly makes of the
sectional differences growing out of the con
flicting interests incident to a country of such
vast extent as ours. To counteract these
evils, the income must be limited to the wants
of the Government ? ecomomy and accounta
bility must be enforced in every department
of the public expenditures ? faithful and capa
ble officers must be placed beyond the caprice
of Executive will ? and the various and con
flicting interests of the country must be recon
ciled, and brought to harmonize. Without
this, it will be in vain to contend against Exe
cutive usurpation. No force of eloquence or
argument can resist them, so long as these
self-sustaining means are left in its control.
Withhold these, and reformation will neccs- i
sarily take place. The Government will be I
put to the necessity of looking to honest |
means for its support, when it can no longer
rely on the means of corruption to sustain it- \
self in power.
We pledge ourself that The Reformer
will enforce these principles, and legard no
man or influence, but in reference to these im
portant objects. The times demand energy
and concert of action. If the fatal example of
Executive interference in the elections of the
people be not rebuked, it is easy to foresee that
the example will become a precedent for the
future ; and what is now regarded with abhor- j
( rence, wil!, after a few repetitions, be consid
ered as of the necessary principles of Govern
ment. This is certain ? and we appeal to the
virtuous and patriotic every where ? to those
who love the institutions of the country ? who
place a just estimate upon the value of public
liberty ? who regard the interests of themsel
ves and their posterity ? to sustain us in our
efforts to secure these inestimable benefits.
Experience has shown that, without a rally
of the good and virtuous, it is impossible to
support a bold and patriotic press in this city.
Hitherto, none which has not been supported
by the patronage of the Government, has paid
the expenses of publication. In the face of
past experiment, the Publishers have dared to
make the present effort, in the hope that the
manifest disorders of the times, and the certain
consequences which, without a radical reform,
must ensure, will rallcy the country to their
support, and by this means aid them in secur
ing the great object which we all have in
view.
RICHARD K. CRALLE.
Washington City, Feb. 21, 1837.
THE RIGHT OF SLAVES TO PETITION.
Remarks of Mr. Thompson, of So. Ca.
Tuesday, February 7, 1837.
Mr. Speaker: I am reluctant, sir, to throw
myself again upon the indulgence of the
House. The original resolution which I
submitted upon this subject, and which seems j
so much to have shocked the delicate sensi- j
bilities of some gentlemen, was dictated by
the irrepressible feelings which the conduct of
the honorable member from Massachusetts
was so well calculated to excite. More calm
reflection has only served to confirm me in
the opinion that the course which I adopted
was that wlifch duty demanded ; and although
I should not be sustained by a single vote, it
would not in the slightest degree shake my
fixed purpose. No, sir, in this as in every
other contest of duty, honor, and right, there
is consolation, if in nothing else, in the glori
ous sentiment of Henry at Agincourt; ''The
fewer men the greater share of honor." It is
not the first time that, in the moment of con
flict, 1 have found myself abandoned by some
of those who had urged me into it. I am
[ somewhat in the condition of Rtclftui before
the fatal day of Boswor'h i my allies., drop
ping off one by one. jLike himt in
j nothing else. Gentlemen who j%|frnlfir
reproved my flagging zeal, and urgedht reso?"
) lutioft for the expulsion of the naepibeK From
; Massachusetts, to-day find my resolution,. too
I strong by half. Ail 1 desire is, the Urinal and
unequivocal expression of the opinion of the
j House, that to present a petition from s laves
| is unauthorized by the constitution** disro
spect to the House, and a violation Jpw*
rights and feelings of a portion or.ita jeejn. ;
j bers. 1 have no personal feelings, of yen- !
i geance against the honorable tnember (Mr. 1
i Adams) to gratify, although his b&bittml har* i
I assing the House and irritjiling conduct on I
this subject of abolition have been, well calcu^ |
lated to rouse such feeling?^|ij9vy v great |
have been his trespasses daring t&t*3,ke?5u5n :
upon your patience, and that of the House, is
in the knowledge of every member.
My honorable friend from Virginia (Mr.
Robertson) admits that the conduct or the
member from Massachusetts was "a wanton
trifling with the house and unjustifiable tor~
turing of the feelings of i^s members; and that
the subsequent explanations of the gentle
man nothing extenuate the offence." Now,
sir, 1 beg to be informed, if a wanton trifling
with the House and torturing the feelings of j
its members is not a direspect deserving cen- !
sure what is?
The honorable member from Massachi*
setts (Mr. Lincoln) has urged, wit li much zeal
ami forcc, that there was no offence in tne
question which was asked. That there can
bb no violation of the decorum of the House
in asking a question ? a question which roay
or -may not be answered. Is this true, sir .
NfcnOffence in a question ! Can, greater of
fence be offered than by asking questions :
There are some questions not to be asKed,
and this is one of them. Is it no disrespect
to ask a member if he is not destitute or
honor or truth ? None whatever, according
to the argument, because the question may be
answered or not. .
Slaves have no right to petition. They are
property, not persons ; they have no political
rights ; and even their civil rights must be
claimed through their masters. Having no
political rights, Congress has no power in
regard to them, and therefore no right to
receive their petitions. They are property,
not persons, under the constitution is the para
mount rule of the House, and any attempt, how*
ever made, to present petitions from them, is
a violation of that constitution, and a flagrant
disrespect and insult to a portion of its metn*
bers. Docs any man dare to claim that ihis
House, of which I am a member, .8 a tribu
nal to which appeals from my slaves are to
be addressed, and in which their denuncia
tions of me are to be received ! This is a
question that I will not argue. From the
position that slaves have a right to petition,
to that which should assert tbeir "gi, 0
vote, "the 6tcp is short and natural. Tliey
can have no such right, unless they have
political rights. If they have, to refuse then
an agency in making the laws by which
those rights are guarded, is to violate the
great fundamental .principle of our revolution.
If they have the right to petition, the prm
ciple must be carried out to that extent. I
repeat, sir, 1 will not argue such a question
for any other purpose than to show the enor
mity of the act of offering such a petition.
The gentlemen from Massachusetts (Mr.
Lincoln) objects that the change is indefinite,
intangible. How, says he, did the member trifle
with the House 1 I will tell you, sir. After pre.
senting various abolition petitions, tne member
(Mr. A.) stated that he had a petition from .
twenty-two slaves, and asked if it came with- (
in the resolutions of the gentleman from Ken- I
tuckv, (Mr. Hawes) ? thus giving to the
House an additional reason to believe that
the prayer of the petition was for the aboli>
ti- n of slavery. 1 enquired if it was an
abolition petition, and requested that it might
be read. The honorable member from Massa
chusetts declined to answer. My friend from
Alabama (Mr. Lewis) enquired of the Chair
whether the petition did pray for the Abolition
of slavery. He was informed by the Chair
that it did. The honorable member was silent,
and permitted the misapprehension of the
Chair into which he had led both yotti sir and
the whole House to remain uncorrected, when
he alone Irad it in his power to set the House
rio-ht. One word from him would have suf
ficed. He refused to give that one word.
He allowed more than one resolution to be ^
submitted, and speeches to be made o"1"?*)
supposition; and not until he supposed the
House sufficiently embarrassed and entrapped, I
did he condescend to state what was the .
nature of the petition. Is not this tfining j
with the House 1 l-et every member honest- ,
ly answer the question. But, sir, I take
broader ground. To present any petition, for
an v object, (and it is perfectly indifferent
what that object is,) from slaves. w Without |
authority or right, ami an unjustifiable and
insolent trifling with the House. |
The honorable member from Kentucky (Mr.
Graves) has replied to an argnment which no
one has used. I certainly have not .1 He
seems to suppose that the act of the honora
ble member from Massachusetts is reg"**d
as offensive, because it is calculated to bnBg
into contempt the resolutions of his hone ra
ble colleague, (Mr. Hawes.) have Hot
heard any such ground assumed. 1 shall cer
tainly be o le of the last to break a la cc in
defence of those resolutions. The same lion
??We member has vise argued that it could
be no disrespect, as Hie member from Massa
chusetts disclaims any such intention. Does
not every one see that this woold excuscany,
the grossest violation of decora,..! A mem
ber may ask another if he is not go.lty o.
falsehood, and is not a knav^ and m l, s
defence say he meant no offence? is lie to
''"iVfh^oraTmembor is a slaveholder,
and represents slaveholders, and oil that ae
count F must say that 1 have heard no speech
on this floor which has grated so harshly on
,nv car. 1 regretted it, deeply regretted it, as
coming from a slaveholder. It conccdes, in my
iiid?ment,the most vital principle for which the
abolitionists contcnd. 1-oofc at their petitions.
Thcv *ay that slavery is an evil a national am,
and a disgrace. Will these be cuieJ by abo
lititm in thrs miserable ten miles square?? <
Does any man believe that llreir purposes are
confm d to that 1 Ycu might as welt toil me
that you would set fire to ten fea?quare iu a
dry prainc, and that you designed End expect
i ed that it would extend*? further. No, sir,
*
rUSRKJ ? . !
*re? Understand
Ibi# it our
i their ttmv*
:cubea*?i
those men, fi?*i
their game. They
weakest point ? that
est sho# df p!au^bl
and, like, a ?kiliuj coi
the \vea^c?l point of
settle upon the weak<
ami a more pestilent ' ,ra. i, y 3
exist. It id 4 foul and bliStidg tnalarta tlWp
is prostrating the justice* virtue, and indepen
; (Jence of a portion of thi tpuntry. |f tfcafjl;,.
not at least one member on this door,
; last session was opposed to these wretch? 1
tut who, at the last Clectiop, vu obliged td
give in his adhesion or give np his seatfatfe
?a painful alternative to any bot t Jtatfrtil-*
to a patriot, ? proud occasion of sacrifeta
the poor honor of a wit in tliia body* to w
sense of justice and right ? to the peace audi
HafmonjLPf lb* Unioa^ i ~
They regard abolition*
first, but (Tecisire stop^W
States. So do I. So d<3e*
hold ng country. TI10 genttem
them the power here, and We
at suSrance ? at will ? auJ ~
who we kno?v will strik#
they dare, do If. They
and coiled^' and only do
they dare not. Is this
holders in this body give
ye this backing your fri
such backing, say I."
I think, Mr. Speaker, I
not responsible for the e
courss of this debate. I
confine myself to the subject
and I now reluctantly ad ve.. _
not strictly pertinent j butnfrtucb
first involved by tn^. Tb&gii
Massachusetts (Mr Unco}
of severer denunclatioi
by me, sir. f "am 2ml
form -r occasions. 1 wual<
sail the^haracter of .any
of that ancifent, enlightened
Commonwealtn. ButWfcen"
sins are exciting oar slai
murder ? infanticide ; when
shafts ure daily aimed a t nrfrlife . ^
of infinitely more valw^ "at dor
when I strike back, i^d gentlei
interpose their State to shield
ants, and to receive blows ail
must take the consequences.
no jot of the forcO of uiy blows w < rI
count ' ?
The gentleman has giVCft Hi AnOlhdr'l
upon these amiable nends ? these
spectable assassins. Now, sir, allow
sny that I have read a work dn the
slavery# written by a mail than whom nona i
more honored at the North, and
the South, too, once delighted i
who I doubt not it the beat df
brotherhood-1? and 1 VeflttfW td
book of tlie same nnmber Of paging
language# contains libels mom fool and false?
I As a class, they are fools or knaves, and there
is no escrrpe fioni W?edfU?fi?etiVar * H IMl W
not know how Wortd tbatt viid ift 4netf
efforts, and tbejf only tend to make
condition of thoseywhose friends they
to be, they are entitled to the
knowing it, they persist in tbrtfrT vildi_
with no hope of good, btft at tbd risk
ing down the proudest terflple Which
wisdom has reared to humaniibertf, Bdlie *31
deny their right to the latter typtliatkjf ? ?
The gentleman from Masstetoselti- fi if
entirely uncdftiictaus of the dflfenfiftitertdf
such topics, speaks of the tigfet of the fMipn
of the North to sympathise #fClf htteian wf? '
fering ? with the rtpittedsed-^Irith theso lfcJ
properly held in bondage. Now, 4if, Wfttt
does all this mean when tninsftrted ? It mean*
this. That we of the South are oppreasdrf j
holding men in % bondage so cruel and unlaw
ful as to enlist the sympathies of the gtiBtfaUh
the icarm hearted people of the Nofth-=-eyflf
pathies of which we must be destitute, or . we
would cease from such wickednesi. Ndw*
sir, gentlemen must efljpect these 6he#get to
be repelled. Rdusseiu, 1 believe it
gretted that he had ' not been born a fiomaiia
1 am thankful and proud that I was born an
American, a slaveholder, and a 8obth' Cart^V
nian. I regard African alevery, in
bearings, as a blessing? -as a blessing td tHs
slave himself j and 1 challenge a deniahdiilwf
proposition, that no where On eartrU W his
native land or any Other,- is the African ad
elevated in the scale of being, or in the ele
ment of as much com fSrt^se virtuous* enlightJ
encd, or happy? as those Who die sHrtet in
this country. I am satisfied th*t id ifd ttrtfrs
try where domestic slavery dBIas nbt eaist,
has the. character of man ever been, ofr crer'
will be, found in ita highest development, 1
believe it essential to the codnftenttdce Of
liberty. Where, let nte ask, *he? the hbm*
ties and honor of this country have beeita*
sailed by enemifcp# foreign or domeatict ntvf
fiown for refuge i i feel that^l am treading ttf -
delicate ground.; It may be iny idiptB fa weed
times, when the whole Nofth is so cliifldrotii
about the freedom of speech and
remind gentlemen of the Sedtti&o Iaw j
' when they seem to have taken AtflWcan liofli^
I or exclusively udder their keeping-, td fetoind
| them of the part which their States b^re in t lief
1 late war? that second struggle foi Jadevtt/H
dence? for we should hate ceas'^d to Ntiftir
; Irad the most essentia! attributes of a nation
if we had not waged that war# Northern
commerce was assailed, and northefti aeawtf^
! impressed. The north countcd the Coat, and
' was opposed to war. The. rfcationai bono/.
? was assailed, and the re*of the nation coot*
j ted not the cost, but n*fcd into the cdoftict*
! and came out of >t triumphtatly, w*? 0*
j North all the whife fangm* on their aktrta. f.
1 know, sir, that there werS Uloatriow ?M?
; tiofts. I speak not of indivrttaala, bot et Igf
1 condnct of the State?,
When the gentle^to (Mr. Lincolfl)
of the sympathies of the North Oft
suffering, fttf the Oppressed and thtiw
unlawful bondage, i canndMbrbear td
tulate him upon the return of thoeefet
for if **aught tint's trite in fciattty ? *
not always ao. There fcould seem td
been e time wheu these honorable feelings hM ,
fled from their land . And even now. It -
to be a mbst modified benevcleftCe,
restricted philanthropy, tftoCfc demanda as
indispensable that their olii^s should ^l?ve a
red or a blsc?k skin j for their own
race their hearts are as cdld aa they everWereu
How, Mr. Speaker, rf it slnmld tarn
slavery has been brought upon the 4
this most tender-hearted people T
shall show that the blackest end