Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-12-28

cesslui. Let US show our reasons Let such
reports now go TO the North. aud if we fsil.
we shall at least have acquitted ourselves of
our duty. MIR. Clay knew that sentiments
in favor OF the Union were not less ardently
felt at the North than elsew here. Mr.. Cal.
houn replied there were cases in which aryu.
ment and reasoning were both absurd and
cowardly. Ifa man should call him a rogue.
should he stop 10 argue the po,nts There
we're things which were not to be met with
reasoning, but with instant indignation.
Suppose a petition were sent To burn the
manufactures Of the Nor,h3 Or that tho
property OF the rich should be given 10 tie
peor9 Would the Senator reason upon
them? MIR. Calhoun asked Mr.. Clay il
Congress WINS bound to receive petitions on
the subject Of Slavery in The District, " beth.
er the same rule would not hold in regstd 10
the States? The universal sentiment OF The
abolitionisls was that abolition in the District
was tho first step TO abolition in the States.
MIR. Clay replied that the Senator had put
extreme cases. He might just as well have
supposed The abolition Of the Christisn reli.
sion, as the abolition Of Slavery out of the
District. The power cf Congress 10 abolish
slavery in the District was believed 10 exit
and Congress had determined by their &C.
ton that ii was right 10 receive petitions.
Was that 10 be confounded with Case in
which Congress had certainly no power ?
MIR. Clay regretted tina, they could not a.
gree-hs object was to discover healing
measure, and he thought his course TIE best,
MIR. Cuihbetl replied to Mr.. Clay. Argu-
ment (said Mr.. c. teaches " hat il ought 70
pull an end tot foments what il is intended
10 ailay. Heexpectcd MIR. Clay TO preserve
his character OF peacemaker. Mr. Wall
proceeded TO vindica,e The character Of the
petitioners-they were moi fanatics, SC. He
was against their wishes, but still he wished
them TO be heard. Mr.. Buchanan, OF Penn-
sylysnis, deprecated the ,scussien-the
question was understood by the peopIe-and
he thought the discussion this day would do
great harm. He concluded by saying that
laying on the table was no violation of the
right OF petition. Mr.. Grundy then renew>
ed his motion 10 lay the motion 10 receive the
petition on the table, which was decided in
the Affirmative
Ieas-Messrs. Bayard, Benton, Black.
Brown, Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay. of Ala.
bama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Grundy. Hubbard
King, Lyon, Mexican, Mouton, Norveli
Preston, Rives, Roane, Robinson, Sewer.
Strange, Walker, White, Young-25.
Ndys-hlessrs. Allen, Clay, Of Kentucky,
Clay ion, Critienden, Davis, knight. Nc.
kean, Morris, Niles, Pierce, Premise. Rob.
bins. Ruggles, Smith, OF Connecticut, Smith.
of Indiana, Swift, Tallmadge, Upton, Wall,
Willians-20.
Dc Tuesday Mr. Swift presented sundry
resolutions from the Legislature OF Vermont,
protesting against the annexation OF Texas,
and the admission into the Union of any
state which tolerales MISUNDERSTANDING that
Congress has The power 80 abolish siau-~y ia
The nisi-iot Of Columbia. and in the Terri>
lories OF the United States; and TO prohibit
the slave trade betH con the eiates, accsmps.
MED by report from a committee of tia,
oody-ant Instruciing their representatives,
10 carry their views into effect. A motion
was made that they be laid on the table and
printed. Mr.. King pronounced the paper an
infamous !ibel-it was a direct, deliberate.
and false statement OF things in the section Of
country in which he lived MIR. Morris
asked !or The yeas and nays on the question.
MT. Swift, in reply, said he trusted he would
not be deferred from his duty 10 The State he
represented by any threats or intimidation,
and attempted 10 defend the report. MIR.
Calhoun moved 10 isyIhe motion on The IA.
Die Several Senators here expressed a
wish TO speak on the subject, but Mr.. Cal.
noun refused 10 Withdraw his motion. They
wished course taken which would show less
disrespect TO a sovereign state. Mr.. Swift
at length withdrew the resolutions al the
suggestion oil Mr.. Clay, but gave notice that
he would again introduce them on that dsy
week. On Wednesday a considerable num-
Der oil petitions and memorials were present
Ell. A bill RENTING duty paid by MIR.
Pickering on the Fondrinire paper machine
was read third time and ordered 10 be en-
crossed. Mr.. NorveIl offered a resolution TO
enquire into the expediency Of allowing 10
the District Of Columbia delegate on The
floor OF the House oi Representatives.. On
Thursday. most Of the session was cnnsumed
on The bill 10 suppress The circulation Of small
notes In the District. On Friday, the same
SUBJECT was continued, and the bill passed TO
a third reading ayes 81.
IN the House, Monday, Dec. Is, the
day was taken up in the reception of
petitions, aud the adoption of resolutions
OF enquiry. Mr.. Adams presented the
memorial OF Peace Society praying
that an offer made by the Government
OF Mexico to our Government, to com.