The Madisonian., 1840-01-30
WHOLE NO. 3O7.


Parating the abolition question from the rgb, Of petit
ton asserting constitutional rght-the other. II
you please, claiming the right 10 violate the Constilo-
ton All the North ask Of the South is 10 respect and
sustain the right OF petition and that the subject oi
the memorials Of the sbollionss may be presented to
Congress as mere constitutional questions standing IN
an isolated position aud distinct form
Here MIR. M proceeded refer the recent
Pondenee between Governors Campbell. OF Virginia,
and Seward Of New York, when he was called 10 or
der by The Speskeras departing from the subject OF de-
bate The cries Of '.Order - proceed ~ 90 on -
&c prevented the reporter from hearing the remarks
which Immediately followed
Mr. NJ resumed. Mr. Speaker, my health will moi
allow me much longer TO trespass on the indulge Of
the House bnt cannot take my seat without again ap-
peang tche patriotism Of my friends Of tho South to
divest this question Of all party, and, possible OF all
local connection to view calmly receive the petitions
and then treat them they deserve. Answer them, II
you please and in the strongest language that action
the part Of Congress in this matter Involving deep
ly tho right Of property, IMPOSSIBLE, because not
constutionally within the power Of Congress
And feel bound to say. further justice to myself,
and to those who hear me, that should il happen
which God forbid that the opposing interest this
question Is be Upheld by the rival parties else
where than upon the floor Of this House, | shall be
found, side by sde with my brethren Of the South bat
tmg--eyen TO the shedding OF my blood--in vndlca-
ton as esteem Il to be, Of their great and naenabe
constitutional privileges
Mr. M. then offered the following resolution as
substitute for that offered by his friend, the gentle
man from South Carolina Mr. Thompson.
That all petitions, memorials, resolutions. and ad
dresses of every description touching the abolition Of
slavery in the District Of Columbia or in the States
Territories, IN any relating TO the existence
Of slavery the slavetrade in the United States, be
referred, without debate, to select committee, with
instructions to consider and report thereon"
Mr. GRANGER rose and said Mr.. Speaker :
p.fx tta kar
permit me to say The gentleman from South Caro-
lima, Mr.. w. Thompson, that, after having debated
proposition in the manner in which he debated that
now under consideration, It was not like him 10 de-
mand the previous question, without afiording TO
other gentlemen an opportunity OF reply. Permit
me also 10 say that, when moments reflection had
taught him that he light have done injustice il was
like him TO withdraw that demand.
II is necessary for us as the Representatives Of
the People OF this nation, to carry our mind, back
little, to ascertain how il is that we arrived 10 the
point at which We now are. Who is there from
the Soulh-who is there from The North-who
is there In this broad universe that looks 10
this as land OF freedom-who could have believed
that in one short half century from the formation Of
the Government the people Of the United States
would have arrived al position presenting them
before the nations Of the earth as we now pre-
sented Ia position that would show that people
boasting more OF freedom than any upon earth are
the verest slaves local opinion thai an be found
on The habtable globe speak hot this in any feel
ing OF unkindness towards any one. know how
strong are local circumstances. admit myself to
be probably strongly bound by them much in
fuenced by the effects they may produce, as any
gentleman in this Hall; but still, sir it is due 10 my
seli 10 the petitioners, and TO the cause upon which
We are now speaking, TO declare--what every man
who knows me well knows---that never have been
and am not now, an aboltionSt so far from it, in
deed that gentlemen who know my course and have
thought il Of sufficient consequence notice IT, are
well iniormedthal, whilst Ihave fell myself in cour
tesy, and from considerations OF personal respect,
bound to answer questions propounded TO me by the
abolitionists my answersto those questions have
met with their unqualified APPRECIATION
But am called TO meet here question which forces the
battle OF aboltonisn TO be fought the right OF peton
and let me tell gentlemen upon this floor, that is
Issue from which the sbolitioniss Of the North do
shrink And why Because they know tina, the uni
versal feeling Of the North s that this right Of petit
ton has been outraged here; and matter how party
drill may have been applied 10 sustain in power
Northern men with Southern princples--let me tel you
that gentlemen dare not at home advocate the doctrines
which here they virtually, at least, approve by their
votes. Let me tell you that gentlemen who, upon this
question, leave their seats and found among the
wounded and the missing know that, in following the
requirements Of party they going against their
solemn convictions, and against the sober feelings Of
the constituency which they represent. But do no,
feel liberty longer detan the House upon these
matters, and will proceed at to the question be-
fore US.
The gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. w.
Thompson) has been speaking of these petitioners, and
declaring them all to be contemptble-men whom he
would not employ as overseers on his plantation II is
true, he would not, sir, for they men who ackuow
ledge master but the God who made them, aud
be commanded except when their blood may be
wanted in the defence Of the Constitution and the laws
Of their country Let tell the gentleman that how
they may differ from him tins question, there
those whose names will be found upon these petitions
inferior to him in standing in character, talent in
wealth, in Influence with their felow-men; meE who,
like him, il the interest The honor OF their country
should be assailcd, would defend them the cannons
mouih---men who at the battles Of Lundys Lane
and Brdge-waler and who mingled in The sortie from
Fort Erie.
come now, Mr. Speaker, to the history Of the pro-
ceedngs Of this House abolition petitions Any gentle
men who will go back to the records Of this House
will find that for FIVE and twenty years this question has
been presented here the petitions have been
ceived under the guaranty Of the Constitution Of our
country, and have been referred to the appropriate
mittee, to which think, gentlemen will finally refer
those which will be hereafter presented IL chanced
that in the year 1885, from considerations Of patriotism
Of political calculation, il found necessary 10 OBJ
ect to the reception OF these petitions in this House,
and then was that fame kndcd, not by aboli-
lonsts, but by gentlemen representing country which
for ave and twenty years had submitted this outrage
il is called and who before had suspected that
the rights and the honor of their people invaded
This fact rather material IN this business, and which
can be established by the records Of this House.
proposition then made by gentleman from South
Carolina (Mr Pnckney) TO refer these petitions With
out beng read, to committee, that they might be
ported on Every body felt that blow had thus been
struck the right Of petition; but local feeling, and
local PATRIOTISM and probably, local fear carried these
petitions to a committee, who reported resolutions
which could not, for moment, have stood argument
upon their merits, The gag law applledand that,
too upon the important constitutional question
that had for years been presented TO this House; not
an hours discussion allowed
Well, what next, At the next session. an honorable
gentleman from Virginia (Mr Patton) introduced