Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-21

W' towns their heiaS, ana thciI 'hiaSes' a." "
,r, that they are tamrcsins WIN '''e ,bo
them ' s ,ha South: that they endangering inc
HntS I'D thai Congress has right under tue Con
mon "a mcddlc with this subject ana Prevali on
,'S' muse in their thoughtess career. UT sa!u
,css these petitions were put an emu " ~ 'i:'
;A"' other way by the House, the State OF georgia
. ,t for herself and resort 10 means "''ii'i' nc
Ni" 70 mt an end to them
power pInOI.E after proceeding at some length IN
M NJ Cooper, of Georgia. said, all that the ne
-sPN ,,;ycs from the North wished was, that 'hc
ond take out of the mouth OF the Aooiil.oh'S's
s'"" ,er which they were afforded py the ac'loii VI
me -, an their pcttons-takc that away, ana tney
the iio~S ~ would put down Abolition. Take away
Of INK ,,e made there, the difficulty which dlsarh's
The las" that difficulty, and all danger would be at
i0'",, In his remarks he had no anxiety 10 Operate
al en-" either in the North or the South, out
on NV simplicity of purpose give ms views as 70
WIN rs for the House to pursue. tie was thankful
the hS' la nursued course which permitted gen.
the i'" nlain themselves and define their POSITION
ieIN b mere yeas and nays did not snow. lie iei
VIM: ,osi,ion fortunately, was one whcn ehaoieu
."' =, nuroach this sub Jet with perfect freedom. ne
h ~ Ground at home, IN reply 10 Apoii'iohs.s' ''ia
iooA =, to grant the prayer OF the petitioners
W ~ oniabe for them to interfere in the question
and is part though he had been represented as
al %. r,ist he would sooner abolish slavery al
AZ ,, dian he would vote TO re-estaoiish slavery III
t&' he was not even disposed TO take IL up as
nov
4 canvass he had challenged his competitor 10
during ~ on,Dicns on this subject; but ne observed
express nre ON the great question involving the peace
o,n,ry: he could not be drawn form IL was
OF e I'M. he could be defeated BY that gentleman
his silence on that subject, and the bold STAND
Sa Mr. Bidde) had taken IN defence OF the f'sh'S
- States under the Constitution. :. =,
o. 'e "a :. had come there with great dislike 10
Va. of the petitioners; and although impressed
e o,,ch feelings, he had, from the course OF thai
&c and the dcnunciatons when gentlemen neaP'a
~ Non, almost at times wished himself rank ADO
uF'" ,h, no might reply to such denunclatlons IN
;rn of one The whole object OF these petition
ny hs,id was confined TO the abolition OF slavery III
~ n,,-ct Of Columbia; and the question was VINE
Sr their petitions made reasona6l request Et' al
pc, he said had taken the ground hiinsell tha' Soh
- had the rirlt to egislate much on this sub)ect
-. ether for the District and to the same extern
~, ;ba States of MARYLAND land Virginia had previous
,L cess;on The South, too had elected nm III
s face of these opinions, and consequently faliieu
them. .l A. Riddle
), .s.nu him If Mr. Van Buren, did not also say ula''
y this power existed, he considered the
srcise of II so dangerous to the stab'ity o ne MN
so ;neypedicnt--that lie would veto any o'i' 'i'"'
sbonld be passed b. Congress for such purpose
Mr.. BIDDLE replied, did not every sei'''ei" ~ y"
that floor who presented aooii'ioh pe''' 6
ne THING: but the question was US to the slcef! u
u, ! was a question of expcdiency merely, WIN
bo,n did the power rest TO decide IT. eet.alniy WIN
C.rr-css-the subject 1T the mercy OF congress,
and consequently at the mercy OF puolc oP.oh-hos
~ tho State, but of the whole United states, ana
ic i was of the utmost Importance that they should
-. TS-erord IT, If the object of the petitioners was
,,,,er within the scope of legislative acton, why
d they pretend treat those petitioners Inherently
.-o.o other citizens who petition on any other SUBJECT
y we treat them differently merely because we enter
,h,t, fhprn n
,~n, them from treating petitions on any other subject
: the same way: The presumption law might become
,,sntlr neutrality-suspicious. might be sent IN upon
ia, subject and they could with equal propriety, spurn
nom from the halls Of Congress, as petitions upon
the subject Of slavery.
Tins was matter which public opinion at last must
ac;. and he thought the otthat House was the
,ddrs; tha, could be adopted to allay the excitement
mon this question: and TO gam correct pubic OPINION
~ In, course pursued BY Congress, the Abolltionists
have teen sent forth the country apostles ola great
principle but on The other hand, if you receive these
nons YOU would place in the hands of the Represen-
i,,,yes from the North banner most precious to free
,Yope under which 10 do battle. If gentlemen would
On INTO the harvest field at the North they would not
ind these petitioners dishonest, Ignorant people. II
,ey be told as thew have been told that the prayers
ohe petitioners be granted without endangering
the rnion and ineXpedient they would reply, why
has not ConrreSs told Us sowlly has it not pointed
og rs the u-7easopabcness of requests. Ii was
an homes, feeling with these petitioners: but they look
Upon nc course OF Congress as al act OF despoism;
there is something wrong, they think, in lodging the
question Mr., 3, said, you give currency and triumph
10 these petitioners, when you treat them rs II there
was something which could be exposed to the light
Of open day If this he subject which It is believed
jnexpedent egslae upon he thought il proper for
Congress 10 make such report to them as would en-
tighten them ard thus put end to the agitation OF
;he question forever.
Nj WATTERSON was opposed to the reception OF
Abolition petitions in any form whatever He would
neither receive them, read them nor refer them TO
committee He did not consider the right OF petition
IL Ill nEadcd by refusing to receive them, because
tie ibo,!onists petitioned about matter which did
10, concern thcm-they having grievances to re-
dTess-and a matter about which Congress had no
power TO lcrislatc He hoped the Representatives
from the Siaveholdinr States would stand firm, and
NO; yield inch, for they must be well aware that
the rankest OF the Abolitionists only expected to
accomplish their objects by degrees. Let them
ms; establish the right to have their petitions re-
ceved and read, and the next thing they would do,
would be 10 prescribe the mode OF action on them
Mr. " replied 10 the remarks of Mr.. Monroe and Mr..
Granger the other day with regard to the right of petit
ton and noticed the remark that the battle of Adolf
uoEsn must be fought at the North. Mr.. w. showed
The connection Al thus time existing between the Adolf
ton!ss and the Wing parties, and asked if it was
fighting the hattlcs of the South that the Wings had
VIEW York. He asked if it fighting the battles OF
the South when the Wings at the Harrisburg Conven-
ton nominated for the Presidency gentleman Gene
ia harrson,l who was in favor Of appropriatng the
surplus revenue 10 the purposes of emancipation Mr..
\" referred 10 the resolutions of MIR. Anterior of last
session. which introduced for the purpose of pre-
venting the evils growing out Of the presentation OF
Abolition petitions, and said that Of the 80 votes that
were gwen against it, 4a of them were Wings. Mr..
vs. remarks will be given hereafter.
Slr STANLi replied at great length to the remarks
o. Mr Wattcrson, of Tennessee. He reviewed the
coGrse Of The two great contendng parties at previous
SESSIONS OF Congress upon the subject of Abolition pc
nohs and explained his previous votes upon the pro-
positions introduced with reference TO the disposition
o. them, and disclamed any connection with Adolf
uo lie thought the question ITSELF and the votes OF
members that floor the question, had been used
10 effect party purposes He then read the written OPT
mons of of the friends Of the Administration on
''at floor expressed at home, and published in the
newspapers Of the day, for the purpose of identifying
'aem with the cause Of Abolition, which drew from
Them disclaimers. He particularly referredto publ
eaton Of MIR. Parmenter, Of Massachusetts, which he
thought committed him TO that cause.
NrfARMENTER did not know if he understood
precisely what the gentleman from North Carolina
NlN.1t