The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-09


for the recognition of the independence of Haiti
Mr.. w. Cost Johnson said he had presented q
petition from citizens of Maryland on this sub ject.
Sir, memorials in favor of it have not only
come from Maryland, but from Virginia. What
is it that they ask? The simple acknowledgment
of fact which you cannot undo or prevent
whether you acknowledge it or not | do confess
that, in the midst of all the agitation, and all the
terror and CONSERVATION, and all the fury which
prevails among many on this subject Of slavery
| cannot help being amazed that gentlemen should
Fdesire to- put the issue on such point as that
How can it affect any portion of the country
These Haitiens have now existed many years as
an independent people they do exist; they are
not far from our own doors, but we are in no
danger from them: they are among the most qui-
et peaceable nations upon earth: they recon-
mend themselves 10 the world by their peaceable
demeanor. They seem DESTROYS only to get along
with their own government, without creating any
disturbance or interfering at all with the rest OF
the world.
| Mr.. Howard here appealed to Mr. Adams
and to the House. He had voted in favor Of
giving the gentleman permission to make state
ment to the House, as he had requested; but the
gentleman, instead of making statement about
his own presentation Of memorials, was arguing
question which was now before the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and on which that committee
had come to no decision. How far this was in
ORDER he would leave to the honorable gentleman s
own sense of propriety.
| am obliged to the gentleman for his admon-
ton. | say as little as cam as have done on all
the other points but here is a letter threatening
me with assassination, for the crime of presenting
petitions on this subject of the recognition of Haiti
| am threatened with murder if | say word
more on the subject. Is it then, out of order for
me to show the reasons why cannot renounce
my course for any threat or intimidation by adj
vertng to the quiet and peaceable character of the
people, the acknowledgment of whose independ-
ence is demanded by the petitions which | and
others have presented, but must proceed to sustain
and to advocate that object AS to the subject
being before the Committee on Foreign Relations
do assure the gentleman that have not the least
expectation of making any impression whatever
on that committee There is not the least danger
that they will be influenced by any thing can
say. No, sir; they are too much of the "Size-
tray" for that. "a laugh.)
There is yet another reason why have asked
leave to make this explanation. And nowI do
not know but am going farther than | have yet
done. If do here is the gentleman from Vir
ginia (Mr. Dromgoole) at hand to stop me.
believe that some agitation has been produced in
the venerable Commonwealth of Virginia, from
the fact that presented an abolition petition from
that State. believe so, because | have seen,
from the public journals, that very great excite
ment had been produced in that part of Virginia
from which the petition came; | mean the town
of Wheeling and its vicinity. 1t is from Wheel
ing that have received one of the friendly, the
kndheartedy amismAt ters referred to, entreat-
ing me for the sake of God not to present any
more abolition petitions and apprizing me that if
do, ''my days are numbered" The writer says
he knows of number of persons in that region
of country who have determined to take my life
for presenting an Abolition memorial from Virgin
ia. Nay it seems from the&apers, that so great
has the excitement been, that the signers of that
memorial have been threatened with indictments
under the laws of Virginia, and with being sent
to the penitentiary for petitioning on that sub
ject. Now do most sincerely pity those indi-
viduals who have placed themselves in such a
predicament among their fellow citizens, but
there is one fact ascertained by it, viz: that the
signers are known persons-persons of respecta-
bility. One of them is q magistrate. And a.
mong other indications of the degree Of excite
ment, is the fact that the other magistrates of the
county have held meeting and passed resou-
tons requesting him to resign his commission
for signing thai petition. do not profess to be
learned in the laws of Virginia: can only say
| hope it is not so. hope that these men have
not exposed themselves to persecution under those
laws; if they have, it only shows the more clear
ly that they were conscientious in what they did,
because it is to be supposed that they knew of the
hazard they encountered. | hope it is not true,
that even by the laws of Virginia man is liable
to be indicted for signing a memorial praying
that aarery may be abolished in this District. II
saw accounts, also of public meeting held on
the occasion, land as to a public meeting have
no objections to t,) at which petition was sign
ed against the object prayed for by the other pc
titioners this was perfectly proper. But will
not give to the House the mediations of my mind
on disclosure of the fact that in the land of Pat
rick Henry and of Thomas Jefferson, few res
pectabe individuals who signed a petition for the
abolition of slavery in this District should have
made themselves liable to prosecution under the
criminal laws of the State. hope, it is not so.
And now have explained to the House the
reasons which have induced me heretofore to pur-
sue the course have done n relation to petitions
on the subjects of the abolition of slavery; the
recognition of the independence of Hayti and in
offering resolutions touching certain transactions of
one of our ministers abroad-the three topics on
account of which have been threatened with
,nurder-T pouSt noreiSt IN tho coyna courco II