Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-05
was referred 10 the Committee on the District of Coum
The motion having been taken up

M iauon rose and addressed the House follows
ne SAD That the vote which had been Just taken
agnst suspendrg the rules for the purpose takirgrp
Tn resolution offered by the gentleman from Georgia,
khi' O"chS.) must have convinced the House. and es
"clay those gentlemen from the South who had voted
or laying the former petition Oil the table inconsistency
WIN Their vote OH Friday last upon the same proposto
OF the utility Of any such scheme as had been proposed
for procurnga direct vote Of the House upon the pyinc
pies involved IN the petitions that had beer offered and
would cont nue TO be offered, praying the abolition Of
slavery in the District Of Columbia. Il5se with whom
lie felt and acted on this question: gave this apparently
inconsistent vote under the belief that there would be
difficulty in snsDcnding the rules TO take up the propo
stnn Of tic gentleman from Georgia. They so calcn-
lated, and were deceived or mistaken. l. said Mr.. p.
had no confidence in such caIcuiaon and was not mis-
| tukrn.
That vote, said Mr. P, think, has further demon
satcd that it is idle TO attempt TO avoid this subject by
any parliamentary nantruvre aud that the only way Of
obianng direct vote Upon the great and interesting
questions embraced by them, is by making proposition
presenting the question growing out OF the petitions in
connexIon with the petitions themselves.
Mr. Spea ker: 1t rs necessary that this House should
be appraised and fully impressed with the necessity Of
quoting the anxiety: the agitation, and the alarm for the
institutions OF the country which abroad in the land,
and that the means perhaps the only means, of doing
shond meet those questions directly and dispose Of
them dccisively and permanently.
am ready 10 these questions and believe eX
press the universal! sentiment OF the representation from
the South in saying that they ready to meet it, and
while we do not desire discussion: and for one will do
10 at Inc same lime %c VIII not we
cannot dare not shrink from it, if it be forced upon
Us from other quarters. prefer voting upon the ques
tons once. and without discussion, if possible. If
this subject must be discussed it ought TO be discussed,
and it hoped will be discussed, in the spirit which
ought to characterize members of the political
family, and alike lmbued with the patriotic purpose of
! rendering permanent this great and glorious Union.
Let the vote referring this petition he reconsidercd
reference made by nadvcrtcEcr, and then the petition
will be open again for consideration and in connection
with it, let the principles involved in he petition be PEE
scntcd for the consideration and decision Of the House in
FORM which VIII slow distinctly and uncquvocal
", that aJOrv Of the representatives of the people
OF the North well as Of the South, opposed TO the
schemes Of the Abotionsts: and also 20 the efforts
which making 70 Interfere with the subject Of slave
in the District Of Columbia Let it be shown if it be
that there is s.:ch majority, opposed nterter
with slavery in this District; not upon considera
ons merely temporary, and influenced by existing poll
teal circumstances but upon those high and paramount
considerations. which belong the great rights Of pro-
perty AS well IS ind idual and political safety, which
ere connected with it.
Ny strong abiding, and confding opinion u.s. that
this Government has right 10 abolish slavery in the
District ct CoDlInbia But sir, am aware Of the diff
cultrs which exist III the minds Of many gentlemen from
the North this question. 1t il perhaps, rational, that
they should from their POSITION their habits of thinking,
and their pulutIcrs entertain more difficulty OH this
subject than 10. ircl disposition respect
their opinions. to make great allowance for their
rrrI!lcrs. GIvr US tirn distinct uncquv"cal: and
u:.ryasisc v"r upon the proprety Of interfering
with tie subject OF slavery i'll the District Of CO.
Tmbia Satisfy that the House is opposed TO such
interference upon the goandS of principle, perma-
nrnt abn!:ns~-wIch reach above and go beyond the
transient and dieting circumstances oilhc hour, and
." -. sg visiting p".al conirsS ct The day.
ny,n..a discussing or dc cid.
Ing the constitutional question: will not quarrel about
what will then BE- i mere abstraction a declaration of
the conviction al. the iouse that they will and t!1,
ongrss ought nol u interfere in this matter,
hereafter VI" satisfy the people Of til" South, and cspc
cai!y the States Of Virginia and Maryland, who
especially Interested in the question. 1t should BE- known,
it is Disguised, it would be aicctation TO
tempt Ia conceal the fact that there does exist in many
parts of the Southern country,a strong apprehension
will not say suspicon--tlat there sone here and
rwrrc who indsposcd 10 meet this question fair
ly and directly,
ilhat pa!tar y tll ". T. a duuI.h sense"
] ne CHAIR here remarked that the gentleman from
Virginia would be pleased to remember, that ii not
p!uper 10 ucrss the merits Of the petition upon the mo-
ton tG RECONSIDER.
Mr.. /. rrSumcd
not iIr. Speaker, discussing the merits of the
question: and am that the Chair, reflection,
we'll rs the House, will do the Justice remember
thai have net sand ne word in the way OF argument
Tie merits o! Tie question involved IN the petition
am urging The pr"prety O. reconsideration, that
we may have direct vote upon these principles and,
need be, dlsc;as ,i'm rreat, then, and say for
purpose wish To the feelings, to influence
the PRIDE The resentment Of gentleman here,
that there does exist apprehension that there are
who wish to cvade this question, and who seem
keep the wo:d % promise TO the and break it 10 the
hope.
1t is necessary n every point of view 10 have direct
vote this question. Let snch decision be made
trust: ad willing TO believe there will be, from The
heretofore taken: and the present excitement Of
the country will be ul!dyed. SO Tar this subject is
concerned the South will rcpoe again in the confidence
that this most essential and vital interest of theirs will
be disturbed and made the subject Of perpetual and
angry conflict Let Il be that the efforts made by
THESE petitions will not be entertained by Congress
hereafter. and you will at calm the troubled
waters OF agitation. Refuse do it and you incur the
risk Of augfavang that excitement into a which
may suac !e pillars Of the Coiederacy 10 their deepest
Hundalon
Mr.. Albums rose and said he hoped the motion to re.
consider this would prevail; and he expressed
this hope lr the very which the gentleman from
Virginia lNr. patton had assigned for voting in favor
of the motion 1t appears to me (said Nh Az that the
only way OF getting this question from the view OF the
House and O the nation, is to dispose Of all petitions
tie subject III the saline way. This is opinion;
| assumed this position in my very first ACT as member
of Ihs House, from the very time when first took my
seat as member Of The :2d Congress- At that time fl
teen petitions transmitted to the, from my
constituents but from citizens Of the SoceLI IS rienis
in the State Of Pennsy vania with request that would
present them to the House Sir, did so in homage 10
the sacred right Of petition-a right which, in whatever
it may be- treated by other members of this
House; shall never be treated by other than with
sptct.
But, sir being in favor of tie object of the re.
t!tIons ! then gave notice TO the House and TO the
country, that, upon the suppos!tion that these petitions
had been transmitted 70 under the expectation
that should present them, felt it my duty 10 say
should not support them. And, sir the reason which
gave at that time for declining to support them was
precisely the same reason xhich the gentleman from
Va. now gives for rcconsidering this motion-namey,
70 keep the discussion Of the subject of the House
said sir that believed this discussion would be alto.
gerr improbable the House and the country; but
in Difference the sacred right Of petition moved that
these fifteen petitions, all Of Which numerously
In, tni an ,,,