Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-02
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4 Let us now IecuT 10 OUT Slinlie VI OhtUe,
Suppose general had taken position with
his troops behind a secure breastwork, but
had stationed his allies on exposed ground
where they were rapidly falling by the enc
mys shot, aud could with difficulty sustain
themselves. They appeal to the general,
land tell him that, If he regards it as important
to maintain their position, and considers the
ground valuable, they will still endeavor to
occupy it. He tells them that the ground is
worth nothing, and that he ought not to
have taken il, but that he will not, once
having taken It, retire, but that they
must remain there and be cut to pieces
I Now, | appeal to my friends from the South
TO say whether it is fair that we should keep
our allies in this attitude longer, even Il
some of them are generous enough to be
willing to submit to it?
But suppose in all | have said, am
wrong. Can we not as a matter Of sound
policy, receive these petitionsl We have
repeatedly received the petitions Of foreign
ers; surely we may, as an act Of courtesy,
receive those Of our own citizens, though
we do not choose to grant the prayer.
should be glad if gentlemen from the South
would review their. ground.
Bot it is said that if we now rescind this
rule the abolitionists will boast of it. With
out doubt they will profess to be greatly de-
lighted; but, sir there will be no real Joy
among them. Deprived Of the powerful
lever with which they operated on the North,
they will find themselves shorn of their
strength.
regret the course pursued on another
account We of the South are in posi-
ton peculiarly delicate. Slavery exists with
us it does not exist at the North, and En-
gland has abolished it in her West India
possessions. have, indeed, not much be-
ment So long as she retains more than
one hundred millions of slaves in the East
Indies without even an effort TO lberate
them, she deserves no great credit for her
humanity.
Mr.. Holmes here interposed to state, in
justice to England, that she had recently
taken steps towards the Liberation Of her
East India subjects.
Mr. Clingman resumed. l thank the
gentleman for the information. But / was
about TO observe that we stand in pecu-
liarly delicate position at the South, though
we stand on firm ground while we stand up
on the Constitution but we should be
careful not TO ask for more than is clearly
right. While we fix ourselves on the Con-
stituiion. we stand on solid ground, and we
should not irritate others by claiming too
much. The North is irritated by,t abo-
litionists, who tell them we are not satisfied
with slavery al the South, but want TO make
them slaves too by taking from them the
right of petition. Now, our ground is firm
enough without our seeking to stand upon
doubtful ground, and thus giving irritation
Some persons, indeed, are anxious TO keep
up the excitement, Il do not here refer TO
members of Congress in either House -
While there are some at the South who
take the highest ground, as they say, on this
subject, in order to induce the people of
the South TO esteem them the most jealous
lovers Of their rights, and thus obtain
favor at home, there are men at the North
who take the opposite ground from the same
principle. They seem TO make capital of
it, and we are short-sighted enough to ena-
bic them to do it. Hence, i'll feeling grows
out Of il both at the South and the North
The feeling is now very different from what
il was some years ago, and all arising out Of
this foolish struggle about petitions. 4
My constituents, most of them, know of
the feeling which pervades the North only
what they see in this House, and when they
see half the House voting TO establish this
rule they consider them as all siding with
the abolitionists. This ought not to be so,
and will not if we can come to right I'M
Outstanding. | regret exceedingly to see
the subject Of slavery introduced on all oc-
casions, even in debates on the navy and
subjects the most disconnected with it,
This discussion Of abolition topics has gen.
Grated all the i'll feeling which unhappily ex-
lists between the South and the Norih Its
worst feature is its sectional character.--
Men may widely differ on other subjects,
such as the Tariff and the Bank, and be-
cause the discussion does not assume sec
tional complexion they differ with safety
Standing as thes do, side by side, through
out the country. both parties can correctly
ascertain each others views, and the excite
ment does not attain dangerous height
But IN such sectional question, as this,
they IN different portions of the country do
not communicate readily, and by coDse-
quence cannot understand each other, and
by the perpetual excitement of unkind Sec
ijonal feeling the worst consequences may
ensue! There is no opportunity here to
difinse correct information. All in one sec |
ton Of the country are Of one way Of think
ing, and hence they remain in the dark
While thus we continue to fan the flame Of
discord on trivial occasions till it attains
great height should il some day assume
form, as il did during the discus
sion of the Missouri question, the addition
al excitement thenralsed might produce the
greatest possible mischief. datr. .l4 .a
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