Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-12
T'yyem(y-fourtin Congrcss--gst = ess.

Mr. Speaker: | rise under deep and painful feelings
had hoped sir, that the violent and pcrnlcons designs
OF few dlsafrcted fanatics OF the Morrill, wouia nave
been long since senccd, and the recent votes OF tins
House had inspired with the fund hope, that upon ls
floor at least, should have been called upon to
vndicate my cllowcitizens IF the South against the
false and foul charges of piracy and man stealing so re-
peatrdy and lavishly Iadc against them. BIZ, sir, tins
question has assumed aspect that torbids r to be 81
lent and should be recreant TO the feelings and inter-
csts Of those people who have cInhdcd 10 lie tie duty
Of representing their feelings and interests upon this
floor, if could stand by patiently quietly, and subms
svry, and not repe the strong nSlnua IONS unioundcd
aspe rsions and foul caumncs cast upon them; and roll
back The waves upon those who have attempted to roll
them upon
Sir the honorable gentleman who last addEessee the
House. (Alr SIadcD has, in effect, by giving d7cct
conradicton to The representations OF other genaemen
in relation 10 the number and feelings OF tie aboacn+
isis of the North much to unh!nge and nostneHe
~ feeling of confidence which before felt on This subj
ec consequence Of the action Of the N"rlhern Peo
pie during the last and ail and the declarations
OF other Of their rrprcscr ltves this floor IN relation
to this asaling this dangerous subject Honorable
gentlemen from that section Of the Union tell US !rfc
is strong feeling Of sympathy in the North Tor the pee,
pie of the South. Aye while some OF them tell u, aE
assure US t0a that not in five hundred among lEe
people there, favor the abotonsts their schemes
unotcr gentleman, Che honorable member from Frr-
MONTY from that section of the country. tells that
those gentlemen have grossly mistaken the feelings OF
their people This gentleman (Nlr. ST. tells us, he
speaks only the sentiments and feelings ut the peo-
pie OF his district, but Of the whole people Of the
North and that they strongly IN fLvoo the schemes
of these ineinorlafss Is it 50, Nh Speaker: Is 1t
true them sir that those honorable gentlemen have dis
gu;scd and misre presented the true and feelings &"
The people Of the North; and that the gentleman from
Vermont is better acquainted with their true character
and true feelings upon this question than they are, and
has fairly developed them: If he is, sir and If he dos
speak truly. ad it the people OF the North do maintain
these opinions, sir, thank he gentleman, in the name
OF the Southern people, that he las frankly disc osrd 10
a..
him that lie has prepared FIR tho assault that awaits
us, by warning OF It's approach. thank him that he
has uudeccivpd confidence ana aroused our PEA
lousy But Mr.. Speaker do venture hope however,
and believe, that tho gentleman has drcrivrd himself
(llhough do not doubt his s!nccIltyJ and has msta
ken the true feelings Of the Northern people And
here. sir cannct bot my admiration Of the pccu-
liar atrollres3 and skill with winch that gentleman APP
rroac he'd this subject and while give the gentleman full
credit for tho skill anil adruItnrs5 H. used conlrVinT
to bring this whole question before at the same time,
must conicss. and mean 1t III no offensive sense DIS
Ike the heterogeneous avO"al OF sympathy unGct WHICH
he commenced his attack, and the attempted conceal
meat of the real views Of these petitioners. The honora
bic gentleman pUisstS great kindness for lis, his bcnc
vulrncc Tor very expanded lie means no offence
lie does to call land pirates and man.sra
crs Oh no! But then. says the gentleman, that sys
ten among you is system Of Iand.I tracy ntrclIan
disc in human flesh. The gentleman Is not mean TO
hurt u.s. oh no! bat he to aSsa rights and de-
struy property, out OF mere brncvoeEcr kind
ness Wlr he smiles in iaccs he drives the
dagger t., our hearts! You, he says plralps and
s:eairrs but your System Of slavery every men
and in every FORM system Of piracy and man stealing
accompany!n the charge with every "pprobonS rpct,
which, the honorable rurtnbcr could string tngetheI-
This, sir kindness with vengeance, tor which VIC
have thanks to !cturn To the honorable member rcm
! Vermont.
beg leave. Mr. Speaker, before entering further upon
the subject before me, to make single remark in ira.
ton what fell from the venerable Tcmbrr from Mas.
sachuSets, (Mr. Adams.) That gentleman said. he had
no wish be forcrd into 4 discussion the sublime
merits Of slavery Let ask the gentleman, when
he speaks Of the 'Suhimc merits of slavery in the lro-
nica sense he intended the remark, to cast his eyes
upon that picture (pon,ng to the portrait OF General
Washngtcn Of the Father OF his country, and stand re-
bukcd bv the recollection Of his virtues and his deeds
When the people Of the North weak and assai!cd
10y n cruel and unreenlng enemy and struggling for
their hts that ut the head OF determined and
rcsoutr band ct savehuders rushed TO their rescue.
lie and his companions i'll arms lett their Wives their
children their domestic tifrsdeS. their farms t-ir al,
riskcd all they pnssrSsrd hzarrd all they held dear,
amd pcrrd their lives and fortunes to cspGuse tho cause
Of the Northern people, and in defence ct Northern IL
brrty. Sir. that holder and his Southern
cam "a Mons slarch ,IrTi. ask tho gentleman to
his rrtrosprcton back 10 the cvcntiu period Of
when That with some seventeen hundred or two
thousand patriot: rctrang before large and victo
rluus army through New jersey their very footsteps i'm
printed in the snow with their blood, and to look back
again at the conduct Of that little band at Trenton and
FRINGE ton Immediately after Sir few Of irsc slave
ho e there. many of these holders were the
com .trios and companions OF the honorable gentle
mans patriotic sire in the cabinet and in the field, and
not deemed unworthy ask that gentleman, then
|" take back the irony. i ask him to recall IT, 1t
wrong, it was unjust, II was unkind, 1t was ihbc
raj do not venture to Pxpre sincere hope that the
venerable genllrmans feelings upon this occasion have
been treachcrouS to the true feelings of his heart
hope he has not tile full import which This term
orrproacb expresses. these few remarks in rrla
ten the npuntion ofthe honorable gentleman, will
approach the subject before US; in dnlng will assure
the House that it is not my intention To follow the hon
| gentleman from Vermont, through all his n1Zes, and
turnngs, and winnings; shall attempt to rerel all
his caumnes ADMINISTRATIONS endcavor to satisfy his
religious scrupcs: nor crcise his moral ecturng; nor
10 notice every thing he has said On this occasion III
vein and better suited Ia the pup pitt than To The
floor of legislative assembly The merits Of slavery,
and the constitutional power of Congress to interfere
with il in the States questions which vii" not and
condesccnd 10 discuss here deny your right TO
interfere with them in any form.
| MIR. Speaker the question before the House has
suIncd variety OF aspects But until heard tho re-
marks of the gentleman from Vermont this morning.
had thought, doubtless many others did, that the
only difference Of opnon that existed in the House
as to the form and manner in which its should BE-
expressed; in which very large majority OF It's men'
beers should indicate their sentiments which under.
stand he almost unanimously opposed TO any lrgisa-
ton whatever upon the subject, of these memorials.
Some for rejecting all petitions and memorials oil TINS
characters some are for laying tlcn the table, some
propose ono form aud anoher but until we were
favored with the views Of the meEter from Vermont.
who has 10 his credit marched boldly up to tho battle
rvs jaw, and made open attack, none, no, moi one,
gave an unqualified appreciation 10 these Pcttions-
Permit. me- sir 10 make farther remark this
snbiec t bcofe approach the question ITSELF and ha,
is Who are lhrsc petitioners? The honorable
Der from n. York who addressed the House this morn
inp fMr Granger,) Of whose acquaintance have not
the honor the pleasure: blu, hope have before par;
from the discharge of our duties here has endorsed and
he very good endose the character Of one portion
oflhcsc petilioners-the females: beg PaTdon-the
ladies' Now sir there is no man on this floor who has
"a higher admiration of the female character than