Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15
We RMoNT TELEGRAPH.

inquire into the political faith of petition
ers. Each side will represent their o2po-
nents as being infamous, and what be-
comes of the right of petition2 Where
and how will the right of petition exist at
all, if you put it on these grounds2
A gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Rob
ertson) to whose candor and generosity on
this occasion l offer my tribute of thanks,
as if contrasts with the treatment expe-
rience from others; though disappearing
in the strongest terms the pertinacity of
zeal which have so often manifested in
behalf of this right of petition, is unwil-
ling to pass vote of formal censure upon
me, because he sees how manifestly in.
compatible that would be with anu free
dom of speech in this House. He saws,
and he is distinguished lawyer, that there
can be no right to petition, where there is
no power to grant the prayer. This is
ingenious and plausible; but that gentle
man, even whose disapprobation is more
painful to me than would be the formal
censure of others, might excuse me- if
cannot assent to the correctness of his ar
gument. The want of power to grant
the prayer of petition is very sufficient
reason for rejecting that prayer, but it
cannot impair the ri ght of the petitioner
to pray.
The question of power applies to the
authority to grant the petition, but not to
the right of the petitioner to present his
petition. The power to grant it is often
one of the most mooted questions in the
world. In relation to this very matter OF
slavery, the power to grant the prayer OF
those who ask for its abolition in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, is the question that di'
vides this House. Ask the gentlemen
from slave holding States, in this House
whether Congress has that power. Not
one of them will say'they have.
Mr.. Gr0res of Kentucky, who was
sitting near Mr.. Adams, and who had de-
clared, in this debate, that he held Con
gress had that power, reminded him O.
that fact]
Mr. Adams-Yes, one gentleman from
Kentucky has affirmed that Congress ha:
the power to abolish slavery in this Dis
trict, but very few from slave holding
states will say 50, and do not know wha
it may cost that gentleman for having ut
tered such an opinion on this floor. Ash
two of the Representatives from IMaine
ask the members from Vermont, from Mas
sac husetts, from Rhode Island, from Con
necticut, from-no will not 60 to New
Hampshire nor New York, until 1 Sc,
how they vote on the question before tn,
House. Ask the Representatives Of nom
but freemen on this floor, and their an
swer will be that Congress has the power
,, The ground Of the gentleman from Va
who denies the right of petition withou
: the power to grant, is perfectly consisten
with his doctrine that Congress has n
: power to abolish Slavery in the Distric
: of Columbia but, Sir, that is not the opin
, ion of this House, and this House is ant
l abolition, by an overwhelming majority
: am so myself, but upon the single ques
t ton Of the power of Congress to abolis
l Slavery within the District, there is
great majority Of this House in favor c
5 the power.
7 Tie gentleman from Virginia, (M1
Robertson,) believes that Congress has n
power, and here he denies the right {
n petition for the exercise of a power whic
Congress does not possess. Well, Sil
for the sake of the argument | NIL
~. grant him his premises and then deny hi
- conclusion. 1t would reduce the right {
- petition to nothing more than the right Q
the predominant party, for the time being
8 to petition. 1t would exclude all petition
I from those who held with a minority ii
;. Congress, as 10 the right to exercise an
j given power, and the right Of petition
would be hedged in, until it would be re
!, duced to mere nullity as to its essentia
y characteristic, a supplication from on
man in distress to another, who, he be
o lleves, has the power to relieve him.
- wish it was In my power to illustrate thi
= principle further, without taking up NOR
of the time of the House than intend t
y do, but forbear. This Sir, is the groun
of my doctrine-that the right of petition
:, cannot be limited, by any act of thi
House, so as to deny the right to suppl
cate to the slave.
In the course of the argument on tn
II right of petltition, should say debate
II Sir, during three days, the real questio
before the House has been changed TO a
n almost countless series Of resolution:
J, bearing down upon me, all intended, di
! rectly or indirectly, to censure me for ask
1t ing question of the Speaker, which
r referred to the House, and which tn
r House has not yet answered. Twill nc
e go through detail of all these resolutions
If with which gentlemen from the Sout
e bounced down upon me like so man
eagles upon dove. l make no accour
1t OF the cries heard all around, when
5, asked that question, "expel him, expt
n him" They are not in the Resolution
j. The first resolution to censure me- cam
!: | Erana tho c-ontlo.nnra E.a-a q