Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-16

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tnsr nd say ha, the petitioners will, and not that oil
tho House, Shall prevail why :on gve he petitioners
the leg sat We poser. 49,
A net,ion came mere, with 100 0)9 signatures /! they
p!e1sed: j, was presented, and then, how :, od The
matter Whose i.drri-nt l. p:ey, wi'h reaP~c'
To these ~ tioas Il 4 the petitioners powrf c"e ~:
uotaa Of l,,.; holsa: Di ta- pn"-f at The petitioners
terminate l.t;c, 90 "t"r: Ii L went iaF'hrr, dt
II not necessarily n ING T." scr o the House: Do
II not assume Ihp hole power ct legislation: !: TIE
petitioner could sly yon stall receive, ccrd ne mol
say "vou shall refer, "ver shall rerofC ana could
he MOI ais, say 'syag s!.l sranE' The princ'fe was
settled IN ia, fi,s t,se. The question was, when 'is
petition came on tiis floor who 10 Judge: hes'
petit oners or of the Ua"n, b. the legislative
BODY which il had created To whom had tue Con
stitut;oa given the power 'Al legislative powers
herein granted ssll be vested III Congress OF Inc
States" was lis language. A gentleman came there
and made a legislative notion he moved that the Con
gress of the Used States do certain act-a leesia-
tive act not personal act not personal privilege
without that hall; but legislative act he proposed
subject for legislation, and he claimed the power 10 ie-
yslate 1t on the spot, by saying what shoou oe
done And was net n an usurpaton OF the powers
Of the Congress Of the United States, and at war r'th
the Consut or. If the power of d'otst'on could be-
gin, i, could 90 on But was this Government unli-
1nted, he conteudsd that it was I'm ted by The Con-
sii,ution and by the grants OF power thereh contain
cd and by its Limitations of power. The Constitution
said that each House IN eht determine the rules OF l,s
rroceednos not lis powers tut IT'S rules OF proceed
ing That The grant of power 10 this House, anu
It's limitations were legislative. But he went one step
farther and said that, in The exercise OF SOUND DIS
elimination its rights and lwers the House was
bound 10 administer its power 10 promote the IN
,arests OF all, and If possible, the INJURY o none
The gentleman from North Carolina (tir. I!inSHahi
said the right of petition was like The Igh oil prayer 70
the Deity aud that coui pray ior what he
pleased With Difference 10 that gentleman, he (slr
r believed thot man had not the right 10 pray for
what he pleased Gud Infinitely pure, aud wise,
and Just, ard good and man could not ask Tor "ha'
he pleased.
Mr. CLINGMAN explained lie said he had stated,
that whenever petit,one, honestly believed h. was
laboring under grievances which could be removed,
he had the right 10 petition, whether The prayer VIZ
granted or not. VITA The Limitation which he had
entoned-,he honest belief OF the petitioner, that ne
was laborng under grievance, ond that could be re-
moved-he was Of opinion, that the gentlemen iron'
South Carolina (Mr. RhettO would agree with hn IN
the position he had TAKEN whe,he. the prayer were
addressed to the Ruler OF the Universe, or to any ether
power
Mr. RFETT briefly replied, md then proceeded
with his general argument; but he was only coca
onnlly heard, in consequence OF The low tone OF
voice in which he frequently spoke, and his address
ing himself the part Of the House which was distant
from the Reporters desk. HI was, however, under
stood to insist that, though the petitioners commended
that their petitions Constitutional, and within
the Limitation OF powers granted 10 the Congress, tey
were, fact, aimed al slavery in the States, over
which Congress could exercise no power. Tie INSISTED
that it Inwise temporze the subject any lon
ger for it served but TO embolien the ASSISTANTS OF
Southern inst tuiions lie believed spirit OF dissa.
tisacton with this Union was growing deeper ana
deeper in some portions OF this Union but, whatever
the consequence might De, he hoped the South would
maintain her integrity. But neither foE the Consiitn-
tion nor for those who had gone before them, would
they permit themselves 10 he degraded or surrender
thel. rights, Union no Union
Mr.. BiDLACk, ate. same preliminary ooseTVa-
TONS said he had listened 10 the gentleman from South
Carolina with great atten!ion, IN the hope that Inc
gentlemans arguments would determine hifa as TO the
course lie should take the qaes;ion before the Com
mtee and he had now Tor the purpose OF max ng
public declaration OF his opncns, 10 avoid the me-
cessty of either private public declarations here.
after 1t well known by those with whom he had
the pleasure To act during the last Congress, that he
hsd uniformly voted favor OF this restrictive rule
and he would CONTINUE to do so, If he could be con.
WINGED that he could continue have the appreciation
of his conscience and If it could have the und'v
ded support of those who proessed to have the most IN
teres 10 this question Whether they had or not jnds-
ing from the shape in which the gentleman from South
Carolina, tMr Rhelt,) put it, It was questionable
Some would be very apt TO suppos-, from the argu
ments OF the gentleman from South Carclna, that the
existence of this Republic TO depend on the de-
csion OF this question and he thought The game III
ference might be drawn from what was beginning to be
said Of this House, through the public press Of The
country. He had this morning met with m article IN
paper, published in this city, IN which he fonnd Ian
from the gentleman from South Carolina
IThe honorable gentleman here read the article,
which understood TO have been published in The
Spectator
He wished to God that Southern men, ana Northern
men, had reflected upon the danger o. calling IN CUES
ton the future existence OF his Unicn. Would to
Gcd they could return to the good old times IN which
had been represented 10 h,m by his venerable la
ther who still living, and no served during seven
years of the revolutionary s!ugglet was considered
q OF
Mon of the States which compose this glorious Repuh
lie! He trusted they would never "disso!u,ion
written mou,nfui characters upon the present monG-
Of glory. lie had this occasion for
the purpose OF invoking gent'emen-f there was really
such spirit abroad as had been represented By the
gentleman from North Carolina, and seemed 10 be
indcat by the closing remarks Of the gentle man from
South Carolina, MIR. Rhct, Ito reform that bitter sp
rt Southern gentlemen had expressed an Ieldine
determination pursue the objects they have in vie "
and a similar determination had been expressed by gen
tlemen Of the North Unfortunately they had CONNIE CT
ed the question of abolition Of slavery, about which
there but very l,lle difference of opinion 1t the
North lat least in the section from which he came },
from the opinions entertained BY the South, with ano
Their question about which there would be much dis
pute, the question To the right OF petition tie
would advise gentlemen disconnect the two cues
tons. and leave the question OF abolition TO Stand ou
in oil its black and native deformity. tie was clc2ily
of opinion that the atclioniste drawing more
cl0se what they pleased to term the shack!es o.
slavery; that they not ameiiorang the condition
OF the free of color. And he further oil OPP
MON that by adberng 10 the hey had prescribed
10 themsel Ives, Southern men were multiplying abo'f
tions's while those aht litions,s efiecing nothing
towards umelorating The condition Of free men Of co'o
Of slaves.
The CHAIR announced tina; the morning hour hns
expired
Mr. BIDLACK asked if he would have leave 10
morrow continue his remlrks: for he had been CO
off in the middle ofa sentence and he did not know
when it would end A laugh He would prefer Il
proceed now and if permitted, he would be IS brei al
possible,
The SPEAKER said it would not he in order.
The House then resolved itself into Committee
the Whole, (Mr Winthrop in the chair,) aud resumed
the consideration OF the reference 81
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. RATHBUN then took the floor, and spoke TO tht
subject matter therein contained, and called upon gen
,iemen ofevery section to throw away their sect'ona
feelings, and act for the good Of tbe whole country
Mr. THOMASSON followed on this sahject, il
favor Of Western interests.
Mr.. TILDEN ihen rose, and there was disposition
evinced for the Committee to rise.
The Committee then rose md Mr. Winthrop report