Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-03-09
SPEECH OE Mr.. CLAY,
Ga The :u5ect Of -2solRon Pstitioas

10 present To the EEHatE- IL Is 1l-lttu ~ =
reveTa! hundred at tic inhabitants OF tue DIS
trIct OF Columbia. and chiefly OF tIe cliy OF
Washington. Among them | recognise the
name OF the higbly esteemed Mayor 0i me
citv, and other respectable names, same OF
which are personally and well known TO me-
They express their regret that the subject OF
the abolition of slavery within the District OF
Columbia continues TO he pressed upon the
consideration of Congress b. inconsideraie
and misguided individuals IN other parts OF the
United States. They state that they do not
desire the abolition of slavery " ithin the DIS
trct, even # Congress possess thc very unGncs-
tIoDable power of aholishing II. without the
consent of the people whose interests womb
be immediately and Directly Affected BY the
measure: that IL u question solely between
the people OF the District and ihctT only con-
stItutIonal Legislature. purely municipal, ana
one in which no exterior influence or interest,"
can justly interfere; that. II at any future pc
Rod the people In this District should desire
the abolition Of slavery within it, they VIII
doubtless make their wishes known when IL
viii be time enough to take the matter INTO
consideration; that they do not. on THIS occa-
sion, present themselves to Congress because
they are siaye-holders-manyo OF them are not
some of them are conscicntIOusIy opposed 10
slsvery-but they appear because they justly
respect the rights OF those who own that des-
crIptIon OF properly. and because they enter
tain a deep conviction that the continued ag-
tation of the question by those who have no
right TO interfere with IL. has I'M furious infiu-
ence on the peace and tranquility of the COM
munitv, and upon the weli-beIng and hapP.-
ness of those who are held in sub ection; they
finally protest as well against the Unauthorized
intervention of which they complain, as against
any legislation on the part of Congress IN COM
plIance herewith. But, as wish these res
pectable petitioners to be themselves heard
requested that their petition may be read. IL
read accordingly, and Mr.. Clay proceeded-I
1 am informed by the committee which re-
quested me to offer this petition, and believe,
that ii presses the almost unanimous senti-
1nents oil the people of the District of CO.
lumbia.
The performance o this service affords me,
said Mr.. &. a legitimate opportunity, OF which,
with the permission of the Senate, mean now
to avail myself, to say something, not only on
the particular objects of the petition, but upon
the great and interesting subjects with which
At is intimately associated.
1t IL well known to the Senate, said Mr..
Clay, that | have thought that the most Judi
cious course with abolition petitions has not
been of late pursued b. Congress. i have be-
licved that IL would have been wscst to have
received and referred them. without opPOsltIor-
and to have reported against their object IN
calm and dispassionate argumentatve appeal
10 the good sense OF the whole community.
1t has been supposed, however, By majority
of Congress that it was most expedient either
not to receive the petitions at all, or, If for
maIly received, not TO act definitely upon
them. There il substantial difference be-
tween these opposite opinions, since both look
10 an absolute rejection of the PRAYER OF the
petitioners. But there is a great difference IN |
the form of proceeding; and, Mr.. President. |
some experience in the conduct of human |
affairs has taugh me to believe that neglect |
10 observe established forms is often attended |
with more mischievous consequences than the |
infection OF a positive injury. We all know |
that, even IN private life, violation OF the ex-
listing usages and ceremonies of society cannot
take place without serious pre- udice. L fear,
SIR, that the abolitionsts have acquired con-
siderable apparent force By blending with the
oblee; which they have in view n collateral and |
totally different question arising out of an al
lodged violation Of the right OF petition.
know full well, and take great Hl-a.ure in tes-
Ilfying, that nothir~ va ren1oter from the in
iention OF me najorty of the Senate, from
which differed, than to violate the light of pc
luton In any case IN which, according to its
judgment, that right could be constitutionaiIv
exercised, where the object of the petition
could be safely or property granted. Still, it
must be owned that the abolitlOnists have seIZ-
ed hold of the fact oil the treatment which
their petitions have received in Congress, and
made injurious impressions upon the minds of
u large portion of the community This,
think, might have been avoided by the course
which l should have been glad 10 have seen
pursued.
And | desire now, Mr. President t, advert
10 some of those topics which l think might
have been usefully embodied IN report by a
committee of the Senate, and which am pur-
suaded, would hav. checked the progress. if il
had not altogether arrested the efforts of aholi-
ton. | am sensible, sir, that this work would
have been accomplished with much greater
ability and with much happier effect, under the
auspices of committee, than II can be by me.
But, anxious / always 10 contribute
whatever is in my power TO the harmony. con-
cord, and happiness of this great people, | feel
myself irresistibly inpelled TO do whatever Is
IN my power, Incompetent l feel myself to
be. to dissuade the public from continuing to
There are three classes of persons opposed. |
or apparently opposed, to the constituted ex-
istence of slavery in the United States. The
hrst are those who, from sentiments of philan-
thropy and humanity, are conscientiously op-i
posed to the existence of slavery, but who are
no less opposed, at the same time, to any dis
turbance OF the peace and tranquility of the
Union, or the Infringement of the powers of
the State composing the Confederacy- in this
class may be comPrehcnded that peaceful and
Exemplary society OF 'sFriends.f' one of whose
in all its forms, and the cultivation OF peace
md goodwill amongst mankind The next
,lass consists of apparent abolitionsts-that is,
hose who. having been persuaded that the
right of petition has been violated by Con gress,
cooperate with the abol'tioDists for the sole
purpose of asserting and vindIcaiing that right
nd the third class arc the real ultra-ab ltion-
SITS, who are resolved to persevere in the pur-
=
egard 10 any Consequences, however calami-
Gus they may be- With them the rights of !
property nothing: the deficiency OF the !,
powers of the General Government is nothing; !
he acknowledged aud incontestible powers Of :
&c States nothing; civil war, dissolution !
{ the Union, and the overthrow of a govern
aent in which concentrated the fondest 7
opes of the civilized world, nothing. a .
ingle idea has taken possession of their minds,
nd onward they pursue IL, overlooking ALL
arricrs, reckless and regardless of all conse- il
uences. With this class, the immediate aboii-l
ION of slavery in the Dlstric; of Columbia, r.
nd in the Territory of Florida. the rrohibi- 4
on of the removal of slaves from State 10 II
tate, and the refusal admit any new State. n
omprising within its limits the institution OF p
omestic slavery, are bat 50 many means con- u
ucing 10 the accomplishment OF the ultimate ?
ut pcrilous end at which they avowedly and .
osdly aim: are but SO many short stages in g
ne long and bloody road 10 the distant goal Al L
hich they would finally arrive Their pur-I =
use is abolition, universal abolition. pcaceably al
il can, forcibly il il must Their object Is q
0 longer concealed by the thinnest veil; il is 81
sowed and proclaimed. Utterly destitute oil 5
or other righ,ful power. living in N