The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-02-28
Speech of Mr.. Clay o the subject
Oh Abolition.
TauRsDAr frDRuARA7, 1899.

1n '. VIA OF hfniUck vi fose IN nrese,
r, petition and said: 1 hays ,,ce,ved AZ,
d PRESIDENT, petition to tie Senate nm
ST ftouse OF Representatives The JIn;,e
le States, which | wish to prfsen 10 The Sen
II ave. II Is signed by several bundled in
N habliants of the District BIZ Columb,a an,
chiefly OF the city of WaAlnston. Anon,
!. them | recognise the nabe &c tho b,ah,'
/. esteemed Mayor of the DIV. and o,bes 30
spectacle names, some Of Inch are oerson
# oily and we'll known 10 md They axo,e.,
g their regret that the subiea oc the ahni,,,o,
G oil slavery within The D,s,ht or ro,nn,G;a
continues 10 be pressed ufAs Abe .ous,der
d "''"n ot Congress by iuconslterau and ms.
j guided individuals in other parts Of the H..
J led States. They state that tho do mo,
aes're the abolition Of slavery wtbin the
District, even If Congress possess the very
questionable power Of abollshinglt, with.
OUT The consent of the people whoe inter.
cs's would be Immediately and DIRECTLY af
iec'ed oy tue measure that II is question
so'e'y between the people OF the district
""u 'he'r only constitutional Legislature,
/ purely municipal, aud one 10 which Ia ex.
et'lor Influence or Interest can Justly hter
iefe that, IT al any future period the peopIe
/ oi this District should desire the abollnon
oil slavery within IT, they will doubtless
make their wishes known, when II viii
Oe time enough 10 take the matter into
consideration that they do moi, on this DC
easlon, present themselves 10 Congress be
cause they are slave holders-mapy Of
then are noi-some Of them are consc,ep.
i'ously opposed to slavery - but they appear
b'cause they justly respect The ripbts Of
iho>e Who own that description Of proverty.
ana because they entertain a deep convlc.
'"n that the continued agitation of the
question by those who have no rlabt TO IN.
iere with At, has an injurious Influence ON
The peace aud tranquility of the con,nun,
y, ond upon the WeIl.belng aud haupuess
ct those who are held IN suhjpcutn: the,
hnally protest as well against The un4ulhor
izsd intervention of VII, n they complain,
as against any egsla,lon on the Iurt of
congress 10 compliance herewith. But. /
as ! wish these respectable petitioners TO
be themselves heard, request that their
.'r',V'''f' r''. '"'tend. Lii Asss sad aeeosd /
ngN' aud Mr.. Clay proceeded am IN.
lofmed by the committee whrh requested
me to e'iler this petition, auG lrl,eye, tina, IT
Expresses The almost unanImoos sentiments
OF the people OF the District q Columbia.
The performance Of thus service affords
me, sud ". 6. Legitimate opportunity.
"i which, "dl, tht permission of The SENATE, f
mean now Ia avail my self, TO say some.
thing mol only on the particular objects Of
the petition, but upon The great aud inter
est'ng subject with which 1t is Intimately
associated.
u IL vel known 10 the Senate, SAID Mr.
Clay, that nave though, that the most iu.
1ict"us course with abolition petitions has
no; been OF late pursued by Congress. |
have believed that It would have been Wis
ct 10 have received and referred them.
without opposition, aud 70 have reported
against ther object 10 calm and dlspus.
sionaie and nrgumcniatIye appeal to the
good sense OF the whole coaimuniIy. II
bias been supposed, however, by d majority
d Congress that il was most cxpedleni
aiiher not 10 receive the petitions al ell, or,
i formally received, not 10 act definitely
upon them. There Is no substantial differ.
ance between these opposite opinions, since
both look to an absolute rejection OF the
prayer Of the petitioners. But there is q
great difference 20 the form OF proceeding;
and, Nr. President, some experience 10 the
conduct Of human affairs has taught me TO
believe that neglect to observe establish.
ed forms j. often attended with more ms.
chievous consequences than the iutiutien of
a positive INJURY. We all know that, even
"a private life, violation of the existing
Isages and ceremonies d! society cannot
AXE place without serious preludce.
ear, SIR, that the abolttionlsts have acQuir.
ID a considerable apparent force BY blend.
NJ with the object which they have IN view
l collateral and totally different question ,
arising oct of an Illegal violation of the
night OF petition. know full we'll and
lake great pleasure in testify ing, that moth.
M was remoter from the intention of the
majority Of the Scuate. from which diff,
'ered, than 10 violate the right Of petition ,
10 any case 10 which, according to his
judgment, that right could be constitution
ally exercised, or where the object Of the ,
petition could be safely and properly gran {
ted. Still, Il must be owned that the abo.
ltionlsts have seized hold Of the fact of the ,
lreaimen, which their petitions have re.
ceived IN Congress, and made injurious i'm
presslons on the minds Of large portion of ,
he community. This, think, might have
been avoided by the course which | should ,
have been glad TO have seen pursued.
And | desire now, Mr.. President, to I'D.
vert to some Of those topics which think