The Madisonian., 1840-02-06
SPEECH OF MR.. HUNT.
OF NEW YORK,

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gpnce extended TO me last evening and probably
The most acceptable return can make Tor The favor,
lis to b. brief ia the views have 10 submit This
morning, as the nature of my subjec, will allow.
In order to understand our latitude and the precise
questions before u.s. may be we'll u read the
lulions under debate.
The one Submed by the gentlemln from South
Carolina, Mr. Thompson, Is as follows:
"Resoved, That upon the presentation OF any
moral petition, prasiug FOR the abolition Of slavery
the slave trade M any District Territory, State OF the
Unon and upon presentation OF any resolution or other
paper touching that subject, the reception OF such me.
moral petition resolution or paper shall be considered
asobeced TO- and The question Of ts reception shall be
laid the table, without debate further acton there
on"
The amendments substitute proposed BY the
gentleman from Massachusetts Mr. Adams, is as
follows:
Every petition presented BY the Speaker, or by any
member, with brief verbal statement Of lis contents,
shall be received, unless objection be made to It's recep
for special aid objection shall be
made to the reception Of petition, the. OF the
member ohectng and hc of the objection, shall
be entered upon the Journai-Ihe question IN every
case shall be, Shall the petition he rejected And no
petition shall be rejected but b. naotly Of the
bers present"
To the original proposition I am altogether op-
posed, and Tor which shalt enndeavor to
assign in the course Of nv remarks. To the amcnd-
ment as non offered, am also opposed. proposes
)
provision relating almost exclusively 10 what are
termed abolition petitions and papers
The time, trust, will arrive when we may adopt
the proposition offered by the gentleman from Lpui-
sana, Mr.. Cann, whom, | regret 10 learn is de-
tanned from his seI, This morning By ind@positon.
His proposition is:
THAT all petitions, memorials, resolutions and ad.
dresses Of every description touching the abolition Of
slavery in the District Of Columbia, III the States
Territories, or IN any manner relating TO the existence
uf slavery DR. al trade n United he
referred without debate select committee"
Such proposition will receive now as il has
done previous occasion in this House. such
support may be in my power give it but
as making one OF our general standing rules
The standing rule already provides for this mat
ter OF petitions, in saying thai as the journal
is read the Speaker shall call for petitions from the
memb RS Of each State and Delegates from each
Territory" | canno, support any Partial par
tcular Legislation by way Of a standing rule, that
from the course this debate has taken mi ght seem TO
regard the political fortunes OF Martin Van Buren,
or William Henry Harrison
consider that legislation best, which rests upon
broad prncipeS-ntt ndcd not for to-day, but for
time, and having no respect 10 particular individuals
rpIrties.
Were disposed Gas am not) to occupy the
time OF the House, should not propose 10 myself to
enter The extensive field OF argument, embracing the
grounds at large upon which rests the right oi peti-
tioa. That field was occupied some years since,
and every rood OF its grounds improved BY two dis
tinguShed gentlemen from nj ssachuseilS MIR.
Adams and MIR Gushing. Still, sir j cannot pass
this part OF my subject without passing word 10 the
gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Garland Ia the
course of the able remarks submiued by him day
or two since, (and TO which remarks | attended as
did the House with much interest } he quoted the
amendment To The first article a the federal G nsli-
tuition; which amen iment says Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment OF religion,
or prohibiting the tree exercise thereof, abridgng
The Tree ON OF speech or of the press; or the right
OF the people peaceaby 10 assemble, and 10 petition
the Government for 4 redress Of grievances" end
seemed to suppose that the right Of petition rested
upon The Constitution thus anlcaded Why, sir,
moments reflection must satisfy the gentleman that
this amendmen; gives no right TO tndiUdaai petition.
Why was the amendment proposed, md BY whom
BY his native STATE, Virginia, and without It's adop-
tion Gas contemporary history shows,) Virginia
would not have ratified the Constitution; and pro
posed from hat was lhen deemed By many pure and
able men, m unnecessary jealousy Of federal power.
The experience OF hall century fas demonstrated
the wisdom OF her then statesmen, who moved IN
this amendment. They had seen and ielt the inter-
ference of even brute )orce under George the ILL., IN
breaking up the peaceable assemblies Of the people.
They had seen ard felt the ndigniiy and outrage
offered the country in rejecting The petitions Of the
people SO assembled for redress of grievances
and they intended that the Government of their
adoption should have power, aye sir, no excuse
for enactine the high iantasticircks of Royalty.
But IL never entered the minds OF those sages, 10
provide by parchment or compact for The right OF
tndiUidual petition
They seem 10 have taken it for granted III the
b.ing who, in infancy, a1hood and old age, could
approach his Maker and Judge, in The language OF
humble suppcation, might venture 10 place his wants
before Congress OF his fellow beings without be-
ing called upon 10 cite any written authority for
doing. They supposed (and lruly) the right Of in
diciduat petition 10 belong To mans naure--aboye
all written constitutions and guarantees, and laugh
ing them TO
Sir, in passing allow me single word in refc-
renee 10 the class oi men belonging 10 your own
State, TO whon | have alluded, as conraSted with
another set OF gigantic minds and who entertained
fears Of Federal encroachmenls. Nay, whose
fears arose from entire different quarter; from
the anticipated centrifugal force of The States
Amongst what now consider the many errors OF op-
MON rmed in early life, have enumerdte This;
reflection, possibly better Judgment, but, above ALL
e1peFtea.e most unering test, have satisfied ms
was. wrong. Nay, sir, IN names, which sin
cerely thought could never sanction OF any
kind, were, after all, bAt names, and might mis-
lead. That Alexander Hamilton, head and shou-
ders as he was above his fellows in point Of intel
leci, and unSuspeced, even by his enemies, in point
of purity, was bnt man. and like other men, falliblc
in judg nent Your own Stale politicians, were ex-
tremely jealous of the tendency Of the Federal Co
vernment, and sought 10 couneract il; but the re-
suit OF the system in its practical operations has
proven an itch o all their precautions
In using the language have, in reference 10 the
right OF petition | must not b. understood con-
tending for a moment that the House has not the
righfu power TO reject petitions, which in their
nature or terms, are offensive di,respecuu TO an
individual member 10 the House al large. Sill
respect as well as reg lrd for constituents, re-
quire the possession o; this power and may cali for
its exercise But when exercised, lei the reason for
il distinctly appear upon your journals
In pursuing my remarks, cannot consent 10 treat
this question as one OF party. woud as play
with the forked lightning daily with it under the
belief OF making IL SubServe party purposes. My
friend and colleague, (Mr. Monroe) son of the
Soulh having all his associations OF early life there
and connected with us at the North by the ties OF
residence, has told you, and truly told you, that this
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