The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-12-25


or subornatlon Of perjury. Was that an assault
on the Institutions of the South9 II was sim
pie request to which the petitioners felt them
selves reduced by the obstinate refusal Of tins
House TO receive their petitions and if the
South do not know it, will tell them that this
is one Of the very causes which go to weaken
the attachment of the people of the whole North
and Northwest to the Union. 1t does weaken
it; and should therefore consider the abandon
ment Of these restrictive rules against the recep-
ton of petitions as one of the most fortunate &C.
currences that can take place for the peace OF
the country and the perpetuiy of its present form
of Government. This would take out Of the
mouth of the enemies of both the insdious stm-
ulation TO sectional discomfort which they can
now whisper in the ear" Your petitions are re-
fused even to be heard; your right OF petition Is
denied you are turned out OF the doors OF your
own House Of Representatives; what is this
Union, or what can it be to you?" Such sug-
gestions, lament to say, have strong effect
both at the North and in the West. And no
? better support for them can be needed than the
vote recorded on the journals of the second day
of the session. There is portion Of the repre-
sentatives Of ireemen in this House who still ad-
here to these restrictive rules.
A gentleman from Ohio, over the way, (Mr.
Weller made us very animated speech yes
terday in their behalf, and in which, as he said,
he fully represented the sentiments of the peo-
pie Of his district But did the gentleman say,
or will he now say, that that speech represented
the sentiments of the people Of Ohio? Oh no,
no; the gentleman cannot say So When moved
the abolition of the 23d rule, which excludes abb
clifton petitions thirteen out of eighteen of the
Representatives of the gentleman's State, Repre-
sentatives coming here fresh from the People,
supported the motion by their votes. Does the
gentleman mean to say that these thirteen gen.
tlemen did not as fully know and as fairly repre-
sent the views and sentiments of their constitu-
ents as he himself knows and represents the
views Of his !? trust not. And how stand the
votes from the great State of New York TWEEN
ty-seven out Of thirty-two in favor of resembling
the rule. These too were fresh from their con-
stituents. A voice: New York has thirty-four
votes. Yes: she has thirty -four votes but the
record shows that but thirty-two then voted.
And next comes the State Of Pennsylvania
venerable State whose motto-in the days of her
virtue-was Virtue, Liberty, and Independence"
here twelve out Of twenty votes with me
against the rule, though the peace-maker" was
not one Of them. Laughter. Here, then, were
twelve out Of twenty from Pennsylvania thir-
teen out Of eighteen from Ohio; and twenty
seven out of thirty-two from New York. Yet the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Weller) would have
us believe, because by his very eloquent stump
speeches he has succeeded in convincing his own
constituents, that the whole North and West
are in favor of the rule Oh no, no, no New
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, of the opinions of all
whom have recently enjoyed an opportunity Of
becoming personally acquainted, yet more than
these Representatives on this floor abhor the ex-
Guiding rule. | was told-was told it by them
selves-and In manner to admit OF no doubt of
the fact-was told by them with one voce-ad-
dressed to me as if was a child returned after
long absence to his fathers house-that the rea-
son for the kindness shown me was above all
9TH Id1rot lrl L. AZ
plon OF the right of petition. | have been so !;
as such, | hope to stand, after death, in this
world, and when | shall stand before my God for
mercy for the sins I may have committed.
But gentlemen have contended that this is I'M
constitutional. On this point would ask of my
friend from South Carolina near me, (Mr.
Holmes,) whether he recoIects decision of
Judge William Johnson in the case Of certain
citizen OF Rhode Island, who was imprisoned,
bound, and | know not but scourged, in South
Carolina, for the crime of-having dark COM
plexion
Mr.. HOLMES was understood to say yes, that
he did remember it, and that he had ever after
honored the name Of William Johnson but that
on subsequent occasion ]. M. Berrien, then At
Z torney General Of the United States, but now a
representative In the Senate, gave it as it his
opinion that the law was in conformity with the
Constitution, and the Government had sanction
ed that opinion. That learned hurst held the
law to be valid and of full force and effect
gf Mr. ADAMS. Yes; and SO, after decision
BY Judge of the Supreme Court of the United
States-himself, too, native of South Carolina
that law was SO utterly unconstitutional that
1t would not bear an argument, six or seven
years after an Attorney General of the United
States held the opinion that it was constitutional,
and ergo the law is valid Thus it stands at
this hour; and is, in the opinion of an Attorney
General of the United States, the law of this
land! have always understood that the Off
cial opinion of a Judge Of the Supreme Court of
the United States, unappealed from, is the law
Of the land and believe, as much as believe
the sun will rise tomorrow, that the decision of
Judge Johnson, in reference to that law of South
Carolina, is at this day the law of this land, viz:
that the State law is so unconstitutional that it
will not bear an argument.
But I will inn,lire Of NV friend from South