Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-09

IN the absence oi the gentleman fiom Massachusetts
l"t AdamS) was informed that he had. probably
no remarks Ia make on tho subject, aud ccrtnini,
had no desire To debate Il, but wished TO avoid nj
ueohe. My wish now Is, To adopt the rules anC
!" proceed To business; but the gentleman mad,
some declarations which council me IN n,snond 4,
them, which will do briefly, though reluctnn,lv
| Inc gentleman says that this 2Ist rule, to r,itc
ao"n'on petitions upon their presentation and q
nfie, statement oi their contents, meas sure al
the last Admin istration and that either that Admin
istraton was the tool OF those Wings who ofi;,, r,
and supporedi,. that those Wings were the tools
|, oi that Administration"
now, sir, declare that the gentleman has no, the
snouow oi foundation m truth for this assertion
There Is no evidence, data upon which to Lasc
any such assertion; and It is the mere creature of a
onnI, bedzencd, prciudiced INA inaton.
| Inc history oi tins list rule is simply this.
KNOW " well, Tor the proSposiiion from which II
sprung was drawn originally by my own hand
was taken sick. AMI gentleman from South Caro-
una, tMr. Ihompson,) the only gentleman who
ptoiessed to be Wing from that State took my
proposition aud offered II To the House. and he ac-
copied MS a substitute for IT, from my friend from
the Montgomery District in Maryland, (Mr. John
son'l tue measure as II now stands in the form of
eho E's rule. Thus It originated with my two
h'ehus NMr. Johnson and MIR. Thompson and
myself, without consultations advice or concert with
any member OF the then Administration party I
VIII not 20 back and trace thi. rule from the first
movement, IN 1886, To lay the question Of reception
"' noohton peutons upon tho table, but content
myself with the contradiction only of the d.clara-
ration that II was an Administration measure Il is
true, however, stated 10y the gentleman that this
| rue was passed by the united !ote OF n ma ior,y
oI ,ne Administration party and a minority of the
| WhiSs-a minority composed of all the Southern
or slave-holding Wings, except some four or five
perhaps, aud one Wing gentleman (Mr. Proffu of
the Notwithstanding States, TO whom now return
my sincere thanks.
But the gentleman meant to 60 further th,n 10
sly merely that this rue an Administration
measure. lie meant, doubtless To have Il nerreI
that now II will be an Administration measure Tn
have this rule repealed; and, indeed, f the gentle
man meant any thing, ne made an appeal direct tn
the Wing majority now hero from the non slave.
holding States Ia rcscnd It. Sir, know not whom
| the gentleman would define 10 be the Administrn.
ton the Executive and his Cabinet or the Wbig
majority here. But, II he means the President OF
the United States and his Cabinet, here undertake
To say that that gentleman has authority for All
vancIns the repeal of this rule a measure of the
present Administration. Indeed, | know that no
man Is more opposed the introduction OF this dis,
| turbng topic here than the present Chief Msris.
trate- And what authority has the gentleman for
implying this TO be an administration easure
when the present SecrctIry of State representing
Massachusetts herself in the Cabinet pledged HIM.
self to Virginia from her Capitol that her n,ti,u,ons
should not he touched 10y him-ihat this delicate
subject should he left where left by the fra
me's of the Constitution, untouched, undisturbed
unaSltated by him and those who acted with INN m
the NoTthl Ii by an Administration m. assure the
gentleman means that the ma iority of non Save
uou'nS " nlS memuerS, combined with a from
the South will repeal this rule confess that ms TO
that am not 81 well or SO fully advised. We shall
see. But, u they do, II will badly comport with
ther professions and protcstaons before the election
that they were not Of the Abolition party in the
North, thus s1ry TO repeal this rule now for the
hrSt time, declared TO bc Of the last Adj
mnstratlon; aud this repeal by this Administration
VIII not contrast well IN the South with the adoption
OF the measure 10y the last Administration. But I'M
I'll am convinced otherwise, will not distrust the
Wings OF the North on this subject. II the rule had
| never been adopted, would hardly ask them now
TO ADOPT Il Tor the hrst time, hut, having teen adopt
ed, ! confidently trust in them not to repeal it,
The gentleman says II should be rescinded be-
cause II is case Of the "SO,ih against the N:rfh
10 Cypress the North" Sir, | deny this assertion
too as untounded IN truth rs II is sectional IN feel
lng. The South against the NORTH II any such
proposition bc true, the truth rather that IL Is the
North against the South, TO Cypress the South No
sir; beg pardon of the North-ofa few dangerous
fanatics IN the North against the South-unsuu-
ported, unbacked, dIscounenanced by the virtue
and intelligence and patriotism OF the North. Fa.
Mates, few and Insignificant in numbers but pocn-
tal It Is true, IN wealth. ia zeal, IN the pulpit IN the
press, and IN the schools-irow ned upon by the
great majority IN the North for agitaling this mos.
dangerous topic of abo!ShIng Southern nstitu-
tons, ot applying the brand Of the ncondiary and
the knife OF domestic Instruction. What instltu.
ton of the North do we ofthe South threaten or at
taekl Are we TO be said to he against the North to
! Cypress the North, merely because we prevent dan
gers TO ourselves and deierd from attacks coming
from the Northl The gentleman says that II is the
South against the North To Cypress the North he
cause nine petitions out Of ten coming from the
North are not received under the operation of this
2lst rule Sir IT this he so, II IS because nine ont
OF ten of the petitions coming here from the North
petitions for the abolition of slavery in this Dis
trIct and IN the South. | defy the gentleman to
show instance of n respectful petition from my
quarter rejected, unless II was praying for the
| abolition of slavery. But the gentleman had read
sundry resolves of the Legislature Of Massachu-
setts concerning the denial by the United States
House of Representatives of the right of petition
declaring this rule be "a pulpable violation of the
Constitution Of the United States n blld denial Of
inhlienablc rights, and stretch Of power which can
never be quietly submitted to by free Pcoplc;"
and protesting against It "s being void IN its ncep
ton and Of binding force, they assert the right of
any portion OF the People Of IN country, however
mistaken IN their views or insignificant in number
To petition Congress for redress of grievances or
what to them may seem suck; and that Congress is
bound 10 receive all such petitions, and give them
| respectful and deliberate conSlderation"&c By the
bye, sir do not know how these g. even OF the
sovereign State OF Massachusetts, imc T. placed
upon our journals OF the last Congress. They do
not belong there under this very rule as they were
paper the abolition of slavery. were hardly re.
spcctlul TO the last Congress land were exactly such
resolves sh puld have been excluded from a place
in our printing. But this aside, they are not tue in
| TACT argument.
This 2lst rule does not deny the right Of petition
on any subject; and Congress is not bound 10 re-
ceve all petitions praying for redress OF grievances
or what TO petitioners may seem such, and TO give
them a respectful and deliberate consideration.
These resolves, like the opinions Of many on this
rule, are founded on ignorance of the operation
and practice Of rules IN Congress, and 10 n fail.
to discriminate justly between the rights of pe-
tItioners and the rights Of legislators.
| The right OF petition TO Congress is guaranteed
by the Constitution, by the provision OF the first
article Of amendments:
Congress shall make no laws respecting an es.
| tablshmcnt Of religion or prohibiting the exercise
thereof, aJrdging the freedom Of speech or Of the
press; or the right OF the People peacenbly TO ns-
sembe, and TO petition the Government for a re-
dress Of grievances"
Our rules require n member IN rise in his place
| tn present petition and to make "a brief state.
ment OF the contents thereof verbally"
| After presentation, statement Of contents, and
hearing, OF course the question Of reception ar ses
| upon every petition.
! The 2lst rule declares that
| ono petition, memorial, resolution, or other p,nor
praying the abolition of slavery, sc. &c shall be
received by this House, entertained in any way
whatever"
The rule, you observe, sic, prevents the reception
OF abolition petitions, or their being entertained by
| the House in any way whatever; but does not pre-.
vent their presentation for reception or their hear.
ING, by stating their contents. And the question 49,
does this rule violate the Constitution by abridging
the right Of the People peaoeably to assemble, and
| 10 petition the Government for redress Of grev.
nnce3 And Is Congress bound to receive these petit