Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-01-11
ABOLITION PETITIONS.
Ine IiOeniu-frst Ruie.

Tho reference Of the resolution Of tho Mass.-
chusetts Legislature TO Select Co,nmi,tre, " i,h
MIR ADAMS at its head, (remarks the Baltimore
American,) is regarded as Il prelude 10 the repeal
OF the Twenty first Raie OF the House. The re-
peal OF this rule will give, we believe, general
satisfaction. So long as it stands two questions
viii be blended together which in themselves are
in nc way connected. The Right of Petition il
ono thing; and Political AboliHonism is another.
The latter never gained so great an acquisition as
Wheh IL FOUND Itself by the establishment OF the
Iwenty-frst Rule thrown upon the strong ground
OF alliance with the general question Of The Righ,
of Petition.
Let this alliance be severed. 1t was an adven-
ttious connection which brought the two ques-
tons together; for there is no affinity whatever
between them.
In the Senate Of the United States the difficult
tes which year after year perpleNed the House
oil representatives on this subject have been a.
Vo'ded. The Senate has never refused to receive
abolition petitions. 1t has received them and
land them upon the tablc-and there was end
MIR CLAYs opinion has been in accordance with
this course from the first
The actual strength of Political Abolitonism
In the United States is feeble, and of no account
II II is left to stand upon it's own ground, apart
from all alliances with other questions, its mea.
gre outlines will become apparent to all men. Its
adaerents are divided among themselves. The
ultrasm, the sei-eXatation, the fierce fanaticism,
which lmpel It's votarles to radical extremes on
THIS subJ.c, drive them also To extremes of intole
rance OH other subjects to such insane degrees as
shock the common sense and moral feeling of
mankind. Lifted up into the regions of abstrac-
ton Tar above the range OF actual things and the
practical operations of society, each leader a.
mong these desolating reformers looks upon him
sell as chosen apostle who is TO work wonders !;
Inc Is 10 cry aloud and spare not; it his mission
to testify against the evils of this generation, and
to find no good except himself. The denun-
at n,,fl, ,,,y.a in
which these zealots had concern and in which
therefore they meddled first,-was but the begin
ninS OF denunciatons against other social inst-
tutions, until now they have got upon the sub
lime Idea OF designating every thing. But as
each one among them has good IA right any
other to the distinction of special call, and is in
his own opinion as holy an individual as his bro
Their apostle, and rather more so, he follows his
own light, and disdainng to take counsel of flesh
and blood, he proceeds in his own way To reform
the world, steadiastly believing that he is the
only man who has special patent for that pro-
cess. The consequence is that these worid-re-
formers hate one another very cordially-the lea
der OF every little clique regarding every rival
here as presumptuous intruder upon his own
exclusive prerosative-an inringcr of his right o.
moral supremacy. They all prepared COR mar
tyrdom in the abstract, but in considerations Of The
loss which the world would suffer if they were
taken from 1t, they are willing TO live on. The
privilege OF suffering for the cause Of abolition in
particular is handed over to tho poor negroes
whom they entice from their protectors and mas
tiers In the South, and then abandon TO such fate
as may await them in the miserable alleys and
dens of populous cities OF the North or in Canada
where they form a degraded class.
Men OF sense aud judgment who desire the
gradual removal of Slavery from the country. in
manner which shall conduce to the good of both
races, know very well that it can be done only by
the action of those States in which slavery exists;
and that the most eaectual way to prevent such
action is TO pursue such a course as has been pur-
sued by the abolition fanatics. Tie South is
competent to take care of tsel: in this matter
1t act for itself better than others can act for
1t; and with that natural repugnance which is
felt against intrusion into individual or domestic
concerns, it will lose sight of all other questions
until such intrusion is repealed and rcbuked