The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-13


Mr.. Sr.sLY was understood to state as his ttird
reason that The whole movement was party ihlng,
ar something q thai effect His words were scarcely
heard at the Reporters seat, and calls 70 ofuei -
some degree drowned what he did say) MI
The CHAIR said that the gentleman from r ,la
Carolina had gone wholly on, OF order, ~ spgaahs
10 the resolutions instead OF briefly siang nis lea
sons, according TO the ruei and DC WOMB 'aAe ms
Mr.. sTANLY said he had not expected TO be
allowed TO proceed and as the Chair refused him
leave, he would Withdraw his request to be ex-
cuSed. -.
ed TO b. excused from voting on the resolutions
now under consideration that he intended 10 ask
that concession him from the House in good faith
and that he would proceed under the Both rule OF
the House. to give brief statement Of the reasons
upon which he desired the House to act in coming
to conclusion. The last resolution, which contain.
ed the essence the gist ofthe whole matter, excluded
every petition or memorial from reference or cons-
deraion by this House relalingio the abolition OF
slavery without gard TO the source whence il might
come. The same was true relative to the removal
Of slaves from State to State, or from State 10 Ter
ritory This resolution Is deduced, as the necessary
conclusion, from sundry propositions previously
stated-som OF which, as abstract legal propositions
undoubtedly true-for instance, that contained in
the first resolution and some being matters Of fact
about which there MY be a conlrariety Of opinion
Now, sir do not regard it to be my Legislative duty
here TO be voting in airmance Of legal or constu-
tional principles which no one denies, or of facts
stated which may be, and probably are true, but of
which there is no legitimate proof before this House
But. sir, my great objection TO voting upon these re-
solutions is, that let me vote afirmatvely or mega
lively, my vote will place me in false position be-
fore my constituents believe, sir, that there are
certa CT liens in this country, who have right to
petition Congress relative TO the alb liton of slavery
and the removal Of slaves from State 10 State, or
8 ate 10 Territory and believe there are other CT
tizens who have no such right. Thus, sir, in my
opinion, the citizens OF the District Of Columbia
haua rtr alaftv III fha ah1
liiion of slavery among them, il they regard the ex
istence of slavery grievance but deny that
the people of Massachusetts have right TO interfere
with slavery here by way of petition in favor OF its
abolition. think the existence Of slavery here is
local question, way operating upon the people Of
Massachusetts, and having no effect in relation 10
the execution Of the powers Of this limited Govern
men, granted for general purposes Now, sir, the
resolutions under consideration make no distinction
in respect the petitioners. They place those who
are affected by the existence OF slavery, and who
may feel grievances, upon the same footing with
those who in way affected by Il, and who, in
my opinion, cannot possibly make out such grie-
vance growing out OF the existence OF slavery as
will Justify them in agitang this House and nation
wi discussions, which cannot fail TO lead to the
most bitter excilements, and which can result in
nothing good.
II vote, therefore in favor of these resolutions,
il will seem that deny the right of every class of
citizens to petition Congress the subject of slavery
II vote against them, might be inferred that was
petitions here, TO the destruction Of the harmony of
this House, and probably the consumption of half
our time. Therefore see no consistent course left
but to ask to be excused and il impelled to VOTE
then to vote against every resolution, considering
the conneN N in which they now stand.
intended 10 offer an amendment which hold in
my hand, but the privilege of doing that has been
denied me by sustaining the call for the previous
questions
The question being put Mr.. Underwood was not
excused. as..
Mr.. WISE rose to ask that the House would ex-
cuse him from voting; and he did so with the dis
tinct understanding that whether the House excused
him or no, he should not vote. He hada right under
the rule, TO give the reasons why he wished to be
cused; and he held by the rule to state his o,cn
reasons, be they what they might Those reasons he
averred to be inherent in the resolutions themselves
They were utterly derelict to the great point
which alone the South could stand The very first
of them related TO slavery in the States. Now, Mr..
w could neither affirm or deny the right Of his con-
stltuents TO hold property in slaves-nohing should
force him to do so-the whole united power of the
Government should never compel him. One Of the
resolutions was SO drawn be- liable to the infer
that, il the agitation Of the question or slavery
Intended means Of efecting its abolition only
in the District and no further was not censurable.
The CHAIR here reminded Mr. Wise that he
could not discuss the resolutions.
Mr.. WISE said that the main question of all, these
resolutions did not touch Let the House adopt what
resolutions il would they OF the South would with
sta the whole power of the Government II exert
ed on the question Of slave-holdng. There were
rights Of the slave-hodng States in the hon-save
holding States. The Chair repeatedly interposed.
Mr.. w. speaking with SO much rapidly and vehe-
hemence as to be very ndisncily understood by The
reporter, loalow what the Chair said to be heard
One of his chief reasons why he could not vote on
these resolutions was, that they were a trap-a trap
for the South. He did not recognize them-whether
this thing had been gotten up with the consent Of
his Southern brethren OF either party, he was gno-
rant ..
The CHAIR called to order; as did many men,
berS. ."..s
MIR WISE said he would act in good faith, and
give only his reasons. He would conhne himself
strictly TO the letter andspirt of The rule.
Mir PETRIKIN rose to question of order, and
inquired il the CHAIR pronounced the gentleman from
Virginia to be in order or MOI
The CHAIR said he hoped the difficulty might
be gotten over without the direct action ofthe CHAIR
The gentleman from Virginia must be sensible that
he departing from the true intent and meaning
of the rule. He could not discuss the merits of the
resolution.
Mr. WISE said he was not discussing their me-
rts, for they had merits in them he was discuss
ing their demerits This distinction which
the gentleman from Pennsylvania might be able to
understand.
Many voices called to order.
Mr.. WISE said another ground was left utterly
dereict by these resolutions. He never could de-
clare that Congress had right TO act on slavery in
the States Nothing should force
Here the CHAIR again interposed. The effect
Of the previous question must be entirely annuled
il such mode OF stating reasons for being excused
should be permitted. The gentleman was not in
order. ..
MIR. WISE here read the rule, and insisted that
there was nothing in it which forbade him ID give
particular class of reasons more than another;
he was allowed TO state his reasons and he was
stating them. He insisted on his right to give his
reasons, and, il the CHAIR desired it, he should ap
peal
The CHAIR said it had decided no such thing
but had only insisted that, after the previous ques-
ton had been decided in the affirmative, no debate