Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-12
Wednesday, January9, 1889.
IN SLNh

Mr. Prentss presented certain resolutions of the LIE.
gsature Of the State Of Vermont nstrucug their Sc
nators and requesting their Representatives, TO their
efforts to prevent the passage OF any law for the annexa
toD of Texas 10 the Union and to procure the passage
Of law for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade
in the District Of Columbia and the Territories of the
Union-nnd Of the slave trade between the several
States; and also protesting against certain resolutions
[Aherlons] adopted by the House of Representatives,,
us unconstitutional which Mr. r. moved should be laid
upon the table, and ordered to be printed.
Tive question was, on motion OF Mr. Foster, divided.
and the first DIVISION was agreed To-
The question coming up on the second division, viz;
to print the resolutions,
Mr. Prentiss said, he had made the motion TO print
these resolutions because he supposed it would be
act Of proper courtesy 10 the Legislature from whom
they come. When he presented them he had not the
slightest idea that any serious objections would be made
to Them that they would excite any debate and he
would say 10 gentlemen of The South that the
which they pursuing precisely the course 10
increase the number, and augment the strength of The
Abotionss; and he thought in other respects impo-
tc and injurious, as well as wrong and unreasonable IN
itself
The virtual rejection Of petitions here regarded
as infraction Of the right Of petition, and this
connected with the great subject of abolition, and had
given to il power not properly lis own that those
who were opposed 10 and premature measures
and who wished 10 prevent useless excitement and ag
talon found themselves poweress in consequence OF this
connection; and if this were persisted in they
would be obliged to give way entirely Mr.. 7. trusted
these resolutions would be printed act Of common
courtesy and he called for the yeas and nays on the
question; which were ordered.
Mr.. Calhoun confessed that he was amazed when he
saw gentleman of the camness and correct judgment
OF the Senator from Vermont, pursuing the course that
he did. That there should be any man of any in,el
yence whatever who did not that this question srkes
at the very foundation Of the Unon alternating por
ton Of it from the other and that tended 10 The over
throw of The best hopes OF ankind indeed surprised
him. Nor was it less wonderful to him thatany gentle
man Of that description should pretend to say that the
best course of Southern gentlemen was 10 permit the
Aboli,ionis,s here and urge the question when
ever they pleased They tell US (said Mr. c. that we
have no right to our own esales that part Of our
property is held whou, law; and tina; they have the
right to come here, week after week, year after year,
questioning right 80 it, and eliminating our cha
Tac,er while the best mode for US TO pursue is TO be
quiet Sir, said Mr.. c., would not have made these
observations if the remarks that called them forth had
from respectable quarter. The course of the
gentleman from Vermont striking proof that on
all questions of deep excitement the strongest minds may
be carried away. Mr. G. would say the Senator from
Vermont that this thing must be arrested at home by
strong measures or the South would take care of IL.
self.
Mr. Pren,iss said lie had simply asked that these re-
solutions might be printed, mark of the courtesy
usually evinced 10 States Of this Union. He did not
enter into any argument on The question of Abolition -
Neither he any other Senator from the North had
any occasion, been found to agtate that question:
The fault, if 1t Que, lay in another quarter. He
wished merely 10 discharge obvious duty Ii he
found il certain tina, he could notcarry out his OPT
MONS on the subject oil slavery, which he trusted were
well known, lie thought best defer the attempt 10
more favorable opportunity. These resolutions were
passed by the Legislature OF Vermont in consequence
Of petitions requiring their passage They resou
tions of instruction. and fat he was concerned he
wished TO discharge the duty imposed upon him
Mr.. King found no fault with the Senator from Yer
mont for discharging his duty to his State
such resolutions they thought proper charge him
with He waived, therefore, under these consideration
any objections receiving the resolutions They came
from sovereign Sate bu, whether that State
the principles which should govern every member Of
the Confederacy, another question. With regard
to the prayer of these resolutions every Of common
Intelligence knew that if il were granted this Union
would last twenty -four hours He knew that he and
every from that section Of the Union which would
be grossly outraged by such measure would instant
ly the adoption of retire from theirseats. He would
in such event, return to his constituents and tell
them that the compact broken, the Constitution vio
lated and their property taken away from them and that
he their representative could ndes them no further
service by remaining where he Believing tina,
such would be the inevitable consequences Of carrying
the doctrines contained in these resolutions he could
not consent to give them any circulation What was the