Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-02-28
speech or Me. GIN,
ON THE sUHJEcT OF ABOLITION PETITIONS.
Thursday February 2. 1880.

MR. Clay o. 4kentuck y, rose 20 present q
Peutlo"' alu :aIu n"sS IeScrseu. NJ. tue
ioent petnlon 70 Ne Gen0s1 ana tAouse Oh
Representatives OF tue Snlteo Statcs, wnIcn
WISH % Presens 70 sne Senac. - slgneo
Dy several nunored lnnaDmn1s oL tne Dis.
Sr,ct .! Oolumo.a, auu GnIeny " use S1ty VI
washington hMo"s tuo'n I1SScoeIAsc ti'e
name OF the nlgnIy es.eeeo mayor OF INC
ciy, ana OIner Iespsc.aT,o i|1 aA sotnc Oh
Wncn are pers .s; anu M s,a. A Al. 70 me:
iney express snear Lestet tnat sne suoJect OF
the abolition OF slavery within the district OF
OounoAu couunuss 70 DC pressed upon the
oOI'.u .: oGn =: SousteSs " incohSiocfate
,ha TTn;ssa S.o aluv TS IA otner pofts OF
80. 49, Sso.SS, lucy S."ue thit tney 40
n;s..;o. TUG a ~ OF slavery wltnM the
a D.S., Syeu congress possess the very
W. 4"ee o"r pCWeE u 0Ool'Sning IT, without
.me L1 ha o. We people whose 'neres's
W. %ou az, ue nli.ns0ia.ety ".0 ulrecuy 0heGteo
~ ule ",S"SoEe Inas ~ - ques'lon sole'y
oesMeen s.e p:opss y. tnS Dls'c. Inu tne:r
oay 0Ol' S ' on ~ '..o'S.e, LIB u
oP;r . anu ole III wiz. ; -" .eaOt .nt ;s
on,, f',,'ro S% ~ reosie of th;s H;s,r;ct
h,9 'Jle .S .se s ~ a,o,,.,,- .',;,h
uoSIo :,, 'ue "Svn " s 49,; ,.,;.ha.
h ~ sney Wi; aou lou, e Sun; MAN. sc y. ~' SUE
Nno"n' WHEN ~ WIZ w ''u!e onous" ~ oo NJ
NOT on TINS OCCASION present thenlsg1ves ~
congress because tney are siaVe Molue's-
lany .. lnen aIe no.L =. o,as, y. ' ,,.,,,a',
oonsoouSy uppoSsu a.I', a.,ay. ~. s;n.s;
aPpear Decause .nGy !ussly :espee. tns r.gn.s
ol tnose Wno own that oescI!Ptlon "a ptopel-
W ana because tney entefi''ll ueep cU.s ~
tion !hat the contihueo agNauon ct u.e
question ~ !nose VINO naye no Flsnt "
n'e1Iere WIN ~ mas an a(a.ouS .,an nuo as,
Oh the peace Lano t.auquinsy VI. tne Son'-
n.olilty' ana upon tne Wei TS"g auu Map-
plness OF nose VINO are neio Ia ,suC)Gc-
ton they nnaiiy Protest as wen aga,''s. 'le
unauthorized in!erVehton Q! WHICH ney
complsn, as aga'ns. any leglsla.t. N o.. tue
part OF congress III cohpnanCe 'heteWNn.
But, as wish tnese Fespectaole pet'uonets "
be themselves heafd, request tnat tneir Pc,
tition De read. II was Iead accordingly,
and MIR. Clay proceeded.J am INFORMED
BY the committee which requested me 10 Of
fer the petition, and believe that 1t expresses
the almost unanimous sentiments OF the peo-
pie OF the District OF Columbia.
The performance OF TINS service anoros
me, said Mr.. G. legitimate opportunity OF
which, with the permission OF inc senate !:
mean now 10 avail mySeti' 20 say sOnethng'
not only on the Ps'r1iculaE oGJec!s vi ing te,l-
ton, Out upon the grea! ana interesting SUD-
ject with which It y intimately associated.
is well known 70 me senate soad Mr.: Y.
that l nave tnougnt tnat the most Juoiclous
course with aDoiltion peItlons mas not 0een
Of late pursued oy congress. nave Deilev-
ed that it would nave been wisest TO nave re-
ceived and referred them, without opposition
and to have reported against tneir OBJECT IN
calm and dispassionate ana argumentatlye
appeal to the good sense OF the whole COM
munity. 1t has been supposed, however, Dy
a majority Of Congress that it was most expe-
dient either not to receive the petitions at
all, or if formally received, not to act defin.
lively upon them. There IS no substantial
difference between these opposite opinions,
since both look 70 an aosolute relecton OF the
prayer OF the petitioners. But there IS a
great difference IN the form OF proceeding
and. mr.. Presldent' some experience IN me
conduct OF human analrS mas Taught me TO
believe that a neglect to observe established
forms is often attended with moro mischiev-
Gus consequences than the intilction Of pos
tive injury. We all know that, even in pri-
vate life, violation Of the existing usages
and ceremonies of society cannot take place
without serious prejudice. fear, sir, that
the abolitionists have acquired a consiiera-
BILE apparent force by blending with tho OBJ.
joct whiclthcy have in view q collateral and
totally different question arising out of al
legged violation or the right sof petition.
know full well, and take great pleasure in
testifying, that nothing was rcmoter from
the intention Of the majority Of the Senate,
of petition in any case In which, according
to It's Judgment, that right could be constitu.
tionally exercised, or where the object Of the
petition could be safely or properly granted.
Still, it must, be owned that the abolitionis.s
have seized hold Of the fact of the treatment
which their petitions have received in Con.
gress, and made Injurious impressions upon
The minds Of a large portion Of the commu-
nifty. This, think. might have been avoid
ed by the course which / should have been
glad to have seen pursued. yea 4aatl =