Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-06
Speech of John P. llale.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, December %, ls47

for the immediate termination OF slavery.
On presenting this petition, Mr.. Hale, said;
suppose, Mr.. President, as this petition prays
for the exerton of all powers of Government, SO
far as they extend, in relation to this subject, it
includes within its purview slavery within the
District of Columbia; and am informed that
the practice has obtained in the Senate, when
petitions of this character are presented to raise
the question Of reception, and that such mo-
ton is laid upon the table, and there the matter
drops As this course does not accord with my
own conviction of duty, must urge different
disposition of this petition; and hope that, if
exception be taken, it will be taken without this
side-blow of a motion to lay on the table.
With this view, if the question Of reception be
raised, ask that it may be taken by yeas and
nays.
The Presiding Officer Those in favor of
taking the question by yeas and nays will rise
Mr. Hale Was the motion made to lay the
motion upon the table?
The Presiding Officer The question is to be
put as a matter of course.
Mr. Hale. ! was not aware of the existence
of such a rule; but that being the case, would
like to say single word on the main question,
as the motion to lay on the table is not debata-
bIe
Mr.. Bcrricn, said he trusted that the establish
ed usage of the Senate would not be departed
from on this occasion. When petition Of this
sort is presented, the question of reception is
raised by a motion to lay petition on the table,
He would now raise that question, by moving to
lay the motion upon the table.
Mr. Hale. Upon that question | ask the yeas
and nays
Mr. Mason. What is the petltionl
The Secretary read the heading Of the memo
rial.
Mr. Johason of Maryland, inquired whether
it would be in order to move posponement of
the question of reception till tomorrow!
The Presiding Officer. The question to lay
on the table has precedence.
Mr.. johnson, of Maryland, then said that his
only object was that the Senate might be full
before the question was taken.
Mr. Calhoun. What is the question.
The Presiding Officer. 1t is to lay the mo-
lion to receive the petition on the table.
Mr.. Calhoun. What is the subject-matter of
the petition.
The Presiding Officer. The abolition OF sla-
very in the District of Columbia.
! Mr.. Hale. If it be in order, viii state the
subiect-matter of the petition. The petition
comes from the Yearly Meeting Of Friends at
Newport, Wayne county, Indiana, praying the
termination of the war in Mexico; and also pray
ing that all the powers vested in Congress upon
the subject shall be exerted for the termination
of slavery.
Mr.. Butter That does not say anything a.
bout slavery in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Hale remarked that that was inclu-
ded in the powers which the memoralists called
on Congress to exert
The question was then taken on the call for
the yeas and nays. A sufficient number of men,
bers rising, the yeas and nays were ordered, aud
were taken as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison,
Atherton, Badger, Bell Bradbury, Breese, Bright
Butler, Calhoun, Cass, Davis of Mississippi
Dickinson, Dix, Downs Fairfield, Felch. Foote,
Hunter, Johnson of Maryland, johnson of Lou
isiana, Mangum, Mason, Niles, Rusk, Sewer
Spruance, Sturgeon, Turney, Westcott and
YuIee-33
NAYS-Messrs. Baldwin, Clarke, Corwin
Greene, Hale, Miller, Phelps, Underwood and
Upham-9.
So the motion, to receive the petition was laid
upon the table.
Mr.. Hale presented the memorial of David
7, Burr and sixty-nine others, citizens of Penn
sylvania, praying for such an alteration of the
Constitution and laws as shall abolish slavery
throughout the Union.
Mr. Hale said: do not understand that there
is standing rule or order of the Senate that
raises the question whether this petition shall be
received, or the motion to receive 1t laid on the
table. | ask whether the motion to receive the
petition is debatable! Am correct, sir, in sup
posing it is debatable!
The Presiding Officer 1t is debatable
Dr. Hale. So understanding 1t, sir, l wish
to say a single word in vindlcation of the course
which deem it my duty to take on this occa
sion. 1t is with no desire to produce angry feel
ings, or excited discussion, but it is in discharge
if my duty, under deep and earnest convictions
of my understanding, that attempt to discharge
that duty. What is the refusal of the Senate to
receive these petitionsl 1t is saying that there
are some subjects on which the people shall not
approach this tribunal.
In this day, speculation is adventurous. We
venture to inquire into all the secrets of the ma
teriaI and the spiritual world. The researches
of geological science have penetrated the bowels
of the earth, and have there found the materials
by which it is assayed to prove that
Il ale who made the world, and its age revealed
To Moses, mistaken"
Nay, inquiry goes with adventurous flight tc
the very throne of Eternity, and undertakes tc
scan the laws by which He who sits thereon gov
ems His own actions and the world he has Gre
ated. And, sir, if speculation is thus adventu
rous, have we, in the United States of America
an institution which exalts itself above God
defying examination, or inquiry or petition even
Most emphatcally, sir, do | conceive that at the
present day the people of the United States have
peculiar right to come and ask of this body q
respectful hearing Of their petitions, and a re-
spectlul hearing on this very subject Sir, it j:
no mere abstraction. 1t is an element of polit
cal power in the formation of our Constitutions
; it is an element on which the Constitution of the
other House is regu lated;and it is an element il
the political discussion and action of the presen
= day, which is involving the nation in foreign
and aggressive war, at an expense of forty o.
r fifty millions of dollars annually, And if thu
people of the United States are to be thus taxed
for war growing Immediately and directly on
of an institution of this character, are they to b.
told that they shall not come and respectfully
= nracoDt thair oatiftons unon thiS euhiect1