Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-11

could hnye Ind
particular reference to the condition of the District
afterwards coded, and could not therefore ahr;dge
any OF the domestic rights of the people of the
District, as they existed ut the time of the cession
but the cesson having been accepted with the
VI ,ne rlSnt Of property to the people of the District
contained IN the Constitution and acts of concession
these guarantees afford ample protection and are re-
stic ms the jurisdiction OF Congress as the local
Legislature of the district MIR G. said that the people
oil Massachusetts had come xion or concern
with the domestic rights of the people of the District
Than they had with those of the people of Virginia or
maryland, and that any attempt at interference with
thef, was as impairment and obtrusive as
would be with those of Virginia and Maryland or any
o.er independent State Mr. G. said he coniendcd that
,ne people oil the district in relation their domestic
rights, occupied the position State and were emit
ed to have their rights respected SUCH and protected
from interference from other States such.
Mr. G said having thus examined the principle prow
ing out OF what has been termed the constitutional rybt
oil petition the extent of the obligation of Congress- TO
receiveand established, he thought beyond reason
aoe doubt that Congress not bound receive pet-
uohs from people who did not seek the redress of some
Puonc or private grievance affecting themselves he
would very briefly the claim of the petition now
uhder considerations to that character He said he would
emphacaiy ask, what the grievance affecting the
petitioners, tor which they sought redress and in aid of
winch they so clamorously invoked the sacred right of
petition and the spirit of Bbery' Why, Mr.. Speaker,
MT u the grievance is, that the people of this Dis
c, some hundred miles removed from the petitioners
0d Maoes, property guaranteed by the Constitution
and they modesty ask that the people of the District
may be deprived of their property without their
surely, said Mr. G., this is grievance either public
or private, to tue petitioners But, said Mr. C. VIVA, ia
tue grievance complained of in the petition and for
which remedy is sought? 1t is sir that the existence
OF slavery is incompatible with the religious notions of
he petitioners, and they simply ask, rcry small aer
ertatnf that the Congress of the United States should
forciby wrest from portion of the people their pro-
gious scrupes OF these very der5uv yeiiofo poooc,
Mr. Speaker, said Mr. c., this as bold and DARING an
attempt as was ever made among free people, to com
pei Dy Joree 81 aic one set of people conform their
aeceS and their to the religious notions of
another seand this, sir, is the whole grievance Sir
once commence this work. and by then you have legis
of ALI
gious sects there will be little of liberty left To the peo
Pile. You will have established com1lete clcr;cnI seS
potism Mr.. Speaker, said Mr.. G., the very clause Of
Tie Constitution, quoted by the Hon member from Mas
sachuses, contains this valuable provision Congress
yhaiI make no tao respecting establishment of rsligoa
1t tins provision SAID Mr. c. is of any value al all il
secures to every the right of tanning his own re-
hg'ous opinions and conforming his practices them
e"Pnatcay ask every member here, aye, every 4meri-
freeman, At Congress should carry out the PRAYER
OF shese petitioners, whether in practice is not directly
al wal with the right of religious freedom guaranteed by
tie Constitution us above quoted? Some men think
and ioaS too that slavery is not incompatible with
the strctest notions OF religion then ask said Mr a.
II hey are TO be forced by law, to surrender their own
opinions aud be compelled conform to those of the mo-
tonersS answer-No. You cannot so far violate
the principles Of the Constitution securing religions
freedom Mr. q. said, ne man. or body OF men had
The right nor should they force him take pecu
p I.ouonso OF Religion lie was responsible to but
hrs Creator for his religious opinions practices
The Creator himself had given a guide by which all
were 10 be directed, 1t was wise and unerrng guide
But he dsclaimed for himself and his constituents the
right OF bgoted and despoc teachers religion 10 pull
down their threats their notions of religion any thing
else They traH and as faiiJLeas and he
did not choose TO be compelled TO follow their guidance
when he deemed them err r.
Mr. CT said II unreasonable to act upon such peti-
ions as This, because the petitioners affected
with the evils reproachcs of slavery They lived
under laws and institutions in which not tolerated
Hence they have practical grievance TO redress
protest, MIR Speaker said Mr. g. that the people of this
District who complain OF no grievance, who have none
to redress, should be violently deprived of their rights
to satisfy the religious scruPes Of their kind friends
these petitioners.
MIR. G. said, that having said thus much upon the con-
sttuIona right of petition the grievance SOUGHT 10
be redresscd III the petition under consideration he
would say few words exception of the general
obligation of Congress to receive and consider petitions
IT IA every other respect une ponuble Mr. G. said
this was exception due TO the body ITSELF he alluded
TO the right of ts body require that every petition
presented it, should be couched an decent and respect
Jut language. This, said Mr. e., is acknowledged
right aud would be useless consumption of time TO
detan the House with any arguments TO its necessity
and propricty Mr. G asked if the petition now under
consideration was coucbed in such decent and resDcctL
language as TO address itself to the favorable consdera
ton OF the House Sir said Mr. G. in this as in mos,
OF the petitions which nave been pTese ned the people of
the South characterized pirates -sfealers
merchants IN human csh and gross uiOorS of of
Gcd and man. Mr. g. said that the honorable gentleman
who had just taken his seat and who protested to be on
posed = The abotionss, (no doubt sincerely but who
had made most excellent abolition speech complained
OF the term: OF opProbrium which had been used this
debate towards the Northern people, insomuch that he
acknowledged his zeal against aboonism much abat-
ed. Mr. &. said he asked that gentleman how il was
that he could feel sensiby the epithets EMPLOYED
against the abotonsls and not feel the severe redec
tons upon the whole Southern people, contained in these
petitions? Sir, said Nh c. these Of rcproacb
such piracy mon-steating &c D,iid aud so gentle
be totally Innocent totally nofensvc, Surely the
gentleman cannot so think.
Mr. c. said that the institution of slavery existed AZ
the time of the formation Of the Constitution The free
States called entered into the constitutional eompact
with full knowledge of this Of things and soemn
ly engaged not TO interfere with IT, The South has faith.
fully and deyoediy performed its constitutional obiga.
tons for upwards of fifty years The Southern represen-
taton have the claim protection from insult and
Teproaeb, when they here egslae the North
representation. Is ii 10 be patiently borne then
Mr. Speaker that the representatives of the South arc 70
sit here day after day, and hear themselves and their
constituents reprOached pirafcS2 No, sir IL is moro
than Southern feeling and Southern blood can bear
II cannot, it will not be submitted TO. IL had been
said said MIR c. by an honorable member from Massa
chusetis lr Adains0 that il almost impossible 10
speak Of the subject Of slavery without using terms
which may be deemed Insulting and Teproachful. Then
Mr. Speaker said Mr. g., why speak of il here nt all
II is reason why the South should submit TO Insult
because gentlemen say they cannot present the subject
the consideration Of Congress without using terms Of
insulting character Sir, these petitioners have no
right 10 interfere, nor has Congress the right interfere
with this subject and these petitioners have only 20 alb
stain from unwaraniable interference with the rights
Of others avoid insulting and rcproachng the whole
Southern people Mr. Garland said he could readily
perceive why gentlemen did not feel the force Of
these terms OF reproach applied 10 The South, and
appreciate their insulting character. II was because
opticts. They not addressed to them. and
their resentment was not therefore excited Bnt Mr.
g. said he well satisfied that if any portion Of the
Southern people were to present petitions designating
the whole people Of the North tortcs applying to
Then, some other harsh and bellous ephct the North
Il =, L.. g. n 8 49,.