Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-04-05
REMARKS OF Mr.. ELY MOORE, OF
NEW YORk.

REMARKS OF Mr.. ELY MOORE, OF
NEW YORk.
In the House Of Representatives, February
4ls39, on presenting renaonstrance
from citizens oft;e District Of Columbia
agains, the reception Of abolition petitions
&c.
Mr.. speaker--I present to the House a
emonstrance, signed by several hundred
Citizens Of this District, against the recep'
son of petitions from the citizens of the
Sta,es, praying forthe abolition Of slavery ii
the District of Columbia. The memorial
alisls represent that they regard Congress
as the local Legislature of this District
standing in the same relation 10 the itizens
of the District that Legislature does to
the ciizens o. Stale; and that they claim
the right to advise or instruct the Congress
as their local Legislature, on all subjects
relating exclusively to the local interest:
and municipal institutions Of the District
And fur;hcr-lhat they regard the inter.
ference Of persons residing wilhou, the linn
its Of the District, by petition or otherwise
as intrusive and understandable !; and claim
the pa,ernal protection of Congress against
surh Interference with their rights and IN
teres.s. | concur with The views Of the
mrmoralis:s, and shall proceed 10 yindicate
them to the best Of my abilities.
Ibelievc, Mr.. Speaker, am justified IN
the declaration that since have hal the
honor of seat in this body, at least one'
third Of our time has been unnecessarily
wasted, or mischievously employed, | will
BOT undertake 70 say which, in debating pc.
,itions, resolutions, &c. &C., touching the
abolition Of slavery in the District of Colum'
bia. In other words, ifI am correct in tho
views which would beg leave to submit TO
the consideration of the House before |
take my scat, We have for The last four ses-
sions of Congress, consumed a large portion
of our time in discussing subject over
which the Federal Leg; ~'aiure, in their fed.
-cral capacity, have no jurisdiction. lrthis
be so, is it not time that we pause; nay, is
j, not high time that we SO change our
course Of action on this exciting and vexa-
tious subjec. as 10 reject, outright, oil peti.
tioas and memorials praying for the aooll-
ton Of slavery in the District ofColumbIaI!
It's well known 10 the members OF this
House, that all attempts to suppress discus.
sion on This subject, have proved utterly
abor,ive. And so long as we continue 10
receive petitions from citizens OF the States
on the subject of slavery, so long will our
time, as heretofore, be occupied in ag'ta.
ting this question Nay, i, must be apparent
to all, row that abolionism has assumed a
political character, that this perPlexing sub
ject will become, from year to year, moro
and more embarrassing TO the Federal Legs
laiure, unless there shall be found sufficient
firmuess in q majority of its members to
shut down the gate at once upon all petit
tons of an abolition character. And, SIR,
permit me 10 say, that am no! altogether
confident the American people do not as'
tach undue importance to the right, "ot Pc.
titiop." when understood in broad and po.
lhical sense-in tha, sense, | mean, in
which it has ever been regarded IN England.
When | hear gentlemen on this floor de-.
claim with so much warmth and energy on
wha, they are pleased to call the blessed,
sacred, and ines,imable right Of the people
to assemble and to petition, for redress OF
grievances" am sometimes inclined TO be.
Geye that their zeal is not according 70
knowledge, and that they have not duly
considered the character and genius of our
free institutions.
Il is lrur, and TO my mind it is as strange
as ii is true, that the Congress of l7s9
deemed pr per 10 propose an amendment 10
the Constitution, recognizing "the rgh' ef
the people peaceably 10 assemble and pe''-
ton the Government for redress OF gre-
yapees." The statesmen Of that day, as
well as those of the present, were 100 much
in the habit Of looking to England, no, o:ly
for precedents, but for political principles
and practices. And from that source did
S,hey derive their ideas concerning The sane
nv ard importance Of the rlgh, Of the peo-
pie 10 assemble and petition their Govern.
ment. That the right of petition has ever
been held dear and sacred by the oppres'
sed and down-trodden subjects of Great
Britain, is not 10 be marvelled at. Moth
ing could be mare natural than people,
whose political franchises ha been wrench.
ed from them by the iron hand OF despo'
tic: power, should esteem it boon 10 be
gracously permtte TO assemble ano
make known their wrongs, md to petition
to supplicate for redress. 1t was the only
avenue to the throne which tyranny had lett
them; The only mode TO obtain, or rathc!
10 solicit, redress, which the sovereign had
v"uchsafed TO them. The grievances com.
planned of by the subjects-I speak partcu.
iariy in reference to by. gone times-were
mostly general in their effects, and political
IN their character, and originated with the