Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-02-21
congressional DebateS.
Speech Of Mr.. Clay,
On the subject Of .Abolition Petitions.
In SENATE, Thursday, Feb 7, 1880

Mr. President, petition to the Senate and
House of Representatives of the u. States,
which wish to present TO the Senate. 1t is
signed by several hundred inhabitants of The
District Of Columbia, and chiefly Of the city
OF Washington. Among them | recognize
the name Of the highly esteemed Mayor of
the city, and other respectable names, some
of which are personally aud well known to
Inc. They express their regret that the sub.
ject of the abolition Of slavery within the Dis
trict Of Columbia continues to be pressed
upon the consideration Of Congress BY incon
sideratc and misguided individuals in other
parts Of the United States. They state that
they do not desire the abolition of slavery
within the District, even if Congress possess
the very questionable power Of abolishng it,
without the consent of the people whose in
terests would be Immediately and directly
affected by The measure that it is a question
solely between the people of the District und
their only constitutional Legislature, purely
municipal, aud one in which no exterior in
fucnce or interest can Justly interfere; that,
il at any future period the people fthis Dis
trict should desire the abolition Of slavery
within it, they will doubtless make their
wishes known, when it will be time enough
to take this matter into consideration that
they do act, on this occasion, present them
selves to Congress because they are slave
holders many Of them are not-some oi
them are conscicntously opposed to slavery
but they appear because they justly re-
spcct the rights of those who own that des-
cription of property, and because they enter
tain deep conviction that the continued agi-
tation Of the question by those who have no
right to interfere with it, has an injurious in.
fuence on the peace and tranquility of the
community, and upon the well being and hap
piness Of those who are held in subicction
they finally protest as well against the unau.
thorized intervention Of which they complain
as against any legaization on the part OF
Congress in compliance herewith. But, as
! wish these respectable petitioners to be
themselves heard, request that their peti.
tion may be read. II was read accordingly
and Mr.. Clay proceeded. am informed by
the committee which requested me 10 Offer
this petition, and | believe that it expresses
! the almost unanimous sentiments of the peo
! pie of the District Of Columbia.
n The performance Of this service affords me
said Mr.. c. Legitimate opportunity, of whicl
with the permission Of the Senate, l meal
now to avail myself, to say something, no
only OIL the particular objects of the petition
but upon the great and interesting subjec
with which it is associated.
Il II is well known to the Senate, said MI
Clay, that have thought that the most judi
cious course with abolition petitions has no
been Of late pursued by Congress. huv,
I believed TINT it would have been wisest 4
| have received and referred them, without op
position, and to have reported against thoi
( object in n calm and dispassonuie and nrgu
mcntn,ive appeal to the good sense of tht
whole community. II has been supposed
however, by majority Of Congress that j
was most eypcdient either not to receive the
petitions at all, or if formally received, not t
/ act definitively upon them. There is no sub
stantial difference between these opposite
opinions, since both took TO an absolute re
lection of the prayer Of the petitioners. Blu
there is great difference in the form Of pro
cecding; and, Mr.. President, some exper
cnce in the conduct of human affairs ha
taught me to believe that neglect TO oil
serve established forms is often attended wit
more mischeivous consequences than the il
: Fiction Of q positive injury. We oil kno
that. even in private life, a violation Of th
existing usages and ceremonies OF soclet
cannot take place without serious preJudlc
| fear, sir. that the abolitionists have acquire
a considerable apparent force by blendln
, with the object which they have in view
collateral and totally different question ar
sing ont Of an alleged violation of the rigf
of petition. know full well, and take gres
pleasure IN testilying, that nothing was rcmc
! Ter from the intention of the majority OF tn
! Senate, from which differed, than to volat
the right of petition in any case in which, nc
cording to lis judgment, that right could b
consthutionally exercised, or where the OF
jcct Of the petition could be safely or proper
, granted. Still, it must be owned that I'll
: abolitionists have seized hold OF the fact I
I the treatment which their petitions have r.
: ceivcd in Congress, and mnde injurious 10
pressions upon the minds Of large portlt
;, Of the community. This, | think, might ha,
:, been avoided by the course which l shou
have been glad to have seen pursued.
H And desire now, Mr. President, to adve
to some ofihose topics which ] think mig
have been useiuly embodied in report by
q committee OF the Senate, aud which, n
!. persuaded, would have checked the progies
y liz it had not altogether arrested the effort
!. ,iof abolition. | sm sensible, sir, that III
work would have been accomplished wi
much happier effect, under the auspices oil
= committee than il can be by me. But,anxio
as always am to contribute whatever is
10 my power, to the harmony, concord, and ha
!, pincss Of this great people, feel myself
- resis,ibly impeled TO do whatever Is in y
> power incompetent as | feel myself to
To dissundc the public from continuing tonI
y tate a subjrct fraught with the most dire
" consequences.
There are three classes Of persons oppt
ed, or apparently opposed, to the contiuu
c. existence of slavery in the United States.
,h The frs, are those who, from sentiments
philanthropy nnd humanity, are console
lliiously opposed, at the same time, 10
Il. disturbance ofihc peace nnd tranquility
of the Union or the infringement OF the pow'
IN of the States composing the Confcderacy
In this class may be comprehendcd u
pcaceIul and exemplary society OF "Friend
w one of whose established maxims is, an
horrcnce of war in oil its forms, and the c
\, ,iva,ion of peace and good will amongs, M
kind The next class consists OF appar'
abolitionists--tha il, those who. having be
vs. persuaded that the right Of petition has be
y. violated by Congress, cooperate with
VI aboltionlsts for the sole purpose OF assert
~ and vindicating that right And the III
class are the real and ultra .abolltlonists, v
- are resolved TO pcrsevere IN the pursuit
y, their object at all hazards, aud without
gard TO consequences, however calamlt
llthey may be. With them the rights
A Al .l..E, -,