Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-01-26


,.ar, and parcel of any political intrigue
rf gathering upon It measures or modes OF
p, .cy TO which It stands in no relation. Our
SC =, object : to nroteet our lives and prop.
cry; tC alay sas exascerbated and enkin.
II, ID feehrg; to put down this spirit Of IA
n,ucs<.n.-siis dominesring influence, which
may prove SO destructive to our happiness
and prosperity. It is of the first import.
anee to crush and e1tinguish The efforts Of
these individuals q, once. They ore not
only dangerous in themselves; but it may
Be ia their power to mislead the majority Of
people who have no direct interest in the
natter a, issue. The question will then
become political, and the country be revo.
lusion;zed at once. To prevent it, you must
secure US from agitation he+c-here, if not
elsewhere. This at least must be neutral
ground.
Sir, we ask for such legislation upon this
petition as will close the doors, once and
for all, upon others of similar import-we
ask to be relieved from the CONSERVATION in.
TO which we and our constituents are thrown
we ask that the motion Of my honorable
friend and colleage may prevail, cad that
Whatever language these petitioners, these
sahun;a,ors and disorganizers, may hold
elsewhere, they shall not be permitted to
hold It here. The gentleman from Ohio
acts under misconception; he is not way
ranted, by any precedent, in supposing that
the question, whether this petition shall or
shall not be received, cannot be put. Sir,
that is the preliminary question: and, if car.
ried in the affirmative, there is an end of the
matter. The right of petitioning is not
ut al prejudiced by such course nor has
il been so considered BY any previous Con.
gress, for have case before me in which
apettion from York county, Pennsylvania,
was rejected; the vote on receiving it being
yeas 20, nays "a. "
No, sir, this motion is far milder one
than the people Of the South have right
10 demand they have the right TO ask an
express remuneration on the part of Con-
press Of any shadow Of power TO interfere
between the planter and his slaves. The
Constitution iustifes them in such a de.
mand, and yet they only require you to say
that you viii not and cannot entertain, these
petitions. Has Congress prshioited itself
from doing so7 Not at aS';, sir! Docs it,
in SO doing, abridge sie right to assemble
peaceably, and petition for redress Of griev.
ances! Nothing Of the kind. =
What petitions is it bound TO receive?
Not surely those which arc violent, disre-
spec.Eal, ami insolcnt in language! which
would visit with moral contagion the whole
body poG,ic-which degrades the character
of our mothers and sisters-which impugns
ehe honor and ou:rages the feelings Of the
South and West! &
Grievances! For what grievances do
these petitioners seek redress? Does slar-
cry IN this District interfere with them -
Have they any local or general interest in
the matter? Or are you to elect this Gov
ernnent into an Ethical College,! If so,,
SIP, plead to. the jurisdiction :, It is not a
tribunal before which we can be brought.
Has the Constitution guaranteed to these
people, having neither a general nor local
iatercstin the matter, the nightto come here
and require me to weaken and abolish the
very institution which / represent !? Am /
ac,ihg for three-fifths Of the slave popula-
ton Of South Carolina, to impugn the very
principle upon which hold my seat? Shall
!, sr, bound by ties that viii cleave to me
through lie, to protect and defend the char
acter Of my constituents, submit to this In
so,ent dc.ation, and lend a helping hand to
soyer that character With insult and oppro-
bfium!
Let me suppose a case. Suppose that
you were called upon to establish ageneral
national religion. Would you consider the
proposition fos one moment. Certainly
YOU would NOT. Why then consider this
propositioni What right have these pet.
iioners to interfere between the District of
Columbia and its slaves The Constitu.
ton authorizes the taking Of private proper
ty for public uses but the use Of property
supposes its continuance. From what funds
is this property to be purchased7 From
those Of the United States from my funds ?
from the funds of South Carolina! Am /
to furnish q torch formy own Dwelling
knife for nay own throat : = 3: - =
SH, the Government has the same power
over this District that II has over q State
and it has no more. There is no afudica-
ted case, no dicsum, admitting any farther
jurisdiction. Maryland and Virginia, slave
holding States, eeded these ten miles square
TO the General Government, and for what
That an untmited despessrn might be ex.
escised init Z No, sir. They gaseit intrust.
There was an implied understanding thai
nothing injurious to their interests should
be transacted within its BORDERS; that here,
q, least, the cause of agitation and rebellion
should find no material for its purpose that