Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-04-25

u than ran describe The operation. LII
. wonderful 10 observe It's rapidly. As
,oon rs Il i announced thai there il any
ihrng about slavery and the slaye-,rade IN |
petition, up s,arts q gentleman over the
way. and before he gets on his feet, The
speaker anticipates his motion and announ-
ees "; and forthwith, the petition l. on
the table, and the naIldriyenl This process
has been repeated 50 ohen. that il mas come
10 work with the precIslon of machinery
SIr, l ain aslonIshed al this. | am a.
mazed that question 30 deeply affecting
the honor OF This nation, and so strongly
identified with the great principles Of hu-
nau Freedom, should BE- thus s,nosher by
10 and especially, when il is pressed up
On our consideration la respectful memo
rails from the people who sent Us here
We sometimes talk about The sacred right
Of petition. But what is II worth, il priI-
tons and petitioners riay BE- thus disposed
of We may keep up the form Of receiy-
ing Petitions; but II will be. 70 all practical
purposes, mere mockery-a stuffed and
cruel contempt Of the Interests ami feelings
Of the people.
Whose government Is thisl And who
are vel Are we servants or are We mas
tiers Sir. the people. o. whom these Pc
litioners form part made this govern
meut. Il is theirs--not ours. They have
constituted Us their servants; aud the pow
efs with WHICH We are invested are gwen
% tor the due ADMINISTRATOR Of their gov
ernment--in adjusting the powers of WHICH,
they have expressly reserved to themselves
the right 10 lay before Us their petilions--
that is. the right Of telling Us what they
want.
Aud now, shall we. The representa- res
and servants Of the people, tell them that
their petitions shall not be so much as
considered. or even read2 Can there be,
10 principle, a greater outrage on tht ir
rights than this2 Not listen to and consid-
rr the requests Of the people, and that
too. with the constitution in our hands, &
professiousof Iegard for the peoples ri hts
conlinually on our lips7 ....'-,:.
Sir. We ought TO stand eonfounded when
we look at this. ! speak plainly, but
speak truly. The whole course of our
proceedings, touching the subject Of slave
i ry, during the present Congress, thus far,
aud during the whole OF the LAST, belrs me
out in what | say. I fsirlessly app al to
this House. and TO this nation. for i;s just
ice AMI It's truth.
/ And what contrast is exhibited be.
tween our course on this great Question oI
slavery, and that Of the government oil
Great Britain on the same subject Long
long did the philsnihropists Of thai coun.
Try urge upon Parliament their earnest re-
monstrances against he continuance o
| the slavetrade, and, afterwards, their petit
lions for The abolition OF slavery: and they
urged them until they were successful. Blu
when was il heard, during the whole q
/ this time, thai the humble petitions of hi
, majesiy's subjects were laid Vi on the table
in contempt OF their prayer, and with a de
Eterminltion not to consider them2 New
EMO, never. Sir, the blush Of homes
I AND manly Indignation would haze maj
0 llled the chreks Of every member o: n
: British Parliament npon suggestion ,
!. doing whit has been repeatedly don
: here. -
: Me-. s. proceeded TO say, that, notwht
= Standing the cou. Sc Of measures here, n
81 effect OF which was 10 smother these pet
l. lions, he must say. once Tor all, IN Il I'll
D. voice oil the people was not thus TO be SUI
= pressed. The p.litionrrs (said Mr..
. whose memorial | have presented, an
J. whose memorials have yet 10 presen
'e have not moved in this manner frUl:I 81,
J. den impulses Of feeling. IL is not II
Ie blaze which flashes one moment, aud go,
y outthe next. No, sir. The claims ofhuna
ity have deeper and more enduring no
on their feelings. They have read niue
" on the subject Of slavery. and reflrcte
" moe. They know something of the hi.
TORY and fate Of the institution in OH,
II countries. They have explored the foul
/. da.ions on which il rests. and 6xeI a s,ron
l. and steady grasp on It's fund ,menL,l pril
le cipies. They at. therefore, iG this ma
y ner, from deliberate and settled con ie ioI
N which cannot be lightly abandoned
=, Sir: / want you should unIerstau
IN these constituents Of mine. whose nrnor
= lis have presented, aud in whose name
speak. They entertain no feelings Of no
Ct Iilily towards shareholders. They threa
!. IN them with no To- ce Il does not rn,,
" heir ina -inatlons. Their only we Ipor
y are truth and r.ason. They aim to col
?. yince--not 10 intimilate The bounC
n which limit their Constitutional right, The
q perfeclly understand. They have q
n pissed ihem-they will not.
% IL is because iher stan Inn such gfour
9 THAT theystini firmly. Il is because tht
u ire impeIlsd by such motives, aud look
Il rssnlis the noblrst aud the sublImest III
?. can affect the con liiiln and destiny Of maj
b. that they will STEADILY and patiently rndul
q. - Il -, - - y = 80 :. - -.