Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-19
Twenty-fourtsa Congress--lst scss
ABOLITION OF sLAyEHY. y rnE DISTRICT OF

tee the District of Columbia the petition present
ed by MIR. Briggs, from citizens of Massachusetts,.
praying the Abolition of Slavery IN the District of
Columbia
Mr. Jones, of Va, said he did rise discuss the
merits of the proposition, which would be necessarily pre-
scented by the petition offered 10 The House; that was
what he rot only did desire do but what he
dare not do lie designed briefly 10 assign the
which would induce him to consider the vote By which
IN moment OF nadvercnce that petition had been sent
TO the Committee the District of Columbia; and also
reply TO the objections urged by gentlemen the
proposed 10 be adopted in reference that and
he hoped all other petitions of the character. He
expressed himself grateful TO the gentleman from Penn
syvana, (Alr ngersoll> for the REMARKS he had made
this morning But while he rendered this tribute to
the good feelings aud sympathes of the gentleman,
lac hoped his own motives would be duly appreciated
by him when he said he could never consent
terrain discuss here, the right by which the people Of
the South held title TO their savesrhe great object
he desired, 10 obtain direct upon these petit
tons, which continued daily and that the
citude he felt the subject, from conviction
upon his own mind that nothing but direct would
satisfy the members from the South quiet the appre-
tensions of their constituents; and deeply he lame
ed The necessity which rendered ii proper in the opn-
ION OF the honorable gentlemen, 60 this debate
unwilling as he had always been far counenance
the views of these misguided, deluded and infatuated
men, who for years past had been scattering brands
among the people of the South, and who TO accomplish
their base purposes, willing only dead
blow at their prosperity people, but TO peril the
liVes oil millions and To endanger the perpeuLy of the
u mon; he felt as though he should be unaithYl the
high trust confded to him, if he did contribute his
and an obtaining direct vote upon this a-absorbing
question
But few days ago there seemed to exist unonimty
OF sentiment upon this deeply interesting subject which
had very seldom manifested itself upon any important
question which had come up for considerable before the
representatives OF the peoples there then heard from
all sIues OF the House wish expressed, only put
down the aboionsts, but TO do it in the effeciua
possible manner and the great point of difficulty was
determine upon the mode by which it could be most eff
fectually done.
With one of the NODES MIR. Jones said he should be
satisfied Promptly TO reject these petitions they
presented he believed would meet the appreciation of
Vbo u1ora dpen-
y interested than all others regarded that mode of dis
posing OF them e@cual to the accomplishment of the
great object they had in vicw and the people of the East
aud OF the North really intended in good faith,
operate with them, Gas he believed they did, he could
perceive no good reason why the proposition TO reject
should not be sustained.
1t bad been said, that gentlemen from the South were
over sensitive and disposed to with pre-
cpilatlon this subject 1t had also been commended
that this course of proceeding calculated abridge
the great right of petition and others there were who
thought the only proper course was to refer them TO
committee, The lnmaton that this subject up
on which the people of the South sensitive was
just The fact could not be disguised tibet there existed
throughout the savehoding States excitement which
aa never been witnessed at any former period of their
history and strangely indeed must he be consli-
tuted, who could look upon the conduct of the
ADoiiilonists and witness the 10 which it
had given rise in the South, and have his sensi.
biiity wrought up 10 the very highest pitch Was it
not known TO every gentleman upon this floor, that
numerous abolition societies had been formed in
the Eastern and Northern States frowDed upon in
dignantly frowned upon, he believed by the inteIE
gent the weinformcd and respectable portions these
communities! Bot could they shut their eyes to the fact
Tint these societies existed; that they had gone on to
collect large sums of money, and had put operation
printing presses, which were worked by steam Yes
worked by steaD with the open and object of ef
ectng the Immediate abolition of slavery in the South
eFn states mat by means of these great re.
volutionizers Of the world, he meant steap1 power
and the press, they had caused to be printed and
by means OF the public mails, circulated throughout
the save-hoding States, large numbers Of ney,spa.
Pers; pamphlets, tracts, and pictures, calculated in
eminent degree to rouse and ioAame The nae
nnain frafr II
on TO deeds vi death, and to nvoye them in all the hor
rors OF servile Interpretations which, Mr. Jones
sara, he would take upon himself say as foul H.
oeis upon the people of the South printed
And as Vt to add insult TO injury there were those here
VINO had the charity to believe that they were nuenc
co IN lhelr conductby humane, and religious motives
IL, indeed said MIR. jones' this uncaledfor off.
cious, ana dangerous nermcddling with the rights Of
others be dictated by religion he would saw il was not
the religion which nculcated by the Saviour of the
world, or taught by his disciples.
Mr. Jones said, he hoped it would not be understood
Dy any thing nc had said that he was in favor ofabrdgnp
eher the freedom OF the press the freedom of speech
lar from II; he regarded them the great sa.quarJs te
| our republican institutions; there was however diff
terence between the freedom and the RIGHTEOUSNESS
The press, and what e objected to was the right of these
misguided and deuGed to propagate SANDER to in
stigate murder disturb the peace ofStotes and ,
danger this Union; and if persisted in by them he called
upon Tie representatives of the people TO interpose and
stamp their conduct with the seal of Misrepresentation
Bet, said Mr.. j., we have been told by the gentlemen
from New York and Massachusetts (AIr Beardsey and
Mr. Adams) that TO reject this petition would be
TO abridgc the right OF The people 10 petition Congress-
lie admitted that TO be right the free exercise of which
was secured to The people by the Constitution and be
would be among The last he hoped the very last TO law
violent hands upon that sacred instrument; he had
sworn to support it, and, Representative of the
people, support IT. he would at every hazard; for upon
II depended the last hope Of freedom throupbout Inc
world and II he could be satisfied that any consu.
tonal right OF the people, 20 be invaded by the
course he proposed, in dsposng Of that petition he
would be The st TO abandon the position he then occu
pied; but, said Mr. j. in what consists the RIGHT of
N
! ces complained Of, with view TO procure upon them
the action OF CoBgiess and had these petitioners al
ready enjoyed that light Did not the proceedinea
which had taken place upon this petition furnish the
affirmative answer TO the nquiry2 Had they not petit
toned had not their petition been presented by mem
Der ~ his place, received by the House, read Wy the
Clerk, and was not Congress then engaged in endcayor
ing to dispose Of it IN conformity with rules which had
been made and adopted for the government Of the House
and u ~ should be disposed Of would not this neil
ton have been fully considered MS could IN been
had any any other form Of proceeding been adopted
Mr. Jones sdid That when petition had been presented
10 the House received aud read By the C!cfk (nss.
shoud afterwards be Withdrawn by the consent Of the
IIOuscO 1t became tic property Of the Representative
OF The people, they might refuse to consider it, lay il on
the table, postpone IL 90 certain day refer ii To the
committee, what they had in vain attempted here
they might reject IT, Here them were five several says
IN which this petition might legally and properly be dis
posed Of; and how II was, that tie disposition Of it in
Of those modes, preference 20 another (all OF
in any possible way to affect the right og the people Ia
| petition Congress, he was wholly at loss 20 compre
/ bend.
But they were told by The gentleman from Alassscbn
sets (Mf Adans) that ID these petitions were sent 10
committee they would there be allowed 30 10 sleep The
IL q a. al