The Madisonian., 1840-01-30


Jefersonisn principles Of which We hear so much-so
perfectly consistent with what the present democracy
and repubesnism Of this country that we are called
upon 10 send forth to the world standing order Of
the House, that any petition which may have been Of
Tered at your doors involving questions Of personal IL
beHy. ~ not entitled 10 the poor consideration of
oeng placed upon the journals. Has il 10 this
Ian u he that a Government like ours, in the very
mo'h'ngoi our existence, we have arrived at point
where the only proposition may not be discussed 10 a
question involving the liberty or slavery Of mani /
asa yoh sir, Is this the way the nations of
we eath that our institutions 20 endure forever L.
~ DC true that We have engrsied upon our system
principles which will not bear even dscu ssonif il be
Hos na' mere fastened upon US, by the Constitution
and the laws that which cannot be discussed now,
wheh we are 10 me vgor Of our days when lusty
hood courses through VEINS aud all is action force
aud energy what s to be the condition OF our country
when probably she will be ssdded with debt when cor
ruption crawling upon through every avenue of pa
ronage shall have brought to he position OF the old
Governments Of the world and hen in addition to
their burdens and coHuptions, we shall be horne down
bya system which gentlemen say and mus, not
meet discussion
Ia turning from this part OF the subject, win take
occasion to remark that there is here who will
hold more sacred Than will. the constitutional engage
nen,s upon which have entered, long they
st But this nation is to be kept quiet by any such
course as is here adopted Men who feel no interest
~ this question in relation to slavery IN the District OF
Conmhla--nen who amongst the first to sustain and
uphod he constitution OF your country unbroken, feel
that the right Of petition has been invaded and that, If
1t once be violated here, il can be elsewhere; if
upon this question, II can be upon olhersmen who feel
that IN this Government above all others, is essen
,ial that the friends of freedom should ress, every
croachment in the beginning And my colleague, (Mr
Monroe) spoke truly when he said that If this question
was urged IN It's present form, you would find enlisted
under the banner Of the abotfonss. that they may
there fight IN the of the right OF petition, many
gallant spirits who will never Weld to fierce denune la
tiDus andV< hn uh fnplt that rtnhf
vaded, will show TO the world that citizens of the South
are not the only iretmen possessing moral force thai
the South not the only part Of this nation which
knows It's rights, or, knowing dare maintain them.
Before conclude, permit me to say word to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Chimp That gentle
man. IN spirit Of lberally that considering the posi-
ton in which he is placed could arise only from patro
TIC impulse, asked Tor suspension Of the rule tn intro
duce certain proposition. was unwilling for
the suspension, because did believe. do now
believe that before single petition has been present
ed II is right or within the spirit Of the Constitution,
lay down course OF action upon petitions involving
questions of personal freedom, different from that which
would have been pursued in the ordinary business of
the House. But If the gentleman, upon the presenia-
ton OF these petitions had offered this solution, add
ing instructions to committee to report thereon, his
proposition would have received my am not Of
those who believe that the time Of the House should be
consumed IN reading petitions OF this any other char
acter and | feel 1t due to those who. common with
myself offer them, to say that their reading never has
been called for far ecoIlect, except when gen
temen have been driven to it by feeling that they have
been treated with severity that their constituents
were wounded through them; aud that the Constitution
OF their country had received stl deeper wound than
was inflicted on these petitioners | trust the propo-
stion OF the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr Chinn)
which suppose TO be substantially the that of
my colleague from the city Of New York, (Mr Mon
roe,) will be so framed refer these petitions a
committee 10 be reported on. But am unwilling TO
incorporate such proposition among the standing rules
of this House. do not believe that i, becomes the
Representatives Of the People of this nation send
forth to the world rule which will show that
template the presentation of petitions which cannot be
acted upon in the usual way and do believe that the
gentleman from Louisiana will, at the proper time, pre-
sent his proposition, when petitions shall be presented
that VIII receive the unanimous vote al least Of all
those who agree with this floor.
SIR, there Is no gentleman IN this nation who regrets
sincerely than that this question should have
been agtated. Bot am not willing thai those with
whom ! am associated-men whose lives pure,
and whose standing in the community that sent them is
equal TO that of any gentleman here who would
scorn to do any thing that would bear the light Of
day, and whose every action marked by dslnlerest-
ed patriotismsre to be regarded unworthy Of
sdcralon, merely because they may entertain consci-
eniious difference OF opinion upon matters OF public pc
hey | say 1t is not becoming the courtesy OF this
House Where shall we fEd ourselves if this Hall is
to be made the Of personal recrmina,lon upon
these questions We stand here the Representatives
Of People claiming 10 be free. Our duty to the
Constitution aud laws Of the country preserved inyio
late. la doing So whilst we invade no tight belonging
to the South, will never permit the South to ,rampe
upon the rights which have been secured the North
by that Constitution. And here let say sir, that
the clause OF the Constitution guarantylng the sacred
ness OF this right for which contend, and sngrafted
upon that instrument in the form of amendment,
presented by the State which you in part represent
this floor therefore call upon old Virginia the State
which ,oouid mol take the Constitution until clause
had been inserted sufficiently securing this right call
upon her to see that amendment which she herself
affixed TO that sacred instrument is not ramped in
the dust
Extract from The speech Of Mr. GENTRY of Tennessee.
Mr.. Speaker concur with the gentleman from New
York (Mr Monroe, who remarked that the battle Of
abolition must he fought by the North Yes, sir, the
only reliance OF the South for peaceful and harmless
settlement Of this question upon the exeriions Of the
patriotic portion Of the North, who take Just view of
this subject, and who desire improper interference
with the domestic institutions of the South When the
North shall be united against this question: (f
that day shall ever Gomez they will be able TO out vote
us here and we shall then have alternative left
but to stand TO our and maintain rights at the
point of the bayonet. And. repeat It, Mr.. Speaker,
1t is idle to hope for peaceabe ard harmless settle
ment OF this question: unless that object be achsv
ed by the exertions Of those patriotic citizens OF the
North, who with the South this subject And
this being the case hold 1t TO be highly nexpedent
place this question such attitude here will de-
prlve OF the cooperation Of that portion OF the Re-
prcsentatves OF the North who with us the
question The resolution Of the gentleman proposes
the reception OF petitions praying for the abolition
OF slavery IN the district Of Columbia and in the er
rtorles Of the United States aud we know that the
whole People OF the North look upon this violation
OF the right Of petition secured the People by the
Constitution. And when ask our friends OF the
North, who are with US upon the main question: TO act
with US IN supporting this resolution we ask them to