State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-23

honorable Senator who presented the me-
. mortal now before the Senate moved, at the
time of presenting it, its instant rejection ;
/ and as desire that different course should
be adopted by the Senate, prefer to urge
that course with the memorial of my con-
sttuents, rather than to interfere with the
course proposed by him, for, however the
motions of the two honorable Senators
may differ in form, they, in my opinion,
amount in substance to the same thing;
the one denies the right Of petition, while
the other, though it admits the right, de-
MES the ordinary investigation into the
merits of the petition, and refuses to grant
what is prayed for. Such right is of
little value in the estimation of my const;t-
uents.
X Sir, as intend to present this memorial,
and ask that it may take the usual course
of memorials presented to the Senate, as l
believe some Senators on this floor have
mistaken the opinions and motives !of
those who have pettioned Congress on this
subject, desire to say few words rs to
the opinions and motives of my constitu-
ents. | do not, however, intend to discuss
at this time the correctness of these opin-
ions, or to express opinions of my own, for
it is not, as | believe, the proper time to
discuss either the constitutional power of
Congress over the subjects presented by
the memorial, or the eXpediency of eXer
cising that power if they possess it; for,
however ingenious arguments may be, land
| have listened to some of great ingenuity,)
whether made on this floor or elsewhere,
while the ordinary course OF legislation is
denied to the petitioners, they will not be
convincing, and decisions of the Senate,
made by the extraordinary course of legs-
lation proposed, will not be satisfactory, but
will tend to increase, rather than to allay,
excitement, which gentlemen so much
deprccate as injurious to slavehoIdlng
States.
Sir, the language used by the memorial
lists is, admit very strong; it is, however,
dictated, | have no doubt, by the honest
opinions and feelings of the mcmorialsts,
and with them it is in the language of
truth; and though they speak without
disguise of the evils of slavery and of the
slave trade within this District, yet they
say nothing Of slavery elsewhere, cept
ing to enter disclaimer of any intention
or wish TO interfere in any manner with
slavery i'm tie different States; and there is
nothing in the memorial disrespe ctful to
this body. But, rs intend to ask for the
reading of the memorial by the Secretary
to give gentlemen an opportunity to make
such motion they think proper in relation
! to it, will not dctain the Senate by stating
! the contents. Not only the memoralists,
bnt a very considerable portion, TO say the
least, of the citizens of the State which |
have the honor in part to represent, be-
lieve that Congress have power TO abolish
slavery within the District, and that it is
| M tbot ,nt
er of legislating on the subject, and either
abolish slavery Immediately, or make pro-
vision for its future abolition; or, by some
provisions of law, mitigate some of the
| existing evils of slavery, and especially Of
the slave trade within this District. They
believe, also, that, by the relationship OK
listing between the several States and this
District, that each State is implicated in the
evils of slavery, and that the charge that
our Government is a slaveholding Govern
nent is not without the appearance of
! foundation. With these opinions, the me-
moraists respectfully ask the Senate that
their memorial may be received, that it
may be submitted to the thorough invcsti-
CATION of some standing or select committee
of the Senate, and that it may so far re,
ceive the attention of such committee as
to obtain from it full, fair and candid
report, which course will greatly tend, in
my opinion to allay the tempest of feeling
which exists on this subject. 1t they are
mistaken in their opinions, they desire TO
be convinced of il, and, when so convinced,
they will desist from all further proceed
ings on the subject; but until convinced
that they are wrong, they will continue not
only to think, but to speak and act on the
subject, and no earthly power can prevent
them from doing so.
Sir, let me tell gentlemen that those Of
my constituents who entertain these opln-
ions are neither incendiaries nor fanatics
unless those who have signed this memo
rial have, by so doing, rendered themselves
obnoxious to such charge, but they are
amongst the most intelli gent and peaceabe
citizens. Whether the memorlalIsts do or
do not belong to any Anti-sIavery Society,
do not know, but | do know that these
opinions 10 not belong exclusively TO those
who are members of such societies; indeed
many entertain these opinions who arc
opposed to the measures of these societies.
They are men who value too highly the
freedom of opinion, and of speech, 10
surrender them through fear of any consc
quences which can affect only themselves.
And let me also tell these honorable gentle
men that, while they deprecate the excite
ment nj the North on the subject OF slavery,
as injurious to their best interests, their
course is not the best calculated TO allay
that excitement: indeed, unless am much
mistaken as TO the feelings and temper OF
the people of the North, their course in
relation to these petitions will tend to in
crease the excitement which they so much
deprecatc. Inow move that the memorial
he read by the Secretary, and referred 10
the Committee for the District of Columbia,
and shall regret TO find that, in the opin-
ion of the Senate. the memOrialsts have
used any language unsuitable TO the occo-