Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-29


trict. The House Of Assembly Of New
York, about the same time, think, passed
a similar vote. After these proceedings, MIR:
President, which were generally known,
think, the country was not at oil prepared 70
lind that thesc petitions would be objected
to, on the ground that they asked tor the
exercise Of an authority on the part OF con
gress, which Congress cannot const'tut'on'
ally exercise; or, that having been formally
received, the prayer of them, in regard to
both objects, would be Immediately rejected
without reference to theco,nmttce, and with.
out any inquiry.
Now. sir, the propriety, justice, and fit
ness of any Interference, for either ofthe pur-
poses stated in the peti'ions, ore the points
on which, Us it seems to me, it is highly
proper for committee to make report.
The we'll disposed and patriotic among these
petitioners are entitled to be respectfully an.
swcrcd: and if there be among them 9th.
ers whose motives are less praiseworthy, 1t
is not the part of prudence to give them
advantage which they would derive from
right Of complaint that the Senate had acted
hastily or summarily ontheir petitions, with
out inquiry or consideration.
| Let the committee set forth their own
views on these points, dispassionatel, fully.
and candidly. Let the argument be seen
and heard let the People be trusted with It;
and i have no doubt that a fair discussion
of the subject will produce its proper effect,
both in and out OF the Senate.
This, sir, would have been, and is the
course ofprocceding, which appears TO me
to be prudent and Just. The Senate, how
over, having decided otherwise, by a very
large majority, only say so much, on the
present occasion, as may suffice to make
my own opinions known.
Mr.. Mangum said that as he had been
prevented from being present when former
petition was disposed Of and had no oppor.
tunity to record his name ON the motion not
to receive the petition, for the purpose Of
doing SO at this time, he would move that
these petitions be not received, snd would
ask the yeas and nays on the question.
The yeas and nays having been order.
ed,
| Mr.. Rives rose to make few remarks,
disclaiming any intention to open again the
discussion which had so recently been ter.
minated in the Senate. by any thing he had
to say. Under one Of the views which had
fallen from the gentleman from Alassachu.
sets, he might with great propriety vote
against the reception Of these petitions, as it
was his deliberate opinion that Congress
had no constitutional power to abolish sla.
very in the District Of Columbia. But it
would beyery inopportune, and, indeed, he
had not prepared himselfto 60 into the dis
cussion Of the question. Nor would it be
proper to offer any observations ut length
after the full discussion which the suGecthad
undergone. The>sense Of this body had a..
ready been expressed onthis question of:re.
ceiving former petition.
He would like to have an opportunity to
consult with gentlemen, especially with those
whose section of country was most deeply
interested In this matter; some Of whom,
regarded the question ofreception after the
former decision Us res judtcata, might now
bc disposed to adopt some other course. For
himself, he was of the opinion that the ques.
tion Of tho reception of the petitions did not
involve any violation Of the rights of peti.
ton Us it was merely q refusal to receive
where Congress had 40 constitutional pow.
or to act. Ifsuch.a motion were proposed,
and on consultation with his friends it should
be regarded as the proper course, he should
feel it his dutyto vote against the reception
of+these petitions. 5, But it might be consid.
cred by some of the Southern gentlemen
| who had voted against the reception Of
the petitions, that after the decision Of the
Senate, there might be another courseselect.
ed. 1t might be subject for considera-
l,ion whether the petitions oughtto be sent to
the Committee for the District Of Co.
lumbia, to Select Committee, or to any
other committee, or whether it ought to be
! sent with or without instructions. 1t was
to enable himself who had just taken his.
seat, to consult with his iriends tho: he wish.
ed for some delay, and he would, therefore
move to lay the motion not to receive on
| the table.
Mr.. Mangum said he had no particular
objection to the motion being laid on the to.
bic, if the gentleman from Virginia would
not call it up again during his absence, as
he desiredto record his vote.
Mr.. Ewing inquired what became Of the
memorials if the motion was laid on the ia.
bic: whether they could 60 on the table
with the motion, or be separated from it.
The Chair replied that the memorials
would remain on the table withthe motion.
Mr.. King, of Alabama, said be did not
expect, after what had been said BY the Sen.
ator from Massachusetts, that he would
have taken this course. He had supposed
| that the Senator from Massachusetts, in.