The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-25

had resolved and ordered that debate that subject
should be entertained. The gentleman must conhne
himself 10 the rules Of order The question was on the
reception Of memorial.
Mr. LEeAME protesting against the Interruptions OF
the Chair said my objection against this memorial 's
that it aims at aboiiiion-is part OF sys,em-is NOT
for The benefit Of commerce, but for the ruin Of the
South
The CHAR. II the memorial had any thing on It's
face about abolition, il would DO At once laid ON the
table
Mr. LEaARE Well, sir, I want TO show that il is
IRE brand cast into the House for the purposes
that il originates design TO revoutionze the South
and TO conyuse the Union, and ought therefore, 10 be
rejected with reproba'ion. As sure as you live, sir,
(said hel II this course is permitted TO go the sun
OF this Union will 60 down-it will 60 downin blood
and 90 down TO rise will vote unhesiating
ly against nearious designs like these, They
son. Yes, sir pronounce the authors of such things
ualtorsrators not 10 their country only, but 10 the
whole human race have clear constitutional right
to refuse 70 receive such papers, and am bound by
every tie OF duty, to do So have spoken, perhaps
with too much ardor aud trust the House will make
allowance for whatever may be amss in the unpTemed
tated language have uttered. But cannot express
by any words can command 1.-THE Of the anguish
with which rise TO speak the subject at all Without
being, perhaps, a legitimate Observation-Disclosures am
not, God knows leave it to The doctors Of the
school. / have been nursed from my youth idola
rons love Of that noble OF all forms OF polty Re-
publican Government, and have dreamed for my coun-
try the highest things within the reach OF humanity
career OF greatness such as the world has yet
witnessed There is one subject. and, SO far as am
able to perceive but that for the present at least
threatens TO cloud this glorious prospect and to dissp
point these high hopes.
II is said this is question Of liberty. Ay sir, is
question OF liberty not wild, visionary, imprac-
cable scheme for giving Liberty TO utterly ncapa-
bic OF il, did Constitution permit to do
but question involving the sober, stable, rational,
during hereditary liberty Of ae Anglo American which
has hitherto been identified with whole being but
OF which the kne is struck whenever the schemes OF
these petitioners shall have been consummaed. Dissolve
this Union, and your republican institutions are gone
forever In the scenes Of blood and anarchy which
will inably succeed human prescience antici-
pate precisely what results will but thing,
less hold 10 be perfectly certain. and that is that
popular government will TO exist IN States en-
gagged in perpetual hostility with one another. And
can gentlemen bring themselves lightly to tsmper, in
spite Of the solemn constitutional obligations, with
interests like these Do they imagine that the people
who sent them here are prepared TO peril the peace the
union, the liberty the hopes, OF this continent, IN
idle pursuit Of mere visionary, unattanable good that
they ready overthrow the Constitution, and to dis
member the Conederacy, in violation OF their most
cred dsties under the and their unspeakabe ne-
rest in the other Sir, tell you they not have
consoling and triumphant confidence in their calm
reason and sage and serious morality am not using
the base language OF adulation. disdain il know
that like the rest Of mankind, people are falble,
and often do wrong have doubt, too, that
responsible for much Of the into which they are
occasionally betrayed that do not hold to them tho
sincere and courageous language OF TRUTH dare to
present to them every important in its charac
ter. But OF their ultimate decision every thing that
relates to tho preservation OF the Union, will not per-
nit myself to doubt. am that, il they now
here, within the sound of my voice, il would not be adj
al. 49, 4 IL -
fairly presented to them, before is too late let them
DC brought 10 pass upon the true issue involved in these
schemes, before they driven TO madness by most
unhallowed agtation--and all is safe
have now, in very hurried manner, gone through
the whole subject so far as il my purpose TO deal
with it, have established, trust, satisfactorily, that
the amendment OF the Constitution has not at all chang
ed the lex Parliament, [as part Of the law,l
touching this matter That by the law Of Parliament
and the Constitution Of the United States, this House
has undoubed right 10 adjudge and determine what
petitions are not proper to DO received by 1t. And
lastly, that tho petitions now in question in fact
such not proper 10 he received, and nave, ac-
cordngly, without hesitation, voted against receiving
them
Mr.. CUSHMAN said that all the business Of the
House had been locked up long enough by this discus
sion. He moved the previous question.
Mr.. SALTONSTALL asked him to Withdraw his
motion; bu. he refused. and, the question being pnt
the House requested to second the call Ayes g.
noes 10
Mr. PETRIKEN moved that the House adjourn
Lost Ayes rs, noes So
Mr.. SALTONSTALI. said the last thing he had
peced, be called upon to reply to- hn han"--l'~
gentleman from South Caroli-a 4 ne House having
nut an end the discussion OF this subject by the pre-
question, aud having received petition similar TO
that presented, and referred il to the Committee
Foreign Affairs it quite unexpected to him that the
question should be again presented, and that It
should involve the question Of the great the sacred
right Of petition But he had no objection. He was
willing to meet it. and in his opinion, much bet
ter that the question should he taken at the
reception Of petitions than that thew should be laid
the table, under resolution like that which had been
adopted in relation TO certain class OF petitions with
which this has been supposed by some to be connected
The gentleman had been understood put TO him the
question: personally, whether this memorial was pre-
sented bona dc for the object which appears upon its
face or whether the real object OF the petitioners
aid the seeds Of abolition and Mr. s had expressed
his readiness any questions OF the distinguish
ed member. far as it might be in his power The
question of the honorable gentleman related 10 the real
views of these petitioners-he object which was IN
their minds. He wished to be satisfied as to their mo-
tves, and whether they Of certain kind II Mr.,
S. had the power Of looking into their hearts, he could
| make more satisfactory reply to such query. The
petitioners resided at distance Of five hundred miles
| from this place. and had sent their memorial to him,
since his arrival in this CITY, The gentleman had said
that, if their motives good and their object to
promote commercial intercourse with Hayt, he should
pursue course but If not, he would take the oppo-
site Mr. S. did not know that it was in his power
give the gentleman tho satisfaction he wished Here
was the memorial II came from Danvers, town adj
joining that in which he lived. II signed by about
thirty persons some Of them well known to him. and
known to he respectable, substantial ctzeLs They
were Of dfferen, professions and occupations some
professional men, others were traders. mechanics,
and manufacturers. The House should look a. their
/ ,l, C,x IL, akoTt a.
petition separate and distinct from all Others and it
only Inv enrt of the that il cnnld be