The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-02-25

floor was all AtsnIion and the general silence was
only broken by repeated bursts Of laughter, at the
happy points made by this original 50" o' tue 'o'
est. nj. r
. Quaker residing in the Town of Jerusalem, New
York praving for the abolition OF slavery IN me
District Of Columbia, and upon tue question oil re-
ception a piOieHt political .4bohuon de6~te sprung
~ and con,inned till n late hour in the evening
when the pe,i,ion finally LAID on tho table,
with view as understood to DO brought up a
gain for further discussion
Mr. Calhoun then roso and congratulated the Alb
oIitonists an ironica style, upon the accession
IN tbsIr ranks Of such distinguished champion as
the Senator from Kentucky, and added some bitter
and contempiuous expressions about the right of
petition, which brought up Mr. TalImadge of New
York and Mr. Webster.
Mr. Webster said he should not have risen to
speak on this subject, but for the singular opinions
advanced by the Senator from South Carolina, in
relation to the right Of petition. lie considered
that right sacred asd undeuiahe, and he felt called
upon To say few words in defence of his views.
The Senators notions, he added, very pecu.
lar. lie said that our representative form of gov.
eminent superseded, in great degree, tho necsss.
~ Of the right of petition. This very singu-
lar doctrine Ii was very singular that our fathers
should nave taken 50 much pains To prjcuTe On a.
mendment TO the constitution, after il had been n
doped, making provision for the security OF
this right Of petition, ir IL was superseded and
rendered less necessary under our form of govern
pent than under other forms THIS amendment
vas the nature of n positive prohibition. Ii de-
eares that Congress shall make Ia1c bbrdging the
Tight Of petition. Now how could the Senator ar.
yige nj the conclusion that there was any thing in
our form of government which rendered tho night
Of petition useless. The trainers Of the oonsiilu.
ton had guarded This right with peculiar care. A
representative government was, in truth, the only
government under Which the right of petition was
good for anything. Under monarchy, the peo-
ole m ght crawl up 20 the fontstoul of power. aud
ask lar Cavors: they had of request, aud Off
GERS of request, about the thrones of the old world
90 receive these petitions but the monarch paid
little regard To the requests Of the people. The
Senator said the right Of petition perscded IN
representative government, % establishing TIE
right Of instruction, the ballot box and the ire edo
reflections. All said Mr. Webster, Z won't trust
these frau fabrics: | will hold on tho constitution.
provision, which establishes the right of petition
aud let the Senator amuse has fancy by discussing
the right Of instruction. But how says the gentle
shalt the servants be petitiOned by their
tiers, Why, If one individual in Massachus pc
uuons Congress, shall he say he is master ct Con
gress Can he order, and mus, the Senate obey ,
Surely not We say the people are the masters of
Congress, and we sre their public servants, but
do not expect all the people in the United States
peunon Congress on one subject, al the same time.
They have another and an easier way of signifylng
their Will. lf tho Senate should deny the Tirh. uf
petition on on" subject, the matter would not end
there Manufacturers petition for redress Ofgricv
snces, and artzans petiIition and they might de.
nv thsS rvs ht also. No, he should maintain the
great constitutional provision, the only safeguard
Of The people rights ard leave these novel, fan
tsstic, metaphy sicRi doctrine To- Others
MIR Brown of n. e.. took another nppnTtl
MY TO urge ". Byorits N<uon thai .s,- Hbp!,'Iui,-
~ " the N"s4h, RrI tbs O.. FrGeysl Wing party
are united IL Wa POOR ssud, and took ns''ss
Of his remarks.