Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, April 21, 1836, Image 3
I-P tokb.the sujcet wider
- OW idration, ~and ord pd iA6ont be
liie4e aiihong the -bie ecords~ for safe:
- - ejging.. -
u.t to pr-oceed, in reply to tho ohject'ns
of our opponents. It is next .urged. that
- cedents. are.against the side we sup port.
.meetjds objection with a direct- denigl.
Frontdhe-beginning of the Governiut to
-the commencement of thais Sesliou there
Is not a single precedent 'that justifies the
receivin of hese petitions, 'onthe ground
n hici. their rcceptio. ..s urged. Th
rcal state of the case is, that We arc not
- following, but naiug pieccdentts. For
the first tine lias the prgwciple been asun
ed,~that we have no.- discretion, butm
take jurisdiction over them,,hoiv ever .abi
-' surd,.frivolous, maisevious, .orfore.gn fren
the purpose for which the Government was
created. ~leceive tlbese ptti'ons and you
-wllcre ate at grocedeii hihwill hereafter,
establish this monstrous pinciple. As.yet
the are none. 'Jthecase rolied-pu hy'the
setatw*6 - Tennssee (Mr Grudy) is
i. no respet ailogoius. No :questionin
that case',jw mtdu on the reception of. the.
petition. e petition. slipped in wsitliouf
takjng a vote, as is daily done, where the
attention of the. Senate as not partieularly
called to the subject. The question on
which the discussion took place was on the
reference, and not on the reception, as in.
this case; but what -is decisive against the,
precedent, and which I regret the Sena
tor (Mr. Grundy) did not state, so that it
might accompuny his remarks, is the fact
that tie petition was not for abolishing sla
very. _The subject wans the African slave
trade ; and, the petition simply proyed that
Congress would inquire wihether they might:
not adopt some meastire of interdiction,
prior to 1808, when by the. Constitution.
trade. I -ask .the' Secretary to read the
1prayer of the petition:
"But we find it indliginsably incumnbent
on us, as a religious body, asuredlyfbeliev
-, ing that both the true temporal in wrests of
-nations, and eternal welU-being of individ
imals, depend on doing justly, loving mercy,
.nnd walking hubly before God, the crea
tor, preserver, and beeatrof men, thus
-affecting subject, [slave trade;]). earnestly
___ sldeiig that the infinite Father of spirits
-* . *may so,enrich our mindls with his love and
truth, andi so influence your utderstandi .
-by that prire-wisdom whbichis full of mercy
ad -good fruits, a-that a sincere andi; an
impartial inqiuiry may take place; whether
- - itgi notInn essential part of the uduty ofC
-your exalted station to exert uprightendea
- vers, to the full oxtent of-your power, to
- romove everg obstruction, to public right-;
~eousnq s, inhi the influenceor artifice of
pairticiflar persons, governed by the narrow
minstaken views of self-interest, has- occ:a
iaoned ; and whether, no~withstandingsuchl
semig uinpednnents, it be not reallywithin
your powver t'o exercise justie anad mercy,
which,if adh~ered to, we cannot donbt ab
- olition must produce the abolition of the
slave'trade."
Now, I ask the Senator whore is the anal
- gy between this .and the present petition,
the 'reception of which he so strennousry
nrges?1 He -is t lawyer of-long experience
and14 of d~stingiuied repntation ; and.Iput
the question to him,''on *hiatjposible pri
- eiplo can a case* so pefectly dissimnilar, jus
-tafy thievote he intends to give-on the pres
ent occasiton ? . On wrhat possible ground
ecga the vote of Mr.Ailadison to refeue that
petition, on which hoe has so ituch ralied,
justify h'~ in receiving this I Does he not
.pergne~ his own example the danger of
4formzng pi-codets! IC ha may call to his
aid the authiority of SMr. Maaison, in a case
so dissimnilar-i to justifyftheteception of--thie
peion,Ander nend-- . ..
- tion ofKCoigm'ss evet st Eean
- cipatign, tg what r'oe h#remfterinkuy
nfthe exa lo oist6nto~ hiss
*- ent ocai Cevre
It is not my~ -desi~i ito eetAure Mr. Madi
son's course', bat I- canbot refrain froam ox
pressin'g my regret 'tliat his name is nlot
found assocettd, ton .that occasion, wvith
.the sagacious aa$ firm representativesfrom
th South--Smith, Taicker, and Bttrber, of
South Carolna, James Jacksorrof Georgia
an any others, who af th'tt early period,
- ever to be met, -'those .who regard the
Sace y e~r ofteslave-holding
' ~~ itates.. Hdd headded the. weight of his
talents and authority to theirs,- a- more
healthy tone of sentiment; thair that which
rsoir unfortunately exisats, woul thise day
hiaye beea the consequence.
Ariother case fias been cited; l6 justiff:
- the-vte for reception. I refer to -the peti
eion the Qualters, in 1803, which tihe
~ ~.-~q~tofrt :Penryylvania (Mr.Bfuehanan).
fttt~9u~sOstaina' himn in receiving the
A ~~~.,.io. d.. Whig I have said in rE&
- . edl demW etted by the Scirator
* ~1~D1~nO~-.~plies equally to'this.
N - l~ tltt h iin prayed 'j ution,
#.bel tz slave , ut Irican
'? ?*t'14- ~ ; wjh liject Co"gre.e|
10
se of eir
-Inn
4~'yc~v~j~ lntof the
a i ol1itio
pition p4
over whic i
w9ild h 'il
plot
any
s, not
ifronapfedble QuAke t ferocious in
-Radsd not to suppress the A-lnn
slavye . 1e1 but to abolish slavery, they
votl 1witih united voice, lae rejected'the.
petitai iiith scorn and indignation !
Can 'any one vho knew him doubt that
one of tl e Senators from the South, (the
gallant Suinter) who on that occasioW voted
for receivit'g the petition, would havo.been
among fie irst to vindicate the interests
of thos.6 vhom lie represented, had the
question. at flint day been. what it is -on.tlie
resent ocasion *? Wc are next told that,
instead joT looking to the Constitution, in
-ortr i ascertain what asre limits. to .the
ight of pditiou,ive must push.that instru
mIent a4uiotand gd1ack tot te3agna Chrta
and the declaration -of rights for its origin
and limitation. ~We live in strange times.
it seems thete iie 'Christiais now more
rtihodox tan -thwe. Bible,. and politicianjs
whose stanudrd.is higher that"7he Constin.
tution ; but iCobject not to tracing tie right
to.theso aiblient id ve'nerateda *otracc 0
h6ld -ii higli' estimation the:-institions of
our ncestors. They 'grew tip gradually
.throughinhuy.generations, bry the inceanrt
and untiring eflorts of an intellignat Stid
brave People struggling for centuries angaist
tie powor of'the. grown. ' them we are
indebted for nearFy all that has beein gained
for liberty ist modern tiues, excepting wat
we have added. But may I-now ask how
ithas happened that our opponents, in going~
back to these sacred instruments, have not
thought proper to cite their provisioms, or to
shd in what manner our refusal to receive
petitions enn violate the -right of petitioi
asts'ewred by them ? I-feel under no obli
gation to supply the omission-to cite what
they have onitted to cite, or to prove from
the. iistruinents theniselves, that to be no
violation of thent which they have not prov
.n be a violation. It is unnecesusarr.
o F Cti -of~Pjirlianieut is suflicient for
ny)n-pr ea .It: roves; onclusively that it
4 Jo.golu-o' e, figlr, trsf secured by
those io Vinents, td refuse to rcrvh- peCtt
tione. esthlias what this jinractice is,
I ask .tli:'Sferetary to read fronf Hatsel,
a iork of h'e highest autiority, the several
paragraphit whiech are muaked with a pencil,
commencin; at page 700,amder the head of
Petitions on Mlatter of .supply'.
-"On the .9th of April, 169., a petition
was tendeftd to the House, relating to the
bill for grilnting .to their Majesties several
duties upona the tonage of shipj); and the
qutestion heing put, .that- the~ petition bp re
-ceived, atgiassed'in heinegative.
"On the t8th. of April, 1698, a petition
was 'etd to :th'e 1ouse agaznst4Je .bill
fir layi~ a duty uaponu inlandpit coail;. aad
the questlq being put, that'the p~tition be
recevd' assed as the~ negaiv. See,
-nlso,.the9t and 20th ofr June, 1698, peti
tiong relatifig to the diaties tipoh Set fin
ensr and upon whale fins-uminirted-Vid.
20th ApijI, 169. etto
" On theath offa'inuary 1703, ptto
of the'maisters of Notinghiam being offer
ed against the bill for.~eontinimng the duties
on. nalt,t and the qurestion heing put, that
the pietitien he brought-up, at passed in tie.
niegaitive.- -
' On t~h'e221st of Doceirnhel-,.706,-Resol
ved, Thatthis Houss twill receive. noypeti
tronnfor aufsumnofimoney relating toapulic
servceyt hatis rcomstededfrom then
Croyun. Upon thie 1 ithr of June, . il3; this
is declarea to be- a standig of-der of the
House~. - -.
-Oan the 25th of March, 1807, Resolved,
That the..Ilouse will not pi-oebd -ga any
petition; anotion, or hill. for granting any
money, or- for releasinag or compounding
airy mioniey owing to thy Ci-owi, baut ina a
comnmittee of the wh'ale liouso:t and this is
deebemred..to be a standing dr. See, also,
time 9trh Nov. 1710,
at t
upon an ap& tlh .yenai, withour
iiertii ti i ae proper- ofticer, an
nexcd, stating t e debt, ihv ainecaitionsm
have bben ma~de or the teoverf tlaereof,ad
*bat the petitioner and his seurify tare ahlte
to'p tie 25th of March, Ill5, thilis
deilared jo be tastanad'p ordei-. See 'the
2d of Marcha 1785, a~iTte 9th of Ianar
17'52, th6 proceedings upog peiioi ofyn
sort.oft i
"* nheIt of March, 1782, a p'etitioe
heing offered against a bil4 dependjiig for
securing the trade of the sugar eslolies, it
was refused to be brittight up. Anmotiona
was theii made that-acomiinities be appoin$
ed to'ge'arch precedents in rilationr toito re
creiving or not redefvifig petiin *apnt the
imnposmag of dtts.; iand the questioin being
pu-~thtwpasd in the avatve/' ,
otin eneh more conclusive. Not -
only are petitions 9ejetedbut risointions
are yassed..re fusing fo receive intire elsises
if petitions, anid that too, on thgstibject of
mposi~g taxes:,a subject -above alloolher.,
n reldian to wh:.~J .we wotuld au'ipose'the
iglitodtht to be icd iniost sacred,''fnilts
vaihnI'e years .after the d'eclihutloaa ofl
ihght~ 'Wih thidse facts before us, what
are we o (.tik of the uissertl@oS of the
A
Ien e .n
nsfrsusns e,
senls
e aC
c tmb1bo-and Ue
mDle .a't qt- th id1
vaa, a pro
d! an ; ~ iavmg een re ,
Clay objecz d to the. reception. don
the questiolt, shall they be received 1 I was
determined .in the negative--ye 20,
nays .20.
"On notion of Mr. Preston, t yens
ond, nays being desired by oulit f the
Senators present, those ho-vote in the
aflIiative, are,
"31e.srq. Benton, Bown Forsvrl Grun
dy, Hendricks, ilil!,Kane. King of'A hama,
King of (orgin. Linn, Ae 5ean, ingum,
Morri-Rono, Shepi !, Tal ntylge,
Tipton, White, While, Wil'kins,\ ight.
" Those who votetl in the negativ , are,
"Messrs. Bibb, Black, Calhoi m,. Clay,
Clayton. Ewing, Frelinghuype Kent,
Leigh, Aloore, Nandain, Poindext , Porter
Prentiss, Preston, Roblbins, .i84b , Smtith,
Snuthard, Sprague, Swifit, TomuiT -n,\Vag
gatnan,-Webster. -
In citing this case it k not my b ition to
ctll' in question lhe consistency ofra y iem
er on'this l oor; it. would be ul orthy of
the occasion., I doubktnot the Votet m gi'ven
was givent with a full Conviction ' its cor
reltness, as itiwill doubt less he in ii present
11 e, on pihatever side it may 1' found.
M Oy.jee ir, to show that tIhe' ;ri :ilc for
'.1 hich I contend, so fir f5m0: being >pposed,
is s ustained by .precedent, here. lid else
wh'ere, ancient andl modern.
In foll1wilng, as I have, those rposed to
pne, to.Niagn Chart, nnd tIhe D laration
of Rights, for the origin an, thI Iinits of
the right to petition, I amt not disp :ed,-with
fliti, to wet aside the Constitution I I nsserit
to the position they assinne, thatithe right
of petition existed before the C( s'titution,
rind thnt it is not derived from it; bi while
I look beyond that instrument lia the rigin,
I hold the Constitution, on a quton as to
its extent aid limits, to he the vieheel uu
thority The first amended artle of the
Constitution, wh ieh provides timt ("ngree
shall pass no law to prevent ,the people
peneenhly a.ssembniling and pe mstning fir
a.redc t-m ' r
ed to prescribe tIelinits- withist"vfr tre
ri.i-usy. bn en'lV4e1Lt It iq not presten~ded
that to refute to receive petitions, Jloncher,
in the sli.chrest dearee, on these linihO.-. To
suppose that the framers of the Constituon
--no, not the framers, but those jealons pa
triots whio were not satisfied with that in
strutment as it camne from thte hands of (lhe
framers, and who proposed thia ve'ry- pro
vision, to guard what they conasid em ti a n:.
ei-ed right, performed their task si bnuling..
ly as to' omit any, essent inl.gttnal, wolild. he
o do great injustier to the mlemnory of tIlO
ste'rn und sagaciou4y men ; andi yet this is
whait thre_.Senator fronm Teninessee (Mr.
Gzrundy) has ventured to assert. He said
lint-no provision wasii added to guard agaiuist
he rejection. of petition, beentuse the obli
utifion to r-eelef wasi cotnsidered so clear t hat
I was deemed 'unnecesstry ; whien hc ought
t) have kigown fliar, accordling to the stand
ntg in-nettee at that lttne, Parlinnment was ini
lie constant -habit, -as h as been shiown, of:
-euring' Ue receive petit ions-a practice
suchil couldti6 ud have been unknown -to
be amieiidnen ;,.and from nlhich it niaty be
kirly inferred that, in omhithing to provide
hat tie'petitions sbouldl be reeeived, it was
iot-intended to coniprehe~nd their reception
ni tie right of pe'tiiioni.
I have nnwI. trust, estatblished(, hicyondt
tll cotntroversy, that we are not bonund to re
tivd .ied ptitions, and -that if we shonld
eject thei, w'e would not, ini the slight/stt
lcgree, infrirnge the right of petition. It is
ow tinia to look to the righits of thik body,
mod to-see whelither, sf we shtotld receive,
vhen it-is aclktowlededh that the only reni
tpn for receiving is, dhnt w'e are hounid to do
o, we iwould nor esftablish a~ prinile which
voul 1 trenmh deeply .on lhec rights of' the
senate. have al readj'shlowtn that wvhertt
lhe action of the Senate eimet-s, there
alsO its right to determnirse hgow.and whleniit
hall net, also comnteisces4' I hen, also
biownt tfat the actioni of' the' Sent vx
indispniiou~qf it;.
by tt . rue, 'the. fif't fleclon
~ftetpiresentatioir on siifynestion ibree ive
he petition. '-To exteid, the rightfo peti
ion to f le question oni teeiving,'t to ex
punge this irule.-sto abolib thisg unlqikestion
*ble'constimtiipnal -right of the Senate, hnd
hat-for.-the benefit, in- this case, of' the. alto
itioniste. d1heir gain would .bo-at the loss
2f. thas body. I. have hot expressqd m telf
toorstroDgly. f4ive the-right of pefitioi the
exteit contentdefor ; deeide10 flit we -unrc
bound, ftndr the Coistit ution toteeeive these
neeCpdtfry -petitIons. and thte~very motion
'dfore te Seniate 'woulid. bezent.of order. If
he~ Consfiititiotinmakes-it our dity to ree'v e,
Ve woulid have - ti dizeretion left-to ri,
is the, motion .pre-tippoes- ~ rules of
iroeteiyg imnst be in gort~hih thie Uon
titutiOton * Th'ins,. ma the ease' of' reteidett'
niUs, whilch, y- thej onst itti on, md ust uri
tinalt in the -oief' otse, it would be but
df o'rder fo'ihrodfuen thenm lir ant.i iras
Iecbrdingiy bieon so dJcidel.'Jhlikv, tia
inn, if' wejtr'e liiid to reod p titimiis,ihe
tresehit moetui woithli e out'f order ;' sili
I' sun y(le3our o~itnioli it is four dnt9 as
he presldf I olter, 10p .eill tne. to order,
tad to ~'et~ 1. Jurtifor -dispsion 6dnihe
l e
I rz
1 t I
o!is AI It wa~hep e
t it 1an% p
100
.141,
ihe: enwould be ir e rece
ed juto their ivtem. S wvithe ilrha
bodiede e theri of the-ise'n
irimtryris be detraie itl dirlpe-uv$_.
what juo rcnr irnjct nnthyWi~l
hn,o-e , .istie det ac:nthilbreittly,
tion i rudal anid AIm)pio, as well as
whiat mty .I-perlye drmadni their delibern
lion aniaption.- stablish this rnihst rotis,
O :inpious... priclyle, (#It -%wold prove
to be.p -Uractie, anTlvh mint 'bo the;
ciii tende? ho Iiat would we cosmnit
oul ves:?. If-a -petition slmsild be present
ed rnying the-aplition 6f the Coisittion,
we ore ail bound by-our oath to pro
teet,). acedrding to this aliominable doctrine,
it must he received. So, if it 'was prayed,
the -abolition of the. Decalgane, or of the
Bible itself. T en fhr heErs f the abolit. it
societies should be converted int9 n. bod f'
Atlheints. and should ask the passage of a
lnw denving the existenee of the Almighty
ring above 'us, Ihe Creator of all, necord
inc to his blasphemous dttrine, we shoild
be bound to receive the petition, to take ju
riadiction of it. I ask.:the- Sonators froot
Tennew.ce and Pennsylvanin (Mr. Grtndy
and Mr. Buchanan) vould they vote to re
ceive such a petition? iwait not an ausoirj
They wou'ld instantly reje..it with loanir
ing. What then becomes of the tunlimifed,
unqualified, and universal obligntion to rei
eeiveb petitions, Which -theyv so st renuosly
hinintained, nnd to whichthIy nre prepnred.
to sacrifice tite constitutional rights of this
body v - .
I -shril now descend frhin those hypothe
tieal Oines'to the particular qustioi beAbre
the Senate. AVhat then niUmst bethe coss
seqcfe's of receiving. this- petition, on the
principle that we are bound to.receive it and
?Il similar petitions .beever presented ?
I have continued this, question calmly kn all
its bearings, and ilo not hbsitate.to pronounce.
that to receive, would be to the abolitionists,
all that the most.aanguine could fhr the pres
ent hope, and to aiandon till the outworks
upon which we of the South rely tir-our de
fence against their attackslhere. -
. No one can believe thahieic fanatics, who
have flooded thist lnd the other House with
their ptrions, entertain the slighatest hope
ihnt Congress wouhl pass n law at this time
to almih slav' in -this District. Itfatn
11ted as they- ..they mus1t1t see that public
opinion at tho' 1drth is not yet prepared lor
so decisive a step, and. that seriously to it
feew'o&Lamfatual s a4 en-,an
What then do they.hope ? What but ti'
Cdngress should take jurisdictinh of the
stubject of abolish ing slavery-shold throw
open to the abbolitionists the '--ills of legiln
tion, and enable then to establish a perpa
nent position within their wall, from wfiib
hceener to carry on theiroprations ngninst
thme instit utionus-oC the sala ve-holdinest States.
If we receiwe this pe~titiona, nil the~se advan
tages wvill be realizecd "to thiem to the fullest
extent Permtanent jurisdictioh would ite
assumed 0-: er I le subhject of. slavery,- ot
onIv in this Distriet but in the States'them
selves. whenever the . abholiVtinsts mtight
choose to ask Congress by senuding themr pe
titio~fls here, fhr the 'tilixilition 'of altivery in
the States. .4Wn wvorihch bournidt t' edeive
seuch petitios, and by aerceivin, would be
fairly jiledged to deii~r' dt
dlien. . Having sticieed d inl nii
nuioit mvarable .poitinhi outh ir?" d
The~ centran?:eperafiotis whal0 be transfer
red frbmn Naata HIalrtthe Halls of Cone
gress. . To thisconiiion centre, thentieg
dliary publientionsofjthe abolitionists-would'
flow, in the form of petitions, to bo'reidved,
andi preserved-umong the public records.
Here the suibject of abolition *oubml be agi
tated session alfler session, sand from bhene&
the assautlts on the property and instittion.
of the people of the shfte-holding States
woulId be diisseminartd,in the gtiime'of speech
es, over the whole-Union. - -A --
Sutch would be tils avantages yielded.to
the abolitionists. In jiportion to thirinits
woultad be our los,. What~t'atld be yieldedi
to thenm, wvouild be token from us. -Our true
position, thsat which is indispeirsable to our
dlefence here, is that Cotngress has no legitil
mate jutristdiction over the subject of slavery,
either hero or -elsewvhere.- The reception
of this petit ionsttrrenriers this coammanding
posit ion ; yields the (itestion) of jurkicetoti,
saimporgm~~it to the cal of ubolit ion, and
so injurious t otus; .compel us touuutin silenace
to wvitnless then assaults on oui- character~andL
noii5n, or .toenugeg int tn idle contest.
ia dhi fbrne. e'SudIs' conrest-la beyond
ht al uratiee. ~ We miust inithe-end be
humbled, degraded, broken down, amd worp
out. -- .
-The Sonators frotm - the . elave-hiding
(tales, who most unfortuntely have corn
miuted themselves to vote for receiving these
inceindiary petitions, :tell us that ,whaenever
the attempt shall be rugdeo to abolisht slave-.
ry, they will joipm with us. t) repel it. I
doubt not the sinetitty of their delaration.
'We atll have a conTuon interest, aid they
'canpot betray 6urs withoutf liesying, at the
same time titne, thieir oWni.' Butn F amfiunce
to Ihem that they are not-ealled'atto re-,
deem th''r ledlge.: The aIlmptA is no~
making. T o w'ork is going on-daily a.
hourly. -Th4 war is wagti,: nlot ol n mt15i.
inost, dangerouis tnmieurg-'ltt :i, the only
fnatlner it cahi he ..wtged.9; .o ,th pct
that the tibolitionista will resprt to na,.and
coinee a eruisade iolibe'ate aufr sidves
hi force? Istaitat wvN~t they meti ;vhea
the a aek -of the 'attemnpt (a ~Itf~l slnve
y s le't ute' tell irtids of the
Suh difTer froi u'f ic'h
th~bliinstv n very
differettiharnter arl ta m o*o.e litve.
Ft is a warif~f reli 0W'j 1. fanati..
ith .amib tattth' o2t u'oy d~
'I'
;
It.
ri q
o% 16
d d p.,n
not -in intaiti har, wve'eutindt oti
alnynero .41.lt'e ksln
1101,en C her i5-i' odfi- on'*lhieW
wiego eVW rbey -it d tire h'tishh ihr
I,---ves .e i eubeir n;dt
afife, isot, Oqxeepti he U1itii questiOnl
of-blto-i le ae..Fr ouir righit
Io- reject~ I his liti'tun is'a 'truith A%* ele ar.
aind un:Inesionble as-ithat Conigress hias no
n -si li saverfiy tlite 'States.
t iin portuY~cttof ' taking -our
Stan ovably -on the.guie.stion now before
Sotillh wvoukdc.Tiscrifice,.andi. fiie abolitionists.
wouhtl gain, nvere -we to'I urrender that im-'
portantt poisitioni by reciving. this pietition.
What miotises have we for mnakingy A-ogrear
a sacrifice ? W A hat dn(WtI: -ges can wve h ope
tiu'gairn'tfint would justify us.!
Woar tld of theogreat ailvlitage of a
strng muajority . I aciowledge' it inl a
goo<.,I cause,-aud on sound principles. .1
feel in thor pr~esent instance how much our
ejause-would he sttengthened by a- streng
and deckidcd majority for the rejection of
these- ineenitiary petitions. . If-n'fy thing wve
tould do hiere could arrest thle progres-s of
the- ho6litionlists9,, it wvouhd he such -a rejer
tin Brtit-as avalinagOus as Woubd be-a
strong inziority.on sound principles, it is in
tuje sameu.egree danugerous. when onl thle
op it-when itrss on Improper con
cosin, and the surrender of prinipl 'es,
which %,,tid he the case at present. .S'ueh
a jority miust in this inistauce he' pur-.
chasedl by con'cessions to thb abolitionist!,,
iandi a surrender, onl our pairt, thlat woulli
derllish aill our ontworks, give uip aill our
strotig positons, and open all1 thle patsses-to
thed free idatission of--our enemies. It is
oily 0n'thi6 conditioln.thait we -enn hope'to
obtu.in such a majo~itiy-n mgjority which
'inust he gathered together -from all sides,
and entertaining every variety of opinion.
To rally such at majority, the Senator from
Pennsylvania has fallen on the device to
reeive this petition, inl immedciiately re
ject it, without consider *ation or redietion.
To mly m1inid the mlovernent looks like U
tricki-a. mecre piece of artifice to jug-de and
deceive. I intend noe disrespect to the
ZSenator. I dotubt not his initentions are
good, and believe 1his feelings are with us.
but I mustsany that the course hie has inti
maited is, inl MY opinlionl, the worst possible
for th holding States. It surrendiers
-n - - -., -
turn, t n , 60h . ea antage
.4oai*C hlfptil
to us. Let the mnajority for the couirse heb
indicates he ever so strong, canl the. Seniator
hope that it will make aly impresiot on
fhe abolitionists I.ihe even hope of
o bltiig his pos~ nfl Irr r ijecing ti
p0retis witota idea tion, carns
nte t!aDoaes4:e otl ase tat, int~s as nun
juisdtio bys slreceiis thei ettis,. h
ibate, adeid on thpemto noi Exefriec
will teSch him atat wea mu~st ,therwefuse
ut recie, rG o tourIenrtiely e -
Prnti , ht pot rivi Theis petiiddle
go tmot ies teae, an, letrnastn o all, tt
a.srpie to la occupi.e by the Senator
fom mtttitund tho~ se-hetwt
kn are mean of n bogeath course~ of pr.
s tijrit. peopole ot lie
godcue n a on prac e, seuIy
feli lti-psntisnc rsimown wacha oura
c~aise- ouldbe tfrgtl'ned bt tni
a elaairt o tIaecionists
Butddobero otl rr the or ss aion
athme.qutions, itwould weaen uar-fred
diot ot the kida-feelings ofs ou bthre
fromg theNorth, on sotis door;nilbut as inal
see sa, whirle daerave thir7 oelng mh
our fsavn the equritentdrg orwrimngle,
whii h tve hevtecs, a boevrcwe mayu-he
afcd. ut Iaassuret our friend that we
weaoil not dou ouything, wilingaa ll whic
ytouddveikensthedmoet ad!ome ads ifw
the fie tho. right of rivn ettios, they
pogre of the boitioitsa we mighope toe
hue inded toeld bugtlc fnohing sidet o
the caertainya eferyatrity an oiuon
doucll uc ld an oitnc i. 'entor frnti
rfaighths pnutiton, aelh iaboaitionist,
jectit,. wito okidatioa pero melithe
-ry ayatngaler a nvuchaesaat look likent.
dfere imust an isetow isc o time.
Wenatver ca dg~or njisteo etate
araed io, ihe strugoip a.ad d Wor ponhe,
woul auchrather ideet dI slangeursw
thto t urn ietsrt thea jayfosle whotareo to
ahBuatumgti se a viewiod dos
osetmi 1i. te, takig- a genrs'vew' of tire
Saetina frm.aeiylattia s radraaicallygans
jascngit ndatiudby ren-itg airihionmet
ie- ata ingt:4ied riite alt, mqit,n tonidal
dilers, eatid divsoatttn'nd dxistacn
wtill ieldthia titth anust-etihrfiter
toreceiveg g tarNorth. I ta- Cofj
cion -witha titu caatr ionVeront oth. '
PNortherp, etete on thereisod i l
m~ong, ntaa isteul ie a, lreat ofnpils to
Jile p o gel ito:oi. Wha te Senator
fro estpy'~ata, ina th sh at i-ch
divisfon osf th the op caoaid1r
esd;Ohich'doubto fato usecityit
thefrollfen it'gg p ftesao graeltis
tieso the North. Nota ait hose v:w 1:ake
ethtat whn ilne nne.h hlate trlaeia feehas i
.1 het 6
,,J,
en2we i~ ~i~t. li n h litig -
t ami
ir from,'it treAs tome,. r
6 wtd4:t ~csbledt' ~ho-derp interest s
S i 'thisustion, oti uly
'Uttijbneut nIt't relates ima- I
d'detly to their paruldiia
4hetr leiss If the tide.ontes to
l'oll snek Mn'id y aves of folly and f'ntunt
~is.ti fit t in:.the endt pt.tg in the
Po11 th, hA144ttutiot fNh t uphold atheir
ege6~c inmd Trolirth and ultituat~ ~over~
hp all that-is ennhent emoralliaiid in
telleot01ahly.
1 itttve Ioy conliued .wilatd I int.de
:tos on'thp iuetion ilanied-intetyhbefore
thd oate lmaI h spokenarntesrt,
tli ihst~tep; tua ustcontrol all OUr hal~~
lltentmovemsents. Iit should nl such,
as fer i wilif we receive this.petition,
and citablish.. the.. 'ih e n
obligd ts-eesi
shall determine to ticked w iptt
tunm oavt tIe subject of abolitionfwhenever
and im whatever manner tho abolitionsts
amay ask, eithe here- o oin-the Sttues,
fear that tho cons weecewill be ultimate
ly'disastrous. Such a course wouLdestroy
the conifidence ofhe Peo'l of the slave
huding States in this. Geenmn. We
love ask, herishi.tIhe Union; w rememamiber
eith the kindest feelnmgsur'onn on origin
with pride our edmm' 'nehievemtents, sn
fcudly ititcintothe commn re
mid glory that scem. tnwit a:It,,; bult
aehievemments, arnd anticipation .of com
groatness are to us notniig, compared t
this question. It i! to-us a-vital question.
It 'involves, 'not mily 0 l'rty, but, whmat
is greater, (if to freemen ani.thing can le,)
existence itself. The -relition wiI now
exists between the .wo races in the slave
holding States las'existed two centu
ries. It lias grown with otd- rowth, and
streIgthened with our Strength. It has en
tered into and modified all our institutins,
civil and politicid. None olierenn lie sub
stituted. We will not, enunot permit it to
lie destroyed. if we were baNe enough to
do so, we would lie traitors to our ection,
to ourseh:s, our famihlles, and to posterity.
It is our anxious desire to protect and pro
serve this relation -1y tile joint ation of the
Government and the confederated States
of the Union; lait ir, imseai of clo'ing the
door; if, instead of denying. all jurisdmiction
and all interference in this question, ti
dours of Congress are to be tiirown) opeN
and if weO are to be exposed here, in the
heart of the Union, to an endless attnek en
our rights, our character, and oui' iustitu
tions; if the other States are to stand and
look on withdut attempting to suppress
therse attacks, originating within their bor
dets; -adl, fiually, if dbii is to be our fixed
and perm ent :ondition, ai. members of
tLi Coifedcraey, ne will thei le compel
led to turn our eyes on nurselves. CUPamn
1 , and every cent of property, we must
de id ourselves; and, if compelled, we
would stand' justified by all las, human
and diiie.
I~ .I feel ahiren, it is not for ourselv'q, but
fotr the Union amid the inastitumtiomns of the coiun
try, to which I hmave bceendevuitedly' attneheucd
hmowever e-haumniined and slandered. Few
have made' greater saerifice.' to ma~initain
the'm, and none is mnore anxious to perpetum
ate themi to-the latest getnerationt bt they
ennm and oulgfit to be perpetuntedl only on the
conidition) that they fulfiml the great olierm for
w'hichi they were created-the libe'rty andl
protection of these States.
As for oursclves, I reel nonpprehmerasion,
1 knaow to the fullest e'xt'hm the mannitumdo
of' thre danger that surrorinds us. I aim not -
disposed to untdercatimawe it. M~y colleague
ham painted it trulyv. But, as great as thmo
danger, we' have nothing to fear if true to
ourselv'es. WVe have nmany amnd great re
sources; a numeemus, intligent and -brav'e
populathm; great and v'aluabmle stales;8
ami pjle fisenl - mecans ; unity -of feeliings and
interest, andl an enotire exemuptioni from those
.dangers origintinmg in cojuflit between labor
amnd enita~tl, wvhichm at this time threatens so,
-much dange'r to constitutional Governments.
To thiese mny be athl that we would net
under tan imp~heriouis necessity. There would
be- to uts but one~ aitenative-to tritumphi or
prish .as a pmeople. WVe wouhld stiad alone,.
egjppelled to delenid life', character, and in
stt'timons. A Imecossity so stern amnd inmpe
rioiu s'would develope to the ill, aill the great
qualities of our nmaure, umeatal anid mornl,
requisire-for de'enc-intelligece, f'ortitudp,
courage, and patriotism ; and these, with ou)tr
a1mle mseans~and our admirnble materials for
the const rnetion otrdutrable free States, woUhi
isure seecurityjliberty anid renown.
# ithm these n mressions, I ask angither symi.
ptttlhy nor compjasion for time aravphldinm
States. 'We ban takeecare of' ourselv'es. It
is umot we, but mihe Unioni whtich is in dantger.
It is. hae~wbhicdmnands our care---d.enmupge
thmait-fe agitntion of the qitiesm ini4ii'ra
that yout shall refuse to receive these peti-.
mions, annd decline all jurisdiction 49er thme sub
je'ct of' abolition. ini every' formr and shapo.
It iltonly on these te'rtms that thec Unmion cest
be saf'e. Vi e ennnmot remain hmere ini ama end(
less' trngeslo inm defimnee of' our chmurnecter, our
property', ntudt i ti n t ins.
-I shall in concltusion, imake a few remarks
nts to the courtise I shnnhl feel niy self comn
jledto phiraue shotuld thme Senate, by re
;eiving this petiti n, determmine to enmtertain
jmrisdietion, over, thme question of' aboitthin.
'Thinking ats I do, I can perform no aet that
wouh.d tunmmteancee so danmgeroms aj assump.
lir anal, tas a panrt(iciation ini thme subsue
uemnt phoceedi its ont this petition, should
it. unlbrtumnnely be received, .imigjg lbe so
construmed,.In ibpt ev'et I shalt f-cel liy
self constrai'necd qiadecline such participatioir,
and to leave time responsuibility wholly on :
these who rmmy asstio 'i. -
., 'ha Surpluitisevenue has increased, is in
eresinmg timd,,must lie diinished. - The a
~niormt .of publie 'inonieys inm thme Depositoe '
U~unksby the roturns to (or neare'st to) time 1st
of Mt1aenhitd ineensned to Tlhmirty thur.e Mit.
fhm S venm Hunmdreul and illfy Thousanid
olas! a. Ilgne