Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-04-05
TERMS OF llDvrnr,s1xo
IN SI;aaie lsbraarg .. 1850.
OF OHIO.

Nc. President rise 20 present to the
consideration OF the Senate, numerous pc
titons signed not only BY citizens Of nv
own state, but G tizens Of several other
states, New YORK. Pennsylvania, Michi-
gan, Illinois, and ns.ana. These petition
CTS, amounting inN~snnber 10 several thou
sards, have thou ghi pyPcr To make me
their orgaif in coasuaig Eating to Congress
heir op'nsms and wIA'es on subjects which.
Q them, appear { Ibe hishsss importance.
These Peiit'ons, siF, are on the subject Of
slavery, the slavr trsde a. carried on with
IN and INN this District, the slave trade
between the dinerrn, states Of this confed-
euey, between this country and Texas,
sac against the admission u that country
rso this Union, and also against that ,f
'ay othei staff, wlosc constitution and
avs rcco,nizs 70 paanit slavery. take
this opportunity 10 present all these peti-
ions together, having detained some Of
them for con- idershle time IN my hands,
n order that a. snail q portion of the at
iention Of the Senate might be taken IN on
their account 30 wosld BE- consistent with
strict regard TO the rights Of the petition
sS. And POW present them under the
most peculis, circumstances that have ever
probably trans,lred in this or any other
country ! parseni them on the heel of
the petitions rshich have been presented
BY the SenatGv from Kentucky mir. Clayl
signed by The inhsbitants of tiiis District,
praying thar icongcsS would no, receive
petitions on The subject Of slavery in the
DISTRICT fron any body Of men, or citizens,
bu, themselves. tbs is something new |;
i Is ose Of the devices Of the slave power,
and Iaost extraordinary in itself. These
Petitinis | ain IN duty bound to prcsen.-a
duty which ielecrfilly perform, for con-
slder il not lnly day bat an honor. The
respectable names y hich these petitions
bear, and tsng sgains practice which
as deeply a, rrcciaIe and deplorc as they
can ,,ossib;y DO. yet well know the fate
Il tiese pstitions and I also know the
tine. place and disadvantage under which
present teIa- H. avsiliHg myself Of this
opportunity 90 eNpl-in my own views on
tbs agiiaing TOPIC, and 60 explain and
jcaify tl,e character and proceedings Of
lhee petitioners, q Inuss be Obvious TO all
thar am surrounded By no ordinary dis
eaagemeHis. The sruag prejudice which
Eevidepcisd by the P,sksooeD Of the Dis
,ncl, the unwllinguess Of the Senate TO
hear, the power which IS arrayed against
ne on thf OCCASION, as well as in opposi-
bon to tlEIse whose nights | am anxious to
unintain opposed by che very lions OF
debate in this body, who are checred on
W an apPIauding gallery and surrounding
interests, = eAoagh GO produce dismay in
the Gar more abe and eloquent than the
lone and haurble Individual who now adj
dresses sou. What, sir, can there be to
induce ne 10 appear on this public arena,
opposed by such powerful odds Nothing,
ir, nothing bat strong sense Of duty, and
! deep conviction that the cause | advocate
$ ps that the petitioners whom ! repre-
vent ART honest, upright, intelligent, and
nspe,tahle eiiizens; men who love their
1. country, who are anxious to promote its
best ialorcsfs, and who are actuated by
de p,cesl patriotism, as well as the deep
est philanthropy and benevolence. In
epreseISing such men, and in such cause,
though BY the most feeble means, one
vouIi inppose that On the floor Of the Sem
ue Of The United States, order, and de-
cent respect 10 the opinions Of Others,
would prevail. From the causes which j
have mentioned, 1 can hardly hope for
thu. expect to proceed through scenes
vbsh IN become tliis hall I; but nothing
All Ss;ss .ae from fall and faithful dis
charge Of my dG,y on this important occas-
lon. Pennif me, sir, 20 remind gentlemen
thai have now been six years member
oflhs body. have seldom, in the opin-
0n 'f many Of my constituents, pressed
nyalf upon che notice Of the Senate, and
akel up their time N useless and windy
debate. question very much If | have
OccCpied the time Of the Senate during the
SIX years as some geutIemen have during
SIX weeks, or even six days. hope,
Ehaeisre, that shall not be thought OBJ
nsigc, or charged With taking up time
Sfh Abolition petitions. / hope, Mr.
President, 10 hear no more about agltating
Ia slave question here. Who has began
!& agitation nowi The Senator from
EntOcky. mr. Clay.l Who has respon-
Del 10 thai agitation, and congratulated the
Snale and the country ON lis results H.
iie Senator from South Carolina, Mr.
s'ihoan. And pray, sir, under what CIR