Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1836-04-21

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these 1letine} With ths exception 81
inc two Scnat03st8fom Vermont, alifSyho
nave spoken have aVowed INSTRUMENTATION,
not only thai they contain nothing occurring
the action of the Senate, but thatfhsp eti-
tons are highly mischievous, as tending 10
ag'tate and distract the country,tand to
cndanger the Union itself. With these con-
cesslons, may fairly ask, whyshoirid these
petitions he received! Why receiso. when
we nave made up our minds nofstosa act
mhy IDLY waste our time aud:lower our
dignity IN the useless ceremonies Il receiy.
ing to reject, as is proposed, should The Pc
tlions be received Why, finally receive,
what all acknowledge 10 be dangerous and
mlschievous But one reason haysor can.
NC assigned-that not to receive would be
a violation Of the right Of petition; and of
course, that we are bound to receive, how.
ever Objectionable and dangerous the pe,i-
tlons may be-. If such be the fact, there
an II to the question. As. great as
you'd be the advantage to the abolitionists,
II we are bound to receive ifSIitwould be
a violation of the right of petition not to
receive. we must acquiesce. On'the other
hand If it shall be shown, not only that VIC
are not bound to receive, hut tllatto receive.
on the. ground on which it has been placed.
would sacrifice the constitutional rights of
ms body, would yield to the abolitionists
ail'tley could hope mt this time, and would
surrender all the outworks by ~! ich the
siave-holding States can defend their
rights and property HERE, thena unanimous
I GLOW. -. 0
The decision, then, of thequestion now
heiore the Senate is reduced to. the single
point, Arc we hound to receive these petit
tons! or to vary the form Of the.qnestion,
would It be a violation Of the right of pe,i-
ton not to receive them?
When the ground was frsttaken. TINT Il
|%onld REHABILITATION, I con!kAgnte4Si ,cr-
suade myself that those wha took It were
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
r-sSiafsA<saa1hrFigbts of this body, and
the provisions of the Constitution: bnt
finding 1t so earnestly maintained, / have
since carefully investigated the subject and
the result has been a confrmation Of nv
first impression, and n conviction that the
claim of rights without a shadow or foun-
dation. The question, l must say, has nor
been fairly met. Those opposed TO the
side which we support, have discussed the
question as if we denied the right of peti-
ton, when they could not but know that the
true issue Is not as to the existence of the
right. which is acknowledged by all. but Ifs
ertent and limits, which not hut one. Of our
opponents has so much as attempted 10 ms.
certain. What they have declined doing. j
undertake to perform.
There must be some point, all will nsrec.
where the right of petition ends. and
that OF this body begins. Where Is tina,
point? have examined this uuestion
tcarefully, and | assert boldly, without The
least fear of refutati0n, that stretrhed r.
the utmost, the right cannot be extended
beyond the presentation of a petition. a,
which point the rights of this body com.
,nence. When a petition is p~resented,it j.
before the Senate. 1t must then .be actee
on Some disposition must be:made of +
before the: Senate can proceed to the con
slderation Of any other subject. This M
one will deny. With the action of m,
Senate its rights commcnce-rights secure,
by a direct provision Of the Constitution
which clothes each House with the right o
regulating its wi proceedinss,- thar IA. I,
determine, by fixed rules, the order ant
form of its action. To extend the right q
petition beyond presentation, is clearly I,
extend it beyond that point, where the ac
ton of the Senate commences, and as s,cb
is II manifest violation Of its constitutional
rights. Hero then We have ,h. innitstbe
tween the right of petition and the right o
the Senate to regulate the proceedings
clearly fixed, and so perfectly defined as no
to admit Of mistake, and I would add, O
controversy, had it not been questioned il
this discussions.
If what / have asserted required confr
nation, ample might be found in our rule
which cmhody the deliberate sense of til,
Government to This day. ..Among,them tn,
Senate has prescribed thar of its proceeding
on the presentations. 1t is contained in tn
gath Rule, which | ask the Secretary t.
read, with Mr.. Jefrerson's ~remarksain refer
ence to it: 80
"Before any petition Observation-Disclosures
sed tosthe Senate shall be received, andrea,
at the table, whether the same shallbe in
troduced by the President or a member,
brief statement Of the contents of tho pc
tition or memorial shall verbally be mad
by the introducer."-Rule "a.
Mr.. sJefferson's remarks: "Rcgulari,
emotion for receiuing 1t must be made an
seconded and a question put, ,ohether it sha
be received; but a cry from the House {
receive or even a silence, dispcnses wit
The formality of the question:,
Hpre we nave n anisrunttnufnc all