Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-02-28


ior il they differ, the whole business OF the
House must stop, there being no third power
umpire to decide between them. n,
The resolutions Of the 18th December as
the undersigned understands them, simply
amount TO this: that as the House had de.
not to legislate upon the subject OF
slavery during the present session, oil papers
referring to that subject, and oil that should
hereafter be presented, should be read and
received and laid upon the table. They do
not deny to any present or future petitioner
the right to have his petition read and Ie'
ceved, but declare that they do not mean to
act on that subject during the present session.
The words present session are not mentioned,
but every member Of the House well knew
that the resolution could not bind their sue
cessors, but must expire with the existing
session. Had there been simple resolution
declaring that the House would not act upon
the subject Of slavery at this session, would
there have existed a doubt of their consiitu-
tional right so to do? II is admitted that
there would not. And yet the Effect OF such
vote, without any reference to the petitions
on the table, or those hereafter presented,
would have been precisely the same as the
prcsent resolutions. Resolutions posiponing
whole subject are passed by this House at
almost every session, and oil future petitions
arc postponed as matter OF course. IL also
silences all further debate, a right quite as
important as the right TO petition.
No views which the undersigned has been
able to take, with the assistance OF some OF
his legal friends, have raised doubt IN his
or their minds as to the constitutionality OF
those resolutions. On the contrary, there
are many circumstances known to all OF us,
which rendered some general action or dis
position Of the subject indisPensnbly neces-
sary.
These, or other petitions Of a similar char
acter, have been before Congress for many
years. II is not pretended that any facts
exist with which the members are not ac-
quainted. The prayers Of these petitions
have been denied session after session, Tor
upon petitions for public law neglect to
bring in Bill is denial Of the prayer.
The petitions are dissatisfied with these
repeated decisions upon the subject, and are
determined not To acquiesce, but to pour in
upon the liousc such flood Of new petitions
as will influence by their numbers, where
they have failed to convince by their argu-
ments. In courts Of justice parties are not
allowed hearing upon a question OF law
once solemnly settled by the same court
Is House Of Representatives obliged to de-
bate and refer to committees one or two hun
dred thousand petitions at every session, upon
a subject that they have over and over again
decided? They are obliged to read, ana do
read and receive them, and in the opinion Of
the undersigned, any further action upon
them is not required by the right to petition,
nor even by any sound principle of policy,
until some member can be found having suf-
ficient confidence in the subject to introduce
a Bill.
The undersigned cannot blind himself to
the fact that this question Of the right to peti-
ton, proceeds wholly from abolition feeling,
and is used as an instrument 10 attain abo-
lition objects. II is an attempt To add politl-
cal heat to abolition fury. In the opinion Of
the undersigned, the sincere, judicious friends
Of manurnlssion, are those most opposed to
abolition societies, FOR so long rs these so.
cietics exist, so long will manumisslon with
the consent Of the MASTER remain hopeless
object. The mild and persuasive measures
Of the earliest friends Of abolition, diffused
the light of reason without arousing the lion
passions of the heart. The slave holder was
addressed by the gentle Quaker, not as one
having power to dictate and control, but in
the true spirit Of love and meekness. lie
was addressed by the manumissOn in other
states, and the increased advance in industry,
wealth and refinement which il produced; by
the examples Of France and England, and
also by still more effective agent, the power
oi the whole body Of English and American
which surrounded his mind, as
sort Of atmosphere with its perpetual exhala-
tioDs Of light and truth. Tint mind was al
ready bending under these mild and genial,
but perpetually operating influences. A
divided opinion was created in the SOUTH
Breaches were made Of considerable magni-
lude in all the de!ences Of slavery, and in all
human probability few years more would
commenced by mild and natural agencies.-
But the stern bigot and the sour fanatic,
pushed aside the gentle and judicious quaker,
and all that had been accomplished by the
latter was lost, and worse than lost to the
friends Of freedom, by the blindness and fury
OF tho former. Numerous societies were
formed and large sums of money subscribed
Powerful presses were employed to keep up
a constant and CALLING fire, and numerous
and well paid agencies established all over
tho northern states, constituting in the az
grcgate an array Of force and power, which
ovcrspread the whole southern mind with
fear and alarm, and from a weakened and
divided state, drove it into one firm united
compact and hostile feeling.
Until these moral troops are disbanded.
until the morning and evening blast Of their
hostile trumpet ceases to sound in the South.
ern ear with it's din Of dreadful preparation !;
until this moral war, to call il by its gentlest
name, waged by those who truly believe that
they are doing their duty to their God to put
down slavery even ut the expense Of the
union and quiet Of this before peaceful coun.
try; until then, not even hope exists of the
emancipation Of the slaves of the South with
the consent Of their masters. Every ncces-
sion of strength to these societies is binding
the chain still stronger upon the unhappy
African. Every legislative resolution loos-
ems our bond Of Union, and hastens the period
OF war and bloodshed. Every step in this
infuriate and dangerous course, proves that
even in Rhode Island the maniac power Of
religious bigotry was Gagged and chained, and
not aRnihiated, rs we had fondly believed
loose 1t from its long confinement, give it
the power of numbers and wealth, and coax
1t into action by Legislative sympathy, and
you fasten upon the North slavery of mind
as dark and benighted, rs that which palsied
this christian world in the days ofthe Jnquls-
ton and Crusadcs. Give il scope, and IL will
WELD its fierce md gigantic power with a
blindness to all worldly consequences, and
Ia. r.