The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-04-25
POlIzEI1AIo
ABOLITION PETITIONS.

THE LETTER OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
TO LEWIS TAPPAN, OF NEW YORK.
UPON DECLINING TO PRESIDENT TO
THE SENATE AN ABOLITION PETI-
TIoN, SIGNED BY 40 WOMEN.
WASHINGTON, March %, le4O.
SIR: Your letter of the 9TH instant was
dolly received, enclosing petition to Con-
gress, signed by l40 women of the city and
county of New York, praying for the sbo-
lition Of slavery and the slave trade in the
District of Columbia, and in those Terrific
ries Of the United States where they exist,
and to admit no new slave State into the u
niOn, requesting me to lay the same before
the Senate. have also received your let
ter of the l7lh instant, requesting me 10 in
form you whenl would present the petition.
Having declined to present the petition, il
is, perhaps, due to the fair pet TONERS. an
70 you, the organ, as well as myself, to
state some Of the reasons which dictate my
course. The constitutional right OF petition
.is contained in the hrst articts of amend
menis, as follows q
"Congrsss shall make no law respecting
an establishment Of religioa, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof or abrdgiNg the
freedom of speech, or Of the press; or the
right of the people Peacsably to- assemHle
and to petition the Government for redres.
Of grievances.
Congress has never made law abridginl
this right; but the people assemble at pleas
ure, and petition at pleasure, for redress
Of grievances. OF course, this part Of the
Constitution has not been violated and i
il did not exist, Congress could not, con
sltutionally, have passed such law, be
cause no such power is delegated to Con
gress. This right, reserved 10 the people
does not deyolve upon the presiding Office
of the Senate the obligation of presenlin:
petitions OF every conceivable deScrip
tiOu.
There are considerations Of moral ant
political, as well as of constitutional ma
iure, which would not permit me TO presen
petitions, Of character evidently hostile {,
She Union, and destructive Of the princi
pies on which it is founded. The patriots
Of the Revolution made great sacrifices o
blood and treasure to establish and Csn6rn
the doctrines set forth in the Declaration o
Independence. Each State was then a
independent sovereignty and to form
perpetual Conledsracy for the safety an
benefit Of the whole, embodying the gres
doctrines of the Declaration, a comp. omis
was made and the principle which you
fair petitioners are now agitating, was sc
tied, The right Of regulating and abolish
ing.slavery was reserved to the States an
Congress have no more right to desire
slavery in Virginia and Maryland, tha
they have to establish slavery in Ne
York or New England. The right of pr
ailion for these objects is reciprocal; an
the obligation Of the presiding officer to pr
sent petition TO the Senate, il it exist
either case, is equally strong in both. b
] caRnot recognise the obligation in eiih'
case. though | acknowledge the right Of Il
people in both. Is difference made b.
tween the District of Columbia and II
States of Maryland and Virginia, fro
which il was taken The question wi
settled in relation to this Disirict,by lhoi
States, by the formation and adoption Of II
Federal Constitution, when it was a pa
of those States aud subsequent ceEsion
jurisdiction could not deprive the citizens
the rights already secured 10 them by bot
the Federal Constitution and the COnsllt
tons Of their respective States. The rig
of Congress TO exercise exclusive leglsl
ton in all cases whatever, does not mes
omnipotent legislation. Congress have q
right, in the District of Co!unbia, to tai