Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-06-24

ABOLITION PETITtoNs

4 ens tstttI - 81. otuarts Assigning tho r1a8ona
Of his vste Zee he rsscinsiou q the 9Ist rule. 4
Isabioinsd. Whether Ne reader osnrnss Win
him IN snntiment, Or net, The fnei, thai he and
other Southern meSnbers equally fntrrested- y "A
Loyal 70 the South, did aoi dee1, he 9lst R1l~-
absolutely essential 70 ne psesefsatioa 81 South
sn rights, viii serve, vs hope. 10 aliay the fears
We have Inclined 10 ne opision. ,ha, n,
eouFSs they have parsued voald Be he most poii-
slc one s--ihe question Is not free from doub,
nov. Which u beat, can only Be determined hv
tae result As 20 iis being Unconstitutional 10
refuse 10 receive abolition priliions-;hat was
placed eeyend question By Mr. Wise.
ID a. Elders u fks .Nshsaal InisLiesns.y
Messrs. GALES s SEAroH :--As I felt
constrained BY an imperious sense Of du4y
to give my vote to-day in favor Of Mr..
Adama's amendment 70 SIR. Wise's reso.
luton in regard to the adoption Of ire
rules OF the last House Of Representatives.
and - had no opportunity Of explainine
the reasons BY which I was influenced in
90 doing, ] ask the favor Of you 10 insert
this card in your next paper, TO prevent
any miseoneePtion Of my True position IN
regard 10 the subject.
] am Southern man by birth and Ia
principle. I represent large slavehoid-
ing district, and an myself sIaveholdkr:
snd no man can be more firm than am
IN the msiulenanes Of Southern rights.--
Bot believe that Southern gentlemen
have assumed an unfortunate attitude IN
regard 70 ihis whole SubIeet--a position
which = calculated to aeg-svaie rather
lhal diminish The excitement which exists
70 the horthsEn States on the subject Of
Abolition.
have long entertained the opinion that
the aholi;ionisl eouSliluie bat 40 insignif.
cant portion Of he citizens Of The North.
sFn States; and believe, moreover. that
they haveeoriVed their CONSEQUENCE % ain.
" from the suppOssd violation Of The right,
OF petition which hes occurred In The fail.
ure Of Congress 70 receive their memo.
mails. am confirmed in this sentiment
oy the public declaration Of Rlr. Adams
that. 10 bis opinion, II proposition were
pronght forward tomorrow for the aboli-
tlcn Of slavery In the District Of CoIumhis.
lnero are not ave menbsFS on the door Of
CoEgreas who would vote for Il; and that
the almost universal continent IN tha
North IL thai Congress has no power 10
interfere with the subject Of slaveFy In
the States. But, whilst this l. the fact. =
large number Of the Representative from
the Northern States, believing eonscien.
liously that the sacred right Of petition Is
invaded Sy the Feiusai 81 Congress locoa-
slider these memorials, are forced 10 ASSUME
9 position which is apparently adverSs 10
Southega Interests, when 10 truth they are
g much opposed TO abolition a. am.-t
Without pretending 10 60 into discussion
OF the extent Of The right Of petition, 4 am
willing to resi- my vote on the ground Of
sxpodlsney. ] an unsiiling that the abo-
ltticnists should eontiope 10 enjoy thu
support which they nov receive iran The
apparent cooperation Of the wise and viz
lnons men Of the NoElh 10 regard 20 the
night OF peiitioa. wish % arsv from
them al exlFinsie support, and 70 expose
70 TIE world their insigniaeanee IN FeeaFd
70 numbers and character. This can onlY
De done BY receiving their petitions, 70.
tsFTing shoml having q report and Z direct
vote on the qnestion Of abolition or no
aboliiion, nnminElsd with the riRht Of pe.
liiioa % any oibeg collateral qnsstioa. III
ibis course had been taken yesrs 40.
believe that The abolition laaaiieism would
have shared the fate Of The Ssnday msil
exeiisment. But, Be that as Il nav, I for
oae 90 not Wish 70 dodge this question. II
must be met .. some time OF other; end
sm Tor meeting =, promptly. 10 am
right IN my ecojsetuFs that The s5oli.
iiOnials are 80 Uncomfortable 10 numbers.
The feet viii be made manifest, and there
VII be 80 end Of sgilalioa. II, on tie
other hand, there is discrimination on
the part Of ouF HoFfhsrH bFsfhrsn 10 5isss.
gard the guarantees % The Constitution.
and gampls 90 the rights end Interests Of
The South, The scoaeF We know Il The bet
ter fos u The Constitution and he laws
afor3 us no security Ios onf Institutions.
ge must rely on our exiFa-eonslilulionsi
mems 70 mainlain an6 protect tbsn.
There is one otaeg view Of The subject
which / wosld respectfully present. IL
is this; supposa Mr. Adans's amend
msnt hsi bsen defesisd By such vote as
vas given spa the adopiion q ihe 9lss
rule osieinslly what would hsys been
the anaet upon Tbs public mind Would
= ani haNe sppsafed ihst The house Was
alnost squslly divided on The subject OF
socliiioa And whsl AK, would hsgs
been the moral effect ihroaghoni 1ha
union Of such 81 apparent state ~ things
Would u nos have uassfiisd he vsrv
loundaiions 81 ouF SoUG5era insilfuli0ns
Bet, o. the oihes hsrd. u We obtaia q a..
Feet vcia o. ibe finfIs quesiion of abeii-
lioa, upon which We shslI have 3 vote 81
40 ~ ele n fsVeg " lho rights az thsI
acaih % 3 % % aeaiRei lhef1, doss aoi
ever one s.s lisl Z @iii saseia-liy 80.
preas seiiaiion. sad rasiors c0nhdaucs b
re soaih ed harmeny and ffaisFnai feel
iug 20 ths Uaiou
Nqtr 1eioiig. VDlI nlaaIfnt afFgEaf
ALEX. 30. 81 STUART,
Rsgfnsriafias ifn nirgisi ~ Tgriaio.