Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-15
,Hvventy-a0uraia Cougrcss--sss sscss
Wednesday, .iareh 8, 1896
In SENATE

Society of Friends at Lancaster Pennsy yana PRAYING
for the abolition of slavery in the District OF Columbia
Mr.. Calhoun addressed the Senate at length, and con
tended against the doctrine of the constitutional nunc
ton TO receive petitions matter of right; aud drew
distinction between the right OF prese and the
reception of petitions; that strictly, the parliamentary
rule required motion To be made receive petitions
presented; but as matter of convenience, the Chair
usually dispensed with the necessity of that motion
The night OF petoning could not be urged inch be-
yond the right OF presentation; and this action of the
Senate commenced the rights of the Senate; and TO URGE
the right of pctitionng beyond ntation was ex
pressly to encroach upon the rights the Senate In
support OF this positions he cited the oath rule of the
senate, and the comments of Mr.. Jefferson upon it.
he conroycred tue doctrine that refusal TO receive
petitions was refusal to hear the petitioners or to dis
cuss the merits of the petition. la this the Senator
from Pennsylvania (Mr BuchannD had stated the con.
tents OF this petition and they had been discussing Tor
SIX weeks He further conendcd, that the question of
receiving or not receiving the petition did interfere
with the right of prcsentaon and that one OF the
intermediate motions TO commit, &c, admitted of
more full discussion than this He denied applica-
ton OF the precedent cited in opposition bis nIoion
He wished Mr.. Madison had pursued the same course
pursued by hir Jackson of Georgia, and MIR. Smith of
South Carolina, and many others. petition had been
presented at subsequent period, when the South be-
come more awakened, and had made the question lie
had done But the brave, the gallant and 10 be re-
membered Senator from South Carolina (Gen Sump-
ter had been quoted who had unguardcdy voted wrong
Here MIR. Buchanan OF Pennsylv asked perluis-
SION OF the gentleman from South Carolina (Afr Cal
houn TO read the names of the other Senators from the
South who had voted with General Sumpter; which be-
ing granted, Mr. ID. read them accordingly.l
lie referred TO the construction put upon the rule by
the British Parliament, only refusing single pe
ton, but throwing out of Parliament a whole class of
peutons lie regretted the decision made by the gen
tleman from Tennessee, (hir. GrundyD aud from the
capabity of that gentleman in declining great ques-
tions he presumed he had decided hastily aud without
examination lie advcrted 10 Il in 1884, in which
Mr. Clay sustained by the Senate i'm motion that
certain preamble and resolutions from York. RersasyI.
wanna, respecting the public deposes should NOS be re-
ceved The Senate had the isht TO select and discri
inmate between what they should act upon and what
1T should mott if they had not every thing that was FRI
criminal, mi,
tins hall, and convert il into Nassau hail. and bv Weld
ing this right OF refusing To receive petitions the South
surrendered all their outwors and citadel il
SELF The abolitionists did expect merely to abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia they only expect to
get iodgment there, TO act with greater efficiency i'm
accomplishing their general object llc did not expect
the aooliuonsts coming with arms ia their hands
TO wage war with them, bat it To he moral and
religious war, the most dangerous of all wars. He
could not consent TO change his course secure stron
majority which lie thought was a fatal majority; moi
majority for, but against The Of the South If
they were bound to receive petition they were bound
TO considcrit The motion 90 The gentleman from Penn
syivana, although not intended looked like tick
decepion-juggiery. He would iccla profound graft
tude towards his Northern friends if they give that
strong majority in favor OF the motion he had made
Inc only nope ne had that abolitionisn could be az
rested YVES, that The two political parties at the North
would not be divided But if they did divide il was i'm
possible to pre7enftis question from running into poll
tics. lie believed the vItuous and patriotic wore win
them, but he desparcd of success; unless both political
parties could unite They loved the Union bat all this
glory and anticpaions of nothing coaDared 10
existence itself. -.e..tt.
The capacity of the South was able to defend their
rights; their resources almost unqualified and the
dangers that surrounded them would unite them The
alternative with them would be, TO do or die tie had
intended at one time TO refuse The reception of
these petitions by one but would have been wor
rying 10 him, and undignifed
Mr.. Clay rose to make an explanation with regard to
the presidents cited by Senator from South (aroua
one of which had been iade on his motion; and
IT was his intention for acceptance of t,e ne
ution, 1t might without explanation be supposed
~ 1Q n m npuIcf
OF petition had il true, certain qualifications one of
which was, that il must be addressed deliberatiye
body having the subject Of which the peti
uon treated Another qualification was that the peti-
uon should not be insulting 10 the body TO which il was
addressed THIS was the with the petition from,
Ihe town OF york; fennsylvania which the Senate ie-
fused TO receive 1t would be recoecled that this nett
ton was not intended TO complain Of grievance in The
power of Congress redress bat was in fact an insn
on lne senate. Hence The rejection was not lou aided
on the ground that Congress had power oyer the sub
Ject treated OF IN the petition, but the ground ihat
tIe matter contained in ii offensive. He differed
with the Senator from South Carolina as to the rie of
Congress to refuse The reception Of PETITION tic wen
Knew hat every deberaiive body had the right to deter
mime inc uhe when petitions should be- received; but
this was under mere regulation, having in view tbe
convenience ci tile body well as of The petitioners
Ills idea was, that tIc right petition carried viii :,
the right of being heard on any subject thai The by nd
dressed had the power to on lie thougbt hat hero
was enough IN the constitutional provisions which re.
laed TO The District OF Columbia 10 Justify their CON
sdcrng it, On the subject Of the rieht OF Conqresa 10
abolish slavery in the District lac was inclined 10 think
.eiuHcu tue aVOWal, that Tie right did exist
though nc should take future opportunity of xorsn
his views in opposition TO the expcdency Of the er;
OF that power The Constitution gave To CONGRESS with
respect TO the District of Columbia all the 1o,ve,s no,
prohibited by it, and was directly contrary TO tat nro
vision OF The same instrument with respect In The States
which prohibited the exercise of Movers moi ,ra,ed
and reserved them to the States and their peonle
MI ~ also expressed his disapprobation of The aotiou
10 receive ana immediately reject the petition made lv
the Senator from Pennsylvania lie did not tInk II a
sue, SUBSTANTIAL ana efficient enjoyment Of the RIGHT cr
petition to reject IL, without lis passing through The s,
forms He thought that the right Of pettio reoi,od Of
the servants oil the people to examine deliberate and
uecIde, either to grant refuse The PRAYER of o.,i
giving the reasons for such decision lie tbonSbt me-
conPaDylng the rejection Of the petition with clear
iJ @ eAptess'ou OF Tic reasons Of The Senate
wouid carry convection TO every mind, satisfy tie pc
uoneIs OF the improperly Of granting Len request and
mus nave the beet effects in putting an end 10 fl
ton OF the public on tie subject.
nc question was here taken, q" Shall The petition he
80, nays TO- Us follows. 80
Heas-messrs. Benton, Browa Bnch,nan Clay Clay.
ton truenden, Davis, Ewing Of Ohio, EwinS Of llI;
nois Goidsborougl, Grumpy, Hcndricks Hil fi.bbard
rent hlng Of AiH, King Of Georgin, knight l,nn
~ ,GHeen, ",otfis, Neudan, Niles, Prcniiss R0bins
I'Onihson' huggies, ShePiry, S0uGlafd, Swift Tall.
madge, Upton, fOninson, Wall Webssep Wilt 80
J'ags-MessIs. Black, Calhoun. CutIbo,, ,;,,t,'
moore, Nicholns, Porter, Psoston Walker Whit n,
MI Gay said ihs was motion susceptiJe or y,,o,
Inent, and before he sat down he would ofsr -
had thought q reference 10 n cofniai,,9 ~ 'c. i'G
the reasons aeanst grantin9 tie praycr d t,cee ne
eIs Wogd De TIC better way 10 dispose of tho stircf
1ut ne feared majority could not BE- bad for t,s ,
mere were certain great subjects dat ought 60 be- knt
Oh' on he scope Oi political acontlcy gefe The tar
the great public domain slavery and tbc Union AZ
G. commented briefly apon the importance ~ racl, lr
these heads md condemned tbo movements ia go ,faif
quarter on The subject Of slavery