Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-03-29
REMARKS OF MR.. PRENTISS.
haa
ted this duyl

O. the question of reception of POSITION from he
Society OF Friends. praying for The Abolition of
Slavery in the District of Culumbla-Tuesdhy,
March l, 1886.
air President | am unwilling tia, the vote,
which shall feel myself obliged To give upon thus
question should be liable, from silence on nav Dart
to any misconcepion. In all INV pu'c acts. att,
"n tins occasion Particular am de-irenns tina, the
grounds upon which proceed should be distinctly
known, 50 That no MISREPRESENTATION NAV exist, with
respect 10 my conduct or my natives, here ar else
where. I chnno, yi-id my .rrs", T.. -....o .r ,...
doctrines which has been advanced to this debate
and | wish tosay just enough to prevent the
possibility Of any inference that ucquias in
them.
SIR, the abolition of Slavery 10 the District of
Columbia is question. in all ils Aspects aud rcls-
tons, of great interest and decacy i, is a ques-
ton which have had disposition To agIratc
especially AT this time and at no time wound |
interfere, IN The slightest manner, with slavery
as 1t eS-li IN some &c the States. In nav public
character, look upon slavery in the States only
as the Constitution of the Unrcd States Ia, k upnn
II; as State institution, exciting under State laws
aud subject only TO Stale authority. | koow it
only rs It IS known 10 The Constitution aud would
not trea, It otherwise than the Constitution treats
It. ! ould leave II where the Constitution has
len II; and woud neither do nor say any thing in
my public capacity here In disturb the night in TINS
species at property, or ia any manner 10 cndanrer
"s sec1uly. While say This. sir in reference t,,
slavery ~ the Slsles, mn bound, in canlor aoi
i'"nsnoss, 10 say that regard slavery in thi. Dis
tr'ct ins very different light.
The petitions which have been presented hero
do rot asE any uieieren 2 or assert nny powar in
Congress 10 interfere, with slavery IN the SIates
They are confined Ia Slavery IN this District
Ihey complain nf It's existence here as a public
o'l and ask the inierpnsion of Congress 10 redress
Tie grievance. The Senator from South Carol,n,
(hr' CaIhnun) has moved hat the peiiuns be mn,
received The Senator from Pennsylvania tMr
bnehanan) nroposes that the prayer of the petitions
be at once rejected.
Sif cannot agree To either of these notions -
'h"y diier, I" be sure IN point of form. bat the
ehrc n' both, II sprear, Ia me eub,ian,rlly the
"a nc The fret 10 order the one nov bei;,re th,.
senate den'es, IN terms, the right 10 petition at sll
q" 'He suh"ci. The other it 10 true docs moi in /
FORM deny the rchl, bui while il processes to adj
''t Inc night II proposes Ia reject the PRAYER If
"' P''""hs immediately, without hearing and /
""'"' consideration. They are both essentially .
,'e''"'"'f! nnii"ns, precludng aks the usual re- /
ference and examination INTO the uirs of the n.,,.
- w. y" NY l'hEuifHl lHtN Dnih,
aondee 'ne rghi secured hy the Constitution. mr.
more property speaking, the r,gh, rec, gniseJ by
me Constitution as pre- ixi,iny iigh,: a r;gbi
'neinsi and inherent of The People. Ii We cn,
make no Ia" sordgng the night to pe,iriun. we
surely can neither rghifuy refuse Ia receive u
e'u'""s nor reject II 'astaai, on rs reception.
y ,'"'o' hearing, without any inquiry into the
subject matter.
nc u's,h'tion between REJECTING the peiiiiOn
mo feleetnns the prdyr of the petitions. immed-
''eiy 90 Ne beng received, which lie the motion .
''"Phscd by the Senator from Penn. yvsIua he too .
"hned ami abstract ~ NV apprehension, for u
subject Of such Common and universal interest TO
Le People a. the privilege aud right to Poti,ion.-
| ne oisinciion. must repeat l., 20 any mind, IN
important, and exists rather ~ form than m SUB
ianee. Tue character If The motion 10 DOL alter
ID. or at all varied. by the circumstance that the
n"i,an sdnits of discussion. Dsscussis.a Iaty be
'sd ca almost say ssd every preliminary motion.
DISCUSSION, free and liberal discussion has been
'ad on the motion not 90 receive. That motion
s, pending; and 4 discussion 10 ell that i. 10 4
&c looked to. ese'y ob,eei has hsea attained and
;sH'4easa uty a. vel vote for tia. notios a,