Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-04

nng Nj. Mason, r., S. Mason, Many, May: Tc1S oT:I'
Oan, Morgan, Morris, Muhenburg, Owens, Page, rar'
ser, Patterson, D. pcarce, J. A. Pearcr, retisLew'
Phelps, Phillips, Pinckney, Potts, ]r, Reed' hnhcmc
John Reynolds, JOS Reynolds, Ripley, hoane' n"srt'
Russell, Schenck Seymour A. II. Shepperd, Shields
shnn, slade Sloane, Smith, Spangler, Srrague, Slan'
defer, Steele Storc1 Sutherland, Ialafrrro lIyios1
Thoulson Toucey Towns Turrill, Vandrrpoel, yh'oh'
Wagner, Wardwcll, Washington Webs'er, "eeAs'
White, Whltesry, l.. Williams and wlseCno. cr;f:
NaHs-Messrs Campbell Dromgooe: Garland, ORR
fin Hammond Hardn, Jarvis, Loyal, NlcLrne, FarRs'
Patton, Robertson, w. Thompson, and 5 "'IIams|i4
So the resolution ordered 10 be cngrossed ana he
same having engrossed, then read the th'ro
time and passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Craig,
The House adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Monday, Februaryl.
The House proceeded the consideration OF the I'm.
finished business Of last Monday being the question oi
the reception Of petition presented BY Mr. Cushing OF
Massachusetts, pray ing the abolition Of slavery ana Tie
slave trade in the District Of Columbia.
Mr. Hammond, (who entitled TO the foorD ad
dressed the uuse He said that when he had made the
motion for the preliminary question OF reception, was
done with the hope and expectation that the question
might have been taken without debate, but from what
had taken place on last petition day. 1t must De ooV
that debate was inevitable. When the sent!eh'an
from Massachusetts presented his petitions, he preiaced
them with an argument, and it evident that there
would be abolition petitions presented, unless
accompanied by preliminary speech; and he thought
would facilitate business by saying all mat ey mao 20
say at once. The gentleman from Massachusetts lhr
Cusng) had enlarged upon the constitutional right oil
pettion and he concurred in the gentleman views on
that point lie said not his object 10 argue against
the rg, Of the people to assemble and petition Con-
gress They had assembled, and their petitions had
been presented, and the House in full possession OF
their contents The petitioners had done their duty,
and it dcvolved upon the House 70 do its duty The
House can refuse 10 receive them; receive and
prt uIunt then orc hem N
do either Of the three without nfrng upon the sacred
right Of petition. If they receive them, however, they
would become part Of the records OF the House; and
he therefore called upon the House to refuse 10 receive
and enrol them. He did because he believed the pc
ttoners asked Congress to do what uncunstitu-
tonal. There difference between taking from
the Southern people their slaves, and taking from
them their property. The Constitution guaranteed
to them both their property and their slaves; and II
it had nat dune SO, the Constitution never conld
have been adoPted If it had even been avowed that
it was the object abolish slavery in the District, It
could not have been adopted. Even surprising the spirit
OF the Constitution to be dead he could not perceive
how gentlemen could dstor the meaning of Legislation,
to give Congress tie power to abolish slavery IN
the District Of Columbia Legislation intended 10
protect property not TO destroy to protect life and Ii
berty and not 10 destroy them 1t was pable usurp-
alton TO take away any OF these He objected 10 the
reception OF these petitions because they not only
dangerous to the Interests OF the people he represented
but runous to all the interests of the conlederacy 1t had
been said by that floor that there was but very
few aboonsts at the North; and othersh had said that the
excitement Tremendous. But 10 show the House that
there considerable numbers Of them there, he would
exhibit of the pamphlets and tracts which he had
been honocd with, by those societies in the Northern
States 1t would be recUllccted that there had been but
day which those petitions presented to the
House, and ON that dag their numbers amounted to
ity.cght, signed by some SIX eight thousand lnd!-
viduals There at the present Time lie believed,
about three hundred and fifty societies in the North
States and all these societies had sprung up since
1892. Mr.. Hammond here exhibited various dOcu-
mcns Of the ansarcry societies; such newspapers,
tracts, pamphcts alanacS school books prints, Nc,
showing that they must al least be possessed of cunSde
rabc wealth, nut Of great numbers He said It was APP
parent fun OF the extracts which he ead that
the intention Of the abotionsts connect themselves
with political party; but he did not charge them
with being connected with any political party IN that
House. His colleague he said had been attacked for
saying that Dr. Claiming had been playing second
part 10 Irish dcnagoguc but he would say more; he
would say that lie played second part TO Dr. Coke, Ar
thur Tappan, and the notorious Thompson, III caum-
mating the Southern people, and in such temper
unworthy ola gentleman and divine. lie begged pardon
for using strong language, but when ic in common with
the Southern people, had Lecn attacked and santcrcd he
express the just Indignation Of honest heart
Slavery, no Sc 1T III s,. ali
TIC Southern people willing to endure. Without
their lands would bc useless. They could till them
10 any extent nor with any profit BY any other labor
than slave labor. But Congress had right to lrgs-
late the subject Of slavery; and if ever The Govern
ncnl dared to take It up and act on it, there would be
House, while lie there, he would remain TO
record his vote it, but would go home and preach and
practise dsunion lie contcded that the slaves were as
happy and as contcnted pcup upon GARTH if
lett alone; they had every thing 10 make them so they
had light work; wcre generally speaking, well fed; far
better than large MA orty of the operatives of England
lie did not know how they would compare with the upc-
rativcs OF the North; but they had plenty and tia,
they 4 better situation than they could be in
their own country, even If they were sent there
1t had deem said that families separated and Sold
and sent to distant placcs but it flourish,
and no truth IN It, No Southern man, who had any
gard Tor his reputation, would dare separate man and
wife, except by Of themselves unless he was
forced TO II from necessity; il he did, he would he truly
dlsgraccd; and the mg be said with regard 10 the
separation Of parents and children He did believe
there half the Of separation of the Southern
slaves that there OF the Northern and Eastern peo-
pie by emigration to the Western States. But suppose
the Southern people would agree emancpate their
slaves, what would BE- the result; For that lie would
fer the House to account Of free colony in Brown
county, Ohio; which was read and substantially,
that their land, which had been bought for them, in
very bad state Of cultivation; the timber stripped of Of
it; their houses in i miserable condition, and that they
destitute Of every thing like tine comforts of life
lie would ask another class OF aboonsts, whether they
could reconcile il to their consccnccs TO the negroes
OF the South or Of the North, aspiring that
floor? Would they wish to black occupying
the Speakers Chair; or to see Ohe!o who might
be gifted with genius graspng at the Presidential CHAIR
Would they wish to such picture: MIR. II. said
that upon the subject Of abolition the people of the
Southern States united man, and were pre-
pared when the attack should be made roll back the
tide. If he called upon know what he desired
his answer would be- to suppress The abolition societies.
and stop the crusade which going Did freedom
speech, or freedom Of the press allow Of RIGHTEOUSNESS;
III man in New York were to say Of his neighbour what
those papers say Of the Southern people would lie not be
indicted i slandcrer: And ii he wrote the SANDERS
would he not be indicted bcllcr; Then not the
people of the South entitled to the same protectIon;-
That had been established point Of plc irrational law
When B"naparc called upon Eng land to suppress the
ISLANDERS which were inserted in the English press, what
did she do , She InucInh n