Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1836-04-21
Butsit may be asked,

scope Tor discussion why not receive this
petition, and discuss ittat some Subsequent
stage Why not receive, in order. to rel
1icct its prayer, us proposed by tho Senator
.ofhs4R& tiug the. petition itself on tile ques-
fion Of receiving, as we propose! What is
the between the two!
lido not intend, at this stage, to compare
Cor, rather tp contrast, the two courses, forI
they admit of no comparison. My object,
sarprcsent is, to establish, beyond the posi-
hiiity of. a doubt, that we are not bound
10 receive misconceptions; and when that is,
accomplished, Fwill then show the disas-.I
troussEonsequcuces which must follow the
reSsption of thc. petition, be'the after dispo-
s:siiiau wha it may HI Che meantime, it is
sGfEcient tqsgcinark, that iii is only on the
qlesflEg or recciving that opposition cam
he made to the petition itself. Onall others
tho ~opTns4tson is TO its prayer. On, the
sdecisiomssssken, of the question of receiving,
;ss1epends the important question of jusisdic-
ton. L ireceive is to take jurisdiction
ITO give AN implied pledge to investigate and
decide N the prayer, andto give the petition
IA placeasm outssarshixes, aud become res
ponsibIs forsits.s safs keeping and who
votes for reccH5uig Of this petition on the
ground on xffsh its reception is placed
.akes taa. pgress is bound to take 3Nras-s
Z dicfinns OF fhst Qnesti0n OF aboiishing slave
Aryl5oih hero and in the Statcs-gircs an
implied pledge to take the subject under
consideration, and orders the petition to be
placed anon; the public records for safe
keeping.
But to proceed, in reply t. he objections
of our opponents. 1t is ntNt urged that
prcccdcntS arc against the SIDE we support.
| meet this objection with a direct denial.
From The beginning Of the Government 10
the commencement oil this Session, there
is not Il single precedent that ~justiiics the
receiving Of these petitions, on the ground
on which their reception is urged. The
real state of the case is, that we arc not
following, but making prcccdcnlts. For
tho first time has the principle been assun-
cd, that VIC have no discretion, but must
take jurisdiction over them, however alb
surt, frivolous, misclievous, or foreign from.
the purpose for which the Governmcntwa was
created. Receive these petitions. and you
will create IL precedent which will hereafter
establish this monstrous principle. AS yet
there are none. The case relied OH by the
Senator from Tennessee (Nir. Grund,) is
in no respect analogous. No question in
that case, was made III the reception of the
petition. The petition slipped in without
taking Il vote, as is daily done, where the
attention Of the Senate is not particularly
called to the subject. The question on
which the discussion took place was on the
reference, and not OH the reception, rs in
this case but what is decisive against the
precedent, and which | regret the Sena-
tor Orr. Grundy) did not state, SO that it
might accompany his remarks, is the fact
that tho petition was not for aholisllins sla-
very. The subject was the African Slave
trade and the petition simply proved tina,
Congress would iaqaire whether they might
not .tiDDt some measure nT ii,t.vitrtic,,
prior TO 1908, when by tho Constitution.
they ~oui,l 30 o"thuti1rtt 10 suppress INV
trade. | ask the Secretary to read the
prayer OF the petition:
But we find ii Indispensable incumbent
on us, rs IL religious body, assurcdly bclicv-
ing that both tie true temporal interests of
nations, and eternal well-bcing of individ-
uals, depend on doing justly, loving mercy,
and walking humbly before God, the crea-
tor, pTcscrvcr, and hcnciactor of men, thus
to attempt to excite your attention to the
affecting subject, [slavc tradc;l earnestly
desiring that the infinite Father of spirits
may so enrich our minds with his love and
truth, ana so influence your understanding
by that pure wisdom which is full of mercy
and good fruits, as that Il sincere and an
impartial inquiry may take place, whether
it be not an essential part Of the duty of
your exalted station TO exert upright cndea-
H"rs, to the full extent OF your power, to
remove every obstruction to public right
cousncss, which the influence or a~rtificc Of
rarticn!a: persons, governed by the narrow,
mistaken views of scif-intcrest, has orca-
stoned and whether, Notwithstanding such
seeming impcdilnents, ii be not really within
our power to exercise justice and mercy,
which, II adhered to, We cannot doubt alb
clifton must produce the abolition of the !
slavc-trade.'
Now, l ask the Senator where is the anal
ogy between this and the present petition,
the reception of which he so strcnuousIy
urges He is Il lawyer Of long experience
and of distinguished reputation and | put
the question to him, OH what possible prin-
ciplc can a case SO perfectly dissirii!nr, JUS
lily the vote he intends to give on the pres
cnt occasion +! On what possible ground
can the vote Of Mr.. Madison to refer that
petition, Oh which he has so muc!, relied.
justify him i'll receiving this ! Does he moi
perceive, IN his " example, the danger OF
forming prccchents! If he may call 10 his
;ill the authority of Mr.. Madison. in Il ease
SO disSi,milar, to justify tho reception of thi,
petition, and thereby eNtcud the jurisiic-.
ton of Congress Overthe question of ctnan-
cipation, to what purpose hereafter may
the example of his course OH the pres
cnt occasion he perverted
1t is not my design to ccnsure Mr.. Madi-
sons course, but | cannot refrain from OK
pressing my regret that his name is not
found associated, on that occasion, with
the sagacious and firm representatives from
the Soutll-Smith, Tucker, and Barber, of
South Carolina, James Jackson of Gcorgia
and many Others, who ut that early perio.i,
toresaw the danger and met it, as it ought
ever to be met, by those who regard the
peace and security of the slavc-holding