Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-02
ABOLITION AND THE RIGHT
OF SEARCH.

The following speech on the subject of Sa-
very and the Right Of Petition, is one Of the
most sensible, and, coming from North Car
olina member, one Of the most important, re-
Gently delivered in Congress 1t was made
upon the resolution to rescind the obnoxious
Twenty-frst rule. We copy it entire from
the Inteligencer tit
Mr.. Clngman, who had been long and ca
gerly watching the Speakers eye, having
succeeded in obtaining the floor, observed,
in the opening Of his remarks, that it might
be supposed, from the anxiety he had mani
tested to get the floor, that he considered
himself as having something very important
TO say If such was the expectation of any,
they would he feared, be disappointed; he
had little to say, and in saying it he should
not detain the House long. But il SO hap
pened (said Mr.. CO. that, on the second day
OF the session, when the gentleman from
Mass, (Mr Adams made his motion to
strike out The Gath rule, Formerly the 2lst
rule) excluding abolition petitions, / voted
with him; nor could | act differently, as
had long entertained decided opinion on
this point; yet it did so happen that was
the only man south of the Potomac who so
voted / have been censured for that vote
in some of The papers opposed to me politi-
calls, and denounced as a renegade to the
cause Of the South. Some Of that sort of
slang in which too many Of our papers
abound has been directed against ME- To
that, however, attach little weight but,
that the reasons which governed my vote on
that occasion may be clearly understood,
wish to address few words to the House
by way Of explanation and vindicaton.
have for a, long time been of the opin-
ion that we of the South have been, on this
subject, pursuing wrong course; and the
more see of its consequences, the more
am confirmed in that opinion. The 2lst
rule is, as all concede restriction of the
right of petition But it is attempted to be
supported on the ground that Congress, act
ing in this matter as the local legislature of
the District Of Columbia, should not receive
petitions of this character, coming from the
inhabitants of the States of this Union
Were this position true, which for reasons
that shall present advert to do not admit,
it would not support the justice or proprie-
ty of this rule !; because its prohibition pre-
vents the, people of the District from petit
tioning on this subject as much as it does
all others. None surely will deny that the
people Of this District have direct interest
ia the matter, and Of course ought to pos
sess the right to have their petitions present.
ed, SHOULD they ever think. proper to offer
them. SOS
j am told that in this country there ,ex-
lists no right Of petition, though il exists I'M
der all other Governments and in all other
countries in the world Yet it does not ex-
isti in this country, because the people are
sovereign and have a right TO command
The doctrine has been advanced ~ men of
high standing at the South; but, sir, it
seems scarcely to merit reply. What can
be so absurd as to insist that the major prop
ositi6n does not include the minorl That
because the citizens of this republic have
greater privileges they are thereby deprived
of smaller ones But, supposng this were
true. how does it affect the present ques-
ton 7 i would like to know what sovereign
right it is4which the people of this District
possessl They cannot vote for the election
of President, nor for member of Com
gress their only political right is the right
OF petition. Yet Of this you too deprive
them, and trampe on the only political right
they possess. And still | am told by some
gentlemen that the people of the District do
not desire TO present any petitions Of this
kind, and so no practical wrong is done by
refusing them. This is bad, a very bad
argument for the Southern men, who, as we
all know are charged with being very fond
of distractions. What becomes of the abb
stract right Of petition, although they may
mot choose TO exercise itl If they come
here with their. petitions, they must be re-
lected. And the argument that applies to
the District will apply with equal force to
the Territories they are in like condition
But do not assent at all to the position
taken by the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Beardsley,) that when the people pray
for objects in themselves unconstitutional
they have no right to be heard. How can
you ascertain that their prayer is unconsti-
tutional till you receive itl They come
and present their requests at your door you
may reject their prayer if you please, but
surely you ought to receive their petition, so
as to ascertain for what object it is present
ed The right to petition the Government
exists in all countries. 1t exists unques-
tionably in England, where all the subjects
have right to petition Parliament and to
petition the Grown, and where their right TO
do the one is as much admitted as to do the
other. 'l nG litsn iui8a dY
Tile liberal party have ever stood on this
ground in that country remember that
one Of the most eloquent speeches ever de-
liyered BY that great debater and statesman,
Mr.. Fox, was on this subject. Not on the
proposition to receive petitions Oh, no
nobody disputed that but against law
which preventeu iargo assemblies ca. .he
purpose Of petitionipg Parliament, because