Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-25

success who unmoyed by false alarms or imaginary or
aggravated dangers, with firm and fixed purpose OF
soul, stand prepared, in every real exIgency, 10
them at every extremity.
Having, Mr.. President, said much on the &c genera
subject, with the permission of the Senate, VIII leau
certain resolutions which, have prepared embracing Wv.
whole ground occupied by any OF The petitions III
TO domestic slavery in the United States. lhey ale VIC
following: -
Resosed Tha, lhe institution of domestic slavery as
now existing in many of the States OF thus
is subject 10 the exclusive power and con,roi OF 'ose
States pectiyey; and that other State nor CO.
pie Of any other State, Congress, possess OF can
rgh:uily exercise any power or auiho!y "na'e'e' -
interfere in any manner herewith: -d
Rcscircd, That il any citizens o the y. ota'es'
less of the spirit of peace, harmony, ana union ""h
should animate the various members "i tue
deracy and heir respective citizens snail Peseh' W ~
Senpe any petitions touching the abolition OF sia"ey IN
any of the Sules in which il exists all such peuons
shall be instantly rejected, without deoale ana "itou
further or other proceedings thereon, as relating 10 81 oo
ec papaby beyond the scope oil the constitutional po"
er Of Congress. co,,nb;, u,s
coded by The States of Virginia md Maryland 10 we u
States domestic slavery existed IN both OF tnose
including the coded territory; and tha as u SUI
,inuss in both of them it could not be nbo''sncu, WIN"
The District, wthoua violation OF that good lain wneh
was implied in the cessiUn and IN The accep'"e1 VI %
territory, nor, unless compensation were maui w ,n
oroprieturs of slaves, without manifest
an amendment 10 the Constitution oil te u D., no WEI"
out exciting degree of just ulurm and apprehension
in The States recognising slavery, fat lranscending ~
nischrvous tendency, any possible benefit winch couo
be accomplished by The abolition
Reso'rfd therefore, That il is The deliberate judgment
or The Ssnae that the institution Of domestic slavery
ought Mo, to be abolished within the District OF Iouh'
bia and it earnestly hopes TINT all sincere irenos OF te
Union: and Of harmony and general t1nn9uil'y @'''
cease 10 agiiae this disturbing question but tue De-
bn,e feels itself at the same lime, constrained, from
high sense of duty in respect to the constitutions 1ght
of petition To declare holds itself bound TO receive
aud respectfully to treat any petitions, copchea 10 oeco
rous language, which may be presented by czens OF
the IT, s. touching slavery within the D!5lricl ol ~
lulnbia
Rcso'rcd, therefore, That upon the presentation OF
any such petitions, they shall he received uhu 'eei'e"
10 the appropriate committee.
Resuirsd That il would be highly ine1pedent ~ aeo!,
ish slavery in Furida, the only Territory III the Oneu
States in which it exists because oil the serious aa'
and lust apprebpnsons which would be thereby e%ced
in lie States sustaining that domestic Institution; BE-
cause the people of that Territory have not asked 10
be done, and. when admitted as State into The onon'
will be exclusively entitled 10 decide That question i"1
themselves and also, because il would be III violation
of a solemn curnpromise made al memorable anu CRU
cal period in The history of this country by which, WINE
slavery prohibited north. it was admitted soull ~
the line Of lhrtysix degrees and thirty minutes Aon
latitude.
Resoired, That no power is delegated, by the Constr
tuition Congress, prohibit, in between The States
toersing slavery the sale and removal OF such persons
as held in slavery by the lass Of those States
Rcsursd. Tia, whilst the Senate, with n painful re-
pre, has seen lie perseverance, OF certain czcis OF Inc
United States in The agitation OF The abolition ct do
nestle slavery, thereby creating dstrust aud Glscnn.
tent and dissatisfaction among the people o! the United
States who should cherish towards each other Ira
terna sentiments il bphnds with the deepest saiiSiac-
tina every where prevailing unc"nquerahe attach
nrnt TO the Union, the sure bulwark OF TIE safety,
liberty, and happiness of the people OF The u s'aes.
There is nothing abstract metaphysical in them
They relate to the abolition OF slavery in the States IN
the District Of Columbia and in Florida the only Ter
rory Ct The United States where it exists, and to the
sale and removal n Slaves in the States whose laws re-
cognse the institution of slavery They coverlhe while
field and nothing but the field They have no ultefior
views They approach the subject in hand, directly,
without the necessity OF any interpretation They do
not seek to rcnovae any party, nor TO place the hgh
Interests which they relate IN The exclusive CUSTODY
OF my one party. Resting upon, and sustained by,
the Constitution they appeal 10 the sound discretion,
the sober Judgment and the patriotism OF oil PARTIES
may not ask The OF the Senate to be expressed
upon each Of them; bat shall offer that relutiag 10
the District Of Columbia and that to tue Territory OF
Florida as an amendment TO the filth resolution submit
ted By the Senator from South Carolina think The
charge upon the petitioners Of ntermsddng with nbo-
lition in this District is harsh and That some less omen
sye word should be used. The District Of Columbia is
the seat Of the common Government of the U. s. IL
ceded for that express purpose Each Slle hos as
muchinerest in il, and cs much right to petition about
any thing within it, any other State, and no more
NUr with the resolution, IN declaring thai
the abolition Of slavery in the District OF COLUMBIA
would be direct md dangerous attack upon til. Insti-
tuition Of slavery in the States. am prepared To say
that il would excite degree Of just alarm and aPPre-
hension in the Sntes recognising slavery, far tran.
sceudug in mschevous tendency, any possible bene.
" 6t which could be accomplished by the Ambition, or
to any other equivalent language We can no more
say that the abolition Of slavery ~ this District would
be direct attack upon the Institution in the States than
we could assert. il any OF the savehodlng Sates
were to abolish slavery within lis own limits, that
would be direct attack the institution in other slave
a.. - nuu hnl: mn
slavery in her West India POSSESSIONS made direct at
tack upon it in the D. 5. Nor is the at all altered
by the motives whatever they may be- which shall be
uvowed for abolition. In conclusion, move the THIRD
resolution of the series which have suggested an
amendment to the fifth resolution proposed BY The Scna-
tor from South Carolina.
Mr.. Calhoun followed He said he FELT some induce
mcnt persevee in the s had hcreofDe pursu
ed by seeing line concessions which were proposed
by Tie resolutions just read by the Senator from htn.
tucky"' MIR. g. saw il conceded, that were The sub
ect was clearly unconstitutional, the Seraie was not
bound TO receive petition. Al fist the broad ground
taken that the right OF petition was so sacred That
reosal receive petition, rnntter on what sub.
-c and no matter how objectionable lis language, !
would be- invasion of it, Now it was conceded that
they moi bound 10 receive petition when the sub
-ct OF il clearly unconstitutional Now. as 10 The
amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky TO the
filth resolution. lie would state in general terms. what
the grent characteristic differences between them
The Senator went the principle that concession was
the way 10 meet these abolIlonists He the other
HAND went on the ground that have SAFETY but
in standing fast our tights. What was the stale |
Of the question? The ubnilionsls tell you, in SO
many words, that their object is to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia but one step TO-
wards final abolition in the States. With this object, |
avowei by be ahnlionists what do duty and p"cy de-
tnand our part: We the end; aud that, if it can
he effected would be destruction Shall we yield,
or stand FASH That is the question. If We yield an
inch, we gone. The very ground on which we are
asked to make the first c"ncesson will be urged I'm Us
with equal force make the second the third and every
intermediate till the last is contaminated. The first
yeidlbe right of petition md to discuss the snbec,
with Tie aholi,ionss in order to appense Them and TO
stop agitation. This the Senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Clay urges US, which he tells would have happy
ILL.,. H..