Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-19
IN SENATE.-THURsD1y. Jan. =


IN SENATE.-THURsDAY,J Jan. T.
Debate 0" ne Petitions presented by Mr. Morris from
Certain citizens q Ohio praying for the Abolition Of
Mr. Morris moved to refer the petitions TO the Com
niltee on the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Calhoun asked that the question should first be
taken on receiving the petition 1t was preliminary
question, and under the parliamentary rule he had a
right demand it, lie demanded il on The mart of The
State he represented, because half of the Union
was deeply slandered in these petitions He demanded
1t because the subject not within the power of Con-
gress He demanded it that agitation the subject
might cease, for agitation must be the inevitable
qucnce OF continuing to receive them. lie in these
petitions that eleven of the States of the Union
grossly slnndered and could put his hand OH his
heart and say otherwise They had refused to receive
petitions because they implicated members of that body
and they to receive petitions in which eleven Of
the States deeply, basely, and malicously SLAM
deredf Were they 10 put more reprobOon the SLAM
der OF an individual member than the SANDER of
vereign Staes2
He demanded the question because these mo MORALS
aimed at violation of the Constitution. We have not
the power, said he under the Constitution interfere
with the subject Of slavery He and Lis constituents
understood this question. This preliminary abo
hton movement. These Aboldonists moved first upon
the District Of Columbia which the weakest point
IN order TO operate afterwards the States and he would
resist them as firmly in this movement, as he would
the direct question of emancipation He demanded
the preliminary question 10 receiving these petitions
because he to agitation which would sun.
der this Union Sir, said he, fear not these incen-
diary pamphlets in the South The South was too well
aware of what due TO itself to permit the crcula-
ton Of those pamphlets JIG agitalon here that they
chIcu, because u would compel the Southern press
discuss the question IN the very Of the slaves
who were induced 10 believe that there was powerful
party at the North ready TO assist them flo objected to
receiving these petitions, because the country was deep
~ aeitated by them; because they sundering the
bonds which held this Union together AS lover of
the Union he objected to receiving them nav they
must cease the Southern people never can be satisfied
Aud how, (osked Mr.. ca will you put step 10 them?
BY receiving these petitions aud laying them on the ta
BILE No, mo- The abolitioniss understood this we'll
Nothing would stop them but stern refusal; by closing
The doors to them, and refusing to receive them.
MIR King, Of Alabama observed one of the momorf.
ais directed TO the House Of which
he thought ought not 20 be received by the senate
and suggested 10 the gentleman, (Mr MorrsJ who had
presenrdis the PToprcy Of Withdrawing which was
done.
MIR. Morris said, thai in scntinq these petitions
TO the receiving Of which, the senator from South
Carolina, (Mr. CahoDn1 objected, he bad not OK
amined them, but had Supposed them all properly
House OF Representatives alone be would Withdraw.
be bad others 10 his possession, signed exclusively
by ladies', and If the gentleman from South Carolina
who had made The motion would agree he would then
present them also that The action OF The Senate might be
had ie whole once. He said that in presentin
SELL and hc believed the citizens Of the State he repre-
scnted prepared 10 20 the whole length with zen
cnen from the South, in denying in the most explicit
terms the power Cf Congress 90 intcfposc in any man
the States, that the petitioners contemplated such in
reference would he, i'm any instance give counte
support 90 such doctrine that the power Of Con-
gress ought IN ali cases, 10 be confined strictly within
the grants of the Constitution. Although he most will
linely conceded this get he clearly of opinon
and things within the District Of Columbia and
that contrary opinion, which he had lately heard
pressed, was entirely TO him. and he believed rcs
ed on no solid foundation That the subject matter &c