Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-09

Madison was member of The House, and tae so'e %-s
Two to one in favor OF the resolution ali'm"s La
thew had not the power t. act bu' t,e ue','1i " 80
Unit of nettion was not NOTED al that Gay, pu' u
has crown up within the last two yeas ana ne con
tended that if n petition was unconsli'ui'oh'i, W"
no reason why II should be driven OUT Of te aoois :"
This House HIS convictions were trm ana 'ffes's'ioie
in favor of The right of PIT l'on ana ne was 40
in his attachments IL the Union ard me oohs.'ot'o"
,s The gentleman from Georgia, (hlr biacS) ou' WINE
he freely admitted this, he was not IN iaVnl oi Psse
law ahoshng slavery in the street OF ooiumo'a' te'
he believed that Congre had the constitutional power
TO abolish slavery in all oil The teffof@s a"u 'i'
trict of Columbia
II slavery was not in existence in the South, and Tor
which they were not t. blame, they would not be IN
favor OF this evil.
Mr.. BLACK Neither myself nor my constituents
believe slavery TO be an evil.
| Al, EEARDSIFY sa d he did not wish to interfere
with III constitutional rights Of the South he merely
alluded to tie subject IN illustration o MS views ~
vas opposed to rcisng the power because II woci
conflict with tie rights OF the IL 't's OF a"u
Vrpn:a hu, he was firmly convinced that congress
had The constitutional power to abolish slavery IN the
District Of Columbia.
lie said he was sorry to have heard the remarks oil
his colleague GMr. R. d. Davis few days ago declar
ing that if the South, OF their own acco'a' were "
obol sh slavery he would be for dissolution OF the
| In,on He did not concur with such sentiment J;
because when the cession OF this DISTRICT was mace
hy Virginia and Mary land, slavery was oosdtoy uh-
iii Congress should otherwise determine; and at me
cesson Congress passed an act making the laws OF VIZ
pina and MARYLAND binding upon the respective Por
tons of the District so ceded and that law was IN Ell
feet TO this dav Congress, by that act, legazed sla-
very in this District But the exclusive JurisdiclIon
given to Congress by the Constitution over the DIS
tricl unlimited and Congress has the unquesonaoie
RICH, t. abolish slavery.
Mr. BLACK. Can Congress establish an order of
nobility
Mr. BEARDSLEY. That power is expressly pro.
hibcd hy the Constitution but exclusive jurisdiction
is granted to Congress over The District OF ooiunoa
and Congress can exercise all powers which are mol
prohibited The power abolish slavery is clear ga
tsacory and explicit and Congress take the slave
from his master, with without paying for him. just
as il p!eoses but situated the District is between
Mary land and Virginia, he was not IN iavor Of e1er-
cisinp that power lie believed the resolutions oil the
State of Massachusetts, were constitutona and u car
ria out, would not dissolve the Union. II could mol
be dissolved by such fimsy pretexis and he only 40
ve.ted to the subject because II had been before The
| House.
| He wanted the Committee the Rules to report TO
the House and leave out this rule which restricted the
right of petition. lf petitions were respectful IN Their
character, it was the bounden duty OF the House 10
receive them and then dispose OF them IN such man.
per rs it shall deem and proper. The non-ecep
ton of these petitions, had created more excitement
in the country upon this subject, than would have
taken place if they had been received and referred and
report made, which would have restored harmony
and peace between the North and South. Let US
stand upon The broad platform Of The Constitution, and
we all shall be united, free, and happy.
| Mr.. CLlNGMAN of North Carolina, said from the
anxiety he evlnced 10 get the floor, some gentlemen
might suppose that he had great deal say, but such
was not lie fact. He said he had been denounced as
a reneg adc the South by newspaper, for winch
he did In this country the high prefogative
Of the people the right Of petition according to the
Constitution, but Congress had abrogated that right
10 certain extent, by The re- ecton OF petitions OF
certain character; but in all monarches the night OF
the subject t. petition had heen maintained in its purity,
whilst IN The street OF Columbia they could not e1-
the right of peti,on because they have no rght
10 representation either in this House OF the Senate
These petitions (aboliion) harmless things ana he
had always looked upon them IN that light tie o'd not
care how many Of them came here while there was
jorliy in this House opposed to their views lie c'o
not believe there abotnnist on this toor-a'
least ali deny being abol tonists ii bull should De
brought forward 10 abolish slavery I'D the DISTRICT oil
Columbia he believed that nineteen out OF twenty
would vote against tin act he believed there would
be unanimous against 1t. Mr. Charles Rogers
of 81 York shook his head lie made military ilHut
ISL, and asked II II was the Sou'h 10 place 'he
allies in position to be shot down. and e:ed an
ecdote of military hero, illustrative of his position
He did not believe that England ANXIOUS about
the abolition of slavery in the s. as was asserted by
some persons because she had not abolished slavery IN
The East Indies
Mr. HOLMES of South Carolina BY order
issued al Madras, she has liberated her East India
slaves.
Mr.. CLlNGMAN. thank you for the information
did not know it before.
Mr. G. continued In regard to the feeling at the
South, he knew 1t very much excited, and he be-
we'd 1t was produced from the fact that they are LED
to believe that nearly onehaf of this House take SIDES
with the abol,onsts But he had found u be other
wise lie did not know the feeling Of the people OF
the North except wha, had been stated by Mr. aml'h
who, he was extremely glad, had stated his views so
plain and decisive. He knew that some gentleman
from the South opposed to his views. and ne had
EXPRESSED them against their so!ctat'ons but he hoped
this question would be debated with spirit OF forbear-
unce He did not charge improper motives to others,
who had pursued different course, and he hoped the
same beraily would be extended TO hln' lie LOOK niS
seat, thanking the House for its kindness
Mr. DUNCAN Of Ohio said he wanted TO make
few remarks, butt as it late, he moved the House
adjourn.
And the House adjourned.