Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-02-21
SPEECH or .NR. CHI.
ON the SUBJECT or ABOLITION.
In fhe u. s. s,na,, ,;

. | 80 - q St"sfe, February ., 1889.
. MIR. CLAY. Of kentucky, rose 10 pre-
sent . petition. and said: I have receiv.
ed. MIR. President, . petition 10 the Sc.
nate and House OF Representatives Of the
United States. which / wish TO present 10
The Senate. II is signed by several hun
T dred inhabitants Of the District OF Colum.
b'a. and chiefly Of the city Of Washing.
ton. Among them recognise the nam.
OF the highly esteemed Mayor of the CITY.
and other respectable names. .ome Of
winch are personally and well known 10
me. They express their reere, thu, the
subject ct the abolition Of slavery within
the District OF Columbia continue, 20 be
pressed upon the confederation of Con.
gtess by inconsiderate and misguided in
aiViduais IN other parts Of the United
states They state that they do not de-
,re inc abolition OF slavery within the
District, even If Congress posses, the We.
~ questionable power Of aboiishiue il.
without the consent Of the people whose
interests would be Immediately and di.
rectiy affected by the measure; that il il.
question solely between the people OF the
District and their only constitutional Leg.
isia'ure. purely municipal. and one in
winch no exterior influence or interest
can Justly interfere; that, fiat any future
period the people Of this District should
desire the abolition Of slavery within il.
they will doubtless make their wishes
known, when II will be time enough 10
take the matter into consideration; that
they do Lot. on this occasion, present
themselves to Congress because they are
iave-holders-many Of them are not
some oil them are conscientiously opposed
to slsvery-but they appear bee ause they
Justly respect the rights Of those who own
that description Of property, and because
they entertain a deep conviction tina, the
continued agitation Of the question by
those who have no right 10 interfere with
1t, has an injurious influence on the pe.ce
and tranquility Of the community. and
upon the well-being and happiness of
those who are held in subsection; they
finally protest rs well against the unsu.
thorized intervention Of which they com.
plain, as against any legislation on the
part OF congress IN compliance there with.
but, as ! wish these espectaple petition
ers TO be themselves heard | request that
their petition may be read TIt was read
accordingly, and Mr.. CLAY proceeded. /
| am informed by the committee which
, requested me to offer this petition, and be.
lieve. that 1t expresses the almost unsni.
nous sentiments Of The people Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The performance Of this service affords
me. said Mr.. c. legitimate opportunity.
Of which, with the permission Of the Sc.
nate, l mean now to avail myself, to saw
something. no, only on the particular OBJ.
jects Of the petition. but upon the great
and interesting subject with which il 10 in
timately associated.
| 1t 10 well known TO the Senate, said
, Mr.. CLAY. that have thought that the
|. most judicious course with abolition pe,i
, tons has not been Of late pursued by Con-
gress. have believed ID at il would have
been visest 10 have received and referred
them. without opposition, and TO have re-
ported against their object in q calm and
dispassionate and argume ntaiiye appeal 10
+ the good sense Of the whole community.
; IL has been supposed, however, by q ma.
[ Jou'y oil Congress that IL was most expe-
dient either not TO receive the petitions AT
all, or. u formally received, not TO act de-
, initively upon them. There is no sub
stsn,isl difference between these opposite
+ opinions, since both look to an absolute
rejection OF the prayer OF the pitiliouers.
Bot there is great difference in the form
OF proceeding; and. Mr.. President. some
experience in the conduct of human az.
fairs has taught me 10 believe that a ne
glect TO observe established forms is often
: attended with more misebievous conse.
! quences than the infliction Of positive
: injury. We all know that. even in prr-
p vate life, violation Of the existing usages
and ceremonies OF society cannot sake
place without serious prejudice. / fear,
sIr, that the aboliiIonists have acquired a
. considerable apparent force by blending
I with the object which they have in view
3 collateral and totally different question
arising out Of an alleged violation Of Ire
=. right Of petition. know full we'll. and
$ take great pleasure in tesiifying. that
nothing was temoier from the intention
OF the majority Of the Senate, from which
I differed, than 10 viola.e the right Of ne .
, titIon IN any case in which, according 10
, ITS Judgment, that right could be consiiiu.
tionally exercised, or where the object OF
the petition could be safely ,or properly
4 granted. Still. Il must be owned that the
Aboliiionists have seized hold Of the fact OF
the treatment which their petitions have
b. received IN Congress. and made injurious
\ Impressions upon the minds Of large
l. portion Of the community. This, think.
+. might have been avoided bv the course
. which ! should have been glad 10 have
r seen pursued.
= And desire nov. Mr.. President. 70
n advert 10 some Of those topieswbich thisk
might have been Usefully embodied IN q
report by . committee Of the Senate, and
which. am persuaded. would have cheek.
! ed the progress. II It had not aliozeiher
arrested the efforts. Of abolilion. an
= sensible, SIR. that this work would have
been accomplished with much greater a.
biliiy and with much happier effect. un.
der the auspices Of q committee. than Il
can be by me. Bot. anxious a. Away
am 10 contribute whatever Is in nv poWsi