Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-05

honor ofmy country, to that of France, and
ofEngland,was,to the lovers oforder and Sc.
curity, matter of secondary Importance
nay, a war with France and with the COM.
bined world, and a fortunate and happy is.
sue out of it, could not be ofhalf so momen-
tous consideration to this country as pro.
per and safe settlement of this yexing and
harrassing question.
This settlement could not be acc complish.
ed, and never will be accomplished by mo.
tons to reject, "in Imiae'', petitions Or
memorials. Good results can never be pro.
duced by -illegitimate and unwarrantable
means. Ifpettions and memorials are pre-.
sentcd, licentiously abusing the sacred and
fundamental right ofpet,ion; on the receipt,
Congress will instantly reject, or pursue
such mode, as either to treat them with the
silence they deserve, or will take such mea-
sures, give such rcbulcs, or ,infici such
+punishments, as the propriety Of the case
may require. The abuse of principle
must be separated from the principle itself.
Fundamental principles ought not, cannot
be impaired. or be trenched upon, because
abuses grow out ofpractices upon them. Ii
ccntiousness but too often springs up from
the wickedness Of mankind, under the pu.
rest forms which free Governments can be
made to assume. This is incident to all lIu.
man institutions but for this the great
foundation upon which they orc built, can
not, ought not, to be disturbed. Those
who administer this Government, and those
who legislate under it, must have such vir-
tue and wisdom, as will check and control,
so as to give a safe direction to whatever
play come Under their legitimate action. If
this should be otherwise, the Government
itself will fall Ito pieces.
. In 1905, q memorial was offered in the
Senate ofthe United States, praying for
the emancipation of slaves i'll the States.
On the question to receive, the vote in the
Senate was. nineteen in favor Of receiving
and nine against it. Among the nineteen
was the venerable and distinguished name
of General Sumter, Of South Carolina. 1t
is impossible that the denial of the right OF
petition can be sustained under republican
Government.
This distinguished patriot, soldier, and
statesman, the immediate & intimate friend
of Mr.. Jefferson, in whose firlnness cor.
rectncss Of opinion, and strong republican
virtue, Mr.. Jefferson is said to have had
more confidence than in any man in Con-
gross at that time, could not, as a rcpubli.
can, with all his perfect devotion to the true
interests Of the souh-could not, as n
supporter Of the true theory of the Govern
ment, do otherwise than vote that this prin.
ciple Of the Government should not he VIC.
lated. .sand that the memorial "should be
committed"
In 1870, on the presentmcnt Of q memo.
rial, praying for the abolition of slavery in
the States, debate arose, and began to take
a warm and infammatory character, and to
assume such an aspect, Us to mako it pro.
per at once to dispose of the irritating sub.
jcct. Mr.. Madison, then member OF
Congress, moved to refer it toa select com.
mittee. This was done. The report was
made this satisfied Congress and the coun-
try. Within Jew years, petitions Of a
similar kind, were referred to the Commit.
tee on the District ofColumbia. A strong
report was made. by Mr.. Doddrldge, Of Vir-
ginia, which was acceptable to Congress,
and which satisfied the country.
Sir, excited gentlemen at the South, arc
surely not aware Of the extent and charac.
ter ofthe injury they are doing to our inter
ests, by discussions on the memorials and
petitions, which are sent here by unrefec.
ting or wicked abolitionists. Is it not bad
policy, to bring either their newspapers,
their books, or their false pictures, into pub.
lie ne toriety? Is this not accomplishing one
of the objects, which they most ardcn'ly de-
sire?
The tendency Of this course Of action on
the one side, and Of the counteraction on
the other, is, contend, to throw the elements
ofcivil society into dangerous commotlons.
The truth ofthis is deeply impressed upon
my convictions, and I feel that something
ought, and must be done, to arrest the ten
dencies which arc rapidly developing them.
selves.
How different was every thing in relation
to this subject during the last session Of
Congress, to what it has been, during the
present session. Twas gratifiel then, as
q southern man, and as an American citi-
zen, to observe the direction given to such
anti.slavery memorials. as were presented.
AS they were offered then, they were suc-
cessively laid on the table, and were never
again called up. This was in conformity
with the common usage, and with the te"
exceptions stated, has been the lnSareabe
practice Of Congress from the origin of this
Government, to this time. Not word
during the whole session, was spoken, to
the best of my recollection, on abolition