Litchfield enquirer., 1844-01-04


States Iwish indeed. thatthe Union may last for
ever . and as one important means of securing that
result wish for the abolition of slavery through.
out the Union. believe this indispemsiblefo its
preservation, and so think it will turn out But,
then, L wish it to be effected peaceably and
quietly. by the will of those who now hold the
slaves in bondage convinced, as believe they will
be-, that such an issue is as much their own inter-
est As il possbly can be of these who shall be isen
thralletl / wish no interference whatever with
the institutions Of the South; wish to have moth
ing to do with them. That is the prayer of many
whose netitions are now before the Committee on
the Judiciary. These petitions ask not that Con-
gress should interfere with Slavery as it exists in
the States, but only that they may be liberated
from all connection with it. They asked to be de-
liyered from the burdens thaAthcy to be too
onerous upon them. For hySelf, / wish it to be-
clearly understood thstI disctaim all purpose Of,
desire to interfere with the institutions ofthe South
claim to entertain as stfha and ardent desire for
the continuance Of this Union as any man in this
House or in the community and such believe to
be the feeling of the great masses whom represent
and Of the people of the State of Massachusetts
who neased the resolutions fhaye had the honor to
present. .s,
The time has been when. for presenting here a
petit;on asking Conpross to take measures for a
peacealle dissolution Of the Union. / was brought
before the House as criminal, as culprit, guilty
of constructive treason and perjury or subornation
of nerury WAS that an assault on the institutions
Of he South. Il was simple request TO which the
petitioners felt themselves reduced BY the obstinate
refusal of this 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. II does weaken it I;
and should therefore consider the abandonment
of these restrictive rules against the reception Of
petitions as one Of the most fortunate occurrences
that can take place for the peace OF the country and
the perpetuity of its present form of Government.
This would fake out Of the mouth Of the enemies
cf NTH the ;nsidous stimulation to sectional dis
content which thew can now whisper in his ear:
& Yonr net;tons are refused even 10 be heard yo,,r
r;cht ~ net;i;on Is denied Won are trned OFT ~
the doors of your own House Of Representatives:
what e this Union, or what can il be 10 YOU p'-
Sucb suggestions. lament to say, have a strong
effect NTH at the North and In the West. And no
better snnport for them can he needed than the
vote recorded on the Journals onehe second day OF
tba aess;nn. There Il portion Of the representa-
t;vos of freemen in this House who still adhere to
the restrictive rule,
4 gentleman from Ohio, over the way, (Mr
w.l,cr made ,,s very animated speech Yesterday
in their behalf ana in which, as he said, he fully
rorrescnted the sentiments Of the peope Of his dis
trct mi ala the genfiefnan saw. or will he now
s.v That fhat snecch represented the continents Of
~ nennle of ohio. Oh no, no: the gentleman
cannot Nv no. When moved the abolition OF the
oad ,nle which excludes abolition petitions, thir.
tao,, ot of n;shteen Of the Ieprcsentatyes of the
sonile,n,n,. Safe. REPRESENTATIVES. coninr here
Eesb frnra the neople. supported the motion by
tbe;r votes, Doc, the renllofnan mean 10 say that
staso th;rtae, sentlancD lid not aa fnIly knoy and
"a gs;rlv renresent the views and sentiments "
ths;r esnattuenta IA he himself knows and repre-
.a,,ts tss v;c,Ss al hisl trust not, And how
ssanS ths votes from The great state Of New York
~.s.,s, MI l thirty- tyg n, favor az reacind
;n~ ~: rylc rhese Too were fresh from their con.
ssit,erts, A voice New York has thifty.fosir
yoteg.l Yes she has thirty four votes, but the re-
cord shoys that but tlirty.two then voted. And
newt comes the state of Pennsylvania yenera-
he stste whose motto, in he days Of her eiais.e
was syirtue. Liberty and Independence'-[h
twelve out Of twenty voted with me against the
rule. though the peace.maker was not one of them.
-rLaughter.1 Here, then, were twelve out of TWEEN.
~ from Pennsylvania; thirteen out Of eighteen
from Ohio, and twenty seven out Of thirty two from
New York. Yet the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr.
Wellerl would have us believe, because by his ve-