The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-12
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
SPEECH OF MR.. CLAY,
On The subject Of Abolition Petitions.
THURSDAY, FEBRuARY 7. 1889.

| Mr. CLAY, Of Kentucky, rose to present petit
| tion, and said: ! have received Mr. President, a
petition 70 the Senate and House Of Representatives
OF The United States, which wish TO present 10 the
Senate. II Isl gned by several hundred inhabitants
OF The District Of Columbia and chiefly OF the city
OF Washington. Among them recognize the name
Oh the highly esteemed Mayor Of the city, and other
respectable names some Of which are personally and
wen known to me. They express their regret thai
the subject of the abolition of slavery within the Dis
uict OF Columbia continues 10 be pressed upon the
consideration Of Congress by inconsderate and mis-
guided Individuals in other parts Of the United
states They state that they do not desire the aboli-
non OF slavery within the District il Congress
possess The very questionable power Of abolishng IT,
without the consent of the people whose interests
would be Immediately and directly affected by the
measures that i is a question solely between the
people OF the District and their only constitutional
Legislature, purely municipal, and one In which no
exterior influence or interest can Justly interfere;
lhai Y at any future period the people Of this Dis
cI should desire the abolition OF slavery within IT,
!hey VIII doubtless make their wishes known when
WIN De lime enough 10 take the matter into con-
sderalion that they do not this OCCASION present
nemselyeso Congress because they are shareholders
many OF them are not-some Of them are con.
scienously opposed 10 slavery--bu they appear be-
cause they respect the rights OF those who own that
description OF property and because they entertain
deep conviction that the continued agitation of the
question bythose who have right to interfere with
H. has an injurious influence on The peace and tran
guilty OF the community, and upon the well-being
and happiness OF those who are held in subsection
ihey hnay protest as well against the unauthorized
intervention OF which they complain as against any
legislation on the part OF Congress in compliance
herewith. But, as wish these respectable petit
TONERS 10 be themselves heard request that their
Psu, W may De read. II was read accordingly,
ana Mr. Clay proceededl | am informed by The
commune which requested me to offer this peti-
tion and believe, that expresses the almost unan
lumbia.
The performance Of this service affords me. said
Mr. O., legitimate opportunity, of which, with the
permission Of the Senate, mean now to avail my
SELF TO say something not only the particular OBJ
ects Of the petition, but upon the great and interest
ing subject with which It is intimately associated
II Is well known to the Senate, said Mr.. Clay
that havethought that the most judicous course with
abolition petitions has not been late pursued by Con-
ress. Ihave believed that would have been wisest
to have received and referred them, without opposi-
hon andto have reported against their object in calm
and dispassionale and argumentative appeal to the
good sense OF the whole community. II has been
supposed, however, by majority Of Congress that
II was most expedien; either to receive the peti-
tons at all, or i formally received, to act def
nitvely upon them. There is no substantial dife-
renee between these opposite opinions, since both
look TO an absolute rejection of the prayer of the pc
titioners. But there sa great difference in the form
Of proceeding; and Mr.. President, some experience
in the conduct of human affairs has taught me to be-
lieve that neglect TO observe established forms is
often attended with more mischievous consequences
than the infection of a positive injury. We all
know that even in private life, violation Of the ex-
listing usages and ceremonies Of society cannot take
place without serious prejudice. fear sir, that the
abolitionists have acquired considerable apparent
force by blending with the object which they have
In view collateral and totally different question
arising out Of alleged violation Of the right ofpe-
tition. know full well, and take great pleasure in
testifying that nothing was remoter from the inen-
ton of the majority of the Senate from which diff
fered than violate the right of petition in any
in which, according to its judgment, that righcoud
be constutonally exercised or where the object OF
the petition could be safely or properly granted
STILL 1t must be owned that the abolitionists have
seized hold of the fact of the treatment which their
petitions have received in Congress, and made inju
rious impressions upon the minds of large portion
of the community. This, think might have been
avoided by the course which should have been glad
10 have seen pursued. >"&
And desire now, Mr. President, to advert to some
Of those topics which think might have been use
fully embodied in report by committee of the
Senate, and which, am persuaded, would have
checked the progress, If had not altogether arrest
ed the efforts, of abolition. am sensible sir that
this work would have been accomplished with much
greater ability and with much happier effect under
the auspices of committee, than il can be by me-
But anxious as always am TO contribute whatever
is in my power TO the harmony, concord, and happi-
Of this people, feel myself irresisby i'm
PEELED to do whatever is in my power incompetent
as feel myself to be, to dissnade the public from
continuing to agitae subject raught with the most
direful consequences.
There three classes of persons opposed, or APP
parenty opposed to the continued existence OF slave
nv in the United States The first are those who
from sentiments of philanthropy and humanity, are
conscientousy opposed to the existence of slavery,
but who are no less opposed, at the same time, to
any disturbance Of the peace and tranquility Of the
Union, or the infringement of the powers of the
States composing the Confederacy In this class may
be comprehended that peaceful and exemplary so
ciey Of Friends" one OF whose established ma xims
is an adherence of war in all its forms, and the
cultivation Of peace and good will amongst mankind.
The next class consists Of apparent abolitoniss-
that is those who, having been persuaded that the
right Of petition has been violated by Congress, CO.
operate with the abolitionists for the sole purpose of
asserting and vndicaling that right And the third
class are the real ultra-abooniss, who resolv
ed 10 persevere in the pursuit of their object at all
hazards and without regard 10 any consequences,
however caamitous they may be. With them the
rights Of property nothing; the deficiency of the
powers of the General Government is nothing; the
acknowledged and inconlestabe powers of the States
are nothing civil war, p dissolution OF the Union
and the overthrow Of government in which are
concentrated the fondest hopes OF heciviZed world
are nothing. A single idea has taken possession OF
their minds, and onward they pursue ii, overlooking
all BARRIERS reckless and regardless Of all conse
quences. With this class, the immediate abolition
of slavery In the District of Columbia, and in the
Territory of Florida, the prohibition Of the removal
of slaves from State TO State and the refusal 10 admit
any new State, comprising within its limits the in
stution Of domestic slavery, are but so many means
conducting TO the accomplishment of the ultimate but
perilous end at which they avowedly and boldly aim
are but so many short stages in the long and bloody
road ohe distant goal at which they would finally
arrive. Their purpose is abolition, universal abo-
lon, peaceably IL it can, forcibly il il must Their
object Is no longer concealed by the thnnest veil il
Is avowed and proclaimed. Utterly destitute Of con
silulional or other rightful power, living in totally
distinct communities, as alien 10 the communities IN
which the subject on which they would operate re-
sides so far as concerns political power over that
subject, as II they lived in Africa or Asia, they
to be to manumit forthwith and without compensa-
ton, and without moral preparation, three millions
of negro slaves, under Jurisdictions altogether
raied from those under which they live nave sang