Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-25
J.g.VUs4sz Y 25. se;ss.

Slnps have generously coded their territory TO you
for certain purposes you propose 10 do this very hng
and thus reqne their confidence and their spirit of
occ"mmodnli"n by opening CANNON refuge i,r their
runway slaves ] will only add, upon this punt,
that the aboonst would d" well 10 pause in the mdsl
] ot hrs zeal, and inquire calmly and dspsssionately,
whether, in fact any thing than nominal adran.
iagr would be gained by hr abolition Of slavery in this
District. and whether this would moi he acquired at
serious sacrifice II is admitted that domestic slavery
exists mere IN liz mldest turn That part Of the pnpn
lation are bound together by friendship and the
relations OF life They attached to the families in
i which they have lived from childhood They
ioraoy provided fnr and apparently conenIed. Now,
let bin for The abolition Of slavery in the District pass
] either House of Congress and what would ,see place
here! Why, before II coud possibly becoaseasw ,aiS
these ties would he violently srndered; every slave in
the District would be removed beyond it's limits; their
present comparatively easy condition changed. il is pro.
bablr nr one Of greater rgnr; and with all this
pishcd, you would NOT have made the slightest progress
| United States.
Mr. President, welding to my inclination | would
here lake leave of this irritating subject and for
but the in which appears to be
ing itself with other topics. renders it proper in MY
Judgment, to add few remarks
Nhpn: il is often asked, is this agitation, in Congress
and out of il, 10 cease; Where is il 10 terminate and
with what results? These questions which. three
years since, wond not have c"sl moments unra
sness thought the apprelienslnns Of Southern gentle
men, 10 grea: extent, had their origin in morbid sem
sIbilily upon this subject, Su mindful of their inter-
ests and peculiar relations, appreciated their feelings
aud drrpy regretted the Of irritation. And
these questions would create ir interest," certainly
cite Alarm in my mind, II Hgi'alors upon The sub
lecl only To he FUND in The circle nl nVnwrd
aboionsts With regard To the State which have
The honor in part. 10 represent, peril city salts.
fled. rs well from my own observation as from the f1-
preston o the Legislature during the last WINTER, that
public srnpen, can hardly b. said be divided upon
this subject Bnl here sir feel bound to admit that
there ATE Indications in New England which can.
not and ought not to be- overlonked The aspect Of
things in this respect has undergone some change,
and rn the rlrIenls u" still gseitrr change are in
active operation. do not 10 say that the abo
t"ss PT0per are gaining strength rapidly hut what
do TO say is, that they finding allies in The
cause nf agitation in the political press Sir, il politics
to be mingled with this subject let it br known; it
cnnnn, ne proclaimed 10" have been taught that
the way difficulties and threatening dangers
is them the advance, not 10 await their ap
prnncb; and although would create no unnecessary
alarm the of these resolutions, TINT lie
shnI not find me standing lamply by or attempting TO
lu!l Others into false security by the cry calls well,
whpn believe there is dangrr-wien know there IS
an enemy in mutton protesting and claiming ~ be nhu
encrd ny considerations aud governed by mntlVrs above
and beyond the constitution and laws OF my country,
and that enemy likely to BIZ sustained by alliance
with party politics. No. sir, We have cGncealniens
upnn This snhrc All we Demand is, that since We are
br the frs, feel The rffrc.s u" Ambition ascendan
CIV al home should j, ever be acquired (Which by The
way, by nntic palc.) may meet the qnps.
tinn raised and be- driven by any course
here upon collateral ssnr. SUCH The right OF petit
lion any oh-r The force Of this suggestion will be
more fully arprrhendrd after the remarks which am
about make
1t is no, b" disguised that from insignificant be-
ginning. and with comparatively few, even now, who
hnd what generally considered abolition sentiments,
this subject is assuming aspect of fearful interest
and mOuIrnlmns consequence. Tie Senator from Ala.
bnma my left {Mr kinGD in my Judgment, pointed,
at early day Of lhr tn the cause of alarm,
ifany exist II this: that religious lanac'sm no
lng-r alone in This matter: that lhr misguided
enthusiast has ined hands with the designing politician.
Sir, refer To II with reluctance nave no party rur-
p"sr 10 should he unwnrthy "i seat hire,
and unworthy Of The confidence that has been rrposed ~
me by I",pst, intelligent aud Patri tic people, II
could indulge my Thing like PARTISAN feelings on an nc
casion like Ibis. No. SIR. No, Sir. | brlieve this
question may and brvr III tlr only question that Gun
lead Ia a dissolution OF This Union; and have but one
object that is lu guard against H. To preserve inpioaie
lh- public faiih and The provisions OF The Constitution
uud-r which VIZ have 80 long lived in prosperity.
The ablr,ioniss, il is well kn"wn long since avowed
their determination 10 make This The test QUESTION Ia
elections and have with profound regret, that IN
one Stale least Of the prominent individuals ct
both parties have submitted 10 their caechisn3. Let
those who doubt that The politicians in Connecticut md
New Hampshire are making usr ut abolition Tor party
pur poses, with view 10 the approaching eiecuons no
lice the OF the political newspapers there within
the last three four weeks 1t Is true shry d" not av"w
Ambition doctrines, but they make up an issue not war
raned by the of facts and that issue happens TO De
the same upon which the abornlsls ARE whging tnrr
war They aege, that 10 receive and lay upon Inc Ia
be without reudlng printing. is equivalent to The re-
irclion of petitions Why should moi that cnurse Ge
taken with lhrn Has there ALREADY bren sufficient
agitation in Congress and out OF IL? Has not lime
enough been wasted: The PETITIONS in substance,
have been presented yrur after and SESSION oflrf
session During the last session they were made tue
subject Of special reference and report Their contents
ure familiar as household words The mind OF every
member drnilivey made mp upon The question they
,nvnIve. Argument has been exhausted ngan and
again And what is now demanded! why, mt only
,h yon shall receive petitions hut that you shall iaEr
particular course with Ihsn, which il in accordance
with the views of these gentlemen, who not satisfied
with the exercise Of lrir rights, assume the pre-
rogaiive Of sitting III Judgment, and determining what
are your duties.
The coincidence upon this point between portion
of the political press New England and The abolition
press proper just al present Is truly trmnrkabe Tie
same sentiments the same arguments, the same opfo
b,iUus epthes applied In the numbers oi boh ouSps OF
Conurrss from that section of r Unnn, who oppose any
acnn upon this suhjrct For instance the drIrga"n IN
the other HOUSE from The State which have the honor, IN
part, 10 represent here charged by the abolition press
with having drned be tight of petition, aud the same
thing is reiterated by the p"litcn press. IN the lace al
their upon the direct question during the present
session IL Is that the 9neslinn OF receiving
petitions upon this has been taken IN both Houses
and decided ntrmatvey by overwhelming "ian'i'irs
and vet there is perseverng and systematic attempt on
the part of the political well rs The abolition press 10
give the impression that the g ht OF petition IS orneo
have already detained the Senate longer tina" iheno
ed and will not pursue the subject further than to add
tina, lie has turned The pages of history TO little Pur
pose who would regard with unqnahed horror inc
cnnnpxon Of religious bgotry with pnIiucn power ano
10 warn gentlemen on all sides 10 frown on the h's
manifestation of disposition connect th- politics OF
the day with tina, spirit of fanacis'n which, under the
prrence of promoting the Of civil liberty would
trample in the dust glorious Constitution, ao"p'eo
in spiri, oil compromise and concess'nn, and IN lie tx
e,cisp of Ina, spirit alone to be maintained.
After some further debate, -
MIR. Clay of Krn,ucky rose to say few words lie
said he could vute for neither The MIN nor Inc SKIN re-
solpon in The shane in which they presented by
The Senator from South Carolina. Although he had
risen 10 slate his nbsci"s particularly I" the hlth now