Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-29

Mr.. Webster addressed the Senate as
follows: Agroeably to notice, | offer sun;
xlry petitions on the subject of slavery and
the slave trade m the District ofColumbla.
The first purports to be signed by two thou.
sand four hundred and twenty-five OF the ie.
male inhabitants of Boston.
This petition is in the usual printed form
1t is respectful to Congress, andcontains no
reproaches ON any body. 1t asks tos the
consideration of Congress, both With respect
TO the existence Of slavery in the District,
:and with respect to the slave trade IN the
District.
The second is petition, signed by Jo-
si-ph Fisou, and about n hundred others,
citizens of Beseea, semeef whom Gre known
10 ne, and are highly respectable persons.
The petition is TO ssae same effect, and in the
same 70 Co..
Tire tiird petittcn appears TO be signed
ny large number ofpersons, inhabitants OF
'Navac county, in Michigan. ! am not ac-
qu;,ir.ed with them. 1t is printed petl'
non, different in form from the preceding,
dawn more at length, and going farther in.
to the subject. But i perceive nothing IN
ndisrcspcctful il to the Senate, or reproach'
tu TO others.
Tee fourth petition is like the two first,
in substance andin form. 1t is signed by
tour hundred and thirty.threc citizens Of
Boston. Among these signers, sir, l lrecoS.
Mise the names ofmany persons known to
me to be gentlemen Of greatworth and res
probability. There arc clergymen, lawyers,
merchants, literary men, manufacturers, and
indeed persons from all classes Of society.
ask, sir, that these petitions may be re-
.cciyed, and move that they be referred to
,.c Committee for the District of Columbia.
This motion ITSELF sir, sufficiently shows
siia what manner think this subject ought to
DC treated in the Senate.
TIE petitioners ask Congress to consider
the propriety and cxpcdiency of two things:
frs, .: making provision forthc extinction
Of slavery in the District; second, of abo!-
,is!iias or restraining the trade in slaves with.
IN tie District. Similar petitions have al
ready been received. Those gentlemen "ho
think Congress have no power over any
part Of the SUBJECT, if they are clear and set
'!ael il that opinion, were perfectly just!fa-
i;e III voting not to receive them. Any pc
;i;:cr, which, in our opinion, asks US to do
that whicl, is plainly against the Constitution
Te might very justly reject. As, ifpersons
si.ou,d petition US to pass law abrldglng
:',c irceGom of the press,o respecting an es
Enlistment ofreligion, such petition would
very properly be denied any reception at
y.
In doubtful cases, we should incline to
receive and consider; because doubtful cases
ought not to be decided without considera.
ton.
But1 cannot regard this case as doubt.
fal one. think the constitutional power Of
Congress over the subject is clear, and, there
Sore, that we were bound to receive thepe-
titions. And large majority Of the Sem
s.,e IRE also Of opinion that the petitions ought
10 be received.
| have often, Mr.. President, expressed
tie opinion that, over slavery, as 1t exists
10 the States, this Government has no con-
troll whatever. tis entirely and exclusively
u State concern. And while it is thus clear
that Congress has,no direct power over this
subject, It is our duty to take care that the
authority of this Government is not brought
to bear upon It by any indirect interference
. whatever. hmust be Left to the States, to
the course Of things, and to those causes
over which this Government has no control.
Allthis in my opinion, is in the clear line Of
our duty.
On the other hand, believing that Con-
gross has constitutional power over>slavery
and the trade in slaves, within the District, |
think petitions on those subjects, respectful
" presented, ought to be respectfully trea.
ted and respectfully considered. The res
pectful mode, the proper models the ordl-
nary mode. We have committee on the
affairs ofthc District. For very obvious
reasons, and without any reference to this
question, this com mittee is ordinarily com.
posed principally Of Southern gentlemen.
For many years member from Virginia
or MARYLAND has, believe, been at the head
of the committee. The committee, there
fore, is the appropriate one, and there can
possibly be no objection to it, on account Of
the manner in Which it is constituted.
Now, I believe, sir, that the unanimous
opinion Of the North is, that Congress has
no authority over slavery in the States; and
perhaps equally unanimously, that over sla.
very in the District it has such rightful author.
ity.
Then, sir, the question is a question Of
the fitness, propriety, justice, and expedi.
eRcy ofconsidering these two subjects, or
either of them, according to the prayer Of
these petitions.
1t is well known to US and the country
that Congress has hitherto entertained inqui.
ries on both these points. On the 9th of