Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-16
'EweEsts.-los.stI. Consrcss--es list se~s.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
Tuesday, DcrrmLcr =. $50.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT &

HOCSE OF kEFRESENl AllN E.S'
Tutsday, December -. 1S:E'.
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
..... .... COLl'MBIA.
The question being that depending from yesterday, on
the motion of Mr. Patton for reconsideration o! the VOC
by which Memorial, praying Congress to a"OiiSh
Slavery within the District Of Columbia was referred To
tie Committee on The District
MIR. Granger of n. York. rose and said Mr.. Speaker,
rise TO protest against the in which the names
Of these petitioners have been conoundcd with The ADO
onists Of the North. They men OF as pure hearts,
and Us pure lives, any gentlemen oil South CaFoa;
they 10 whom the Constitution Of this country
is as sacred as il is to the inhabitants of The South, anu
who will rally in its defence with spirit and power
equal ~ that which br0ugh TO It's AID by that
gallant people Sir, hold the Abollionsts OF the North
in higher respect than do the gentlemen from caro-
lima, or from any other section Of the country. There
many OF them for whose motives have no respect;
there Others whose motives honest; but TO whom,
misguided as they are, would say. stay your hand: you
ircbrands, arrows, and death, AMI
sny-wc in sport. OF them say, deal with them
under the Constitution and Laws Of the land, as YOU
think proper hut when | am called upon to rontound
these petitioners with such persons, feel 1t MY duly 10
enter my protest.
Sir who are these petitioners; They are persons
who, Looking the letter Of the Constitution of their
country, and finding there that Congress has The right OF
exclusive legislation Tor this District, and not looking
beyond that 10 the grants of cesson by the States OF
Virginia and Mary land to under what reservations
those grants made and accepted; and without stop
ping tn ask The still more Important question: whether
the residents Of the District Of Columbia require any in
reference, suppose that Congress have right 10 legs
late upon this subject Starting upon Tins abstract pro-
POSITION they have supposed they had right to appear
the bar OF this House. and to ask that the Seat OF
Government Of il free nation should be inhabited by
those only wha are free.
Such SIR is the condition of these petitioners; ana
can never that they should be designated as
nurdercrs, that their should be mngIcd with
those OF the a5niltiCnlSts.
Let us take them more in detail. Who arc they:
first mention my worthy predecessor. MIR. Dicksonl III
whose bosom beats heart honest God ever gave
10 man, and III whose veins flows the blood Of rs pure
patriotism aniinalcs the breast oil any member OF la
House. He is not gentleman against whom the charge
II constructive murder is 10 BE- brought.
VIVA next: ] am citizen Of New York, Il State that
will assist the gentleman of South Carolina in keeping
The cham OF union bright and strong 10 the last And.
aitluug Sometimes collision arise, and there may
be friction than is desirable. still it is c"lSon
which vii! bring that Chain from the contest stronger and
brighter than btrrr 1t should be remembered. and
regret 10 say that II TO have been i"rgn;irn that
the popular branch of the Legislature Of y ork, dur
ing Tic winter session of l-2 by most decided maj o-
ry, embracing all political parties ana much tu.mt
and patriotism Ue found any legislative hall OF
this nation, passed by Il decided vote their opniDn that
i! competent tor the Congress Of the United States
TO rglslac this subject. cannot consent and should
hold Southern gentlemen rfcrcant TO their own honor
could they nt that charge thus oduns should he
quietly ade against the Representatives Of their people;
can CONSENT that it should be inadc against ming.
a laluy o. Tie lpplSiiurS OF New iiiiFino
did IN part from them: not. by implication con-
srnctinn Hurderers and although there may be those
III this House, whom the duty Of defending that Le-
gisIature would more Ploperly devolTc' still cannot
Who are next: The peaceful disciples of William
Penn! people vino iniiict wounds 10 where, but
who carry The hcnug balm Of consolation and SYM
paIy Tor human suffering, th.ou ghout the civilized
world. have yet to learn, that this Society should
be called nuIdrrers, butt Tor the courtesy OF any
tcman.
Who next: The ladies' for they have presented po-
li.ions here. probably shall not differ with some rs
20 the prOpricty OF their ntcriercnce will they DIFF
fer from when say that: if they choose to bring
their power tn bear such petitioners most fearful dis
iurhcrs Of man reposc indeed. there are few gentle
from tie South the North who have not rccciv
cd many heartfelt wounds from that source but which,
fortunately. of character moi likely 10 cndanscr tho
Union. These murdrrers are like those in Macbeth
they only ''mardr cp." This. sir, is the situation Of
the petitioners. against whom gentlemen nave uttered
such d1nHnciannS.
But we called upon to consider this question for
the purpose Of expressing our opinion on the abolition OF
slavery in the District Of Columbia; and ut the
time told that 1t should rot be discussed Sir
resolution has been read at the table, and, when i'll
der told is 10 De submitted to the consideration
Of tie iuuse, which will open this question for debate
fully if il had been referred to Committee, and
they had reported bill for the abolition OF slavery in
the District Of Columbia. And yet we to re-cons-
der this vote, and then TO cripp. the debate merely be-
cause The question cannot be discussed.
Why is i, that We have become suddenly scnsitivc'
Differing as 10 from many ofmy constituents, | have
entertained hut opinion, and that s that even
if the constitutional right exists which doubt strongly
there is question OF policy existing which should
call for legislation upon this subject
subscribe 10 Tie ductrnc Of thu gentleman from Mas
sachuses, (Alr. J. G. Adams asserted yesterday, and
find why this petition should be driven from
the House. 1t has been read al the table Are not It's
terms respectful think they are, AID that II they are
not crin.prd and plated according the strclcst
nj ref
prclu that, proceeding from recncn. the representa-
lives Of ircmen, i'll my opinion, arc bound 10 receive
them.
If the gentleman from South Carolina (Ar. HAM
raond) wishes my direct vote upon this question: let him
meet the proposition orthe member from Maryland be-
lievc that these petitions g" 10 the Committee on the
District oi Columbia, to Select Committee: and that
report be made, as it vii! be made, meeting tie wishes
Of these gentlemen; and linen he shall have I.y fear
lrssly in his favor. But when he insists that shall
either cvadc This question, strike through il and intict
deep wound the guaranteed ri ht of petition, then
say as lrlcssly thai will stand ~ tho doctrine Of Tie
venerable gentleman from Massachusetts. however he
terudox that doctrine may appear Who would have be-
lIcvrd that, from the very quarter IF the country to
which the Constitution Of the United States could not lie
made acceptable until the right Of freedom Of speech,
frecdo Of the press, and the right Of petition had becu
secured his proposition would have cnanated: VIII"
would have believed that attempt would have been
made to drive the petitioners from this Hail. b. these very
men, who profess TO believe believe, lat freedom
Of opinion 10 be tolerated. where reason Is lett free to
comba: errn:?"
Mr.. Ingersol of Pennsylvania. next addressed the
Chair, in Speech the publication OF which is nrcessa-
rIiy deferred 10 another day.
Nlr. Manu. Of New York, said he had avoided all par
ticpaon in This debate, because he thought it wise
do SO. and c should then say very few words in cla
ton TO it, All that he would say he decnrd necessary
from certain remarks that had fell from one of his ho-
norahc colleagues that morning, (hir. Grangcr) That
gentleman pleased 10 say that i. had grn forgotten
that the Legislature Ct New York. not longer ago than
the gear lS4 had passed resolutions upon the cct Of
the rg: Of Congress TO Interfere will, slavery in the
District Of Columbia.
Air (,-nnnnr ,Nnininel liz wnr,Is ;rrrn IL seemed