Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-08
FEBEsE.gR T. $. 1898.


guags Of the report, which all Senator'S could s"e mud
read for themselves LIE did not feel himself called on,
this preliminary question: to prove the correctness OF
the facts stated IN the report the conclusions drawn
from lhrm yet for the support Of these facts he ~ou'o
rrfrr the Senate TO various newspaper reports whch
have circulated through the country and are alike nc
cessibe 10 all md he would add TO decara atoms made,
and proceedings had in this and the other hall OF Con-
gress And he would ask, is there any thing IT.
heious in this report: and have not Inc People OF YER
mont right TO urge the existing evils growing out OF
the state vi slavery at the SOnth the foundation OF "o
JrctInnS to the Of extensive slavrhoding
country To this Unun, That there great evils grow.
ing nui OF The existing stale Of slavery at the South e ne
lleved no one would deny. Some of these evils have
been depicted glowing coorsby gentlemen "the South
We have brrn told by them that slavery has been entaed
them without their consent and that the evils are IN
evllable and they appeal the sympates of the North
in their behalland certainly in this point of view they
are entitled to them. And on the susrct of these evils
must the people Of the North remain silent? May they
not be permitted to urge them reasons why they
should not he extended and entailed others Or must
the people OF the North time submit 10 mere protest
against the annexation of Texas without being allowed
10 urge in support OF such proies, the most important
against il Sir, will differ this as on
most other subjects, and have yet TO learn that eler
party may not state the reasons OF lis opinion without
being considered obnoxious abuse TO this degrada.
ton the people OF his State would submit. And
he could Senators that the declarations OF Sena-
tors this flour, To which lie had alluded, and the va
rlnus opproburs epithets which have been used and
the opinions of conduct Of his constituents,
though he had doubt that these declarations and epl.
thes would be appreciated by them to the iul Of what
they worth.
Sir the People Of the South free express np
niOs touching the interests OF the People Of the North
opinions ton, which The People Of the North condemn
unsonnd YET they do not Condemn the expression OF
such opinions; they make 10 complaint upon tins SUBJ
jet; but they claim 10 themselves the right oil OPT.
Mon. and mnch yirne and Intelligence. and os much
attachment, to the Constitution and the Onion as they
will cnnceGe 10 any other State. And. he would ASK Is
il generous or maenanmous Ia" Senators here, while
they claim for the People of the South freedom of speech
and Of the press, and the right Of opinion deny these
privileges 10 Others?
Mr.. S. said he hut DO desire excite debate on this
subject In presenting the resolutions, and the remarks
lie had made he had Intended merely TO discharge his
duty 10 his constituents; and h" had purPnsely avoided
doing more that the charge of adding to the excitement
might not rest him. But if (as has been Intimately
Senators will this to add To The excite.
meni pf which we have already had sufficient for one
session he cnud help though he did not intend
further 10 participate III IL.
hlr said if the resolutions rcceI:ed By the ST..
nate aErecablY 10 his notion it his purpose at
present ask their reference committee, 10 make
them the ,undann of legislative action bn, would move
tina: they BIZ laid r table and printed and on this
motion lie asked Tin, yeas and nays.
Mr. prenliss Of Vermont said that, feeling himself
called upnn he did, bg what i1anspred on former
OCCASION relation these resolutions 10 make some
remarks. he ask the indulgence at the Srni" lar
ieI moments. ~ Is mol IHy design. tSth hI E.l
in any thing shall say 10 provoke farther debate upon
the exciting and irritating topics which have engaged so
much Of our attention; much less IS il my design TO dis
tnrb the feelings Of any member If this body. My only
purpose is 10 discharge duty which o"e 10 the Legls-
laure and People of the State represent.
Sir il is quite impossible for 10 express IN adequate
terms how Inuc regret the course which was pursued
the "ccasiun TO winch refer: and, especially, how
deeply regret that remarks made at the time, not
only, itappeared to me- unhecomng The occasion, bnt
of n better fitted, much better fitted TO Augment
than aay excitcncnt here and elsewhere.
When tie resolutions presented, some days ago,
with other view, declared at the Time, than to
haze them laid the table and printed, they met
at with objection 10 their reception The ob.
ieclIon was ne" only accompanied with unjnst and lni
rious mpuallons but was followed up immediately with
motion ~ ay The motion To- receive on tie table The
motion Ia lay the table insisted npon refused
to lie Withdrawn, and thus opportunity was allowed
either t"r reply or explanation.
II appr arcd Ia then that Il great mistake 10
sup hat the resolutions were 10 BIZ Treated like pc.
lilinn from private individual know That II has been
recently established here rule OF order that the pre-
sentiment Di petition must he accompanied with mo-
ton 10 receive it, have disposition 10 question the
proprely of that rule but must be allowed mot only
10 question, but to deny, thai II has any application o
the paper before the Seune. The paper is not me-
mortal or petition. IN the nature OF memorial or pc.
ttiun Sir The States Of this Union do no, here
as humble petitioners. Their Legislatures do not speak
in the language Of PETITION. They express their "rhI'
and wishes in The form Of resolutions, the only form
becoming their character and dignity Representatives
OF the Peupc nd wEen let ask Tie time that
a cOnmu MICA ton from The Government Ot Stale was
put upon the footing Of petition from private ndl'
vldna question made 10 liz rsception Sir such
Il proceeding would be assumption vi new AID very
high prerogativr-a prercgatrr as unknown 10 usage
the Constitution, Is repngnant |" Tie nature o!
this Union aud the geEps al tins Government
a nj by whom THIS Pre-Ogatlye asserted: By gen
rmpn belonging 10 the State rights school, protesting
Stale rights doctrines. BY gentlemen who hold that
this Union is cnnrieracy Of sovereign States; that
the Constitution Of this Government is compact be.
tween sovereign States; that the Senators on this hoor
the representatives Of the States bound by the sill
and instructions Of the State Legislatures Are not The
resolutions which offered resolutions Of instruction
from the Legislature of Stale to their Senators on this
floor: And how could gentlemen, consistently with
their avorile doctrine OF Slate rights, or consistently
with any Just doctrine principle, lnterpnse the cues.
tim of rrcppun' How they refuse 10 receive, and
place upon The journal resolutions Of instruction, in
deed any communication from the Legislature ut
State: know ha, have shut doors against The
People, and refused 10 hear them by petition. but trust
that prepared yet 10 turn our backs upon
the State Legislatures, and refuse to hear them als"
Sir haze said TINT regretted sincerely and deeply
regretted that remarks have been made upon this oor
as uncaed for by the resolutions which presented
they were dsrpspcciul the Legislature and People OF
the State from which tine resolutions come. Let me
tell gentlemen and do with all possible respect, that
they mistake the character OF the People to whom they
have chosen to apply what deem uncoureuus and re-
proachlnl cpithe.s Called upon. am, to rindcae
The People Of my Stale: shall speak Of them only
as they deserve | shall indulge in no vain boasng
on their behalf should DO I'M Justice to their feelings
as we'll their character if did 50; for they are
plain, unosentaous People, with arrogan, claims,
no superciIous prelensons. But this | may say, and
and Justly, too thai People possessing more viz
Inc and general intelligence, joined to m"re l1erali-
" of sentiment and generosity OF feeling. with tfuer
aud more icvord patriotism, Is nowhere to be found
Look at their individual and social condition, and see
they ere ignoran; fanatics miserable sgi".ofs With
IT., rr,,, md
umonr Them, cherished encouraged, and sustained by
popular favor, among which, am proud to say, Tree
schools f elementary education stand conspicuous all
ale instructed The rudmen!s Of learning IN religion,