Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-15

would gp for mis- racE which was s s,..O
ar ic 3yo, and because rmunc patton must hecesSai
-. ."I ,; c !, The course Of lime numerical
urrron,crancc Alr c., aztec s'i'c 'ii''.' ''"'"''
submitted tie following nnt"di'','. ,;,; ho no.
! HcsIr,d That the prayer on '"c te''''"s'' - -
pctrd: ..,..,, ,o, ,cir,nnr ar d,nyiur the
4 io u" i ,ow,r ni Congress To grant The prayer OF
St,lI peiiliu,, lni;er"s even surprising wv H' WHY"
.e J which it is not, that the exercise of II would he
i Inc reos Of the District Of Columbia
uvc themselves Pelloneu LOT Inc apoilll"h u slave
| ~ within the District. 8:
ID Because the States IF Virginia and Mary land
would be njuriousy affected 10y such measure, whilst
the institution Of slavery continues 10 suhsIst within
respective jurisdictions; and neither Of those otaeS
would probably have coded to the United States the ter
rlory forming the District if had anc' Pated The
adoption Of any such measure, without clearly al" -"
pressy guarding against it.
Sd Because the in jury which would DC iniNcleu W
exciting alarn and upprre in the States olefats
slavery and by disturbing the harmony between tne'
and the olhe members OF the conederacy would lar rS
coed any practical benefit which could possibly ITO" fo
the abolition Of slavery within the District. 49, :.
MI Porter made some remarks, expressive VI HIS us
appreciation of the amendment :, c,
| MIR Buchanan said, that some Remarks, both OF the
Senator from South carolina, air. Calhoun and OF the
Senator from Kentucky, ONT llay,) compelled him 10
make few observations in his own defence.
Sir said Mr. Is, rejoice at the result OF the vote
which has This dag been recorded. II Will forever Sc
cure TO the citizens oil this country the sacred right OF
psitioh The question has been llnaily settled ny
., decisive vote of the Senate. The memorial which
presented from portion Of the highly respectable Soci
ETY. of Friends, as been received by triumphant mao
rly Another happy consequence OF thls woe 49, ;a'
The uLuoisis will Rever be able 10 connect their
with the violation OF right SO Justly dear 10 inc
peopIc they must stand alone. This is the very
osition in which every friend Of the Unun, both TO the
North and the South, ought 10 desire to them placed
I FROM the remarks which have just been made by The
Senators iIor, South Carolina and Kentucky, 1t might
almost be supposed that my motion to reject The prayer
of the empiiuiss, was rng with the right OF petitions
which, in The course Of debate, have defended with oil
my power. is there the slightest foundation Tor SUCH
! IN mpututnM
The memorial has been received by the Senate, and
has been read II this body in doubt whether they
will grant lis prayer-f they wish further Information
upon ,is SUBJECT Than what they already posscss then
they ought to refer it. On the other hand, II every
Senator hs already determined how he will vote upon
the question: why send the memorial TO cunnittcc 1t
presents but simple question for decision. 1t
asks us abolish slavery in The District of Columbia
hlymotion proposes that this prayer shall be rejected
Now is il not sclt.evdcnt 10 every Senator upon tins
floor that any committee which can DE formed out of this
body, will arrive ut the conclusion: Why, then,
refer this memorial to obtain report when we already
know what that port will BIZ d? Why keep the question
open for further agitation and debate? Should IL be re-
erreu committee, upon their rep TT, we shall have
the ground ~ travel again which We have been
trealns for So long time. have yet TO learn that
when petition presented to any tribunal IN case so
clear as require deliberations that II is either dis
respecttufto the petitioners, that il nrngcs the right
Of petition decide against lis prayer without delay.
But in this case, powerful reasons exist why the me-
mortal ought not to be referred Although we all agree
That slavery ought be abolished in the District of
Columbia yet we arrive This conclusion by different
of reasoning. Before presented this memorial
lendcayured to sceIain from Senator'S whether it would
be possible 10 obtain strong vote i'll favor OF amy pro-
position specific in It's than that now before
the Senate found this would be impossible. then
made the motion 10 reject Tic prayer OF the memorial,
alter much deliberations.
found the Senate divided upon this subject into four
SECTIONS One portion was opposed To the prayer OF the
memorial because, Ill their opnIon IT. would be uncon-
s:ltutonai to grant it; auulher because it would violate
our cumpacis OF cessom with Virginia and Maryland
third because would be pedient and unjust to
abolish slavery this District: whilst it exists in the sur
rounding States and fourth, who unwilling 10 60
this extent but who equally condemned It's abo-
Hilton al the present moment Here were The elements
Of discord. Whilst all nearly all arc harmonious II!
their conclusion that the prayer Of The petition ough, not
10 be granted their premises far different My object
was, 10 get the strongest VOTE for the purpose OF calug
the agitaton both IL The South and to the North. In
order TO accomplish this purpose, my motion must bc one
which The largest nVlity could agree, and Oh which
each member tght vote for his peculiar reasons
ask, what Motion could have made, well calculated
TO attain the end, rs The now before the Senate:
The amendment which has just been proposed by the
Senator from Kentucky, will fear, prove 10 be the ap
pie OF discord in this body 1t is too strong measure
for Ioraon Of the Senate; whilst it is too weak fol
another Those who believe that VIC have no power, un
der the Constitution, abolish slavery in this District
will rGe Tor the amendment, because 1t does not
coguise tis principle; whilst such gentlemen deem il
nexpcdient at thc present time to act upon the subject
but who du not wish To commit themselves tor The future
will he equally opposed to the reasons which this amend
mcut assigns For my own part. individually, should
not object the amendment. | could most chccruly
vote tor adj The principles which it contains IT. be-
liered would unite IN its favor as large majority of
the Senutrs the motion which have iuGe,
panied by these reusons it should have my support But
this, convinccd will not be the case and my pur-
pose s 10 obtain the largest vote possible, BECAUSE this
will lave the strongest influence upon public opinion. 1t
would most etcualy check the agitation upon lIis sub
| ject -.'...'.,
Sir, said MIR. B.; this question Of domestic slavery is
the weak point III Institutions Tariffs may be raised
almost 10 prohibition, and then They may be reduced
yield adequate protection to Tie manufacturers
Union is sufficiently strong to endure the shock.
Fierce potlcal storms may arlsete moral elements Of
the country may be convused by lie struggles Of
bilious for the highest honors Of The Government
the sunshine does INT certainly succeed the storm,
than that all will again be peace Touch this question
of slavery serlous Yet it BE- made manifest the
people OF TIM South that they cuunot live with u.s.
cep in state ri continual appr, hension and alarm for
their wives and their cbdreG for all that and
dear to trut upon The cart-and the Union is from that
moment dissolved. II does not then become question
OF expedlercy, but Of self preservation IL question
brought home to the fresIde, TO the domestic circle Of
every white in the Southern States. This day, this
dark aud gloomy day for the Republic, will most de-
rouy trust and believe, arrive. Although, in
Frnhsy lvaa all opposed slavery in the abstract
yet will yioa!a The constitutional compact
which We have made with Sister States. Their
rights will be hed sacred by Under the Constitution
! il is their own question: aud there let il remain
On mu,ion oi AIR. Morris, the Senate adjourned.
Thursday, March 10.
IN SENATE.
| A message received from the President of the
United Suites in relation To Tie formation of Stale
Governicnt,lor Arkansas, with the proceedings OF the
meeting of aConvcntion at Little Rock that subject;
referred to 4 Select Committee, TO be appointed by the
| Chair: t'r!.-