The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-19
Congressional.
WASHINGTON Correspondence Of the Boston 'dh'

He presented petition from large number of
the inhabitants sof the District of Columbia, re-
monstrating in strong terms against tho continuance
of the agitation on the subject of abolition here,
and expressing strong wish that this "foreign in
reference" should cease and receive no counte'
nance from the National Legislature.
Mr. Clay said that among the names subs cribed
to this emonal he recognised that of the highly
esteemed Mayor and those of many of the most
respectable inhabitants of this city, and he was
authorised to state that it contained fair express
sion Of the almost unanimous sentiments OF the
citizens.
He reminded the Senate of his well known o.
pinion that the disposition which Congress has
made of abolition petitions, not the wisest
mode of treating them. He had been for referring
them to proper committee, and receiving from
them temperate but cogent appeal to all classes
of citizens on this momentous subject. The result
far the bects OF these petitions was concern
ed, would have been the same that has followed
from the course which has been pursued Their
PRAYER would have been rejected. lie thought that
the forms of receiving, referring, aud reporting on
the petitions should have been adhered TO and
Mr. Clay, in connection with this remark, dwelt
forcbiy on the importance of paying, regard to
forms in matters of public concern and In the or
binary affairs of life
He did not attribute TO those who had opposed
this mode of treating the memorials, any design
whatever to violate the rights ofpetition, IN proper
cases. Yet their course had furnished the Pretext
to the ultra Abolitionsts for gross
and perverson-and for making wrong impressions
on the public mind.
Mr. Clay then proceeded TO suggest some of the
topics which in his opinion ought to have been en-
bodied in n re poIt of a committee, and which he
firmly believed, if promulgated with the authority
which committee of Congress, properly constitu'
ted, ought to give to all that emanates from it,
would have gone far to check the mischieyous
spirit Of abolltionsm, and restore quiet and peace
10 the whole country
There are, said he, three classes ofperscns in the
United States to whom thesa topics ought TO be
particularly addressed Fist, those that from
tivaa Of nh ND
the existence of slavery. Secondly, the apparent
Abolitionists, who act in concert with the real
ones, only from belief or apprehension of the in
vason Of the right of petition. And thirdly, the
real, thorough going Abolitionists, who only de-
sirous of accomplishing their own purposes, are ut
terly regardless of the rights of property-ihe re-
qurements of the Consttution-the rights OF the
States-and not even if they IN the end,
should the destruction Of their glorious sys.
tenn of Government, on which the tarest hopes
and brightest anticipaons of mankind are fix
ed.
These persons profess now to limit themselves
10 the abolition of slavery in the District of Column
bia, and the Territory Of Florida, and of what
they choose to call the slave trade between the
States. These are but the means to what they re-
gard as their grand object They, are but short
stages in the long aud bloody road that leads to
their great goal-the emancipation of 100000
slaves f without fr any ptePara'o' or
The most alarming thing connected with the
proceedings of the Abolitionists, Mr. Clay said,
was their recent mingiing with the politics of the
country. With all their assumed superiority in
wisdom, humanity and enlightened benevolence,
they have found their logic unsuccessful in the
South, and determined henceforth to appeal to the
ballot box and (sad he earnestly if they fail
that, their ultimate appeal will be to the potency Of
the bayonet.
He then took rapid survey of three remarka
BILE periods in our history when Abotionsts have
appeared with peculiar prominence.
Their first appearance was in the very hst day
after the Constitution went into operation. They
peti!oned Congress. Their petitions were refer
red An adverse report was made, which was at
tended with excellent results, and the Abolition
lists after that, limited their exertions and influence
to works Of charity, and amelioratiug the condi.
ton OF the slave.
The second period was at the time when the fa.
nous Missouri question under consideration.
That struggle was powerful one, but it terminal
ed peaceaby. 1t was composed by one of those
compromises peculiar to institutions and OF
which, the Constitution itselfis most splendid
example.
The third period includes the last few years and
the present. The emancipation of the slaves in
the British West India Islands gave great stimulus
TO the spirit of abolition. Superficial observers
once fastened to the conclusion, that because
slavery abolished there, it ought to be put
down here
They never thought of the difference between
the two governments in respect to the powers they
possess ; nor of the different circumstances in
which the subect to be acted upon, were placed.
Mr. Clay here gave a most just and discriminating
view OF the constitution OF the BrltlSn Parliament
and the American Congress-showing the almost
omnipotent authority OF the former, and the limited
powers of the latter With equal earnestness and
force he drew the distinction between the West
India slaves and those of our country--ours exist
ing in The very bosom of the nation, the subjects
Of taxation and representation theirs, at a dis
lance from the Parent government, and they and
their masters unrepresented in the public councils.
suppose these slaves had been in the heart of En-
gland, Scotland Ireland and Wales, the subjects
'of taxation and represen taation who believes
rhey would have boon emancipated
Other causes added to the excitement of the
spirit of Abolitionsm. Certain persons 10 the
slaveholding, as we'll the non slave holding
States, have sought to make political profit from
it. Erroneous charges are made by party "a
gainst another, of cherishing abolition designs
Mr. Clay declared his sincere belief that neither
party had any such designs. If either had, he
would regard it as OF the greatest ca
lamites,-and he would appreheRd more danger to
the peace and happiness of the country than he
could now anticipate.
Mr. CLAW discussed with consummate ability the