The Madisonian., 1840-01-30

Now, Mr. Speaker, (ssid Mr.. M let my Southern
friends this floor look The sentiments expressed
on that OCCASION and mark also the result With my
views fairly before the People, elected BY ma.
Jonty Of 500. Than this, more decisive proof
could be given by my constituents Of their manly sup
port Of all that Is established secured 10 behalf of
the sayeholdng States by the Federal Constitution,
and that much higher degree Of justice and libera'y
very generally exists throughout the -siaveholdng
States, IN reference TO the subject OF slavery than
I, Southern gentlemen on this floor have imagined
admit also that there is sufficient apology for their
excitement and soeitude In the vile ISLANDERS and out
rageons preensiops Of the sboonisis who, under the
assumed garb of religion, insulting the feelings OF
the South, dsregardng and rampng under foot their
dearest rights aud, IN their errng zeal, losing sight,
not only OF justice and PATRIOTISM, but Of Christianity
itself In all Difference aud kindness, must say thai
the abolon battle in the North must bc fought BY ss
o the North. Our Southern friends cannot aid US
there but will certainly break down among the sup
porlers Of their vested rights by opposing on this floor
the right OF petition, even on the subject Of abolition
shall not here 60 into discussion Of that right
All ask is, to let the friends Of law and constitutional
rights in the North fight this battle in their way
And il can be mistaken, by any possibility, in giving
to tho slayehoding States credit for their
cerl,y and good faith this great question, most
anxious TO know il. Therefore, all that claim the
Of jusFand manifest proprety s that the petit
,ons in question be received referred and reported up
care not how strong the language used, III the
full recognition Of Southern rights and Southern ine-
rests, when such iepor, shall be made sustain the
broadcast ground claimed by the South in the unqual
fled denial that there is any sanction by implica
ton. to disturb the properly light Of any citizen Of this
nation, as secured TO him under the Constitution
And feel myself authorized in asserting that stand
aone but have to aid in this position the great
majority Of Northern members Of this House.
And, while the South deny that the right Of petition
is involved that there any grievance imposed upon
the aboonsts, still the aboltionists, aud others, too
do complain that the rgh, Of petition is denied and vo
lated thus mystying their true position, and involving
with their own assumption principle which IS unques
tionsble and inherent with the people Of every free
Government. II the South. in a generous spirit, will
take this ground from under them leaving the friends OF
the country fight unshacked the battle the North
upon its true merits, then there nothing to fear from
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS which, tIom the pre-
sent apparent course and determination, we
looked 10 with such intense anxiety by every lover o
the Union.
mplore the South not to be led away or diverted by
designing politicians, who look their personal
interests aud individual advancement than the great
interests Of the country and not to be caught IN the
traps Of political demagagues to be induced, in
their generous feeling and abiding confidence. to make
party question Of that; and whether are, or are
not, to remain united People
Let take any other question, If we are to go
crusade for political capita-some question that be
shaken off at the moment matter Of the day.
will Join them in any thing, lover Of the Union,
their and by their action, the abolition cause
and am almost ready declare that, to effect this,
will 90 with them the monslrous and absurd
doctrine Of Slb-ireasury.
distinguished Senator has, BY his in the
other Chamber OF this Capitol (and regards him
with more personal respect and esteem than mysef)
made abolitonists than the best friend Of the abo
lonists has been able TO make and that gentleman
absorbed in his plans for remoddng the finances
OF the country, and reestablshng, he Declares the
40. he. for ha
five years as much occupied as he is now by the
same subject, for thereby may indulge the hope that
he will forget for the time, that there is such being
slave in the South, or abolillonis IN the North!
pledge my word to my friends OF the South that
they when they allow themselves to believe
that the Wing party Of the North is at all identified,
acknowledge any affinity, with the abolilionlsts.
In evidence Of which, and Of the intention Of the ad-
minstraton party TO identify the Wings with abolition
ism, shall state case: gentleman who held seat
for this loor which occupied by myself
or one Of my immediate colleagues, from the city of
New York, declared to me, think the day after the
election closed n New York in 1888, for members Of
Congress, he having been candidate that the Wing
party had identified themselves with the abolitonlsls
told him that could not in what particular that
was the last to recognise such union; and that
had the strongest evidence Of the contrary IN the decla
ration and Of my political friends. told HIM
that he could not have my letter to the Wing no.
minating committee in which had taken the boldest
SOuheru gfOunu upon tuat question: tudt tue seH
ttnsnts therein contained had been sustained and re-
sponded to, as my election had proved that was
happy that neither his party mine, so far as
knew had allowed themselves to respect regard the
aboonss at all, and that this the most gratifying
testc OF the through which had just
passed.
1t was further said that the Wbig party would be
Identified WITH and the advocates of the abolition
lsts and that they (the administration party) would
make them Such course was pronounced then as
highly unjust but soon after there was some proof that
had been attempted, IN paper sent to me- think
from North Carolina the native State of the gentleman
to whom allude, and who the Hon. G. G. Cam
breleng.
The Wings, in their honesty and confidence, allowed
themselves to repose, while the opposite party were
endeavoring to identify them, throughout the South,
with the abolition cause.
These facts induced the publication Of the letter
which Just read.
Pending the canvass, the abolitionsls sent letters
containing inerrogatories reerable their principles Of
action and views Of the subject to the candidates OF
each party and il requested that communication
should be made to political opponents
and in this question bury all party feeling to meet the
question boldly and fearlessly lovers Of the Union
Whether such communication made to them not,
| am unable say but meeting OF the candidates,
now members Of this House, held, and letters
written in to the abolition inteTogatores, as
bold in character and warm IN sentiment in defence OF
Southern interests and rights any member of this
House could desire. IL was, however, decided that as
they the aboltonisis) had stated that answer
given to their communication, II would be considered
by them negative to each query propounded; that
is to say, that the candidates decidedly opposed
TO the course OF the abolonsts wheTeupon their de-
cision made, and no answer given. What course
our political opponents reference to the queries,
pursued, know not, as made no inquiries but have
no reason doubt that equally with ourselves they
promptly rejected the proered alliance with the aboll
tonlsts
To gentleman from the South, and member Of
this House, within few days past, expressed my