The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-11
DISCUSSION on SLAVERY IN TIN,
SENATE.

! @%~~ ~'~O~O-' Wv s'A@-A IN TIT
SENATE.
Although the House has for years bee, a.;
tated to the very centre, by petitions rel.,;n.
to slavery, the subject has seldom distur,. :,
the equanimity OF the Senate The ueti,;on,
have been generally laid upon the table ,r;,s
out debate. It is therefore among the s;o,s
the times that 4 debate and division has t,lo-
place upon the presentation of slavery petition.
by the Hon. John P. Hale, u nan whose sl;7-.
ties, ZEAL and indomitable perseverance in Ito
cause OF impartial freedom, has been mady ),
apparent in the recent political struggles IL
New Hampshire. MIR. Hale, we trust, has III.
talents and courage necessary to bring up tbs
Senate to a fair contemplation of the odi,,,
Institution.
| On the vote taken, We are happy to find
that Messrs Upham andPhelps are on the rich,
side of the question.
The Boston Atlas hiss the following sketch
of the discussion in the Senate upon this suh
jcct:-
The Hon. John p Hale. shortly sffer H.,
Senate was called to order-the present,t;o,,
Of petitions being in or,lcr-arose and s,;J h..
had been intrusted with petition of certain
citizens of Indiana, PRAYING Congress tou<,
such means as was clearly within lis power T.,
abolish Slavery within the Union. NIr. IIal.
said he understood that it WAS the pr,etirc nj
the Senate to lay al petitions OF this cLaraf,.r
on the table The petition WAS then handel
I TO the Vice President. Mr.. Hale EXPRESSED 9,
hope that 1t would moi be laid upon the tabl.
but that IT would be received The Vice Pres
ident Immediately put thrquestion in this wise.
Ii II moved that this petition be laid upon thu,
table. Mr.. Hale said Ee had heard no such
motion as that made. The Vie President said
+ that IT WAS presumed 10 lac the motion. MIR
W eStcott, ii Florida, who sits next to Mr.. Hale
SAID that he would make that motion. Mr.. II
SAID that under the motion to lay on the tabl,.
lie asked for the yeas and NAYS, which was or.
dercd. After a few remarks from Mr.. R.rr;a,.
/ who understood to second the motion ii I
/ W. the question WIS taken rs follows Are,
81; Noes 10. III the Wings from the F1.,,
States who were present and Mr.. Cnds-1..,I
from Ny, voted against LAYING on thStSlJ,.
7 The Loco FOcos from both Free and SLAVE
States, voted to lsy on the table. inclndrno
Bradbury and Fairfield vi We. .Aiherton of y
H., and Niles of CT.
! TIE petition being .hus laid in danifi,.d
grave. Mr.. Hale said he had one more rc;it;op,
from citizens OF Pa. of character similar +,
the one hef0ie presented. Before letting if
out OF hS hand, however he would say That
we live in period Of the world in which mo-
subject rclatin.. To theology and the science.
, ESCAPES investigation
The spirit OF investigation has been capri..T
~ lai, in .ome branches OF science. ~ even IN
throw suspicion over the Christian theory of
the creation. and TO cast L doubt upon the ey-
iStence CT the Supreme Ruler Of the Universe.
! Every matter worthy of human inquiry had
, been probcd to the quick. b, the freedom q;
inquiry which this age permitted, and enIich
tened public opinion tolerated. But We have.
1t seeTs an institution in this country. which
al this moment, by the war it has caused; /;
pushing this nation mo q debt Of hundred. of
mill OILS.
Yet it must not be- spoken Of, nor will tho
petitions OF the people upon the subject he al
! lowed hearing by the Senate Of the United
States. 1t sits cn;hroncd amid its own dark
ness. inlpcryiou 10 the eve of rrasor, II IS
an institution which has lis security from in
vesiigaton transccndS all others, and a!most
! exalls Itself above the God who made H.
The petition being read, Mr. Bcrricn sail
he would m reply say 10 the gentleman fror,
New Hampshire; tEAt the Senate had adopted
The rule to which he had objected. from clear
understanding that the matter contained in
these petitions, If dis used in this body. wnu.d
lead 10 SccHc- 0: tun.u.t, and the exhibitions
otPassion which hail characterized the other
branch OF Congress. and which conld never
lead to beneficial results. lie concluded BY n
motion ,c lay IN the table. which Was CARRIED,
nan cen.--Saortly after the Senate adjour-
ned.