Richmond palladium., 1839-04-06
NJ NJ MBER IS.

Constitution Of the Uuited States /, demands
Of total silence to its proceedings denies TO
our citizens the iihsriy of speech and the presss
and puntshes thess by Tlobs aud violenec for the
exercise ol these rights. II has sent ats agents
into free States fer The purpose of influencing
their legislatures TO pass laws for the security
OF ITS power within such state, ard for tho
ing new offences and new pun,shments for their
own citiZeps, 50 as 10 gave additional scruiiv to
its interest. IL demands to be heard in its own
person in the hal! Of our Legislature. and ming.o
IN debate ihe,c. Sir, IN every stage OF these ep-
pTessions and abuses, pcrmi, n!c to say. IN tho
language of the Declaration Of independeu uce--
and no language could be more Gpprorria;c--wc
have peiitioued Tor redress IN the mos, humble
terms, and our repeated petitions have been ms
wercd by repeated M iry. power, whose char
ac,er IS marked by every net which may define
,yTani,Is unit to rule free people, In our
sufernss and our wrongs. we have besought our
fellow citizens 10 aid us IN the preservation OF
our constitutional rights, but, influenced by ths
love OF gam or arbitrary power. they have some.
tunes dsGcgardcd al. the sacred rights of man and
answered M violence, burnings. and murder. AZ
ter all these transac Mons, which ct pub
Inc notorie,y and matter Of record, shall Of the
free states tauntingy nc asked. what We have 10
DO with slavery? We should rcioicc, indeed, If
! The evils of slavery removed far from W,
that II Ii could be said with truth, that havo
nothing 10 do with slavery. Our citizens have
not entered ITS territories Tor tho purpose Of OBJ
struCliug lis laws, Go wish do so, nor
would we lsihy any individual IN such act; yet
we have been branded and stigmatised by its
Trends ana advocates, both in he free and slave
States, inccndarics, lana'ics, dsoryanizcr.,
enemies 10 our country, and Ishing to dissolve
The Union. We have borne all this without con,-
plant or resistance, and only ask to he secure in
our persons, by our own tresidcs. and in the FREQ
exercise OF our thoughts and opinions IN speaking,
writing, printing. and publishing the sub ject
OF slavery, that which appears io us 10 bc jas, and
ught; because we all know the power of truth,
and tilat II viii ultimately prevail, iii despite OF hl
opposition. Bat IN the exercise ol all these rights,
. we acknowledge sutj .ction to tho laws Of tho
: State in which are, and our liability for their
; abuse. We wish peace with all men; aa1 that
tho most nmtcibie relations md free Intercourse
! may exist between citizens Of on, State and ouf
5 neighbofIng siavoholding states; will not
ter their states, her proper persons, or
; by commissioners, legislative resolutions, 9TH
e erwise, to interfere with the slave policy slavo
e laws: and We shall expect from them and their
/ citizens like t,irn thai they do not enter our
territories for tho purpose Of violating laws
: the punishment OF our people for the exorciss Of
;, our undoubted rghts-thc liberty of speech and
II of the press the subject Of slavery. We ask
I that no shall be seized and transported be yond
our state in viola ton of our own laws, and that we
. shall not be carried into aud Imprisoned in an
/, other state for acts done in our own. We con.
!, tend that the slave holding power ia properly
chargcabie with all the riots and disorders which
!, take place on account of slavery. We can live
in peace with all our sister states; If tha; power
!, viii 30 controlled by law, each can exercise and
), enloy the full benefits secured by their own Ia
i and this Is all we ask lw hold up slavery To the
= view OF impartial public it is, and if such
: views create astonshtnent and Indignation, sure
= iyw we are not to be charged as ibel!ers A state
= institution ough; TO be considered tho pride, not
. he snatne Of the state; and, if we faisify such
- institutions, the disgrace Is ours, not theirs. Ii
: slavery, however, is bcmish blot, an eating
cancer IN the body poitic ii is not fault IT, by
! holding IL up, others should in the mirror Of
- truth lis deioFmity, and shrink back from the
= view. We have not, nu1 we intend not, to use
7 any weapons against slavery, but the moral pow
;, er Of truth, and the force Of opinion. lf We en-
- ter the slave states, and tamper with the slave
!. contrary 10 law, punish u.; deserve IL; anl
- Il the savehe.der is found IN FREQ state, and is
= guilty of breach The law there, he also
3 ought TO be punished These petitioners, as fa,
as Understand them, disciam all right 10 eniel
: slave slate for tho purpose Of intercourse with
: the slave. II is The master whom they wish te
- :, address and they ask and ought 10 receive pro
" lection from the laws, they willing be
= jldged by the laws. We invite into the arena o
- pubic discussion IN OF. s,utc, the STAKEHOLDER,
- we willing TO hear his reasons and facts is
: favor Of slavery or against aboliGonis:s; d.
not fear his while ourselves free 4
:. =, combat them. The angry feelings which in som.
- degree exist between the citizens Of the free am
VI
- - in many cases, properly chargcable to those wh
a. defend and support slavery Attempts al
-, most daily making TO force the execution Q
- slave laws In the free states; at least their pow
- and principles; and no term ID too refroachfu
- to be applied 10 those who resist such acts, al
~ contend for the rights secured TO every ur
. der their own laws. We are often reminded ihs
-, ought to take color as evidence Of propcrt
~ -. in human being. We 6o not believe in sue
-, evidence, DO we believe that man jus
80 80" iy be made property By human laws. We Al
-; knowledge, however, that a man, not thin
- NAV be held 20 service or labor under the law
-, a state, sEd. !! he escapes into another stat
-, kc ought to be de!isere up claim Of the par,
a.. to HON such labor or service may be due; tn
this delivery ought 10 bo in pursuance Of Il
laws Of the state where such person is found, al
- not By virtue of any act Of Congress.
MS This brings me, Mr.. President, to the consi
o. eraiion of Tho petition presented by the Sena.
ere from Kentucky, and TO an examination Of q!
oil views he has presented 10 the Senate on III
ore highly inporian, subject. Sir, feel, seGsib
ere feel, nv inadeqIacy in entering into a conts
IA vergy with TIA. old and veteran Senator;