Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-02

tninb 10 reluSe ntb petlttOn.
is ii not reproach that the right Of petit
ton, a right so Sacred and so important,
should nowhere be restricted but in this fair
republicl The right Of petition should ey-
cry where be as free, in mysview, as the
right of all created beings to petition the
Supreme Ruler of the universe, If the pc
titioner thinks he it aggrieved, that is
enough to entitle him to a hearing.
There is another point wish to touch
It does seem to me that these abolition pc
titions are poor contemplate things; in
themselves they can never hurt any body ;
they are mere 6rNta fuimitd; what harm
can they possibly do if they should be refer
red Should even bill be reported in
conformity with their request, could not this
House reject i'll You have no rule Of Or
der to prevent the introduction. The mem
Der from Massachusetts, or any other gen
tleman, might at any time introduce a bill
to abolish slavery, Just as any other bill is
introduced. You have no rule against this,
which might really be dangerous, But the
petitions, harmless and contemplate as they
are, you are careful to exclude. Do not
gentlemen see, that if the object of the pc
titioners once becomes the choice Of the ma
jority here, that majority can set aside this
rule il has done us no good at all i is
mere lair-weather rule. The moment a
majority is in favor Of these petitions il will
be abolished. If such majority should ev-
err be found here in favor of bill to abolish
slavery in the District Of Columbia, they
will have the power TO repeal this rule
Why then be so adverse TO the reception of
abolition petitions! The House can reject
any bill it does not choose to pass, and so il
can reject any petition it does not see fit to
grant. Until majority is in favor of the
object prayed for, care not how many pc
titons are presented for it. And when that
day shall come that a majority are in its IA
vor, the rule will fail you, aud this Union
will then be at an end, do not, however,
apprehend any such result, in my day at
least. i believe there is too much good
sense at the North, to give up this glorious
Union for the sake of abolishing slavery in
these ten miles square. d
BY pursuing the course we have, we have
given the abolitionists too much conse-
quence. We made them look too strong.
Nearly one-half the House voted in favor Of
abolishing the rule were they all abolition
lists! No, sir; most If not all of that NUM-
Der were their allies, acting by their side
merely out ofregard to the right of petition;
thus we have given them show of strength
not their own. am opposed TO this way
of conducting the contest: we have contin-
ued this sort Of bush-6ght too long it is
time all should, come out and show their
hands. The gentleman from Maine, (Mr.
Hamlin) begs US in the strongest language
to be allowed to get at the real question in
order that he may show his devotion to the
Constitution and his regard for the rights Of
the South; so does the gentleman from New
York, (Mr. Beardsley.) Now, submit to
gentlemen from the South whether it is a
fair thing to keep gentlemen in this false,
ibis painful position to compel them to
keep company with abolitionists whether
hey will or no! No; let a committee re-
port, and if they shall introduce bill, then
We shall see who are our friends The gen.
leman from New York, (Mr. Beardsley)
old US there are 10 out of every 30 men at
he North against the abolitionsts and ]
nave no doubt of it. / believe we could get
nearly unanimous vote in this Hall against
'uch bill. A vote like that would have an
immense moral eiiect-an effect far greater
han a hundred years struggle about the
light Of petition. Some persons at the
South have insisted that the entire North is
on the subject of Southern rights
others hold very different language, am
Tor giving that question fair trial, so that
We may know the actual condition of things
believe the North is as sound as the gem
lem an from Maine, (Mr. Hamlin) repre-
ents it to be. But, il Massachusetts is in
leeo opposed to the Constitution as il now
indeed, we have come to that
'ass thai size cannot stand where Hancock
md Adams met Washington and Madison,
IN the compromise of the Constitution, it is
ime we know it. Let us understand the
tate of the fact. Whenever large portion
# the North shall determine that they can
10 longer abide the present form of the
Constitution in this respect OF course the
Union must be dissolved This, however,
.annot take place till there IS an entire
;hange Of sentiment, as / believe, at the
North. But be assured you cannot retard
he coming Of this state of things by any
ules and orders Of this House. If the peo-
lie of these States are against the continue
Ince Of the Union, be very sure it is not TO
'e held together by rules Of order. '9|7
But many Southern gentlemen say be-
,ause we have taken this position we must
ldhere to it, even though il be wrong to
rave taken it originally. They tell us we
must never retreat in the face Of an enemy.
Now, in regard TO military tactics, | confess I
myself to be no better informed than the
'ther members generally; but have all
Ways understood that. il general discovers
hat a large body Of troops whom lie has
pushed forward are not able TO sustain their
'es'.ien rrith advantage. he may direct them
o be withdrawn If he has taken a false |