Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-12

of Haverhill impaired by tho proposition I have
moved in the slightest degreef Do you. by adopt
ING that resolution, restrict their rxh, OF eonsesnee
or the Tree use and enjoyment Of their Judgements.
their tongues, or their pensi Will they not be ex-
actiy as Tree after that resolution shall have been
adopted or the amendment proposed by the honorable
gentleman from KY, (Mr. Marshali,) TO think, to
speak the right and TO write they beiorel IL
not my purpose 10 invade that most sacred OF all
rights, OF conscience. No. Our business is not with
them or their conscience but with the gentleman
from Massachusetts,; and with him not personally,
no,as individual, but a member ofthis lesisa-
tive body, who has brought TO its consideration and
asked II TO act upon petition praying, in 30 many
words, for dissolution Of this Union. The peti-
ton has been presented, and now must act on it.
You may try to avoid 1t as much you please. but
you cannot. You may refer, or postpone. or lay
on the table; but there Il is. In this movement l
have no personal object to crafty in relation to the
gentleman from Massachusetts, he ought to be
! aware OF that. have no pleasure in contrasting
the present with the past-the feeble, disastrous
twilight OF the setting sun with its moro splendid
meridian. Let II pass. | entered this Hall at the
late extra session with feeling of reverence toward
the gentleman from Massachusctts-a feeling natu-
raj iron my acquaintance with bis previous history
and past experience in public life. l looked upon
him as an aged and venerable public servant | am
still inclined to regard him, personally with all de-
ference and respect; and il is painful to me to te
compelled, by a sense OF public duty, TO submit
such proposition IN regard to hin, as have DONE
over these scenes; but |, is now impossible. They
have become part OF history They must live on
ITS pages, and neither nor any other tina the Gen
tieman himself can be justly held responsible for
any injury this may inhict upon his feelings.
| The gentleman has assumed various phases du-
ring the course OF these proceedings. At period
he seemed to court martyrdom; at another he exhb.
its himself as prosecuted man, as loaded with
CRIMINAL charges OF the deepest dye, and yet denied
the rights Of an accused person Again, he pleads
a. specially and with rs much acutencss and inge-
, nuty rs niH p'ius lawyer, calling to his aid all
the resources of wit and humor Of the deepest "a.
hos and indeed of the entire art of the rhe,orican.
10 morrow he takes new attitude, and assure. us
he loves the Union too we'll, ah far too we'll TO say
or do aught that can by possibility impair its perpe.
T iuity. He has offered two or three resolutions,
calling Tor certain information, which he says Is
necessary 10 his defence. l shall not detain the
House TO read these resolutions; but ask, ii the
gentleman Is to be considered here an arraigned
criminal, whether these matters possibly be i'm
, portani 10 his defence7
| The gentleman speaks Of certain political and
: party combinations, OF unholy alliance Of the
union oil The most discordant and heterogeneous ma.
!, terials. Now, though am aware he alluded TO
' myself, shall not stop to consider such insnua.
c tons; he is AZ perfect liberty 10 attribute 10 my
agency IN this affair just what motives he pleass
and TO ascribe /, TO just such sort of combinations
he chooses to put together. shall no, stop or stoop
10 defend myself, nor do hold il necessary that
8 should defend other gentlemen.
y What, ask, is any party 10 gain from asitatins
y question like thsl A party question: What
II party can gain by in All men of all parties must
soon lose whatever is dear to them if the design Of
these petitioners is to be accomplished. What! is
there no period in the history OF this Republic when
The demon OF party spirit may receive a rebuke1-
y more when patriotism may refuse TO listen to the
selfish feeling of the political partisan1 II there be-
e surely the present is such moment.
n The gentleman from assa.husett. has sour led
all the depths and shoals of honor" he has reach
cd the zenith OF his political destiny and again re
coded: he figures here amid scenes in this Hall of
i winch his country will judge. should lie glad il
he had furnished no occasion for such proceedings
, Glad should have been had he always acted in
me spirit Of that dlsavowal he has once made here
c The gentleman has had 1t in his power again and
again 10 save the time occupied in this discussion.
{ which he processes to think vauable II he had
e consented TO withdraw the petition he might have
ended this whole affair, and passed the residue Of
g MS time amorg us as an American citizen entitled
A 20 our regard.
means; although do consider that very many and
very gross errors prevail in regard 10 that right
IRE right oil petition isa very different thing here
under our free republican Constitution, and under
the arbitrary and despolic Governments of Europe
There, the subject humbly approaches the throne
oil the monarch with prayer; he asks a boon. a
iavor grace at the hands of his ruler aud he asks
u humoly But here petitioning citizen is one of
that mass OF society which has created the Govern
ment, and which has undisputed power to alter. IN
amend, and 10 control il. He stands here rs In.
: monarch stands there. He is commander in chief.
he IS represented on this floor; his voice is heard
mere ana ms power felt: he has right 10 speak
through his representative; he does speak and his
n voice Is heard and obeyed. He does no, come be-
I fore this House begging favors but as demanding
MS rights as freeman, as one Of the deposi,ares
OF 'he supreme power. The Government is limited
ny the Will oil the people: all its power is placed
under checks and restraints by the States creating
IL Unlike other Governments with unlimited
powers our Government has no power to confer
5 iaVorS; can only administer justice and right
equally 10 all, without favor affection This re
laton oil the people TO their Government shows
that IN this country the right Of petition is one of
lar less Importance than when there is a master over
subjects.
But will 1t he maintained that any p,rticula, no,
ton of the People have right 10 ask the Govern.
ment TO do what the whole People have forbidden
TO be donel Can such doctrine be maintained.
mere or elsewherei Will it be soberly maintained
that the presentation Of petition confers ney
powers on the Government7 II it be, then i, fol-
! lows that the powers of republican Government
are dervable from minority, and not from that
entire body of the People who created the Govern.
, ment' ana who control It at pleasure. We have
really think that this doctrine is the most perfect
abstraction that ever heard of in my Efe The
gentleman deems the right Of petition so sacred
that, even II petitioners should demand an imme-
date dissolution of the Government and the sever
Tag oil the Union, the gentleman, opposed as he
proiesses TO be, ia compliance with such PRAYER
ieels himself constrained in conscience 10 present
the petition; not that he expects not that he desires
any action upon il, but simply that he NAV nav
homage TO the venerable right Of petition. Nov I
ASK can there, in this America A nglo Saxon rncs
he right where there is no remedy7 Hero The
remedy IS strenuously denied by one who az stren,
ousy insists upon the right. II thai is no, nm an
siraciIon, give tup. / hope that those who con.
Ter on me and ethers the sobriuuet of Tabs,rscti,n
ISIS and yet maintain proposition like this will
be Just enough 10 take it TO themselves a,d ma,
the gentleman from Massachusetts himself will
henceiorth be reckoned one OF the abstractionists
But do the Instructions with which IN. gentleman
accompanied the presentation Of the petition AFT ct
! the question at ALI What are thew That n co.
leei committee shall report an argument, and b,no
forward reasons against the prayer of the netition
$ ere. VI such a select committee the pentienoo,
. from Massachusetts would no doub, be ebairno,n
and would consider the subject fully and ablv and
would then report reasons such as would satisfy
him that the American Union ought not now 10 he
dissolved. And what then7 After all i, is cnicu
lation OF the value Of the Union that is in rea;i,v
{ the gil OF the whole matter. Do what you viii
you cannot give Il the go by. Whether You refer
II or postpone u, or aequIesce in IT, or lay on the
table, the question he's come up, and the House has
TO dispose OF u IN some way or other and I saw
that however able such report might he II mus,
SUI amount 70 thisa calculation Of the value NJ
this Union. IL is process calculated % familisrizs
the public mind with such thought, and amoun,s
practically 10 an official declaration 10 tho Po,yn,.
OF Europe that the American Congress is boe;ns
ming, tor the hrst time to cncula 10 tho v,io - a.