The Madisonian., 1840-02-15


called ne rigA IF petition. On that poini, there
seemed to him to be perfect iaiafaaitoa in the
minds OF MANY persons. This right, be maintained,
did not exis, under republican system Of govern
ment ], belonged to the desposie system Of govern
meni. ~ Is fic last resort of sLaperg!! Here, II Is
superseded by the balo, box-by The free suffrage,
guarded by the Constitution.
Did ever any one Che asked) hear Of the right Of
petition in The ancient repubics-in the free States
oi Greece and Rome Never!-Never
| Those who claim It, (he continued) in regard to
the question Of abolition do use II for their own
defence, or the redress OF grievances but they EN-
ploy II as a sword wherewilh to make an assault on
others.
| He was amased 10 hear sensible men talk Of this
right under our system II bad no part lot in our
| Constitution. The idea Is borrowed from England.
MIR. CALHOUN thanked Mr. TAPPAs, OF Ohio, for
The stand he had taken in refusing to present these
petitions, and declared that, il all the members Of
the Senate would take the course, there would
be no difficulty. He appauded the decision taken
by the House Of Representatives on the resolution OF
MT Johnson, of Maryland, to refuse to receive abo-
| iton memorials. When he received petitions that
he did not like, he threw them in The fire; and he
believed lhat In the progress OF TRUTH these ideas so
prevalent about the right Of petition would be speed
| lily abandoned.
| These remarks OF Mr. CALHOUN we're the real
source Of he debate which on for many hours.
Mr.. Clay had not said word about the right OF pc
tilion nor would there have been any debate upon
that subject or in reference TO the petition ITSELF had
not Mr.. Calhoun thought fit 10 throw in his new dog
mas. He it was who began the discussion.
/ Mr. Clay noticed in strain Of playful raillery,
the pretensions Of Mr.. CALHOUN to be the original
inventor Of the idea respecting two different races
not being able to live harmoniously without the
being in subjecion TO the other. He said, however,
that he had not SO much commended the idea as the
manner in which it had been illustrated, and en-
forced by the author Of whom he had spoken.
! Mr.. Clay then expressed his entire dissent TO the
notion, that the right Of petition expressly
guarded by the trainers of the Constitution, is
mere nudity. He was for respecting ii; and he sin
cerey believed, that il these petitions were received,
and REFERRED and reported upon, by aproper Com
miltee, more good would be done than by any marks
Of contempt and reprobaion which could be put up
on them at the Threshold. With regard to the
praise Mr.. Calhoun had bestowed upon Mr.. Tappan
Of Ohio, Mr.. Clay said he too was glad to hear the
sentiments Of that gentleman against the Abolition
isis, and the more especially, since he had formerly
been farorabiy disposed to,oards them.
lie concluded By declaring that, as the effect of
the proceedings of the Abolitionists on The Union,
he had no apprehension whatever. II the public
press and the politicians would let the matter
alone, and not agitate it for party purposes the ex
citement would speedily die away.
Mr.. TALLMADoE next rose, and in speech Of
great power controverted the assumptions Of Mr..
Calhoun. He protested against treating the right Of
petition as trivial matter and maintained that
| it had been held as matter OF the greatest import
ance from he first struggle Of liberty in this country
down to the present time In proof of this, he re-
ferred 10 the sentiments on the subject which per-
vaded all The public meetings Immediately previous
to- and during the revolution, and which were ex-
pressed in their resolutions and reports. With the
same object, also, he referred to that amendment TO
the Constitution which guards the rights, and prohi-
bits Congress from doing any thing 10 abrdge it,
| This was one Of the amendments, the adoption Of
which was made by New York an express condi-
tion aneceden TO the ratification by her people Of
| the Constitution.
| The right, he maintained, went behind the Con-
| stuton. The citizen has a right 10 petition
for that which Congress is prohibited from granting.
He would present any petition ii couched in Ian
| guage respectful 10 this body
| Mr.. Tallmadge closed BY remarking, that having
and the country, he had not risen ON this occasion
for any purpose but to protest against the doctrines
of the Senator from South Carolina; and to express
his conviction that il gentlemen here had not invad
ed and attempted TO deprive the people of the in
alienable rights OF petition, there would have been
much less heard about abilition.
Mr. CALHOUN, in his rejonder, began to exhibit
that offensive domneerins tone which has been SO
hah al tn i'm nf IIa ed on
MADGE 10 say whether he would present petition
for putting down the Christian religion, that
contained abusive or disrespeciul language toward
the Senate. But his manner Of address naughty,
and indicated feeling Of triumph, as if he had put
questions which Mr.. -'amadge could no, answer.
| The distinguished Senator from New York re-
turned the defiance in proper spirit, and quickly
lowered Mr.. Caboun's exulting tone He said, a
petition whose terms disrespeclful to the Sc
nate, exception Of course and self-protection
required that the presentation OF il should be refused
| As 10 the very improbable instance of petition
against the Christian religion, he did not think there
would be much harm in the presentation of it,
| if it referred 10 properly constituted com
| miitee.
| Mr. CALHOUN said he would be glad if the Senator
| would go home, and tell that TO his constituents
| they would alter their tone of remark upon the mem
bers OF the other House, who had voted against re-
ceiving these ncendiary petitions He repeated his
denunciaons against the " monsTous doctrine of
the right TO present such papers, and declared that
those who held it showed they had less sympathy
with the South than they had with the fanatics of
the North.
He then re-asserted that the whole essence OF the
doctrine was an absurdy under our Republican
system Here said he, the people are the sovereigns.
Shall The sovereign petition the servant2 The no.
| tion ridiculous, &c &C.