State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-23
Correspondence of the Boston Atlas.
Washington, Fridan Feb. u.


The Senate today were occupied with
an Improbable discussion upon the aboi-
ton question. The motion introduced
some days since by Mr. Buchanan, who on
presenting an ant-slavery memorial mov-
ed that the prayer of the petitioners be re-
jected, came up for consideration. Mr.
Moore of Alabama was in favor of the re-
lection of the petition itself, and made a
speech of some length in support of his
views. Mr. King of Georgia expressed
himself in opposition TO the rejection of the
petition. He was for giving it the poor
privilege ola hearing. With respect TO the
right of interference by Congress in the
subject of slavery in the District of Column
bia, he denied the right and the power; he
conceived that there had been much I'M
necessary agitation ofthe question: but took
high ground upon the subject of the rights
ofthe slaveholding states.
MIR Calhoun replied with warmth 10 some
of the remarks ofMr King. lie had infer
red from one or two of his observations,
that the gentleman from Georgia meant to
impugn the motives of those Southern
members who pressed the rejection of
these petitions Mr. Calhoun repealed the
imputation with great earnestness. lie said
that no party considerations influenced him
in the course which he pursued on this
question. He had no interest in President
making. He regretted the tenor of the
remarks ofthe gentleman from Georgia. If
a petition were presented for the abolition of
slavery in his own state, would that gentle
man receive it? Here Mr. King answered
yes. "Thcn confess continued Mr. c.,
that the genteman's feelings upon this
subject are widely different from l..y own.
l cannot sympathise with them. This is a
great, momentous question. My mind is
full oft. But | will not detain the Senate
longer today
After Mr. Calhoun had finished, Isaac
Hill rose in his seat, and taking forth II
quire of manuscript proceeded to nflct up
on the Senate a read speech. AS no one
moved that the reading of the document
should be dispensed with and that it should
be printed, the New Hampshire Senator
was permitted to continue. His principal
/ object was to prove that there was no abol-
! tionsts in the granite State, andsin doing
this he more than once insinuated that the
flame of abolition in the north was famed
by Southern agitators for political purposes,
and in order to estrange the democracy OF
the South from the democracy ofthe North.
He spoke of DIR Channing's late work upon
slavery as a disgusting and reprehensible
pamphlet abused him as the adulator OF
the crowned heads of Europe upon the
downfall of Napoleon, and said that the alb
oltionists among the clergy inMassachusetls
were the same who returned thanks for the
successes of the British during the last war
Isaac said he thought better of the Northern
aboitionists than of the Southern agitators
who were their aiders and abelters. lie
then entered upon a virulent TRADE against
the Telegraph newspaper, and said that il
had done more to get up the abolition ex.
element than all the Arthur Tappans and
!, Thompsons of the North. 1t had aided
materially likewise in bringing about tina
state of things in South Carolina which hac
terminated in her deep disgrace.
Mr. Calhoun here rose and called the
member to order. Mr. Hubbard, Hills col
:; League WAS D the chair and appeared mis-