Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-19
YgEcnty-50ws'sga GoEsspess--Esa Sess.
ABOLITION or SLAVERY il TIE DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA.
Remarks Of Mr.. JONES OF Va in the House OF fcPrc-
senatircs on Tuesday the 22d Of Dec on The mo-
ton to RECONSIDER the vote referring TO the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, the petition present
cd by Mr.. Briggs, from czsns of Massachusetts,
praying the Abolition OF Slavery IN the District Of
Columbia.
Mr. JONES' Of Va, said he did not rise 10 discuss the
merits of the proposition which would he necessarily pre-
scented by the petition nos offered the House, that vas
what he not only did desire TO do but il yos wb,, bc
dare do. lie designed briefly 10 assign tho reasons
which would induce him consider the vote bv which
IN moment OF nadvercncc that petition had becn sent
to the Committee on the District of Columbia and also 10
reply To The objections urged by gentlemen to the course
now proposed to br acoped ~ reference 10 that and
nc hoped all other petitions Of tie same cha he
expressed himself grateful 10 the gcntesaan ifom Penn
syTania (Mr. lngerso) for the remarks he had made
iIs esaG 5s.se1sd ts Se!e to
he hoped his own motives Wo,:Es apprec;a..G
by him when he said he could p-o1f,oEscHt 10 en-
terrain discuss here. The right bY!D .coPle Of
the South held title to ;I'sr Peat e6,a
he desired, was 10 obtain direct volt I.se petit
TONS which continued daily to come 3on W. the So
lictuGc he felt Tie ubjrct, arose ires tas ton
upon his mind, Tia nothing but dirccfS:,- II L
satisfy the members !r = the Sonth, or quet the apprI
tensions OF their conStt ITS end deeply as hc lament
ed the necessity which rendered 1t proper IN the opiHl
ion of the honorable gentlemen, to 90 into this debate
unwilling he had always hrcn, 50 far to counlcnance
the views OF these mIsgudcd drudcd: and Infatuated
men, who fer years past had Gccn scattering fire brands
among the people VI the South and who. to accomplish
their base PURPOSES willing not only 10 aim dead
~ blow al their prosperity people, but 10 peri! tn
lives Of millinns and 10 enGangcr the pcrpcuty OF the
DnlO he felt though he should be unalthiu to The
high trust culdcd to him. if he did not contribute his
aid in obtaining direct vote upon this aabSobIng
question:
But few days ago there seemed to exist unannity
of sentiment upon this deeply interesting subject, which
had very seldom manifested Itself upon any important
l,r1r
representatives of the people, there then heard from
all sides of the Hons. wish expressed, not only 10 put
down the ahotons,s, but TO do it in the most ciirctua
possible MANNER and the great point Of difficulty was, 10
determine upon the mode By which it could be most e.
lcctua!y done.
With Of the NODES Mr.. Jones said he should be
satisfied Promptly to reject these petitions as they were
presented, he believed. would meet the appreciation OF
Southern gcn,rncn; and il they. who deep
y Interested than all others, regarded that mode Of dis
posing Of them ercual to The accomplishment Of the
great they had il view, and the people Of the East
and Of the North really intended, in good nh 10 CO.
operate with them, (s nc believed they did, lie could
perceive GOOD why the proposition TO rcrc
should not BE- sustained.
1t had been said, that gentlemen from the South were
sensitive, and Disposed to act with too much pre-
cipaton this subject. 1t had also been concndcd
that this Of proceeding calculated 10 abrldge
the great right of petition and others there weTe who
hough: the only proper course was to refer them to
committee. The ntlInaon that this subject up.
on WHICH Inc nf SOul were Sensitive, was
just The fact could he disguised tct there existed
tlrour houl c slaveEoding States excitement which
had never been witnessed at any former period ct their
history and strangely indeed must he be const
tuted who could look upon the conduct OF the
ALolitionss, and witness the scenes to which it
had given rise in the South, and not have his sens.
biIlty wrought up 10 the very highest pitch. Was it
MOI knomn TO every gentleman upon this floor, that
numerous abolition societies had been Termed in
The Eastern and Northern States, irowncd upon. in
dignani!y trowncd upon, he believed, BY the ntc!lI-
gent the wellnormcd and cspcctabc portions Of these
communities: But could they shut their eyes to the fact,
that these societies existed; that they had gone on 10
collect largc sl;lns OF money and had put into operation
printing presses which worked by steam? Yes, sir,
worked by stean with the open and avowcd obect ofe
frctng the immediate abolition of slavery in the South
crn States. That by means of these two great
vnlutionizcrs o. The world he meant steam power
and the press: they hat caused to be printed, and,
by means OF the public mails, circulated tIroug bout
the s!are-holding States, large numbers of newspa-
Pers. pamphlets, tracts; and pictures, calculated in
an eminent degree, 10 rouse and intlame the pas
sons Of the slaves against their masters to urge them
on 10 deeds u death, aud TO nvorc them in all the o
rors Of scrvilc war-productions which, Mr. Jones
said, he would take upon himself TO say foul H.
bcS upon The people of the South printed
And us if to add insult to injury there those here
who had the charity TO believe that they influence
cd in their conductby humane and religious motives
If, indeed. said Mr.. jones' this most uucardor, Off.
clous and dangerous rrrnIeddlng with the rights Of
" uN'I ~ 'i's"''; IL, "u'o S"J ~ "uI ii'"
TIC reyion WHEN was iculcaled by tie Saviour OF the
world, or taught by his disciples.
Mr.. Jones said hc hoped it would be understood
by any thing he had sad that he in favor faJrging
either the freedom OF The press or tie freedom of speech
lar from il he regarded them as the great safeguards to
republican Institutions; there was however, dt:
ference between the freedom and the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of
the press and what he objected to was the right of these
misguided and dcluded men TO propagate SANDER TO in
stgae murder disturb the peace OF States and to en-
He'd
upon tic REPRESENTATIVES OF the people 10 nterpose and
stamp their conduct will, the seal O.. characterization
But, said Mr. j. We have been told nv ,bc osn,,r,or
from Nrw YORK and Mass,rLuse,,s AZ Re-, sIa. aI