Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-17

-.,sndn.n, wa, s.o rejected By yeas and nays
as ye"sMscssrs. Ewing Of Ohio hendricks ana "''
Kean-3. , r,A Brown. Buchanan,
''"? .:',,,L., luI:,r:i, DAVIS. Ewing "i !iiuis'
EIi ,,,,t: II. CtunLy. ! l!"''Hsd, N'"s u n'a":
ma, King ef ticors;a k"chi' !',.'''' ."; :.o
W, p,1,.r Plr:t;ss. prrsi':, R:'Ans E'=srs, arp
lev, Ssis, 'la!lniJgs. Eipr", ro:;:!iS';i' ha'NE'
Wall Webster, " h;le, :nH Wri-i,-%;' i, ,, die
Mr. Mexican could say That he was 10 VIC IT, Ind
nppoin!cd at the result tf the vote j;St ah rion ct
offered his amendments that hs v''e on 80, ,,c. him
his COLLEAGUE should not hr cr,s!raeo IN The
in the attitude of seeming to be"rp sI st Cnna;rss had
abstract or as manies!iug an op:!' sylr in .hs
no CONSTITUTIONS The reasons for his aichu
mani in detail because It might r"ho'e ;; Ia had
Afcr all he had heard, he was Z" ,he s,I , ,; r, ,
been at frst tia! i! was me ,;srd his wishes for
gis'a'e on Inc hy;no his vote recorded on the journals
the present " Jared 10 vote for the motion made by
his colleague ., -., Tho rc,sons whic, induced
1. MI vn;J voting on the two last questions. The
ste i, deciding that this petition should be received:
estnblshcd the principle that they were bound |" re-
ceiye pc ttons the subject no matter what s!r IAN
,m,re niuht be- on all occasions Tis was p'lnc,ie
70 whch he could net give his consent II gave taa'
stab liberties, and neu.fazcd the effect OF Ill te
balm that had been attempted to be poured on the ""ua
ed feelings Of the South What they ao zone vi .'a,
occasion was pregnant with disastrous consequences anu
he foresaw that they Of the South were lated TO come
there for years, and have their feelings w ta
abusiye ep,hets heaped them by these pel'tionS' 10
he bumbled and debased by the constant rcI"u'!o uhu
they almost felt themselves to be what they were called
Feeling as he did he would not by any ACT "i s, give
the slightest countenance to The assumption, a' "
could entertain jurisdiction over The SUBJECT OF SAVER, III
the District Of Columbia Taking The two votes t"scthc
the one to receive the petition and the other TO
PRAYER it would be the must disastrous blow that tiic
South could receive The one demolished INC outworAs
of its deiences and the other IS 10 lu ie 3"r'' u
L.. 4, h,Jp
North was concerned, these votes would have the slight
est effect in putting stop to tie abolition petitions
They had by this vote ven dangerous bio" 10 Tue
South which, in after times, would be quoted as rtT
crdent 1t had had the effect Of dividing che SOUTH we
of The South ore unanimous in the opinion that ION
res has no jurisdiction the subject but majority
Sf tho Senate believed that Congress possessed ,ut
power, and the vote just taken sustained them. ne
question them for the abotionss, wousd only pe as ~
numbers All they had to do was to gel Suidccs'l HULL
bers to control the elections, and place aoo''o'
there to carry out their designs lncy Sd" TIC ao'
of their position and would be sure 10 MAINTAIN IL
and they would cndeayor to turn out these members
here who would not GO for aboIto" and get Others IN
their places that would Any one who untcrsoo" hu'
man nature could be deceived to the effect Tins
vote would have in promoting their plans. They saw
their way; the doors Of the hall were thrown open to
them and they knew that majority OF that body was
of the opinion that Congress possessed the power to ADO
lish slavery in the District of Columbia VIII vote,
said he against the motion of the Scator from Penn
svlyauia to reject the prayer of the penn IL is I'M
himself in false position, and therefore he was reduced
to the painful alternative of refusing to vote at all
Mr Knight said that The "oc he should give on qucs-
ton might be different from that c many Of his friends,
and probably variant from the expectations OF OF
his constituents He would therefore state reason,
and only that governed him in the vote Tic should
give. The petitioners prayed for two things; one the
abolition Of slavery, and the other suppression OF The
slave trade in the District Of Columbia. Now, bclcv-
ing he did that there slave trade carried on In
this District which he believed improper, unjust and i'll
human, and which, if examined and brought 10 light
would not be justified by any Senator on t:at flour, he
could not vote TO reject the petition. lie would have
preferred the reference TO committee, and tn have this
slave trade inquired into with report of the facts to The
Senate; but no Senator had moved the Reference lie
would not at that stage Of the business make the
He would content himself with voting against the
ton TO reject the prayer of the petition.
Mr. Preston felt bound in his udg ncnt 20 adept that
species of action which tic next strongest to The
motion made by his colleague lie had had the mister.
tune to differ from many gentlemen from the South
to the proper to be taken. But ma nrty had
decided to receive the petition. He had thought the mat,
ter over whether he should retain his scat III ,hS body
if it had claimed jurisdiction in this matter IS o'g
he did retain his seat he felt it his duty To- oppose these
petitions lie would take his scat, and vote al facs
tions relating 10 this matter as usual.
Mr.. Benton observed, that Us tho Senator from Rhode
Island (Ir knight,) had mentioned the slave trade IN
the District Of Columbia, he wished to show him {"
the effects Of the interference vii. III ~, :. -
by those who had right To NEEDLE with IL lie lad
had upon his memorandum book for several years
morandum for bringing in bill to prohibit Tic ral: IN
slaves in this District, and he had not moved b"causc
of the agitation the subject Of abolition kept up by
these petitions to Congress, lie had not yet brought
forward this measure, would lie do 1t, while the ag
tation was kept up.
Mr. Davis had been patient and somewhat attentive
listener TO this debate. 1t was not his nten"n to on.
gage in it. As the question to receive this petition was
decided lie would say few words IL explanation OF The
vote he about 10 give.
Since the question had come into this hall, 1t had ac-
,,roIo did Ilf.c.
thing in the petition that called for the excitement he
had witnessed. Here was few humble citizens, asking
to abolish slarery-and where? lie would have sup
pcesd from the arguments, that it was proposition to
abolish slavery throughout the United States The vote
taken showed the of the Senate and the petition
was in the custody Of tho Senate They had sub
stantally decided that contained matter proper for their
consideration. The gentleman from fennsy rana, lAlr.
Buchanan presenting the petition had given notice
of what his ntenon was which after It's being
ceivcd to deny tho expectancy Of all tho III it.
He had looked with anxiety to tho subject to accord to him
his opion but although he had always thought the ai
taon of this question calculated to disturb the peace
and harmony Of the country, yet he had no, been able
TO reach the conclusion, he (Mr b. had Ic (Alr D.
thought this petition ought pass through tho usual bu
sncss channel, TO accomplish the object the gentleman
from Pennsylvania hat in view With the present infor
nation before the people, vast majority would entertain
opposite opinions TO the gentleman from South Caro-
lima (Mr Calhoun) 10 the constitutional power Of
Congress. He (hlr. d. had seen petitions this SUBJ
ject presented from time to time, and never before
heard the constitutional power brought in question. AL.
though said MIR. d. Go not by this vote say that
have constitutional power, yet is generally under
stood, making distinction between the District of
Columbia and the slave holding States. lie had heard it
repeated on this floor, that would treat this matter
with the contempt deserves He did not suppose this
epithe used in its literal sense but deliberate Opt
MON. Why have organized committees the regular
channels through which business prepared for the
ton Of the Senate? Why have rules that require bills
70 be read the first time day and the second time
on the next day? SC. The answer obvious because
this body what it purported to be, deliberulive
body, and moi designed 10 act precipatcy and in
haste, or with excited feelings To give power and I'll
hcency to this matter, they ought to send i.
mttee and let the report of that committee ont u-