The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-19
COMMUNICATIONS.
SENATOR TAPPAN AND HIS MODERN ADO

LITIoN.
In a'speech recently delivered in the House
Of Representatives by Mr.. STAHLY, on the
subject Of Abolition petitions, he spoke as
follows:
Well. sir, the Senator from Ohio (Mr Morris an
svowed Van Buren, abolltionist, sent home. And
whom did the Van Buren, Legislature of Ohio send
here his place Does the gentleman from Tennessee
know Mr.. Tsppan from Ohlol Is he acquainted with
his kind feelings for the South!
MIR WELLER. or Ohio, rose TO explain: II The gen
tlemsn from from North Carolina intends charge the
Senator from Ohio with being an sbolnionisi. he
will find himself greatly mistaken. No man can be
more opposed to modern abolition ,hsn Mr. Tsppan
Mr. Speaker am glad TO hear the genllemans *
PLANTATION bur. sir. what dsRraceiu system OF hum
bnggery the Van Buien sboooss wish TO practise on
the South What does the gentleman say! That Mr.
Tsppsn is opposed 10 sbolltlon! No, SIR but he Is
opposed 10 MODERN abolition and. sir, What 10 that
Here, sir. is another distinction. Now we have the
old fashioned abolition. then comes anti slavery aboli-
ton, aud last, modern abolition What ~reched iooe-
y Let me. sir. give specimen oil the feelings OF
Van Buren, friend Of the South, who is opposed 10 mo
dern abolition" A gentleman asked Mr.. Tsppan Uhe
Van Buren, Senator from Oho) about the time OF the
Southampton insurecilon, what do you hear from pr-
gina I Mr.. Tsppan with customary courtesy q under.
stand he Is very polite mani replied, what the devn
that 10 either OF US The gentleman replied TO hm,
he felt deep interest IN the fate Of the whites 10 Vg-
MIA, and thought il might be necessary TO march to their
assistance Mr.. Tsppsn replied IA substance, :" that II
his should obey summons and dare TO march to
Virginia such errsnd. he would disnhent him
any man, he added who held fellowcreature in bond
age ought have his damned throat cut" SIR, can
find language strong enough to convey my detesta
ton for such creature
MIR WELLER asked, What is your authority for
such statement II
Mr. STASLy When you bring your Senator to deny
il, am ready to prove H. Does the gentleman deny
il Ohio has strong band here Of administration men;
call upon them TO deny H. Not man, SIR VIII ven
ture to do So This is the who opposed TO mo
dern abolition His abolition is old fashoned-to abo-
lsh slavery by cutting throats seems TO suit his fancy
sm informed sir, by gentleman near me that these
facts proved before the Senate when Mr. Iappan
nominated district Judge and he was rejected
on account Of it. The Van Buren, party from Ohio
have sent here man who would dsinherit his son for
assisting the South at such an hour. To say he de-
served to be hanged on galows higher than Hamans
would be compliment 10 him He opposed TO mo
dern abolition dare say ne is, because modern abo
llonlsts endeavor unite themseveso religious socie
ties His abolition has nothing to do with religion Is
40. tina, the reason the Senator from OHIO IS OPP
posed to modern abolition T."
By reading this, it will be observed that
Mr.. Stanley told Mr.. Weller, distinctly, if Mr..
Tappan denied this, " am ready to prove IT,"
Mr.. Tappan has not denied, and will not at
tempt to deny, he used such language. Some
OF the Ohio delegation did mention the subject
to Mr.. Tappan, and he did not deny that he
made use of language like this. To destroy,
f possible, the face Of this, Mr. Benjamin
Tappan must necessarily make desperate
effort to give some evidence of friendship for
the South. What does he do towards effect
ing this purpose After great elaboration,
after having seen the published speech charg-
ing him with the declaration before-mention-
ed, relative to the Southampton affair. he re-
fuses in the Senate to present an abolition pc
ti,ion! How very generous, after the House
had refused to receive them
In the remarks which Mr.. Tappan made,
he gives up the whole ground-although he
covers il over with SO many words, still this
this sentence is to be found
~ have no doubt bu. that the Constitution by giving
to Congress the power ITO exercise exclusive legislation
in all cases whatsoever" over this District, has given
Congress the power to abolish slavery and the slave
trade here whenever the people Of the District ask, or
the safety Of the whole Union requires it,"
He has no consideration for the rights Of
Virginia or Maryland. The safely of the
Union may require it, in his opinion, in the next
twelve months. But it is not my desire to
dwell at great length upon this pitiiu attempt
to deceive " the South"
Mr.. Van Buren, and his friends Tappan,
Gerrtt Smith, and other abolitionists. are
greatly mistaken in their opinions Of the
Southern people-they are not all such de-
graded, contemplate fools, as Mr.. Tappan
believes.
The only correct way of ascertaining the
truth and the real opinions and feelings Of
nch ~ N hair
homes. | have done So in the case of this
Mr.. Benjamin rappan of Ohio.
| invite attention to the following. The
volume of Reports referred to, is to be found
in the Congress library.
Had Mr. Stany consulted certain book, known
as "TAPPAN's REPORTS" and which occupies a con-
spicuous place in every good law library in Ohio he
might have found proofs TO support his charge, much
more german to the matter 1t must be remembered
that these Reports were made sut IN Mr.. Tappaus
hand, and we're printed by his authority and under his
own supervision.
10 vol /, page oil, Of Tappans Reports, is the
of Barrett vs.. Jarvis; which tried before Mr.
Tappan, then acting President Judge of the Court Of
Common Pleas OF the 9th circuit OF Ohio The case
disposed Of at the March term, in 1918, in ST.
Clsrsvle, Belmont county 1t was action for SLAM
derous words. jarvis 10 order to prevent young
Of his acquaintance from marrying the daughter Of
Barrett publicly proclaimed that Barrett par; negro.
Barrett brought SUIT ard obtained verdict. The de-
PENDANTS counsel moved arrest OF Judgment the
ground that the words the declaration we're not &C.
tIJnable He sustained by Judge Tappan, and tho
Judgment Of course, arrested The following is
his opinion delivered the Bench, which to be found
at page 2l2 of the same volume.
This action lies against any person /" for falsely and
mslciousy speaking of another. words which directly
charge HIM with any crime, for the commission OF
which the offender punishable by law, with having
any contiguous disorder. the impu,ation Of which may
-. n q ~ N