Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-16


cieties-tie abolition societies and the anti
slavery societies Of this country, many OF
whom had passed censure upon him-were
composed, the great mass OF them, Of men
of as much virtue and as much intelligence,
and as much rectitude Of principle, and
as much patriotism, warm and ardent pa
| trio,sm, as any members on this floor; but
as to the measures which they had pur.
sued, and intended TO pursue, in their OBJ
ject, he Mr.. A. believed them to be great
ly mistaken. He believed their tendency
was TO retard that blessed day which they
were striving to hasten. He (Mr. A. de-.
pended upon none Of them; he held his
opinions from God and his own Judgment:
he held his opinion from the Declaration of
independence which he believed still hung
up in this Hall, turning towards the place
whore 1t was susp pended however any por-
ton Of it might have been turned out of
doors in practice.
But in saying this, he wished TO make
no unmeaning or significant professions of
attachment either 20 the liberties of this
country or 10 the union Of this county,
He wished the union of this country TO last
forever; and, as one of the means Of the
preservation of their liberty and their I'M
ion forever, he wished for The abolition OF
slavery throughout this Union. He believed
tina. to be Indispensable; and he was of
opinion that it would turn out and be pro.
we'd 10 be so but he wished it 10 be done
peaceably, quietly, by the will Of those
who held their fellow men in bondage, con
v.nced (as he believed they would be in
the lapse Of time) that 1t was for their own
interest as much as for the happiness of
those who would be them disseminated. He
wished TO make no interference with the
institutions Ct the South; he wished to have
nothing TO do with them, and that was the
prayer of the petition, the reception of
which had been laid on the table; and that
would be the prayer Of many iha, would
be presented, like those which had been re-
ferred 10 the Judiciary committee The Pc
titions even from the aboli!ionists of the
North prayed ihatthcy might have nothing
10 do with the institution of slavery ia the
Southern States. What they have deman-
ded is, that the Congress of the United
States should liberate them from all connec-
ton whatever with it. They ask to be re-
ieved from the burden Of CARRYING such
laws into effect, which they fnd ton oner-
Gus upon them He Mr.. A. wished it to
be understood, therefore, that he disclam.
ed all purpose, or intention, or desire, to
interfere with the institutions Of the South:
and that he entertained as strong and ar
dent desire for the continuance Of this
Union as any member Of that House, or as
any individual IN this commun ty; he be,
liHved such was the feeling, of the .greal
mass OF the people whom he had the honor
to represent; and he believed IL was the de
sire Of the Legislature of Massachusetts
which passed those resolutions. The time
had been. when, for presenting petition
asking Congress peaceably TO take meas
urcs for dissolving this Union, he was
brought before Congress as a criminal as
culprit, and as guilty of constructive trea-
son, and Of perjury, or of subornation of
perjury. Was that an assault upon the in
situations Of the South? 1t was simple
petition, 10 which those individuals who
signed it had been induced to attach their
names by the obstinate perseverance of
that House in refusing to receive their pre-
vious petitions. He could tell the members
from the South, if they did not know it.,
that the obstinate refusal TO receive consti
tut:onal petitions was one Of the causes
which had weakened the attachment for
the Union in the North and Northwest por-
zion of il.