Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-08

take the same course in regard to all other subject
upon which they entertain the same opinions OF con
sttutional right
say again, II there is no constitutional power
grant the prayer of the petition, that is the answe
TO be made 20 the petitioners but certainly can
not be tairly or wisely urged an objection TO tn
reception Of ths PETITION; for without its reception ant
consideration, how are you to decide understand tx
! y whether case OF grievance is made out or not
It's known That differences OF opinion prevail a
| the North and the South upon the advantages an,
Disadvantages OF slavery. Now let me suppose
case our slaves IN the South are daily escaping in
TO the tree States, generally of the North, wher,
every obstacle and difficulty and impairment !.
thrown IN the way of their recovery by their Stat,
laws. The South may hnd It necessary very soon
Gas think they ought long since 10 have done IL
apply to Congress to pass some general law by
which such property may be restored to its proper
owner, under the 2i section OF the Ih article of The
Constitution, which declares
mo person held TO service or labor in one State
under the laws thereof, escaping 10 another shall
IN consequence OF any law regulation therein be
discharged from such service or labor but shall be
delivered up on claim of the party 10 whom such
service or labor may be due"
Suppose present petition from my constituent:
on this subject next winter, and the Northern men,
bers should object to II; reception and say, STOP
sir we object to the reception Of that petition on the
ground that case Of grievance has not been made
out; differ altogether wIh the petitioners on this
subject; they may think II grievance TO lose \
i save out we thnk Inherently; We thlak u great
| Advantage 10 you, gentlemen, 20 get rid of your
slaves on any terms, and the more obstacles we can
throw IN the way Of their recovery the better for
you; and as you have not made 4 case of grew
ance, we will not receive your complaint much less
| entertain 4 discussion on that subject.
IL IS my present purpose, at the next session Of
Congress, 10 bring this subject up, and press the
! passage OF such a general law will enable the
South 10 recover, IN 4 more summary manner than
| they now can, their runaway slaves; whether il IS
IN fknfr IL H..
ttUn or resolution does the South hold itself ready
TO lcquiesce in the adoption Of rule 10y Congress,
that no resolution, memorial or other paper, upon
this subject, shall &c entertained in any way what
ever' Ii they are not, then let them DO rs they
would be done by; atal events, DO not let them
weaken their own cause by taking 4 false position
now.
Until very recently, Congress has never under.
taken 20 exclude but one class Of petitioners; and
they were those whose petitions were eoucted in
disrcspectful language. Now, grant you that the
necessity OF preserving the dignity and character of
the body would furnish strong consideration for the
adoption OF this rule; but If you 80 10 the abstract
right, doubt Il | say that IS not the proper re-
mcdy. It's Ike a man who has a sui: in court; II
he IS disresHectiul, or guilty of contempt hrs case
Is no; therefore dismissed; his cause is no, thrown
out Of court. He is entitled to a fair and impartial
cecson OF his case, and he Is subject 70 pun shmsn
for his con;smPt; aud that Believe to ee the true
remedy here.
Let me, by way OF Illustration, take case now
before Congress: Our friend Extra Billy, as he is
familiarity called, has presented petition or memo
rial to Congress, claiming the right TO occupy the
seat held by his competitor Colonel Blnks SIM
pose, IN the estimation OF some, (f you choose n
majority OF the House, he has used dlsrespeclful
language, will that Justify the House IN refusing TO
receive his petition, and giving him his seat if he is
entitled 10 ~ NO; decide upon his claims and
then punish HIM Tor contemplate necessary, even to
expulsion; Tut his complaint should be he,rd, con
stered, and decided. IL would be but repetition
OF the New Jersey outage If the House, by refI-
sing 20 receive his petition, 10 decide that Col
Banks should retain the seat without hearing the
merits of the controversy.
| have thus undertaken to defend the consli,u
uona. right OF petition on all subjects. | may I've
mistaken IN my view of the question. certainly
have great respect for the opinions of many who
differ with me, though | think for the most par,
those opinions have been formed rather in prejudice
thcn Judgment, on account Of the delicate nature OF
! The SUBJ set 10 which they refer.
But however this may be, feel the most conf
dent assurance that | am not mistaken rs TO the
question OF policy and true vision which it be-
comes the South TO adopt with one voice.
In the first place, It is now, and has been for
years past, IN Congress at least purely a political
question, kept alive Oy designing Southern asi:a-
tors and AMBITIOUS political asprants. Can any
impartial reader of the Richmond Enuuirer and
Washington Gioye doubt that the txartions Of
these two editors have been directed TO this endl
Let me advert to 4 very recent occurrence to Is
tibsh the truth OF this position: Shortly after the
meeting OF the present session, :he usua motion
was made 10 adopt The rules Of the last House fol
The government OF this. Mr.. Adams proposed 10
except the 2lSt rule; the vote was TAKEN and re-
suited IN lie exclusion; the question then came up
upon the adoption OF the remaining rules under
which Congress had been legslating for half a cen
fury, lat least they had esisaled during tina, reod
without the 81 rule,) and they were adopted; the
House was thus organized and ready to proceed 10
It's ordinary and regular business, when Mr. Charles
J. lGgcEsOi, OF Pennsy ivania, who had voted to
exclude the 2l- rule, moved a reconsideration of
tina, vote AMI went into general and elaborate dis
cussIon Of the question ct slavery and the slave
trade; which exciting debate was kept up In the
House OF Representatives for nearly two weeks;
AMI who participated IN this wide field Of angry
dscussi0nl DID THEY who were charged with or
suspected Of being favorable 70 the views OF the
aJoIti0nis,s? No, on the contrary, they did every
thing 10 suppress discussion and agilat!on aad those
who proiesSej Ia d-precate discussion most, were
those only who INDUCED IN and encouraged u: end
Mr Richie c.es out, thanks 10 Mr. IgcrsoI
hanks 10 Mr. IRgrTs0N" Thanks for whal Not
for hIs vote because, having accomplished his 90
jet oihrowng scord and dissenson into the ranks
81 he Wing party, he voted again. az he did ire the
st ms ance, for the exc usIou Of the 2ls rue ard
then Every man Of his party, believe, without an
exception voted against the adoption OF the Other
rule, 10 matter :!1m what quarter Of the country
p come, and no matter whether he was Tor Or
ugans the adoption OF the Zl.t rule; and these are
the men who are hailed as the grost champions Of
the South
This question has been presented To Congress in
various forms q; different times and il was never
until the last session, th1i u vas presented m the
form Of the RUE now rescndej. / appreciate the
motives that led 20 its Introduction. / knOwIt had
It's origin il true and zsa Gus devotion o Southern
interests and Southern institutions; but II WIS
founded, OBJ NIX, ~ great error Of Judgment.
50 thought, and 50 expressed myself a, the time
hut II WIS presented 70 me unexpected y, and wilh.
out time for mature de.IbCratOn and, though I
spoke against lts policy, / yielded my impressions,
FOR The tune, IN the more injured judgments Of my
Southern friends, and voted with them fJr the rule;
my impressions then have since upened into convie-
ION and would be false 90 my high trust, be-
eVIng DO, that the Intefesis Of my constituents
and VI the South generally, would he promoted w
carrying out ny views, d should abandon ,hem
10 preserve ny O~n personal TOpIlfty OF from
no apprehon Jon tnat should stand alone from the
South, vii ch, when I auswesI 10 ny name,
thought would be The case but such position,
hank Cod con- never have any terrofs for me whist
an cousc.euuOIsIy convinced Of the truth ara
propueiy Of my position ond think that no pub
lHc man o. worthy Of confidence who has not the
moral capicIy % sand alone and rs you re-
miTh5 nothing could serve 90 well 10 psTgptusfe
our Dfrucs us Go be freed from the pest,cnt brood
o' puDlc agents who consult their persOnlI popu-
Ia'iy hu', aui their cOunlfy's good afergsrd.
WHO are extreme y daring when ksd by the rluI.
Ny1'f nu' the passst oI g. .t.oYug no other tmesD
The result n he 2lst rule hos underiabIy bssp
1n.s.s ] am ~ disregard The evidences Of INV own
senses Hhb no representations of al. with whom /
nave couycfsed, u the highest r.spsei,bI.,ty and
int Hsencc throughout rho Northern and E1.t,,1
states 10 IDENTITY tie Two quCs ions Of sio,p and
the rgNl OF petition, and dim. fI1.a.,f. 90. H..