The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-25


and very properly, all right 10 interiors with the
SAFES and confne themselves 70 the Territories and
the District Of Columbia. Their views are ihuslim.
lied in extent. and to the attainment Of an object IN
which they neither have nor can have any interest
which exciles a selfish feeling, and which does moi
Ia fact, touch the Union or threaten IL.
The wort, then, thai can be said Of them by their
bnereSi enemies, is what Is actually said they are
deluded, misguided philanthropiss fanaties-heated
with an unbscoming zeal These, and such oppro-
b1ous epithets, have been applied 10 them; but no
one aifrms that they aim at disuuion nor do Think
any can impute 10 them any corrupt purpose. do
not mean 10 touch the question OF the expediency of
their course in asking for immediate abolition inthis
District. That will meet whenever the Senate
will open BY receiving their petitions, but not until
then: for the right Of petition Is the higher right
and must first be yindcated shall however, at all
times go for the Union, and The whole Unions and
against the aboitionsls If they propose to interfere
with constitutional rights or guarantees
But again return 10 the inquiry, who IS TO dis
solve the Uniona There cannot trust, be such
purpose here for every day hear the thought de-
precaied, and the depreciation mingled with the most
ardent patriotic professions OF love and attachment
to the Constitution.
Isthe great slave interest TO do in appeal again
TO your recoleciions, and 10 those of the Senator
from Souh Carolina, and ask you whether an inte-
rest, so powerful as 10 have na]orities in both
Houses and TO maintain its ascendancy 10 the GO
vernment is likely to have occasion to secede from
the Union, through fear or oppressionl Sir, this
interest has ruled the desines OF the Republic. For
forty years out OF fortyeigh years II has given us
President from its own territory and Of is own
lection. do not advert 10 this In the tone of COM
plaint for Il has been done at the ballot box but
proof OF its great Strength tact and Skill and Of the
extraordinary predominance il holds over all other
interests bending and shaping them 10 its purposes
During all this time Il has not only had President
sustaining its own peculiar views Of public policy,
but through him has held and used, in its own way
the whole organization Of all the Departments, and
all the vast and controlling patronage incident to that
Office 10 aid IL and carry out its views and policy
well TO protect iand secure to 1t every advantage
Let us explore little further, sir, and see how the
Houses of Congress have been organized. am
~ that rely on memory alone, for may possibly
fall into error; but shall be, think right as Ear
go If not the records can easily be had 10 correct
me- For thirty years out Of hrty-six years that in
teresthas placed its Speaker in the Chair the
other House. thus securing the organization Of com
miltees and the great influence OF that station And
sir, while all other interests have during part of the
time, had the Chair in which you preside assigned
tothem as equivalent for these great concessions
yet in each year, when president pro ten, is elect
ed who upon the contingencies mentioned in the
Constitution will be the President of the u. States,
that interest has invariably given us this officer
Look beseech you, through all the places OF honor,
of profit of privilege, and there you will find the re-
representatives. of this interest in numbers that midi
cate its influence. Does not then this interest hold
the destnes of this republic in It's own hands, Does
il no,rule gulde and adapt public policy to its own
views and fit il 10 suit the action and products OF its
own laborl Sir, know that the politicians Of the
slave country sometimes disagree about men and
measures of minor consideration; but on the great
interest Of slave labor and the protection Of slave pro-
perry, they stand firmly together and like Macedo-
MAN phalanx, shoulder TO shoulder, gather round
IT, and by mighty and concerted efforts give ii the
lead in public affairs against all opposition Sir,
how can better explain its allpervading influence
than TO declare again that il moves this government
over fifteen millions OF souls great and energetic as
ii is, and disproportionate as is the slave-holdng
,lat;N nh tNrt he fraaS
With this mighty power in your hands with proof
at every vote taken in this Capitol of your ability TO
continue it, can you of this interest entertain appre
tensions for your safetyl What more do yon clam2
What more can you have2 How can those who
hold power be oppressed BY those who have none 7
How can those who hold the power Of this govern
ment fear it cannot believe there is occasion in
the mind OF any one belonging TO this interest for
dissolution OF the Union, unless he be ambitious un
principled and without hope of advancement. II
will BE- reasonable enough to meet danger from other
quarters when it threatens mischief. But, Mr.. Pre-
Sident must not omit some other proofs of the
towering magnitude of the slave interest here II
claims 10 itself and its exertion whatever of merit
there is in the overthrow of the policy of internal
improvements, and having broken down and render
cd unpopular the policy ofso assessing and collecting
the public revenue TO protect and encourage free
labor Over this last great interest it claims sig
nal triumph for having defeated it.
need not multiply proofs OF the zeal, activity, and
singular success OF those who manage this interest
The integrity of the Union is probably quite as i'm
porant to the slave territory the free cannot
therefore, credit the suggestion that the people ofthe
Souh are SO blinded 10 their interests TO court
calamitous result What then is it that shakes this
great republic so that it reels upon its foundations
So that are brought to solemn pause here in the
public business, and are gravely and solemnly devil
sing remedies to redeem US from threatened ruin
Sill, we have ofresoutons neatly concocle that
to go forth with healing power to calm the pub
lie mind, 10 allay the outbreakngs of fanaticism
and to tranquilize the raging elements The opinion
of the majority of the Senate is 10 work out this
lraordinary result. But again ask what il Is that
we are contending with What that threatens ca
lamy, and is thus easily TO b. subduedl Il is the
abolitionists who come here in no very alarming
numbers though the course pursued here has in
creased the aggregate, not to threaten the govern
ment, or TO menace the Union; no. sir not at all but
humby TO threat and pray you to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia, where, believe there are
about 10000 people of all colors. Sir, they have
claimed nothing but the right to beg and pray Of the
Senate TO use its power for this purpose; What
humble and less Objectionable right can be claimed
b. man than The right of respectfully entreating
Yet sir, the exercise Of this poor privilege by per-
sons mostly females too, has brought us into grave
deberation, 10 rescue the Union from impending
dissolution Sir Icannot participate in these fears
nor persuade myself that such causes will produce
such results orlhathe Union will be attacked unless
the proyocation Is given here.
These abolitionists are in the free States It has
often been said, and day two past reiterated
BY the Senator from Missouri, chr. Benton) that
their books papers, prints, &c, cannot enter the
slave country, and therefore would do no harm there,
even if the slaves could read, as they never can
reach them. 1t seemed also TO b. admitted by the
Senator from Virginia (Mr. Rves) that there is no
objection 10 the discussion of the subject in State
that permits il to be agitated. Where, then is the
alarming mischief What creates the great excite
ment spoken of as existing in the slave territory and
which doub not does exist The exciting matter
is the debates published from this Capitol the exag
geraed and highly colored pictures OF danger drawn
here. The evil is chargeable home here, and the
responsibility rests here The effect was clearly