Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-17


Yeos-Mcssrs. Ewing Of Ohio, Hendricks and Me-
Kean-3.
Nays-Messrs ncniau. Biack Brown, buchanan,
Clay, Crittcnjce, Co,ih-rt. DAVIS. ENug of Illinois,
Godsborou2h. Graady. Hat. hnthrd, kf:. OF Alnba.
nl, King VI Georgia, Nn-h; l.s.isk, Linn Nicholas,
Niles ieres p,ent's@ nrsn. it,baIns, isngglrs SheP
ley, Swil, Tailar,.S', r.p;oG, romi.Usoa, Walker,
Wall, Wcbater, " bite, 0,i Wrght- 36. ~
Mr. Mexican could not say thai he in the least dis
appointed at the result vf ,ite vic ns, akrn He had
offered his amendments his vote ON the n,,,ion eli
his colleague should n)i lie construed u pnc him
in the attitude of secn.ng be opposed slavery in The
abstract or as maniestng an ol',non that Congress had
no constitutional power to UPON the this
District He had not sncd The reasons Tor I'D
ment IN detail, because Il might produce excitement
After all he had heard he Tia, same opinion he had
been at hrs that It iaexp,-nt ihis ,i,ne e-
gslote The subject, lie had satisfied his wishes for
tne present by having his recorded the
ne vas now prepared 10 vote for the motion made by
his colleague
nun to avoid voting the two last questions. The
Senate in deciding dat this pctton should be receive
established the principle that they bound
ceive petitions on the SUBJECT matter what their
guagc might be, all occasions This was principl,
u which nc could not give his CONSENT gave fatal
stab at cur liberties, and ncutrazed the effect uf all the
balm that had been attempted TO be poured ON the wound
ed feelings OF the South What they had done ON that
occasion pregnant with d sastrous consequences md
he ioresaw that they of the South ated to come
there Tor years, and have their feelings outraged by the
abusive eplthets heaped them by these petitions To
be hunDied and debased 10y the constant repetition until
they almost felt themselves TO be what they called
Feeling as he did, he would by any act of his
the siyhes councnancc Ia the
could entertain jurisdiction the suct %: sa very in
the District of Columbia Taking the votes together
the one to receive the Petition the either reject It's
prayer, would be the disastrous blow that the
South could receive The demolished the ou,works
OF It's deienccs, and the other is nll the South into
false security lie did not believe that, far the
North concerned, these would the slght-
est ERECT IN putting stop To the abolition petitions
They had by this vote given dangerous blow TO the
south, which, IN alter times, would be quoted pre-.
cedent 1t had had the effect of dividing The South We
ot the South unanimous in the opinion tina, Con
gesS mas no jurisdiction over the subject bat majority
OF the Senate believed that Congress DOS assessed thai
power, and the vote just taken sustained them The
question, then, for the aboonsts would only be- as TO
numbers All they had 10 do, was to get sufficient num-
hers to control the elections and place abolition members
there, TO carry out their designs They saw the adyan.
iage OF their position, and would be maintain it
ana they would endcavor to turn out these members
mere VINO would not go for abolition, and yet others in
their places that would Any one who understood hu
man nature could be deceived as 10 the effect this
vote would have IN promoting their plans. They saw
tneir way The doors of the hall thrown open 10
mem ana they Knew that majority OF that body was
oil The opinion that Congress possessed the power to ab
lsh slavery in the District Of Columbia WIN vote
SAID he aguinst the motion of the Senator from Penn
sylvania TO reject The prayer of the peon 1t I'M
necessary Tor me, said he TO say lie would not put
himself IN false position, and therefore he was reduced
to the painful alternative of refusing vote at all
Mr knghtsaid that ;he vote lc should i've ON This mos
Ton might be different from that of many his friends
and probably variant from The expectations Of some OF
nus constituents lie wond therefore state one reason,
ana one only That governed him ia the he should
give The petitioners prayed for two things; one the
ao1tlon OF slavery and the other Suppression of the
save trade in the District of Columbia. Now bcev-
ing as ne did, that there slave trade carried ON in
THIS District which he believed i'm proper unjust und IN
human, and which if examined and brourLt IN ,b,
would not be justified by any Senator on thai floor me
could not vote TO reject the petition. ie would lave
preferred t,e reference TO committee, and have this
slave trade inquired into with report Of the facts t The
senate but as no Senator had moved the reference he
would not al that stage of the business make the motion
lie would content himself with voting against the mo-
ton 10 reject the prayer OF the petition.
MT Preston felt bound in his Judgment TO adopt that
species OF action which the strongest 10 the
motion made by his colleague lie had had The msfor
tune 10 differ from many gentlemen from The South m
10 the proper course to be taken. But majority had
decided to receive iie petition lie had thought the mat
ter over, whether lac should retain his sent in This Lod
II 1t had claimed juriadicton this matter A lonr ~
he dd retain bis seat lie felt it his duty to oppose fcse
petitions. He would take his seat and vote on ali o,les
tons relating 10 this matter usual.
Mr Beaton observed, that the Senator from Rhode
Island (Mr knight had mentioned the slave trade IN
the District OF Columbia lie wished 10 show him ono of
the effects of the interference with the subject of slavery
ny those who had NO right 10 meddle with it, He had
had npon his memorandum book for several wears n mo
morand UNI oI bringing i'll bill prohibit the traffic i'm
slaves in this District and he had moved because
OF the agitation on the subject of abolition kept UP by
tation was kept up.
Mr.. Davis had been patient and somewhat attentive
listener 10 this debate. IL not his intention 10 en-
gage in It. As the question receive Ills petition was
decided he would say few words III explanation Of the
vote lie was about TO give.
Since The question had into this hall it had ac
quired consequence il did not deserve iie saw no.
thing IN the petition that called for the excitement he
had witnessed Here few humble citizens askino
to abolish sayery-and where? He would have sup
pocsd from the arguments, ;l.a it n proposition 10
abolish slavery throug the United States The vote
taken showed the OF the Senate and the petition
was now in the custody OF the Senate They had sub.
stantiay decided That ii contained matter poDcr for nr
consideration The gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA liIr
Buchanan0 on presenting Tie peton had given notice
OF what ms intention was which was after its beug re-.
ceived, TO deny the expedcncy OF all the measures In IL
lie had looked with anxiety the subject accord To- n
ms OPINION; but although he had always thought the ag
latlon o this question calculated to disturb the peace
ana harmony OF the country, yet he had not been allie
TO reach tie conclusion, he CIR. Il had lie Mr. ID
thought this petition ought pass through the usual u-
sness channel, TO accomplish the object the gentleman
from Pennsy vanu had IN view. With the present Dr
nation before the people, majority wCud entertain
opposite opinions TO the gentleman from South Caro-
Ina, (Mr CahounD 10 the constitutional mower of
congress he OR. ID had petitions on this sub
Ject presented from time 10 time, and never before
though said MIR D., do by this ync sac ffl we
nave constitutional power, yet IT generally under
Stood as making distinction between The District Of
Columbia aud the slavelUldng States He had heard il
repeated ON tins floor, that would treat this matter
with the contempt 1t deserves lie did not stposc this
ephet was used ~ 10 literal but as rate p
mon why have organizcd committees as the REGULAR
channels through which business prepared for The ac
ton OF the Senate Why have rules that require bills
to be read the first time on one day and The see., ,,
the next day. DC. The answer was obyious bccaus
this BODY was what 1t puTPoritd to be, dclberaiiye
elsIicy 70 this wa,ter they ought 10 send Il IT, 6 d
Jnttee, and let the report Of that committee 20 ont I'M
der the sanction Of the Scnnle lie had voted ioctds
this object and being willing O. let the gentleman from
Pennsyynnia have direct vote on a propSslt,on he
seemed 70 have so much at heart he had fcfranrd from
Offering the amendment he had intended 10 offer en-
bracing hs-( MIR Dss) views The conrs. ,,r.o.d n.