Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-18
VOLUME xxXEV.---No. IS.

'C uuJSS VI unllD TIA lie nau The honor. III
part, 10 represent. He believed he could say what no
other Senator representing a Northern State could say
that he had never been chilled upon to present n single
abolition petition since he had had the honor Of holding
| q seat on this floor.
MIR. Lumpkin said lie had Tot named an individual,
nor would he now DO so; neither would he enter into the
merits Of the case; end he had not made a solitary re-
marx duplicating Maine or any other State.
Mr.. Buchanan, of PENNSYLVANIA, said he rose, with
'e1tIeme reluctance, to make some remarks upon the
question now before the Senate. myself, said Mr.. Bu-
chanan, had determined this nioraiag TO move q refer
ence OF these resolutions OF the Senator from S. Carroll
ma (Mr. CalhounI 10 n se!'ct committee, bu, was dis
suaded from my purpose after reached the Senate
This motion has now been made by another gentleman,
(Mr. Ben,on,l and am called upon 10 vote either for or
against II. As | am still clearly OF opinion that an I'M
mediate reference Of these resolutions to a select CON-.
nilttee would, sntrr existing circumstances. De the wises.
course, whether we regard the interest Of the North or
the South, am prepared 10 give this motion my heurty
support.
On this eaci,ing question desire to do nothing, as
a member Of this body, which can, in the slightest de-
gree, inleriese with lhs constitutional rights Of the slave.
holding States. My fate as q public man, is as deeply stu.
heu upon TIE preservation OF these rights as that OF any
nlher Individual in the country. / have long since 10.
zen my Stand, and from it !! shall not be driven. do
not desire 10 maintain myself at lytDe unless can do i:
with n due regard 10 The rights aud the satisfy Of the
people OF the South. + am prepared, therefore, to adops
any Just measure, within the pale CT the Constitution, to
settle this %aangerous question, aud to AFFORD the greatest
ScCuEIly u the SldptnDlCllY States. Notwithstanding
:liese nc my sentiments, caEro, beiicv We that the Sena.
tor from South Carolina has c!ueen the course best cal.
culated TO attain these results. This is the great centre
Ut agitation. From this Capitol, it spreads over tie
Whole Union. ] therefore, Gepsecute a ,folrac,cd die.
cusslon Of the question here. 1t can % no good, bur
may DO much ha7in, both in the North and in the South.
1t was for this reason that, alter the right of petition had
been recognised by q solemn Yote Of this body, / was
content 10 act as we haze done for The las, two years.
aud leave the question to b. discussed BY the people Of
the country themselves We have now abandoned this
safe, this prudent course, and what has been the result
For The last three days, we have been engaged in a dis.
cussion emlnrnily calculated 10 irritaie and iniame the
public mind; and as yet we have not adopted the Sd Of tbs
series OF resolutions. IF We proceed, ! shall be asreeabIy
disappointed, If another week SHOULD close this debate.
And what shall we gain BY the adoption Of these resolr.
ions: Nothing; worse Than nothing. Those who look TO
the votes upon them, as the standard By which 10 nscs.
tain how many are in IA yor and how mauy opposed bon ~
main object, will be greatly mistaken. Soriss:s rrsoIu.
fifteen votes have b,ea rea"rded agsinsSsn,tora am
u fo mI, "nen, aa my sn"%Irdsst very few, il any,
who are not prepared To po!ss nc nc, r. rrcounier line on;.
such a enneIla'oty sp,g5l'ta ny, and. which ough, to give
and beI;era 'S~-SSu!d give, entire satisfaction to tho
Sou,h Tive .Ioral effect Of such a unanlm"uo or aimos.
vote Of the Senate would be great upon the
cnuulry. IL is. therefore, for the purpose vi arresting
this Improbable debate, and o! having such resolutions
rrpor,ed by q select committee, that / shall vote lhtuV"r
of the proposition.
What have we witnessed upon the present occasion"
The Senators from Delaware, although representing u
sl, veholdinG State upon lhls floor, have voted aguinst
those resolutions, be ause, in their opinion, they can dc.
lee, in them The poison OF notification. Now, | Gun see
no such thing in them, AMI am ready 10 aYow that III
the main they contain nothing bu, the assertion Of cor.
rect po!itical principles to which ! am devoted. put
,vI,,i then, These Senators are PLACED IN i false posi-
ton, and are compelled to vote against resolutions the
object Of which they heartily approve hgain' my
friend, the Senator from New Jersey, Qlr: wall Vo'rs
against ,hs,n, because they are poii,icui distractions, ct
which he thinks the Senate ought not to take cog.
uizance; although he IL as much opposed TO abolition,
and as willing ~ maintain The constitutional rights OF
the South, as any Senator upon this tDor. Other Sena'
tors believe the right of petition has been endangered;
and until that has been established, they will not vote for
any resolutions upon the subject. Thus we stand; and
thus those Of us in the North, who must sustain the
brunt Of the battle, are forced into false positions. Abo-
litiDn thus acquires force by bringing 10 its aid the right
of petition, and the hostility which exists in the NORTH
against tue doctrines Of notification. Il is vain 10 say
That these principles are not really involved. in the qnes.
ton. This may be, ind in my opinion is, true; but why,
by our conduct here, should we aitDrd the AoolItlonists
such plausible pretexls? The fact ID, and IL cannot be dis
ruisrd, that those OF Us in the Northern STATES who have
determined to sustain tie rights of the slaveholdins
States, oil every hazard, are placed in q most enbarrass-
ing situation. We are almost literally between Two
hires; whilst in front we are assalled BY the AbohtIonIslS,
our own friends in The South are constantly driving Us
into positions where their enenies end our enemies may
gain important advantages. Let Us then sacrifice forms
II NC Gun obtain The substance.
Now. ST, IT q ScleCl tUUnlU!ttcG ADuIU III ldisCu t'f
might, ! think, report .hree resolutions, when Woush re-
ceIve the almost unanimous vote OF the Senate.
Wta, is the egil of which The Southern States com.
plain? Numerous abolition societies have been iormec
,hruurhuut the Middle and Northern States; ond for
what purpose, Il cannot be for the purpose ct rtttct-
lng any ckannc of opinion in the free States OH the sub.
jecl of slavery. We have no slaves there we never
Shall have any slaves there. The Office, cannot be To-
operate upon the sa s%ehDlders; because The nbulilionis's'
must know, every person within the sound of my voice
knows, that their interference with this question has
bound the sluveholding Interest together as one man
against aboishing slavery m iteir respective States
Before this uD!urtunats agitation commenced, n very
large and growing party existed m scverul OF the slave
States in favor of the gradual abolition of slavery anc
now not n uoice is heard there IN supper, OF such a
measure. The abolilionists have postponed the enamel
patton Of the slaves in three or four States OF this Union
Tor al least half q century. They have, by their lnGt-
ference, produced such a state of public opinion that II"
man within these States would now be bold enough TO
ruise such q question before any OF their legislatures
What, then, ~ The purpose OF these societies-I VIII DOC
say the purpose, for ! eannot, and do moi, attllonle 10
them such unioIy intentioDs-bat what is the direct ten
dency of their measures? To irritate and ~exasperaic
the feelings Of the slaves; TO hold out to them vague no
lions and delusiyc hopes Of liberty; 10 render them DIS
contented and unhappy, and hualy 10 fomeht serVi% IN
surreetioa, With all It's attendant horrors, and to cover
The land with blood. However devoted TO the Union
the South may be, the cup Of foTbearance may yet he
exhausted. If The father of a family be placed IN such
n de ylorable condition that he cannot retire 10 rest n!
night without apprehension mat Deio'e inc morning us
house may be enyeloped in fanars, and those who are
nearest and dearest 10 him may be b%ntchered, or wors'.
than %butchered, the great law Of self preservation will
compel him TO seek security BY whatps ger Saeaas 1t may
be obtained. Now, SiE, ! have long watched The pro-
gress Of .Lis agitation with intense anxiety, and / car
say in solemn truth, that never before have witnessed
such a deep persading and determined feeling as EXISTS
at present upon this subject among the sober and re.
Ascling men Of the South They love the on'1n, Ot
if lis blessings cannot be enjoyed but in consiaA ieaf OF
their own destruction, necessity will compel them 1"
abandon it. Such is now the Southern feeling: The
Union is now in danger, and ! wish 10 proclaim the
fact. The brave man looks danger IN ihe race, ano
yaneuisIles it; whilst the coward closes his eyes at lis
annru,ch. and Is overwhelmed. The Union is dear to-
me- as my hearts blood. | would peril life, character,
and eyeiv eny,hly hope, to maintain it; but the best