Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-24

e1asperate Southern feeling, at The same ulhr ' nse
,ry to get up preudices, and expose 10 oalun nsL
Southern men with whom he had actcd, anu "no WIS.,
ed 10 promote harmony and security lie SPOKE VI a..
tennis made to represent him as hostile to oouctn m
,eress and was speaking in reply 10 such attacks WIN
he called upon the chairman oil the conin'ttcc ~ s
him information, if he had it, by whom anu " with
ties the abolition memorials signed anu
fore The House. If the gentleman MT f!nckneyl 'I
smch information and he had doubt he had lie "ou'u
much oLlige him by communicating 1t 10 ing 'iou him;
MIR. Pinckney did not know That IL wouiu IJ G,
10 respond 10 ar inquiry of this character re ''uI
IL his duty to make minute examination OF 'lle
,and if the House wished it, he wonld give the'h an ''
Information he had acquired. The whole hunos' IL,
memorials was l1G the number OF signatures Wa" ho
lie rising 81 0OIf nearly $1,000 were females anu W
supposed part of the balance were children: as ~ Nv;
question Of the pnrties lie was unwi'liig 10 -;
any particular explanation lie said lie co'nc'utr c
opinion with the resolution OF The gent.e.i,am Il
Virujua (Nr. Robertson,l but he had not tlousn' u
proper 90 propose such resolution, because OF us G
irous tendency. lie knew the ground on when III
Stood he had lived long enough at the South 10 Know
Southern feeling; he thought the South wouiu
the ARGUMENTS OF the report and he wished 1t placed nc
fore them; al any rate, lie knew the feelings OF lhe as
,ric he represented; and if they thought differently
from The general tenor OF the report he was uch ot
ccivcd :,
Mr. P asked what the gentleman would gain By press
ing vote upon his resolution. If he does press II I"
vote he would vote in favor Of it, because II expressed
his political opinion; but did not the gentleman know
that majority Of the House, upon that question: WOMB
vote against the South and in avor of the aboIil'nhss
In those circumstances what good does The Scheli'"
cxaecl: The vote would have other tendency 'iah
10 encourage the abo!llionss at the North, and 70 Gre
ale general excitement at the South For Una, i'H -:
son he hoped it would not be brought TO vote; but
il must be So lie should vote for It, 1t had been ms WIS.,.
to avoid the inevitable and disastrous results which suc
Il vote must produce. Insisting upon the rcsuiuIlT"
only 10 ask the House to lake s'aho asas ~.
South; when, if left to themselves: they were wngto
take stand against the aboicnsls aud fanatcS anu u,
favor of the South If the resolution should be pressfa
to vote, majority, he thought, would snStai" Tue gh'
Of Congress to interfere in the SUBJECT OF slavery W 'e
District and would increase the zeal OF the Nor1tI"
fanatics and increase the anxiety and excitement o! te
Peop!c Of the South. lie did not doubt that, as Tic nut
ter was presented, covering the question OF consl'u
| tonal power, the House would express lis oli.on "a
favor of Southern interests end against Northern nci
ference; but if that vote upon constitutional power shouu
be taken, lie thought the result w"ud encourage NORTH
crn fanatics, and inlame the South TO madness
Mr. Bynum resumed his renlar Ks, ana deprecated Tie
course of those who determined 10 bring tins 4urs
ton to an issue at all hazards lie thought II SAch
vote taken by Congress on lie constitutional ques'
un as he anticipated would be. there would nothing re-
main but separation; and he intInaleu ear lt tlot
who we're not willing 10 take the nOdrra'" course oil
peace were acuated by desire 10 bling about such re-
suit The gentleman from South Carolina (hlr. fihck-
ney had answered his inquiry as July as ne drS'F-
ed but he would that himself and those Win #iini
he acted who were accused Of abandoning Southern IN
| crcs,s we're mcn who had heretofore, and would still,
stand BIZ tie South by night and by day.
Mr. Robertson said he had been asked what was his
motive in Offering the resolution; and he answered. tst
he offered il because lie thought just and proper; anu
he should always cnLeavor in orring resolutions, 10
keep that end in view, and Should eel accordingly not
witlstanGing all the drnunca;ion OF the gentleman iron"
South Carolina, (Mr. Pinckney2 lie DID not WISH 10
be considered the representative Ut Tic South Tic 5000
on other ground the representative U! portion OIL
State ch had declared, b. the almost Unanimous eH
preston Of the Legislature that Congress has no F'gAt
10 interfere with slavery in the District OF Io!uhO!l anu
lie would endcavor to maintain the correctness OF ti'I
EXPRESSION! Where, he would ask, were The flouSc 10
be found where would the South bc found, II 'ry should
skuk from principles which they acknowledged to be
right The gentleman asked what was to DC cameo ny
coming to an expression upon this subec lie would
ask what would lie gained by attempting 70 CONCEAL
opinions which they to be just: The gentleman
| from South Carolina had said the House would vote
against the South upon The question, II 1t was pressed
! This he (hlr. r. did not know.
Mr. Pincincy explained. lie did not know that The
votes would be lie had Supposed because IL iiad ~"
been BROUGHT to test. lie had wished 10 avoid Tic COLI
tngrncy Of The vote atngrtEeE and upon Tue p'"oao'e
| result he had his own individual apprchcnsons.
Mr. Robertson said he had so understood TIC schtIc
n,au lie wished 10 have the whole truth Known, That
the country might know what were The Opinions OF inc
! leading politicians OF the South. The gentleman had
stated the numbers Of the 5ncrS to The abo!til" memo
rails and according 20 his statement there were ABOUT
$4,000 male signers probably voters VINO "ou! g" y"
with their opposition ad interference ihey Will 20 on
tionay have expected, aud even mole they could not
have expected any thing but 10 produce an excitement
tom end oil the country to the other but They hau
obtained concession of the constitutional question al
issue
The gentleman says that it is in vain to press the vote
upsn this resolution; but he would ask il it was not idle
to take those rcsulutins which settle nothing, and leave
the whole question still open: 1t would be gratifying
IL the People whom lie represented II thry couiu gel
from the House an exprcssion that interference upon
this subject unconstitutional: and that Their rights
were safe; and he felt bound to ask the expression OF
such opinion. or what value would be, (e asked
merely TO say it would be breach OF faith 10 interfere
He did no. wish to rely upon faith. There were no
pledges for the keeping of that faith. lie wanted the
| secure provisions Of the Constitution.
Then the committee say it is not e1Pcdlent 10 Liter
fre and he wished 10 examine their arguments IN favor
of that opinion. The Northern States had thought 1t
expedient 10 abolish slavery They had done II III New
York and Massachusetts, and now many OF those poo
pie thought it expcdcnt to abolish 1t elsewhere lhey
would 90 on and endcuvor 10 accomplish it; and he
wanted the subject the rights and interests OF the South,
hedged about with constitutions! PROVISIONS whc! they
could never pass lie wanted it secured To-day and to-
morrow now and forever. lie did not wish 10 rest tie
question on the changing sckly ground OF moral expc-
iency which, az of action, was always uncer.
tain, and could not be relied upon.
Before MIR. R. concluded, the morning hour expired,
md
Mr. Conner called for the special order for this day.
At the suggestion Of Mr. Hamer, by genera! consent,
the usual number OF copies OF the report was orueFee 10
be printed .,,,>,
On motion of Mr.. Connor, the House, in pursuance oil
a spccal order to that effect went into Committee OF The
Whole on the state OF the Union, (Alr Sutherland in the
Char) upon the "b to change the organization OF the
Post Office Department. and 10 provide the more rdrctu-
ally for the settlement Of The accounts thereof.
The bill was read by sections and some amendments
were proposed by MIR. Common, and agreed TO-
Mr. c. Johnson moved 10 amend the 9Th section, winch
provides for the appointment of an Auditor OF the De,
dutv all
settle all the accounts arising in the Department. and 10
certify the balances 10 the Postmaster General IN such
manner as 10 evolve the above duties the Fifth Audi
tor of the Treasury transferring his duties 10 the First