Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-31
March 81, 1886.

rnode. Is the ordinary mode. We have
Committee on the affairs ofthe District !
Foryery obvious reasons, and without
,nv reference to this question, this com !
mittee is ordinarily composed principally
Of Southern gentlemen. For many years
a member, from Virginia or Maryland
has, believe, been at the head OF the
committee, The committee, therefore, Is
the appropriate one, and there can be pos
sibly no objection 70 it, on account OF the
manner. in which it is constituted.
Now, believe, sir, that the unanimous
opinion Of the North is, that Congress has
no authority over slavery in the States;-
and perhaps equally unanimous, that
over slavery in the District it has such
rightful authority
Then, sir, the question is question OF
the6tness propriety, justice, and exPedIen-
cy Of considering these two subjects, or
ciiher ofthem, according to the prayer oil
these petitions.
II is we'll known to Us & to the cou ntry
that Congress has hitherto entertained in
ouiries on both these points. On the 9th
ofJanuary, 1900, the House Of Represen-
tatiEes resolved, by very large majoritics,
That the Committee for The District Of
Columbia be- Instructed TO take into con-
sheraton the lauos 1oithin the District an
respect TO slGrcrg, that they inquire anto
the slGre trade as IL EXISTS IN, and IS car
RED on through, the District, and that
LheV report TO the House such amendments
10 The eristing LGrOs as shall seem 10 them
to be Just
And it is resolved also, "ThGt the CON-
mlitee be further instructed TO inquire into
til. erpcIieacy of prOriitAg By L1w for
the gfaduzl abolition Of sLarery ooith!n the
District, IN such manner that the interest
otno indiridu0L shall be injured Mere6y'
As carly as march. 1916, the same
House, on the motion Of Mr. Randolph, of
Virginia, resolved, "THat committee be
appointed TO inquire into the existence Of
an inkpmGa anil illegal traffic ofslares
carried on in Gni Through the District Of
Columbia, and to report VFether any, and
wiat measures are necessary for putting a
stop 10 the same"
It is known, also, sir that the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania has within very
few years urged upon Congress the pro,
priety of providing for the abolition Of
slavery in the District. The House OF
Assembly of New York, about the same
time, think, passed similar vote. After
these proceedings, Mr. President, which
were generally known, think, the coun-
try, was not at all prepared to find that
these petitions would be objectedt to, on the
ground that they asked for the exercise Of
an authority on the part Of Congress,
which Congress cannot constltutonllly
exercise. or, that having been formally re-
ceived, the, prayer Of them, in regard to
both objects, would be Immediately re-
iscted, without reference to the committee,
and without any inquiry:
Now, sir the propriety, Justice, and
fitness Of any Interference of Congress, tol
either ofthe purposes stated III the petl
tions, are the points on which, as it seems
10 me, it is highly proper for committe,
to make a report The well-disposed anc
patriotic among these petitioners are en-
titled to be respectfully answered; and l
there be among them others whose mo
tives are less spraiseworthy, it is not tht
part OF prudence to give them the advan
tage which they would derive from a RICH
Of complaint that the Senate had acteC
hastily or summarily on their petitions
without inquiry or consideration
Let the committee set forth their owl
views on these points dispassionately full,
and candidly. Let the argument be seel
and heard; let the people be trusted wit
it; and have no doubt that fair Disc us
sion Of the subject will produce its prope
effect, both in and out oftae Senate.
This sir, would have been, and is tn
course Of proceeding which appears TO m
Re prudent and Just The Senate, how
ever, having decided otherwise, by a yer
large majority, only say so much, o
the present occasion, as may suffice
make my own opinions known.
mfr Mangum moved that the petition
be not received, and demanded the yec
and nays. This motion was laid on II
table and the Senate adjourned In Il
course Of the discussion on Mr. Mangum
motion, Mr. Webster made the followir
among other remarks:l
Mr. President, / feel bound to make o.
further remark. Whatever gentlem,
may think Of il, / assure them that the
PETITIONS, at least in many cases, have
taelious origin, no political or party o
4, gin Such may be the origin Of some
them. am quite sure il is not of all.
MANY Of them arise from a sense of re
gious duty and that It is-a feeling viii
should be reasoned with, but cannot
suppressed by mere summary exerc
Il ofauthority. wish that all reasonal
men may be satisfied with our proce,
Sngsj that We may so act in regard to I
whole matter as shall promote harmon