The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-08

IT. Portugal, 800 years ago, introduced the negro
into Europe, and they have remained the same from
that day this SO 800 years ago they had enjoyed
the climate OF Europe, its sun, cusoms-religious and
polltical-and he challenged gentlemen to show hun
The pure African that has not remained negro. His
shin Is till sharp-hls foot and fiat When
thus accounting for the backneSs of item faces the
sharpness OF their Sims and the ainess of their feet
and nose 1t certainly cannot be accounted for as the
effects OF climate In every section OF the globe the
negro Is the same and will continue the end OF
time.
The Portuguese and other Europeans, who have
settled IN Africa have maintained their purity in ev-
cry essential particular and he put the question TO
gentlemen, and he did not care by what rule they
solved II, whether the rule of three algebra, natural
philosophy, moral philosophy, any other science II
TWO hundred years has not changed the character,
compile xion and disposition of the negro, with the
AID OF European manners and customs, how has eli
mate affected their color, mental and physical abiii-
ties But IN every country, and IN every age since
the creation of the world find the negro with the
same dark skim and the same fiat feet and nose, in
fact the stencil and edor that peculiar to that
race of men, which they have always possessed.
We, ofthe West, have seen here on this floor the
fight between the Northern Abolitionist and the
Southern stakeholder and all for political effect and
we looked upon il like a fellow at a dance--a mere
tempest in teapot All the talk and 1ourIshes about
the dissolution Of the Union upon this subject, with
which the mass of the American people have had
nothing to do, is all humbug, created for polt-
more legitimate subjects, and with which the whole
country is vitality interested.
This twenty Fifth rule was introduced here by
Democratic Congress for the protection of Southern
rights, and to crafty Southern feeling and portion
| Of the South lent their aid in defeating Democratic
Administration, which had pledged itself to sustain
them in their constitutional legitimate rights; and
this very rule, which, has caused much discus
was the weapon thatwa used against the Democrats
in the non-saveholding States by the Abolitonists
and tie Wings, declaring it against the spirit Of
freedom, the Constitution and the nalienabe right
OF petition, aud It was one of the most forcible wea
pons that was usel to defeat the Democratic party.
This Abolition excitement had been carried to such
an extent that kentucky, slave State who gave her
aid in defeating Democratic Administration, was
forced to ask Democratic Legislature of OHIO 10
pass law protecting them in their right to their fu-
gltve slaves who were enticed TO runaway from their
masters by the AbolitiOnsts. And this act OF De-
, mocratic Legislature protecting Kentucky in her
slaves was used in Ohio 10 defeat that party which
had stepped forward and sustained them in their
sttutona property; yet this very State voted for the
very man for President, whom the Abolitionsts pre-
| ierred and for whom they cast their votes.
/ When we, Of the West told The Southern men on
this floor that they ought to unite with the Democrats
OF the North and West who their constitutional
friends, we were told that they capable OF de-
tending their rights This question was used now
North and South by the Wing party another mise
rable humbug for political effect and which should
be nipped in the bud.
This General Government IS specific Government,
and should revovein its proper orbit leaving the
States to revolve in theirs ref citing the and le
ultimate objects for which they were created in the
wisdom of those who framed them All this talk
about dissolving the Union is all suf-created for
political etiect-as the gentleman from New Hamp-
| shire Mr.. Hamin had said. The people Of this
Y mon are made OF better material than to entertain
such not'on-present or prospective They prize
this Union they should-it was nccived in the
wisdom of the trainers Of the Constitution and
mented Icy the blood of patriots few Abolitionsts
cannot dissolve this Union. Nineteen twentie his of
the people of the North and West are as much OPP
posed TO the AboIitionss as the South because they
know the deleterlous eff which would be produced
TO the whole country by the abolition of slavery.
All we want Is tue rules OF the House reported
leaving out the 18th rule and receive these petitions
and this gu stion would be forever put to lest. He
did not believe that nine members in this House could
be found who would vote for bill if brought forward,
abol!shng slavery in the States the District of Co
umba Let report be made upon these petitions and
his ri for it, the pole Of the West and the North,
would then let the People of the South that
| they against this subject in every shape and
form.
| Mr.. DUNCAN here asked his colleague (Mr Gid
dings) if he had not read letter to of his
constituents, at public meeting, from Henry Clay
who asserted that he was in favor Of abolition
i Mr.. GIDDlNGS rose and said he would explain
and asked the CHAIR if he occupied the floor
The CHAIR replied To answer the question
Mr.. GlDDINGS Then IT will take me an hour
to answer the question of my colleague
Mr.. DUNCAN Answer, yes or no.
Mr. G.. declined.
Mr.. DUNCAN continued. He said that he had
read letter in some newspaper TO that effect and
had never heard If contradicted; but when he had
concluded ms remarks his colleague might take an
hour TO answer hun.
lie believed the best course, for the satisfaction Of
the county, would be to receive and adopt the re-
port excu ling the 25th rule and have them referred
that report might be made upon the subject, and
the people of the whole country would, forever put
tins political humbug at rest If anything has nurtured
the Abolonis's in existence 1t was the rejection o.
these petitions; they had made political capital out Oft
They stated TO the peop.e that their cons il u,ona
rights had been invaded by a Democratic Con ness
who added this rule for the express purpose of graft
Tying the South, portion of which had deserted a
Democrat Administration in an hour OF trial We
it to the prejudice of the people to abolish this
rule and he appealed to the South TO come forward
and let this rule be rescndej and forever settle this
question, which was only political humbug
Mr.. A. V. BROWN rose, when
Mr.. GGDDINGS asked him 10 yield the floor for
two minutes to allow him to nswer his colleague
Mr.. BROWN yielded the floor when
| MIR. GlDDlNGS sa that he had addressed meet
ing in Ohio and stated that he had read letter to
them ON Mr.. Clay-a name Of which he was proud
-Casius M Clay-a man Of influence and wealth
and slave holder, who had denounced slavery in the
most magnificent manner.
Mr. DUNCAN. Did you state to the persons
whom you addressed that it was from Clssius NJ
Clay
Mr. GIDDINGS. | jill.
Mr.. G. continued. He said that he told his cons,t.
uents whom he addressed that he believed hat Henry
Clay friend OF the Constitution and would pro
ec them in their rights. He had written lett "a
the Richmond Enquirer on the subject, stating tina,
it was Cassus NJ. Clay, and not Henry Clay. to cor
rect an erroneous impression on the subject which
had been put in cIrcul itIon by some one
Mr.. DUNCAN. " by did you net address let
ter t. Ohio disavowng IL
Mr-GlDDlNGS: He did no, care about disavou
inl thing at home, where they all knew il. he
hsd addressed tho letter dssvowing il, To gentlemen
in the South whom he loved and admired. hw
enough t'r him to prepare the matter, and it The
duty OF bis colleague to read and if he did not read
the kichmond Enquirer, IT was no fault of his