Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-04
Twemty-fonr.h Coassrcss--Istsess
.no, rr,d IN SENATEm7a.,aay, .lanus,g 10.


MIR LEIGH rose, and said he considered :, hs s,;
TO discuss the questions that had in the debate on
the motion of the gentleman from South Curolpa
receiving these petons yet he had fet all along and
still felt some reluctance TO perform that duty For al.
though he not sensible of any excitcmen in his
breast, and so far from wishing increase was most,
anxious 10 allay, the EXISTING excitement in the public
mad, by all means best adapted councrnct and re-
move the causes of rriiaon and although was sure
!, nc could be sure of any thing depending On the evil
uehcc OF MS own consciousness had no party
feeling at all connected with the subject he never
tnciess somewhat aPprehensyr tkat fa,r remarks he
should feel II his duty make (suc the and
deiicacy of the topics TO which he advert might not
prove, ia their effect, exactly correspondent with his
flc reminded the Senate that there had been three
memorials presented this subject: two som Ohio.
as to which the gentleman from South Carolina insisted
on the preliminary question, whether They should
ceived or not; and one from the Society OF Frcass
rennsyivania, which the gentleman who presented 10
(Mr Buchanan) moved To reject, without further con-
s,oeration. All three had and the object !;
tey all prayed Congress 10 abolish slavery the Dis
trct of Columbia. But (said MIR L) the temper and
language OF these memorials are widely different That
from the Quakers does indeed represent slavery as
Christian and inhuman, they would deprecate nd
remonstrae against war, however just aud necessary
as unchristian and inhutan; but they evnce no AM
mostly towards shareholders; they manifest tho same
mild and peaceful spirit, the good will and brother
~ love towards all men, which that society of christians
nave 50 sighaiy, at all umcs and all occasions dis
prayed IN word and deed. They have been holding SINH
lar language Tor years-holdDg in the slave
as well as the holding States addressing il 10
congress addressing II in conversation, their slave
holding neighbors Virginia Gas my colleague and
can tesiyD and in memorials TO Legislature; vet
'hey nave never given offence provoked resentment or
eXcited alarm. Sensitive as supposed 10 be on
ts SUBJECT the esuakers who have lived among us have
found out Inc art of maintaining their opinions without
offence and the art consists SIMPLY purifying their
own hearts and language from the faint of alp nj
". cannot help wishing | could fluid some principlc
OF discrimination favorable TO this memorial of The (r,
Bers, on which could think myself justified in niying
IL different treatment from that which have no h,s
.atoh IN giving to the memorials from Ohio. One of
these is from The other signed by teomen ony
nat from the men Is comparatively moderate; they only
intimate their opinion that the holding of slave property
anu the transfer OF 1t hy sale, practised tins oun
ry Is uike deirstable with the African saverade which
has been declared piracy Ivy law. But the memorial
from the softer contains much niatter of offence
insult and operation, applicable To all the slave koldng
portions of their fellow cZsns could possibly have
been put into paper OF the compass These Ia
deS Pfonao thought (or rather perhaps the person who
prepared the memorial Tor them thoughD that their
would give them title To indulgence But, my sense
oil thirgS, their sex, instead OF furnishing motive for
treating them with ulence, Of their
Iaut' lhey have unscxcd themselves. These mcinu-
hctd WITH the cruel grievances slaves endure rom
us ter ruthless iiascfs their souls oppressed with
the load OF mortal san which incur by holding their
.now,Giea'uIes IN bondage and, while they profess
sympathy ana compassion the slaves il hut 100 ap-
at aohorTence and dctcstaon 81 the save-owner
Tue moving spirit that dictates their language
aud their conduct.
There are some who mpute the restless busy mis-
cllevous schemes Of agitaIIun ia Inch the aboonst
are engaged IL mere iahaiicisi, and the willing
10 inier that however furious their zeal and eruc;os
It's iec's tfr motives may not br wanting sincerity
anu oehev"lcnce But for my part supposing their cen.
duct justly lmPuuble 10 tanacsn that would be no ar.
Suien with me, either sincerity or of their lc
heVoence Tor, o all Tie evil spirits that have pos.
eSSeu the human eart fanatIos has proved itself the
most prosecuting, unsparing cruel and and
no man that has read the history of the broiis of our
BRITISH ancestors III the times OF Charles can need
more TO convince hun that ianatcism apt accom-
panied with hypocrisy, and conscious hypocrisy too
Legh 'hen stated the precise question before the
SENATE To be, whether ought receive these Ohio
memorials: i his question: lac thought, did
sary involve the question heh ud arisen IN the debate
Wet congress mas the constitutional power abolish
slavery III the District oil Columbia For (said hey sup
posing Congress TO have the power vet we have been
assured OH oil hands that there nee of ouinn
ON The question of policy that the opinion Of the
great majority OF The Senate, that indeed unau-
nous opinion of TINS body, that would be most inpoli,ic
u""isc ana UNJUST TO do what these petitioners pray Com
eItss 10 10, cannot comprehend how good policy sound
W"uon OF Justice can require permit
tam these petitions Can be thought polite wise or iusl
10 receive peous OF which the Objects
10 1r nlsceVous! The question whether they shall DC
received, is preliminary question which every Senator
has right 10 have put aud decided mon every manor
offered TO Tins body and The very purpose of ii TO en-
able us to refuse hearing To propositions Of miscliev.
Gus tendency. There nothing unusual in the motion
oil Tie gentleman from South Carolina these memo
rails shall not be rcceivcdS, as has been INV vice
III The Srnatc have known instances in wbcb it has
been resolved upon the preliminary question put that
memorials should not be received, the ground that
lhey contained language dsrcspcctn and cautunious
OF the senate, or O particular members though they
related to subjects ia which the petitioners were inte
rested III common with the whole nation. Now, that
seems to me The most trivial objection imaginable com
pared with the objection which make To- these mcmu-
rails, and the truth and Justice which in pO,nt of
ana probable consequence, have been denicd-tha
thcy are calculated, At they Intended to disauie
the minds and disturb the peace of halt MON
aud to produce keep alive agitation throughout the
"ilVic, which has manifest tendency TO wSnken The
political bonds by which united and to leopard
all our Institutions
Gentlemen who unwilling TO vote against rocciy.
ms these pettioDs willing, understand 10 volt,
70 'JeCt ltIn as soon as They shall be received The
adherence between not receiving and rejecting in pru
clPIe ana erect, 49, suppose than this-that
REJECTING, as II admits the right of the petitioners 10
bc heard and only declares the PRAYER of the peons
unreasonable, may nowise tend to discourage the tc-
newnl OF such petitions, but may the contrary sur
gest ana invite renewal Of them in future and more
ProPitious tunes; whereas decisive vote Of the Sen
ate against the receiving Of them il amounts TO de-
MAI OF The right of the petitioners to he heard at all
may and ought TO have tie effect of dscourapiny and
preventing the renewal of petitions of the like ischicy-
Gus kind IN future; whether il will or no another con
sidera,ion Surprising II expedicnt and prudent not
eccs IS there any objection, in principle to tins course?
is there any principle that Obgcs receive petitions
without regard to their merits purposcs and ,ythou
consideration oil consequences The FIRST amendment 10
we constitution has been referred to- which provides that
Congress shall make law abridgng the right Of the
people pcaccaby assemble aud petition the government
tor redress Of grievances But the frbt here secured TO
the people, TO petition for redress Of grievances must
have relation to grievances Of The petitioners themselves
not those OF others and the refusal Of Congress 10 receive
unjust, nisccyous, absurd petitions can hardly bv
any violence OF construction, be regarded antaoun
To the making OF law abrIdglng the right of the peo
pie n petition for redress q grievances. Ia the pre-
sent case the prayer for redress Of grievances s mast
rya pretoxt TO justify the petitioners in mcddng in al
lars ~ winch they themselves be way, or only