The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-21

possess and constitution provides that sheu be VIC
isted Gentlemen ask u what we mean by the right Of
EDITION. answer that we mesn precisely when wsPrs
sent petition for the abolition OF slavery Ia the DISTRICT
on Holumna what they mean %hsn ney sense
his right 1t consists oil people assembling drawing UP
paper setting forth certain things presenting mere anu
having II considered The in the case oil the Pc
uton OF revolutionary soldier for pension which Is
ssnt to acommttee-they enquire into its merits, and re-
from Georgia Cobb right We ask you to do the same
oy .nese petitions as you do in every other case II the
can be understood and decided upon by merely reading
men read only but If cannot be understood without
the 1sis5 at B the aU %
right oil petition are all placed side by side the
broad ground One is as sacred the other. The gen.
eman from South Carolina RhetD said that the right Of
petition consisted merely in rising here stating briefly
hatwe have such and such petitions lay them the ia
ble and that there this right terminates Now apply his
argument TO the right of debate. Suppose he
10 rise here and claim the right to express his
views any subject and he be told TINT his right
consisted briefly explaining the object he had in view
and then told to take his Would not that be
garded insult to his House and to him. And yet
they that bare statement Of the object oil the petit
TONERS is the and substance Of the right OF petition
Last year that very gentleman came out with an address
10 the people against the hour rule, which he SAID
abridged the freedom of debate That limiting speeches
to one hour did this And yet he would place the right
stands in the Constitution by the side of the right OF de-
bate The Constitution says the Government shall PASS
no law to abrdge the right Of petition And yet they in
ss that this House alone has the to do that which
the whole government prohibited from doing by the law
OF the land To suppose that the House can do that by
rule what the entire government cannot do by law too
absurd to argue upon AS well might say that the
House. by rule, could establish titles of nobility or
particular form of religion. Now sir believe there
shond be a consideration Of all petitions as we'll a
ception which the gentleman lion New York seems to
think is oil that is necessary.
BEARDsLEY--I by no means. say sir that mere recep
ton is the iull enjoyment Of the right Of petition. Bni
when we know its contents and Character and we act at
once by lying it on the table that thus consider IL be-
ing Prrpa.d 10 act upon as Wen as though we had re-
erred TO Committee. and kept it there SIX months
Is the Judicial DECISIONS where judgment Is
en- instanter from the whole matter argued being well
known before 10 the judges And this O action
with petitions that well known, full enjoyment
the right
HUDsor-I am glad to the gentleman take tina,
ground sir Because many OF the petitions rejected ly
this 2st rule have been vi very grave character and
contained sound and absruse legal arguments And til.
best legal talent in the country would he divided them
and they would require the serious consideration of
committee. Some gentleman saytiat Congress has RICH
to grant the abolition Of slavery in this district Sir Con
yress has full power of exclusive legislation in this mat
Their right extends to all Legitimate cases Of
legislation Congress may do any thing in this Districi
that they can constitutionally do anywhere else
This OF legislation in Congress- which is excusv,
the District extends to every thing that's proper
subject Of legislation There is limitation OF this power
in the deed Of cession And if there had BEEN Congress
had to receive this other district excep
the terms laid down in the Constitution II il received
it at all Congress must have full legislative power over
The question thei sir resolves itself into this Is the
abolition OF slavery fit subject for the legislative action
Of Congress Why sir there is no civilized nation under
the sum- where this subject has not been acted upon
every free in the Union has legislaed upon it, and
acted upon it, And look the slave States They have
and all admitted that this proper subject egs
laion and that Congress has full power to legate will
regard to slavery in The District OF Columbia Why il
the Virginia Legislature they passed resolutions Tor
nending the Constitution SO as 10 prevent Congress from
abohng slavery in this District except with the
Of Virginia and Mary and and the terms laid down by
them Here then, is express recognition OF the powe
o Congress over this natter and that it is proper sub
ec for Legislation All the laws passed by the slave States
relative to the regulation OF their slaves are so many ad
missions that it proper and legal subject for legisa
ion. In the Convention for adopting the Constitution
expressly stated that Cong should have full pow
er to abolish slavery in this District And in the Virgins
Convention this opposed by Patrick Henry and sup
ported by Mr. Madison who said it not only right oi
Congress have that pow err but it absolutely
sary and this commend itself every thinking
mind Why sir the abolition Of the Slave Trade is ise
full admission that Congress has the power TO legisat'
this matter. 1t is not conended that this government
has any power to egslas with respect to slavery within
the States but it has within the Territories and this Dis
it within themselves. And ask gentlemen from tn,
slave States to reconcile the acts of Legislation
right of Congress TO legsate IN regard to slave
~ here There is not a statesman that has bee
in Congress but has admitted directly or implicitly
hat slavery comes within the pnrvew OF legislation. II
is said We local Legislators here and must consult tn,
people Of the District before act Sir did we do
when we abolished the sale Of lottery tickets in the Dis
,ict7 No, We thought they were perncious, and
abolished the sale Of them. So in extending the right
suffrage in the town Of Alexandria Are the views then
Of the people only TO be consulted here the subject
slaveryl This is idle We asked would Mary Lane
md Virginia have coded this District il they had though
lT, u
hat very time their leading men had serious thoughts
lboshing slavery in those States But you give sell
me deed Of farm havea right to work or use it as
knew that they thereby gave to Congress the full power
do as it pleased with the District far acts Of egs
lation were concerned. II comes with very i'll grace
hen from of Virginia and Mary land to say that il
hey had known Congress woul" abolish slavery in
hey never would have coded the District It amounts
hs-"If had known that you would till that farm jus
you thought proper never would have given you the
Iced OF it." The deeds of cession contained Limitation
III u,yI tpcI,. oI
the District under that clause Of the Const
luton which declares that it shall allow power under
heaven to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with it. Sc
Jar even as objection in the matter OF Limitation
,erned, it can apply only to Virginia And how was il
With that State! She gave her portion Of the District
congress in full and absolute right--(Rap went III,
Speakers hammer
SPEAKER The morning hour has expired. The Chair
sked indulgence Of the House TO lay before il Executive
communications.
Among these a report from the Secretary of War
stating that was utterly impossible to give the names
IF all those soldiers &c in the two who had clam
,gans the government for lands money.
CAVE Johnson offered resolution calling for the
of all claimants and all others appointed TO various office
throughout the country under no particular law wha
alares they have received and what services they have
MIR WINTHROP amended this by adding since 1897 ,
md it was adopted so we shall now have the names o
he secret service men.
Mr. GuMER reported bill to separate the Government
printing from the newspaper press
Mr.. REoDiNo objected, and it lies over.
The House then went into COMMITTEE THE Who'll
IN tbs WESTERN Waters.
Mr. A. STEWART of Penn (who had the hsor) sad-Th.
Gentleman from Missouri, who spoke the other day
his subject, said that the party the frag
nents and Tag end OF partythat we'd been weighed
he balance aud fund wanting Now sir shall not say
,nyhiny about Mr.. Van Buren, having been weighed il
he balance and found wanting, and that he's great deal
lighter now than he was when he was weighed. (NIucl
| aughterl But the gent eman from Ohio said made
lump speech. Sir the speech not the one inendsc
make But was so interrupted by noise and confusion
md amor and was stopped by many questions.
,urtaieh by the Speaker himself that the speech
|
| sense it was stump speech to the gentleman
xpect il did stump him It stumped him that he can
lnswrr IL But he hal his sympathes wonderfully
ited about snag in the Mississippi afraid that h,
troubled about snag in his political boa
-Uaughter) Now. sir, he said he'd prove all saif
bout Mr.. Van Buren, false, he'd take the brand
| lis forrhead-(Mr Weller explsnej). The gentle
narrowed down his point Sir, the other day he
ntrey on bubble mere qnrk about report in pa
He said all my charges about Mr. Van Buren, wer,
ntrue; and repeat that all said about MIR. Van
WAS true nd he doc bar