Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-02-07


aea'oring 10 get up an excitement to the cad H.,
they may make an attempt to procure : ~.
sion OF the resolution offered by Mr. p,.'
AID adopted BY the House Of Reprcsen,.,;.
directing that all petitions aud msmor;.,,
ting to the abolition Of slavery, be laid =, !,
table without being read or debated. In n
Pennsy ivania Legislature a member ~ ~.
nate has offered a resolution asking tho 80,
tnre 10 instruct the Representatives in Co...
from that State TO procare, If possible. the ~.
sion Of MIR. Pa,ion's resolution in New VI
the Young Men have held meetings d.no..L.
the resolution; and in Philadelphia. and -,
places, petitions are getting up, praying, o, :.
Their demanding, its repeal.
These movements are made upon the PROM,
that the adoption Of that resolution. yir,u,l,.
takes from the people dear and higbl, che.
ished right--the right Of petition. This prefer,
may, and probably will, cause many Of the nm
thinking, or the uniformed, to join their voice,
with the fanatics in their vociferations again., ,ba
resolution, but with the candid, the intelligent
anu t"c socei par VI community " VIII
pass for nothing. The resolution does not, IN a.
ny way, or in the remotest degree infringe upon
the rights OF petitioners, they can send up to The
halls Of Legislation many memorials as they
please, and none can deter them, or prescribe
the limits or subject Of their prayers. 1t only
forbids the reading OF discussion Of petitions a.
king for the abolition Of slavery, thereby secu.
ring large and respectable portion of The
members of the House from being insulied ia
their places, by hearing their constituents, and
the domestic institutions of their rcspectr.
States denounced and yilified by head.,roa,
ineonsderate fanatics, and preventing the House
from being kept in constant state OF turmoil and
excitement.
Some other course, BY the House, in regard
to the petitions of the aboltionists. il has bes,
asserted would have had more sanitary .ffsc,
that, for instance, pointed out by Mr.. Clay. in
the Senate, OF receiving the abolition petitions
and referring them TO a committee, which womb
send forth calm and dispassionate report, STA.
ting 10 the petitioners the unjus,ness and evil
tendency ci their operations, and to the South,
in tones that would compose its feelings, tina,
Congress could not NEEDLE with an institution
whose existence was prior 10 the foundation
OF our Government, was recognized by tho
trainers OF the Constitution, and, by that grca.
charter of our liberties, was secured by all The
bonds Of our Tn len, 10 the possession and solo
Of those with whom it existed -
Bot we sat down 10 endeayor to shcw ,ha, the
adoption Of Mr. Patton's resolution did not a.
bridge or violate the RICH, Of petition, we ia
tended, also, few remarks az TO wha, tha,
right consists in.
While petitions are received it cannot be pre-.
tended that the right petition has been violated.
The right TO petition does not include the right
TO d, mand that Congress sbal! be kept in con.
slant excitement and conmotiop. by the reading
and discussion Of the prayers and memorials Of
the petitioners. Were the two houses of Con.
gress compelled 10 read aud take actioa upon all
petitions and memorials that come up before
them, they would find business enough to keep
them in constant session, withou, attending to auy
other business, whatever. The mere reception
then, must naturally be The only fate that awaits
a vast number Of the petitions that are presented
10 them. The necessity of such a course will at
once be perceived; yet we hear no murmuring
about it. no harum fears for the safety Of
the right. But when the same course is pursued
towards certain class Of memorials, the larum
is sounded throughout the length and breadth Of
the mons slave holding States Of the Union-ihe
sacred right Of petition is said to have been rude.
y assailed when Congress refuses TO consider
the petitions Of those who are endeavoring BY
every art within their power, TO unsettle and
overthrow the domestic institutions Of largo
portion of the Union-o Of institutions with which
the petitioners are unacquainted, aud the evii'
Of which--if evils there are-uever affect or H.
ierrupt their interests or happiness.
The Right Of Petition is one Of the dearest
and most sacred tina, apeople can enjoy--depr's
them of it--say unto them that their prayers Tor
= redress Of theft grievances shall not come up
before their law givers, shall not be heard OF
needed by their rulers, and one Of the most es'
'ential principles oil a free government IS gOn''
And, so far, and so often, as the people ask lot
redress of grievances, we would that their Pc
tions should be received, read, and discussed
% the end that relief might be afforded them
But, as regards the petitions for the abolition
slavery, il may well be doubted, whether IN"
gre at right even jusifes the presentation Of nsn'
when the feelings ofthOse who alone
are interested in the matter are as hishV eAA'
perated as at present. The right oil pe"''oA
s-what? 1t is the right Of the citizen " -"
his government for for redress oil ms s''e'
ask for the abatement oil any PO"V
d that government that initiates agaips'
peace, welfare, prosperity, or happiness " -"
,r his fellows. Who, then have the uhuO''
light TO avail themselves Of this right iHO.
most unquestonably, who feel and eno"''
,vil. If this position be correct, how y !" v"
he right Of petition is in danger when 10 A'''