The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-04-22
SPEECH
OF
JU DGE w HITE.
ON THE
Abolition Petitions.
DeIirered IN The Senate Of The United States.

| Detirered IN the Senate Of the United States.
/ Mr.. President address you under the solemn
conviction that if this Government is TO continue
TO accomplish the great purposes for which it was
established, 1T can only be by administering it in
the same spirit IN which it was created.
When the Constitution was framed, the great
and leading interests Of the whole country were
considered, and, in the spirit of liberaty and com
promise, were adjusted and settled. They were
settled upon principles that ought to remain I'M
disturbed so long as the Constitution lasts which
hope will be forever; for although liberty may
be preferable TO the Union, yet | think the Union
/ Is indispensable to liberty. At the formation OF
the Constitution, slavery existed in many of the
States; 1t was one Of the prominent interests that
was then settled; il, in all its domestic bearings,
was left exclusively to the States, to do with il as
hey might thlnk best without any interference
on the part OF the Federal Government. This, it
Is admitted by every gentleman who has address
cd you, Is now the IN every sayehoding State:
therefore, 1t Is only urged that Congress has the
power to abolish slavery in the District OF Colum.
bla. Il should never be forgotten that, when the
+ Constitution was formed and adopted, what is now
the District OF Columbia was then comprehended
within two Of the slayeholdIng States, Maryland
and Virginia
+ Suppose, when all the details Of the Consitu-
ton had been adjusted, 1t had been ioreseen that
the District Of Columbia would be formed out OF
tract OF country ceded by those States, and stu
ated IN the centre between them, 1t had been ask.
I'd OF the members Of the Convention, " hat 90
you intend as to the District lou have placed the
question OF slavery in the States entirely unoer
their control within their respective lmits---to
you lntenu that Congress shall have the power TO
abolish slavery in the District Would not every
man have answered in the negative
II has been said that when petitions 10 abolish
slavery are presented to either House Of Congress,
those who demand tic question whether they shall
be received, and thus produce discussion, are agi-
tatgrS, and produce excitement on this delicate
subject. To me ii seems tas is unfair. Letus for
moment consider the circumstances of the coun-
try, and the situation in which We are all placed.
There are twenty-tour States, several Terrific
ries and the District. Thirteen OF these States
nave no slaves, the other eleven have slaves; in
fact their slaves constitute large item OF all tile
property they own. During the past year, II has
SO happened that many newspapers, pamphlets,
aud pictorial representations made their appear
auce and we're, through the mail, and BY other
means, extensively circulated in the slayehoding
States. BY these means, spirit OF dlscentent was
created, which occaSIoued much excitement anC
disorder IN various places and rendered it neces
ssry, 10 summary manner, 10 put to death seye
raj white persons, and a number Of slaves. In va
rlous quarters Of the Union there were assemble
yes OIL people, who expressed their opinions with
great freedom. In the course of the tail and win.
Ter, many OF the State Legislatures have been in
session; they have been addressed on this subJec,
by their respective Governors. They have ox-
pressed publicly their opinions the President, III
hlH message, has invited the attention OF Congress
toi; the Senate has referred that part OF the mes.
sage 10 a special committee which has made d
lengthy report, accompanied by bill which Is
n0w upon our docket, aud must, IN due course, be
discussed, and either passed or rejected. Are all
these to be called agitatUrS and charged with IN.
necessarily producing excitement Ii not, how
is 1t that members Of Congress arc IL he thus
charged when petitions are presented that we
must in some mode dispose of Each Of us must
suggest such mode as we think most correct, and
none can justly be liable TO any such charge. Ii
there is any wrong, II is found IN those who, in
such state Of public feeling, will press their pc
ttlous upon us. The petitions are forwarded To
members who fee! it their duty to present them
when presented, others think 1t their duty to de-
nand the question whether they shall be received,
Is true that on this delicate subject every Off
Ger Of the Federal or State Government can ex-
press his opinion as to what is best to DO, and that
Senator dare not express his opinion without be-
ing liable to censure2 | hope not.
/ This is a delicate subject: would TO God it had
not been pressed upon us; but as it is placed here
by the petitioners, we must dispose Of 1t. To en-
able us to do so, we must think upon ii, and we
may tell each other what we think, and our rea-
sons for so thinking Il is not by speaking upon
il we will be likely TO do mischief. Every thing
depends upon the temper with which we express
our opinions, and the sentiments we advance. My
wish and aim is, If can do no good, to do no harm;
and it | believed IN what propose to say, would
utter 4 sentiment from which mischief would be
produced, would close my lips, take my seat, and
content myself with yea or nay to every question
proposed by others, leaving every person at llber
ty TO conjecture the reasons for my votes but en-
tertaning no fear of that kind, | must ask per-
mission to state, as briefly as | can, some of the
reasons for the course | shall pursue. In doing
this. | shall not address myself to Senators com
inc from either the East or the West, the North or
I the South, in particular, but TO the Senate, the
whole Senate because, If it Is desired, as believe
it is. that we should remain together as one people,
secure, prosperous, happy and eontented, the whole
country, every section of IT, having deep interest
in this matter, this agitation and excitement must
cease
/ What then ought we to do as most likely to put
an end to those angry feelings which now prevail
In nv opinion We should refuse to receive these
petitions, Ii is a mere question OF expediency
! what disposition we shall make of them. All who
have vet spoken admit that Congress has no potcer
whatever over slavery in the respective States
is s,ttled. Whether slavery is right or wrong, we
lave no power to consider or discuss. suppose
then, petition were presented TO Abolish slavery
in the States would we receive it 2-Assuredly we
ought not because ii would be asking us TO act up
on a subject over which we have no po'rer'
But these are petitions asking congress 10 aool-
;sb slavery in this District Have we the power?