The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-08
Right ef PeIitioa-a PerP into Bi.tory--The
aircnInr Of the PerpefnnIists.

ssfCutaf OF tne EcFpctuhtsuss
In examining, so far, the famous circular Of
the perpetualists, we arrived at this conclusion
that their action, as far Il could have any In
fuence at all, had increased the snti-slsvery
feeling Of the South and North, and forced the
North into hostile attitude towards the South.
This naturally brings US to their second para
graph, land their second serious charge against
the Free ststes,) which reads as follows:
The iuundstion Of Congress with petitions for
the abolition Of slavery in the District Of Colum-
bia, through the act Of Petitioning forsuc pur-
pose assumes an inferiority in the slsveholding
States.
How Is this assumption made2 The people of
Ohio or New York believe, whether correctly or
not we do not moot, that slavery is an evil, and,
taking it for granted, that Congress has the right
70 abolish it in the District Of Columbia, petition
that BODY 10 DO IT. Where is the insult offered the
SOUTH In okGf is its inferiority assumed It is
clearly proposal which involves inquiry, and
when fairly made, should be fairly NETT is
simply a prayer, in the old fashioned way which
patriots devised, Of calling the attention Of pub
lie bodies to questions Of public moment, and
when properly presented should always be prop
srly answered.
"Assumes an infsriOTity in the slsveholding
STATES" They who make this charge, sustain
It. Whenever man complains Of his want Of
position, he is sure to lose ito provoke, at
least, the enquiry whether he ought to have IT.
Bot. for the life Of u.s. we cannot get at the idea
Of these peTpetuaists, apart from an. s-~Iifess'
or covert effort 10 rouse Southern prejudiees,
or alarm Southern fears Do they mean TO say
that southsrner must have five negroes tack
ed TO him, TO make him equal 10 Northern
man Put into plain English this, and nothing
more or less, is their declaration. And will
Kentuckians, OF any Of the men Of the South,
consent 10 stand, or TO permit any Of their pub
lie men to stand for them, in such position
Never was there. OF could there be, in politics,
orsny thing else, more vogue or absurd posi-
lion. II is the coinage Of distempered fancy.
or despairing resort of desPairing men,
But passing these, and other general consider
siiOus, let ne take peep into history, and see
who has defended this right of petition, and
been mainly instrumental in creating necessi.
ty for its use.
From le20 to ls25 two parties divided South
Csrolina-Ihe Radicals, headed by Senator W.T.
LIAM SIXTH, and the Liberals, led by Mr.. CAL
HouS. The first were strict constructionis,s Of
the Virginia school the second lstitudinariap
60 the brOsdest use Of that word. The Radical.
bryan in leo 10 sgitate against the tariff. ThI.
brought up various quesIions-such az whether
Estate had right TO demonstrate, whether, Il
the right existed, 1t was patriotic or expedient to
resort 10 Il, &c. sc. In 1890, PLEASANT II
MAY, Representative from Chesterfield District,
offered a strong set Of resolutions in the Legis.
lsture against the tariff, &c, which were referred
10 a COMMITTEES, who, while eOneurring with the
mover as 10 his trade nOtions.s SAY:
"When they consider, that among the pow
su expressly given up by the States. and vested