Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-30
RICHMOND, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 40.
ABOLITION pETITlONs.

ABOLITION PETITIONS
The Richmond Wing IS clear for receiving and re-
ferrinp all the Abolition petitions But the Nnig, as
W humbly nceive, erfs not Only as TO the proper
course should pursue, but to the course recon-
me nded by Mr. B-erdsey, and adopted by the Senate
1t says in The first place. that 'ie remarks at Mir.
Beardley are worthy of all attention, nd cannot al,
we think 10 convince any CANDID mind. II, has taken
precisely the ground should like T. see adopted by
the House on this subject It's the COMMENDED for
by our former representative Mr. Bats, and advocated
warmly beth in and out OF the House, by other dslil
pnshed Wings. Let all the petitions, say these gen.
tlsmen be receiyed-let them be referred to select
committee Of supposed to be most in favor of the
object of the prayer-and let them take the respons
bty. Would they dare, under such circumstances,
to report in their favor" Now, here he misuEder-
stands MIR Beardsl-y His speech, published in the
number of the Wing, does not necessarily recommend
that the petitions after they have been received sopli
be reisrrtd and reported lie says expressly tha,
s.His own opinion in relation TO all petitions touching
the Iect Of slavery, that the constitutional course
frs. to receive them, and them If the mods of gen.
tlemen fully made up TO jet lie yer they
preferred 10 the House, 10 lay them The tajie but II
not and gentlemen deemed the polrlc, pruden,
and espedent course, and the conducive 10
peace let them be referred, then 10 refer them -
(3u VIZ. it We understand his card. is not IN fave!
of acting upon al sorts Of petitlons-but hose only,
which come within the paryicw Of the eonshtt.i0na!
power of Congress. Such, he considers, 10 be pell-
ton foT abolshng slavery the District of Coumhs
"a measure, which could never be adopted, wi,hou,
shaking the ed fee Of the Union sef)
In the II place, the Wig falls mic blur der about
the rule of the Senate. !, says iiad they pursued,
first. the followed in the Senate there would
long sine have been an end 10 petitions Of this
tnre. We should be perfectly satisfied indeed, if the
House would pursue the course Ut the SENATE. They
do not rsport the petitions. They do not rcttr
them TO a committee. Nay; they d. not actually re
rc,r n hpn ire ted hey
lay the question Of reception the table-and the
petition itself goes along with it,
All the hes, friends OF the Union wish TO aay oil
agitation upon The subject And the question is, what
Is the best way 10 fleet II? Is il by perm t'Ing the
subject TO be agitoted all, or by excluding all Adolf
,ion petitions FL! tebat.-all reporto' The Richmond
Wing with NJ s,rs Bolts IL Go. are for receiving all
pe!i,lons-and they contend, that the other mode only
puts handle into the hands of the agiators TO con-
plain OF The suppression Of the Right of Petition
Yet such ~ the of the Senate. They do not
in fact the petition, but lay the question OF
reception their tats. What says the experience OF
the House of Representatives on this subject: few
wears since, the rule Of the K. Wing prevailed. The
petitions we're received. They were gent To commit
tee-and arguments appeared r'oFe conclusive
against the Abolionsts, than those which were urged
by Mr. Patton and which also emanated from the pens
Of Mssrs Pnckney and Aherton at the heads oil their
committees. Many OF the citizens OF III
South wiling u try tn experiment upon them
L
the petitioners. Let us hear them, that they may
hear U.s. Let open the door 10 their appllcstons.
and we Will meet them with the appeals ot reason
tefore The tribunal Of the public. II reason apPsall
in van-if they will continue 10 har!ass the Pnh-
lie councils with their fanatco clamors, then 1T Us
slam the door in their faces" Such the EXPIRES
sion We took The liberty OF using. And wEa: was the
consequence The storm not luIled for one no
meHt So Tar from IT. that reason only seemed TO ex-
their passions the more. The more tic petitions
tha tod hp
once opened only admitted hundreds and thousands Of
n!uders Such will always lie The case with the
fury of tana,icism 1t never reasons IT never i's
tens TO reason All the restraints OF laval the requis
tons Of the Constitution, are II be sacrificed upon the al
tar which the Abotonsis pleased 10 erect Their
efforts will only increase the more they heard The
more public the theatre which is thrown open To them
the ambitious will they be 10 tread 1t There IL
os consequence, attending public exhibition on
the floor of the House Of Representatives, which such
aspiring spirits Gerrt Smith and Garrison are imPa
tent to attain, and proud 10 enjoy.
But discovery has been made for orresting
the fire Of anacism Il; pretty much ike the patsn,
of Sir Abel Handy for eStngu'sh'nya conf yra'ion-
Ii will only add fresh fuel to the LANES. Ii Is indeed
notable discovery for preventing arltaton-apd Is
worthy Of its protectors Il IS - refer t5ess petitions
Committee Of the Abol':,onsts, nd "e; them take
the responsibility" Beautiful device indeed! Pot The
cards their hands, and et them play them as they
please. Why, In is the very course winch they woad
themselves prefer Tney would be proud Of the Office
Of scattering ffebrands all the country, in the
shape of Congressional Reports. The ganns OF Gar
rson, nf Braey, and Of Gerrit Smith, wen'd delight /
to revsl in such State papers Their ambition would
net desire splendid opportunity nr displaying
their talents. o: sowing discard the land OF pour
ing rhei7 vengeance upon the South, and OF sctnr
the T. mplc of The Union fire, in pursuance Of Their
mldtcned designs. Instead Of OIL, having the argu |
nsnt side. at time urged, the scheme
to throw al the argument IL 1t can be call
ed, on the ether side of the question. 1t once
sa,d "Let rs report, ard throw our G'gu-
ments before the Aboll,ions,s." The version ~,
''Let the Abolt'onists report and throw their argu
mems before The country strange change, indeed,
has the spirit of their dreams The fact IL,
the Aboli,ionst; have claim upon Conguss. They
nave no right to be heard The right Of petition does
not belong to those, who have right TO ask Congress
dction ! There is wrong, therefore, done, where |
there right violated Try it shen you will, The
reception only leads to agitation The only way 10
l5ae the nuisance, s TO slam the door in tier faces
JAMES BUCHANAN. ESt..
The letter of this distinguished Senator, came too
late for our last paper, 10 receive the comments 10
which it ented-and, TO tell the truth, the
Editorial Corps ont OF the way-keepinE all the
rites of Christmas with the most religious tidel ty-
warming themselves by the YuIe log devourIng
mnce -ples-qualiing the flowing eggnog, Nc, &c
But it is impossible u pass such memorable do
cument, Mr. Buchanans letter, without few words
Of approbaton Of praise, and of thanks. What grace
a',enss the whole transaction what manly spirit