Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-08
yGAE!7EB; AEXaV.---No. SIS.

cisive victory which followed at Sa:a,nuaa victory
which secured your independence. Ia the Late war:
when powerful army had crossed your frontier und
penetrated into your territory, they yount-erri sponta
nrousy and uncalled for, to drive back the Invaders Of
your soil. And may not such People. numbering now
more than three hundred thousand, bs allowed ex.
press their opinions npon sui eciS Of pubic nature
with The boltnrss, The diTeeness, the in,itnIencc
which become and onghi 20 chlfacer!z', frrc!sa with.
out Incnrring rrproach and ''huke:
But Sir, what is there in the resolutions that should
call forth the uncourlruus remarks have brar: The
resolutions express opinions upon the slave trade; upon
the annexation cf Ttxn5 10 This Unun; upon very in
this District and The Territories OF the United States
Certainly il viii not be denied that the slave trade and
The anne xutOn Of Texas to the United S;ae9 topics
of high public concern OF deep to every State
IN This UDl"n. Nos can il be denied, as i, appears 10
me- that slavery in this District and the Territories is
matter OF common concern to all the People This Dis
ct il must BE- remembered, il the capital Of tic nation;
it is national territory; Congress has exclusive uri<dc.
ton over ii; and if any institution exists here which IS
thought 10 affect njuriousy either the wcaTe cha
racter OF the nation, 10 be Incompatible wil The pn-
cpes or which the Government is founded, every State
has Legitimate right discuss The subject express
lis opnun upon it, aud TO send its opinions here IL
does not belong U.s. no. Sir il does no, belong to u.s.
10 say what the Stats Legislatures shall what they
shall not discuss.
II we !ouk into the report Of the committee, which,
perhaps unnecessarily accompanies the resolutions, there
is nothing IN H. in my apprehension, at al! offensive
lalny nothing Intentionally disrespecfu. Tie report
United States It's whole scope and Object IL show
the mpolicy and danger Of sUeb nrasu:c. Slavery
being necessarily connected with the main SUI Jet. be-
ing, indeed one Of the most important considerations
brunging 10 ii, it ayudable To speak # it, and
TO speak Of it with freedom too. Tie language used
may be strong; the opinions expressed may be- erronc-
Gus: the whole argument may be wrong; but there ~
surely nothing offensive in It, IN the resolutions and
memorials which we're presented h.re upon the Missouri
question: upon the tariff, upon nuliIfca"n upon The
right and power Of this body TO expunge pant Of its
journal, you had full! much freedom Of thought and
bodness of EXPRESSION md yet the papers receiv
ed, not onl without obect;on but without complaint
Sir how did these resolutions originate; They grew
out OF numerous petitions presented BY the People to the
Legislature Of Yeruon which the Legislature
bound to receive and upon It conld do other
wise. II did receive and act upon theai; and in
doing it did what conceived TO be its duty and moth
ing than lis duty. We baYc refused 10 receive
the petitions OF the People, and they going,
you perceive, and lNght have expected, I" the Sute
Legislatures
Sir, gentlemen may rest assured That have no dis
position 10 interfere, do these resolutions profess
set up any claim to interfere IN the sghtcs; manner
with any oil the rights Of the SOuth. Their institutions
their own peculiarly their own, and will leave Their,
to themselves have disposition, than any one,
throw this Union into curnnolion, by unnecessarily
raising any disturbing questions here II that is done, it
will not be my fault But while say this wish M" /" be
misunderstood am opposed to slavery IN and every
form. system that doomS part Of The human race 10
hopeless bondage, fior generation TO generations for at
come; UrprlYeu OF even
the night 10 their utisprng aud which dnhns them,
also, 10 perpetual everlasting, brutal snoraccc forbid
ding their instruction III knowledge. religion, ar morals,
by heavy aud severe pains and penalties Of law has no
place in my appreciation or affection and can receive no
countenance favor from me. In Whatever ! say u
do, on That subject, ii other, will leave nothing
eqnvoca While therefore, dsslaui, totally dscisuI,
any right neEmedGs in the domestic of any
Of the States, must insist upon she right OF petition,
upon the right of discussion, upon the right OF opinion
These rights never be surrendered Ibardaned -
To my mind. ii is plain, that much Of the excitement
which prevails among the People is owing the
founded the extravaganza and arrogant doctrines Which
have been advanced here That Congress has power
abo sh slavery in This District rght 10 discuss the
SUBJECT, and the People right TO petition concerning
preensiUns which never BE- silently acguesced
in. They must and will be resisted. II The question
put, it should be- upon the ground OF expectancy,
without denying plain constitutional rights there wou!i
be rss for complaint, snt well persuaded,
less ugiiatiuu IN the country.
Mr. Preston said, that the gentleman who presented
This memorial aud resolutions, having himself raised
the question OF their reception, it necessary TO meet
it, Mr. Preston waa well persuaded that the Senators
from Vermont hardly considered themselves eit to their
own discretion in the presentation IF this document,
being compelled 10 do by the express command Of
their Legislature, To- which, Of course o0rGence 10
due These gentlemen. therefore, have but discharged
their duty in prescribing the memorials and resolutions
md The SENATE tn the consideration OF the CUES
tinn of receiving them with that favorable pT"dIspos
ton which their high necessarily Inspires. lie
proceedings I'll sovereign State justly exact from 70
the highest considerations and respect and difference
bounded only by the paramount oGiigaiiana 10 Inai;i-
tain our own dignity, and The tights and interests OF
all the States. The duties of respect ana ipbca'
ance are mG,ral between this Government and tie
S,ates and between the States themselves; and it, III
the proceedings Of Vermont or Of anr Other STATE,
this reciprocity Of respectful d.meanor BE- not pre-
served ii voluntary waiver OF its own cIaiins to ~.
spect, and demand upon this BODY 10 project Itse'i,
aud the States represented here against uaus Vl0.
lent and ndccorcrs assault, such be mace NO one
willingly or lightly supposes that such an assault was
intended by sovereign State; and certainly sir. howe
unwise impolItic, and dangerous, might consider
the resolutions offered u.s. should have acquescfd
their reception account Of my pTO!oun! rr&pcctiot
the rights and dignity Of the authority seEL'Hg them
here But when turn my attention Iron lhrse wi"
and disorganizng resolutions TO the accompanying re.
port OF which the honorable Senator himself has sa!o
that the Legislature might well have prr;ermitled IL,
find it cUuched in language, which II uHc!' mere by
gentleman this floor. would nYc been dtS"fdrry,
and which canno. be fully and correctly characterized
by epitIsts whose here Is consistent win HE dshi'
~ OF this body. inbred Mr. President, do not be-
eve tina, any gentleman here has SO lu1e self re-
spect would be implied by the ad"plion IN his
place of the language Of this report; aad any gen
uemau should far forget himself as to utter such
INJURIOUS insulting and lbclloUy uaite:, be wnu! IN
slanty incur the Of this body, and sach AMI.
madvesinn mg hl lie prompted by Tie outraged Rel
ngs Of gentlemen Indignantly IesenlIng iou a"G calun'
Nous aspersioGs upon themselves and their constituents
Yes, sir if such language is continued IN this report
came from any lower and suitable source. should
feel myself authorized 10 vent my Indignation IN any
form Of phrase which mil express my scorh 81 ITS MA
Lightly, and drtestann Oh lis GIsehood Listen, SIR IN
Whist Legislature thinks proper I" record
libel upon It's co States, and upon the morals and man
ners Of whole section Of lie UnVn represented here
bv more than twenty Senators:
" The anarchy aud disorder that now prevail IN the
Sou,h-the appurept overthrow of lair OF hrf own con.
s,ituoua and legal BARRIERS erected for the security q"
the citizens and the seeming want Of ppwer IN her pro-
per authorities 10 establish cm-the liesa! outases
which her own citizens IS well a. those ffo'n the lice
States have suffered for the last two or three ears IN
the Snuih, and 10 which, it would appear, up to thu
time they arc exposed-uulrases that 80 Tor con
49, ~ 90 Of ;uormatiOn have