Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-25

y. "
by the gentleman from Virginia, (alr. Stuari) me
former resolution was in entire conformity WIN t'e
opinion Mr. H. now held and had always hen IN re-
ference TO the course proper TO be pursued WIN 'cse
Abolition petitions.
Uouse mad no right pass in any shape upon the qu's
t;on of Abolition He had ever believed that Congress
had no Jurisdiction the subject and no right what
eyer TO agiiae il before the nation lie was opposed
% the reception of all petitions praying directly Tor
Abolition, or from which the question OF Abolition misht
be raised Should they proceed from citizens oil
the District of Columbia he should s hold the same
opinion because although this body stood to the DIS
trict in the relation of its local Legislature yet as snc
could possess to dvest any c''zeh OF vestu
rights Should three ourths OF all the Shareholders III
the District petition for the abolition Oh slasely
the ten miles square, act OF Congress passed III com
pance with their petition could dives The remaining
fourth part of such shareholders OF their Veseo III
the slaves they held. He never had heve, cou!u' "i
ever would, for any proposition wh'ch e.,hei ~
recy or by implication went to countenahce Tue uea
that that House had any power Whatever " at "a ''
subject of slavery.
From the position Mr.. IL. had recently occupied,
some gentlemen seemed to suppose that he might nave
entertained different sentiments but II any gentlemen
supposed that, viewing all the transactions OF Tue last
week. Mr. II had had any agency IN proposing or
briuginu forward compromise on that SUBJECT, they
were entirely mistaken. II he had during that time
drawn up resolution, it had only been with desire To
raise safe barrier behind which the South might rally
sbould the pending resolution be rejected Mr. IL said
he should vote against the previous question. II II
failed he should then vote in favor OF the proposition
Of The gentleman from Pennsylvania, (ar. Brown ,
and if that should be rejected, and no other should he
offered more consonant.to his feelings than that now
pronosed by the gentleman from Virginia. (Nlr Stuart,
then he should feel bound 10 vote for tins last propo-
sition Mr. H. said that the members Of that House
had no right to daily play with the patience OF the
People The entire nation was looking up to Congress
for relief from their dsiresses, and II he could give
them that relief without compromising his principles
as Southern man, he felt himself in conscience bound
to do it, The resolution of the gentleman from 'Il-
GINA (Nr Stuart did not compromlt them ailhou9h
the resolution was confcssedy compromise Of lhr
matter in dispute, it temporary only, behs eA'
pressly confined TO the limits ." the present fess.om
If then the resolution proposed by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, (Mr. BrownD should nol Pf'gah, MI
H. would vote for that OF the gentleman rom virginia.
MIR Stuart1 Not however, on the principle OF con-
promise for Mr. Ii. had no compromise 10 ihakt' ou'
! in view Of the necessities OF the country
MIR. GILMER said that, Notwithstanding lhe debate
had taken a wide range lie could not but feel very
srouu desire TO say something, not however, on me
main aue ston but something which, IN Ills humble OPT
nion might perhaps, lead to ina disposition OF ih'S
question And il, in doing So he should trespass one
ha breadth to the right or TO the left from the Inc Of
order. he hoped he would be pardoned by the House
He could assure the House that he iet tue most earnest
socitude for the settlement OF this question on ts DAY
II would be useless and unnecessary TASK 10 go mo
detail for the purpose OF showing why 1t had not been
dsoosed of before this time This question had led 10
elimination and recrimnatlon, and irutess debate,
which could do no good, here or elsewhere but II
could not escaped the attention OF me House. as
il certainly would not escape that oil the country,
that on more occasions than one, II had been IN Inc
mower of Southern to have settled tins question:
not for this extra session only but for the present Con-
gIess.
Mr.. STANLY called the gentleman to order, on The
ground that he was wandering from the subject
Mr. GlI.MER continued. lie would not ask the
nduIaence of being allowed to follow the footsteps
of his predecessor nasmuch as he did not desire Ia
follow an evil example lie would not, therefore, II
the Chair thought his remarks were out Of order on
the point which he discussing say any siihg more
He did not approve OF the application OF the previous
question in this instance and approved OF the resou-
ton Of the gentleman from nnsyvana, (Alf Brown
The previous question not always the safest and
surest method Of despaching business IL was mat
ter Of far more Importance with himself and the gentle
men from North Carolina and South Carolina, that THIS
question should be settled finally and correctly, than
that it should be unsettled by indefinite action. lie
was well aware, however, that we had debated tins
question long, and there were no men III That House
whom he would sooner call TO his add IN order 10 bring
il 10 close than those gentlemen. Ana he believed
that if the proposition Of the gentleman from Penn
sylvania could be fairly compared, front to front, with
that Of his colleague, they would be able to close
this unfortunate discussion to-day. Here Mr.. G ex
amined and stated the effect OF hs colleague
| luton
MIR. STUART here and explained what he con
ceived would be the effect of his resolution.
| Mir. GlLMER resumed by saying that, from the
reading Of the resolution, gentlemen would be At NJ
loss 10 perceive what might be the consequences wncl
would result from It's adoption There were questions
of infinite importance 10 be considered and settled
4 But while gentlemen arranging the furniture d
the house, let them take that the house itself dit
not take fire. They had been admoi'-hed that TIN:
question was Of infinitely Impotence than any
other tina, could before this House, and that no
thing could be settled until this was settled Anc
concevng that this resolution Of his colleague die
settle the question, but only for this session, and nc
longer and that, at the commencement OF the regular
session in December next should return here to re
new the question and the combat he felt himself bound
to oppose the adoption Of his resolution lie contend
ed that his colleagues proposition was nothing more
nor less than declaration Of war on this question:
And while this House lad been discussing question
of civil war; another branch al the other end Of the
Capitol, had been debating question of foreign war
and the public mind had been greatly lntiamed and ex
cited on the agitation Of the subject OF Abolition here
| He repeated, then, that he went Tor the proposition o.
the gentleman from Pennsy lvanla because It settled
the question for the present Congress. And lie asked
if gentlemen did not see an advantage III that: Stu!
gentlemen who exhibited such agony hcsitaed to sell
| tie this question But let gentlemen remember iha
If il is to be put at resi- il must be upon some such ba
sis as this lie trusted them that these two propose
tons would be brought fairly before it. For himself he
declared that he not deslrous to discuss the mar
question at ALL nor to postpone the subject till Dec Bn
he would gentlemen not 10 nnsettle the public
ment of the country in setting this point Of order
He confessed that he surprised at the remark OF
the gentleman from Tennessee when he said that he
looked with disgust upon the proposition Of the gen
teman from Pennsylvania, because the gentleman be
longed to different party He (hlr. g. would say, al
respected himself, that, this question: he knew III
party he looked only TO the Constitution 10 the grea
interests Of the country, and to the interests Of h
constituents lie implored gentlemen not 10 permit
sectional local pejudces 10 enter into the settle
ment Of this question. lie would now conclude will
saying that he would vote against the previous qucs
| ton.
MIR. STUART said that he would speak upon ,ht
main question, and not upon the proprely Of calling
the previous question. He had few words 10 say il
regard the resolution which lie had had the honor /,
submit. 1t appeared to him that this resolution in
voved no principle whatever. He would say tina
the remark made BY Ii friend from Virginia TO sho"
that The previous question ought not now 10 be put
because It involved matter Of principle, entirely