Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-04
TweEsiy-aourtsa COngress--Hst&c ss.

the motion of the rcntlcnan from South Carolina against
receiving these petitions; yet he had rlt all along and
still felt some reluctance 10 perform tduty For al
though he not sensible Of any excitement in his own
breast, and far from wishing TO increase w1s most
anxious 20 aay, the EXISTING excitement in the public
mind, BY all hes, adaptedtto counteract and
move the of rrilaon and although he sure
if he could be Of any thing depending the evil
dence OF his own consciousness, that he had no patty
feeling at all conteccd with the subject he
tlclcss, what apprchensivc that the remarks he
should feel II his duty to make such The nature and
delicacy Of the topics which he advert might
prove, in their effect, exactly correspondent with his
wishes and design.
lie reminded the Senate that there had been three
memorials presented tis subject: two iro"l Ohio,
as to which the gentleman from South Carolina insisted
on the preliminary question" whether they should be re.
ccre Or not; and from the Society OF Friends OF
| Pennsylvania, which the gentleman who presented it
(Mr. Buchanan) moved TO reject, without further con-
sidcralIon Ali three had and the object;
they all prayed Congress to abolish slavery in the Ds-
rct Of Columbia. but (said MIR. ~ tile temper and
language Of these memorials widely different That
from the (2uukcrs dues indeed represent slavery I'M
christian and in!Iuman they would d,precatc aud
demonstrate against war, however just and necessary,
as uncllrIslian and uhunan; but they eYincc ami
mostly towards shareholders; they manifest the
mild and peaceful spirit the good will and brother
y love towards ell men, which that society Of christians
have ssnay, at all times and on all occuslons dis
played in word and deed ley have been holding SINH
lar language Tor yeGrs-hodIng II In the saVrhulding
well the holding States, addressing 10
Congress- addressing it in conversation 10 their slave
holding ueiglburs Virginia, Gas my colleague and
can trsuy,) and in memorials 10 our Legislature; yet
they have given offence, provoked resentment
cXcIrd airE Sensitive as are supposed 10 be on
this subject The euGnrrS who have lived among lave
found oct the ar, Of maintaining their opinions without
offence and the art consists, simply, in purifying their
hearts and language from lc least tuiIt VI nIuUni-
y cunnot help wishing could find principle |
OF Discrimination favorable IL tins memorial Of the Qua
kc:s on which could think myself Justified in giving
II different treatment from lut which have no bcs
laiiGn III giving 10 tie memorials from Ohio One Of
these is from men, the other is signed by only
That from the is comparatively moderate; they only
intimate their opinion that the holding Uf slave property
aud the Transfer Of By SALE is practiscd in this
try Is alike tc;cslaLie iy the African slave trade, which
has been declared piracy by lIw. But the rir:ne.ia
from the softer scX contains much matter OF oie:cc
INSULT and vtupcra0n applicable TO all The laYehUlding
PORTIONS OF their fellow c,L,z"ns, could possibly have
been put lilu paper OF the same compass These Ia
dies PROBABLY thought sr rather, perhaps: the person who
prepared the memorial Tor them tliough that their
would give them title to ndul gcncc But, in my srnsc
Vi things, their sex, instead of furnishing motive lur
treating them with ugence, is aggrurali"n ol her
fault. They have unscXrd themselves. These LIemo-
rasIs OF Un, male and female, scenis, sorely at
;tcrd wi:! The cruel grievances our slaves endure from
their ruthless their souls oppressed With
the load vi !u:tal which incur W Holding their
iel"w-crcatuTrs in bondage and, while they profess
sympathy and comgess!n Tor The slaves, it is but loo APP
constitute the moving spirit that dictates their language
aud their conduct.
There who inputc the restless, busy, his
clcvous schemes Of ugilaon III which the abolillonlSts
chnaIch H. !anacIsii: and thence willing
infer, that however furious their zeal and rcrnlclous
effects their motives mag not be wanting in sincerity
mad bem:vVrEcc. But for my part, surprising leir con.
d;Icl Justly :mpu,ablc 10 ianacIs, that would he no ar
gumrnt w!t nae, either Vi their sincerity oil their be-
ncvocncc; iOr Of all the evil spirits that have ever pos
scsscL the human heart inalcls! has proved itself the
prosecuting, uns"rng, c:uc and relentless; and
that has read The history OF the civil bo!ls OF our
British The times Of Charles l., can need
more In cr!ice him that i2!iacIs:H Is apt 10 De accul
panied with Hypocrisy and Conscious hypocrisy, too.
Mr. Leigh then stated The precise question before the
Senate lu be- whether We ought to receive These Onio
memorials Thus question, lie thought, did not nrccs
sariIy Involve tic question which had the debate
whether Congress has The constitutional power |" abolish
slavery il: ie District I'll Columbia: EUr said he sup
posing Congress have the power, yet, have been
assured ell hands that there 40 difference oil opinion
tie question Of policy; that it Is the opinion o the
great naorIty Of the senate, thut indeed 1t is the unan
opinion CT this body that II would be most lnpouc,
and unusto 90 what thcsc petitioners pray Co
gross do cannot comprehend how good policy, sound
WISDOM Justice require even permit Us ~ enter
these petitions Can ue thought polite, Wise or just
receive petitions oil Which the Objects acknowledged
10 BE- miscellaneous: The question whether they sal! bc
received is preliminary question which every Senator
has right TO have Put and decided upon every paper
offered this body AID the very purpose ut 1t Is To en-
able iciuse hearing 10 propositions oi lschrV-
tendency. There is nothing unusual IN the motion
Vt the gentleman from South Carolina that these memo
rls shall moi be rccevcdS ort as has been my service
in tho Senate, have known instances III which 1t has
been resolved, upon the preliminary question put, that
memorials should not &c received, the ground thai
They contained language Gisresprctin aud caulnnous
Of the Senate, OF particular members, though they
related to subjects in which the petitioners were ine-
rested in with the whole nation. Now that
the RIOS. trivial objection imaginable, COIL
pared with the objection which we make 10 these lneilo-
llas and the truth and justice Of which, III point OF iact
and probable consequence have not been dthicd-tlat
lhpya
the minds and disturb the peace OF oncalt OF the un'on
and to produce keep alive agitation throughout the
wEre, winch has manifest tendency TO weaken lie
political bonds ny which wc are unied, Ind TO 1coparu
all institutions.
Gentlemen who unwilling 10 vote against rccciv-
inn these PETITIONS, wiling, us Understand, to vote
reject ticm they snail be eeclvrd Inc
difference between receiving and Rejecting III pm
cie and effect, ls, surpose 10 mole IMAM lS-tha'
rcl citing, 1t admits the right Of tie petitioners 10
be heard ard only declares the prayer CT Tie Prtlios
unreasonable, may novice tend to discourage the lc-
nrwa OF s,ci petitions but may on the contrary sug'
uesl and invite renewal OF them IN future ana more
propllous tiucs: Whereas decisive vote o 1he Se"
ate against The receiving OF tci as amounts 70 &C.
NAL of the right Of the petitioners 10 De heufo at all
m,y and cuu to have the effect of dlscGuraging and
preventing renewal Of petitions oi TIC ike iliiSc'''ef
Gus kind IN luur; whether 1t Will or no, IS aiotier con-
sdcrnl"n Surprising 1t exPedent anu p.uoeit nD'
10 receive these petitions (avng regard to the probable
ELECTS is there Ubrcon III prlncc, 10 lhls course:
l. there any principle that obg"s US TO receive reu'!"s
wiliuut r,.aid 10 their merits or purposes, and without
.der.,1,n Of CONSTITUENCIES: The first amendment to
n Constitution has been referred to- which provides that
l;onuress sl.! make law abrldgng the rg ht of the
people pcacraLy oasscmhie and petition the government
nr rcces; OF grievances. But the right here secured 10
I'm. reople to pct!l!n for redress u grievances, must
have relation 20 grievances OF lie petitioners themselves,
no, those ulrs and the refusal oil Congress to receive
unjust. mSchicvous absurd petitions hardly, by
any vnle:.rr ct constructing DE regarded tantanount
to the an!ng Ola law abri!sng lie right CT the eo-
PIE petition for redress VI grievances in Lie pre-