The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-09-24
Gen. Harrison on Abolition ana
the Right of Petition.


following report Of the Remarks made by
General HARRISON at Carthage, (Ohio, on
the 20lh ul,., in reference 10 the sublecls
mentioned at the head OF this article:
Having received letter from personal friend,
who is a member Of an abolition society propus.
ing TO me two questions, which he requested me
10 answor; but having from necessity, arising
fiou the absolute impossibility OF answering the
numerous letters receive requiring my opinion
upon political subjects, declined TO answer any
from individuals, | willingly embrace the oppor.
tuniiy of answering them which this occasion
has given me, without violating the rule had
found myself under the necessity of adopting
The questions are the following, viz;
lst Do YOU believe the People OF the United
States possess an unrestricted right 10 discuss any
subject that TO them may seem worthy Of eonsId
Grafton
3D. DO YOU believe the People Of the United
States have the night 10 petition their Legisla-
ture for tho redress of whatever they may deem
grievance, and for the adoption OF such mea-
surcs as the petitioners may think conducive 70
the welfare OF the nation
do not hesitate to answer both Of these cues
lions in the affirmative. The Constitution OF
the United States, and that of our own State,
have secured 10 the People the enJoyments Of the
rights referred to in both questions entirely IN.
restricted but by their own sense of prOprety ana
the legal rules which proiec: the rights Of others
The freedom Of speech Of the press are the as.
tinguishing characteristics Of free government.
Without them we might call our country Re
public, but il would be SO only 10 name; Ike that
OF Rome, under the empcsors. It might be mask
TO cover the most horrible dospoiism The right
%, n, .,-r.4, 4 4. In q
ly upon all matters of public policy IS tie pal
ladium o. all civil and religious liberty Tie
authors or our Constitution must have known
that il would be subject to abuses 10 b used for
improper, and indeed sometimes fcr criminal pur-
poses, yet they declared It without rcstrcGou.-
More than half century has passed away sUce
il came into operation, and although upon one
memorable occasion, II was resortsd to for the
purpose OF giving effect to councils tending to
paralyze the efforts Of The nation, in tiit midst Of
a dangerous war, and 20 encoGra 70 the enemy to
perseyere lnssuppostinE their UNJUST prcteus.0ns,
still these declarations Of rights IN relation Is
writing, speaking, and publishing, have been suf.
fered to remain IN all their pristine force
should be the last person Who could under GtY
circumstances, consent 70 restrict them by sgal
epactmen.s.
/ must, hoNcvpr, take his occasion to repeat
what have before GScl-r.8 thit,the discussion
Of the right Of one portion Of the states, which
compose our Union, to hold slaves, by an Assem-
Dage o. cil1eiSo Of o.heF ;! l'es "hioh haid noie,
tba f,a,,s,;i,, s..f.,a4 49, ~ -
and unrestricted declaration IN the Constitution.
TO which have referred. II is forbidden BY the
general tenor Of that instrument and the iunda-
neh'll PfinciP,e o. .ue ooyeILl',e1 ~hieh Il mas
80 ,.I...oa ,L,. J,.5,.l,
of its aspects to be well understood. 10 foreign
Goyernmentsit presents, and was intended to pre-
sent, power clothed with Tue most important
TO- ;,h ,hoo :, go 80,
sec nothing beyond TIA, which i described d Gun
glorious motto, E PiB,.bus Usua" We are,
however not :. one ~ the sense thst i woei
,'s '3'u, = sPl.eo = othe' nations "'i1.'
ale parts. Opr Union "a -, mai chic IL
marriage, merges the trAole rights of tie parties
IN common stock. We are not
-------------" Joined like meeting fgep
!" niah foii Irso tae r. one common Hood
A''1 ~ - "'o'o ''s''' ''S'''-
our hioD Is more properly Ike ~ ord
nary coPaf'hersh'p composed q uanoer
80 20 . - ,'''' t'dt't1i "a
cap'lai, 70 6e SUBJECTED 10 Tue contto! 81 iae
majority OF me partners, WI who each also
fe'uIh another portion under Their own ex
elusive management VITA the latter,
neither the paF'2e!s, collectively nor indl
''dua!iy' nave aGy moro righ! to interfere,
.han 1t there existed no sort Of connection
between Them. ihls Is, also, Tie theory
oi our Ueneral ana STATE Governments
over Tue powers retained by the States re
SpecuVe'y, nei,hef Inc General Government
nor Tue o'hef oIa'es, nor tue citizens oi The
"enes states eau exercise Tue least control.
y 'n's oP'n'on IS co'Eecl, y ioiio"s, That DIS
euSS'on 10 PuO"c assemblies 10 fe!a'isn 70
we institutions o. 9'hef States WITH we"
70 AMER or aiiect them, was not ~ the con
,e.ni'.a''on '''nei OF NOSE "ho 'fame1 The
No"'','u''Oh' OF nose ny whom II was ADOPT
eu' Let Us Apply 'he theoFy ! endcasor to
maintain 10 ,hiS assembly. We ore here,
spuio '''fee sHoUsaud persons I'D the double
1ua,rc'er % c'''zshs o. ONO and citizens Of
,"o Ln''eu o'a''s, "a the hrsi, We can no,
uol'aNe we GoLs'oefa'ion ana discussion OF
not NHHal.a