Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-23

had Il
ad IN nrcserye the peace of the country anu r's'
obIigations 10 US as members OF u'e sc.'I :.
racy That an active ahd JopLt but that thew formed
~ sn,JI norton of the great mass OF the Northern
ni We not only had the assurances OF pubic meet
mrs which had assembled almost throughout tnat qua
Co.,, n,tended by the most respectable and distinguished
;,yens but We kad here, but short time SINCE the
declarations Of many of the Senators from the n2n-slave
holding States that this class Of individuals was but
small and that they counenanced by respecta-
bic portion of those States He had been assured since
his arrival here, by gentlemen representing the Northern
States, that abolition discourse could not be de-
livcred among those whom they represented, without
cndungerng the safety of the person attempting IL
In addition to this, lie would say, that the acuon Of
the Federal Government through. the Fost ounce DG
parmrnt protective Of the rights ot 'iie SUI. L
against incendary publications. II oSias w., w. Wv, ,
North and South did their duty, as sanctioned ny .ie
head of that Department. these enemies OF OUT Ho'eh
mcnt and Of the human race were cut oil from crcuia
inu through that medium their hrcorahcs u i'scnei'
Under these circumstances, was this une 'of Us 10
throw oprn the door to discussion on this SUBJECT anu
thus assist in cxacerbaling feelings which had already
been enough excited lie thought it only necessary to
contrast the proceedings OF the senate on Inc Pe'oh
to which he had before alluded, and which had been
laid ON the table by the unanimous vote oil the Senators
present. with the proceedings OF to-day to snow the de-
cded wisdom of taking the same course IN relation 10 Inc
present and an similar petitions The petition which had
been ou tie nurued bv the motion to lay the table, had
scarcely been thought Of or heard of snce consigned as
it Ind been to the ns gnlcance and contempt OF nor
flying lect and want OF n'lce. Nhal was TIE 'ac' 10
relation to The proposed mode of proceeding. TO the
present peti,ion The Senate had already found itself
engaged in debate, which could foresee the d.
rcction Of thus producing agitation and dgnliying with
undcsvrYed and doubt, gratifying nooriety to the
fanatics miserable euson, (which but for this proceed
inp would have fallen into obScurty and contempt. lie
(Alr b. had nothing 10 ask from the North, Of the
Representatives Of Southern State than
entitled TO- under the compact with sister States
ilrI fiplin of
ny purposes, made US the same people He however,
was disposed to act upon this upon all other occa:
sions in that spirit Of Cancellation, i'll which our Federal
Government had originated, aud acih0u chtch, 1t could
not survive. lie would quarrel with gentlemen,
cng they took decided ground against any inter-
ference this question, IT they should differ Us TO
some abstract questions in relation TO it, lie believed
sincerely, that the almost universal sentiment OF
the intelligent and respectable portion OF the North,
against any interference either in the District Of Column
bia elsewhere this delicate subject In this feeling
of confidence, he was in favor OF clngng to the Union
Of the S,ales the great of our safety, happi-
ness, and liberty. He would not for moment believe
that either Of the great sections of this country, would
far forget lis just obligations TO the other by such
outrage upon its constitutional rights, would end in
the overthrow Of Government, won by the united
lnr and patriotism Of their ancestors.
Mr. Leigh though it important that the constitutional
question on this subject should be distinctly understood
and expressed He had said the other day that lie had
never convcrsed with intelligent from any of
the non slave. holding States, whose opinions this
subject were calculated to give him dissatisfaction
He made this declaration, because he thought it was
calculated 10 give gratifying assurance to tie people
he represented and 10 produce sanitary effect in the
South Since then pamphlet had been put in his hands
purpnrns be review of another pamphlet, write by
Clergyman OF great learning and piety, whom he had
ALWAYS been taught respect. There extracts
tina, pamphlet calculated deeply TO mjure the feelings
Of the South. This gentleman at one time 4 resident
of the Commonwealth Of Virginia, and ought to have
known the state Of her society better yet appeared 10
yit
ed the subject of slavery and if his congregation
thought he DID, this agitation which the gentleman
from H. g.. (Mr Brown deprecated somuch had already
commenced. 1t in vain for gentlemen To dcpccalc
agitation, when it already was in existence.
Give Inc leave say the gentleman from North ca
rolna. when he calls these uboltonsls contemplate
and says that they have means of doing mischief that
differ with him c0iO In that gentleman love for
this Union-in which the feelings OF the heart, as well
of the understanding engaged he entirely
cured and it because he entertained those feelings
that he wished the expression OF some opinion as to lie
constitutional powers {" Congress the subject Of sla
verv He would not then pursue this subjecl-whcn it
came up again he should be prepared 10 enter iny
into the discussion. His object should be to concila;c
much possible; hut not for The purpose OF concil
ton would he urego what he conceived tn be his duty III
urning upon the Senate what necessary 10 the
peace and tranquility of the South distinct express
sion Of opinion to the constitutional powers Vi Con-
rress over the question.
Mr. Preston said there had boon petition this sub
cc presented few days ao and laid the table He
was not in when 1t pr$cmcd and thinking il had
passed sub Scnti0 he had not thought proper to call il
up. The gentleman from North Carolina lAlr BROWN
had said there disposition TO rake from the Capu
lets, for Excitement upon THIS subject Did The
gentleman mean To say there was nothing peculiarly
emphatic in the Southern States TO require action by
Congress? The Governor Of South Carolina had re-
commended action. All parties there had been ncccssa
ry disturbed. But the gentleman says, BE quiet, say
nothing. He the torch lit and ready 10 be- app
ed, but We are to say nothing We see s!anderous pc
| Citations all sides, and told to be quiet
! lie ast"nSrd 1t ms int be. as in the remark
he had made brlrrc, that this matter mixed up
it'll ,!.r poison OF politics. The petition before
them YVES The very child Of this poisonous subject
| lie felt with the honorable gentleman profound
spccl for the course pursued by the gentlemen from
| the North. lie thanked the gentleman from Pcnnsy
wanna for the depreciation he had given the petition here
presented. He d"rhIy thanked him. being, lie was
from the Quaker Stale, that liz had what the gen
tlrman r"m North Carolina could not. We are tame ly
to stand here, said Mr.. p until the torch is thrown in
upon us, and Is 10 lie cNnguishcd BY invoking those
vino have thrown it i'll upon us TO do IT, The proceed
ings Of every Legislature OF the South had deeply regret
ted the Of the people to The North If there
be fanatics said Mr. r., who willing 10 light up the
political torch Of unaowed partizanshp, he would not
shrink rom the duty Ir owed 10 his constituents. lie
would not dshono the State that had sent him there.
Mr.. Brown begged leave TO say word more before
the question taken. The honorable gentleman from
:. Carolina (Ar. Pieslon) had asked, i'll very cmphat
ic manner, it, when the burning torch thrown into
the House. lie Southern would be ready
Xtinguish it; He would answer that he ready;
but lac would also say that he not ready to pour oil
the torch and increase the flame into cuniagraliun
which night destroy the Union. The honorable gentle.
had said that he would not have discharged his duty
to The South had he not exposed and proclaimed the dam
GER and seemed 10 think him not vgilant enough be-
lie did take the lie was perhaps
not gifted with the keen perspicacy Of the gentleman
from South Carolina; he admitted he unable to dis
cover the benefit that would result 10 The South or
any other portion of the country from pursuing course
which would lead TO the discussion and agitation Of this
subject here. Sir the time has been when the hghmnd
ed members from the Southern States assumed an utti-