Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-12
CoNGREss-.2d session.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 10, lSi9.

Mr. Underwood's resolution 10 refer the peti
ton of Daniel P. Bettinger TO the judiciary com
mittee with instructions to inquire and repor
whether Congress possesses the constitutional
power TO make appropriations for The colonial
tion of free people of color, was taken up.
Mr.. Dayton suggested the proprety of strl
king out that part of the resolution which III
structs the committee TO inquire and report, thus
merely referring the petition to the Judiciary
committee, without Instructions.
Mr.. Underwood wished TO test the opinions Of
northern men as TO the authority and expedien.
cy of making appropriations or sending emanci.
pated slave, out Of the counlry, where their
owners were willing to emancipate them on this
condition. He was opposed TO any restriction
or discussion on such questions. He wished IL
ascertain for his constituents the length and
breadth, the height aud depth, Of the abolition
feeling. And il was for this reason that he had
moved the reconsideration Of the vote ON the abo-
lition petition of tue Senator from New Hamp-
spire (slr. Hale.)
He thought IL perfectly useless 10 attempt any
suppression VI petitions sen h.re. Such course
would only aasEavae The evils. The proper way
was TO send them 10 committee aud allow them
to be answered The right vi petition had no
doub! been frequently violated by people al Inc
North, in ASKING for things which they could not
feel themselves, but which they would make
Others feel very sensibly. THIS they had no right
10 do, but the proper way was nevertheless 10 let
their petilions go 10 committee and be reported
upon. he had no lear OF any discussion which
might arise out Of SUCH reports.
Mr.. Metcalte knew lhe petitioner WE'LL He
was distinguished cIlizen OF Kentucky, who
had written much On this >utject-a landholt-r
and >layehol1sr In ina, Sale, and VINO, like
many Others there, earnestly desired The manu-.
oil vrS I
was well known 10 al, ihai il would be imposs-
bic 10 manumt aud retain the back population
within the hints OF Kentucky. me white la
boring population would rebel against ii. He
hoped they should have lhe aid OF the Senator
from New Hampshire, (Mr. Hale for ne was
philaaihiopls, pfoie>sediy-in his efiou 10 pro-
vide Tor The emancipation O. lheir slayes-to sen
them out OF The country.
Mr.. Hale rose Tor the purpose .. expressing
his thanks Il the Senator from Kentucky VINO
had JUS spoken, Mr. Und-fwooe,) ior his mag
unanimous mGtIun 10 reconsider the vote bv whi"n
the question oi fecepi4n Oh the petition present.
ed by him the Other day, had been .ait on ihe 4.
bic
He dissened. We9er, from the argument Of
that Senator hat The pe t!an mus, >. T. he Dol,
having The power - sfaat i; AMI mat mnS
not affect others .uai. i'.sc wap reti iUn
Such Reservations, Ec cun,sLscc, woud b. SCI
totally yaiueless. Tue course OF rtaern mcr
had become 50 tame and submissive on tins Sun.
lect that the very women aud caidten cried out
agans! them. lie had Ifit iav received elt.i
from Hunnein lazy. ihGurii.2 why II was hi
the Independence anu >pitit o. n1Giirta members
was thus ng uut-why they were thus 1ecom.
ing 50 iamc.y submissive, hat wher petitioner,
came here begging Tor iheir r.sais tney should
bow in base suOmissioa 10 4 southern faction an
4. NJ
ed as insOlel.t.
Mr. Douglass ceaied, as northern man, that
there had been any submission b. noItisfn nea
10 the Souh--ihey mad always mdniuliy sioud M
for their fiehis-inelr only sub,n i>Siun had been
10 the constitution aud The laws He undertook
10 say that there would be no Cause Tor complaint
If the agitaIng questions 81 Sla.efy were mol III
lroduceG into these nails. New Hampshire would
never know how batiy he poor negroes were
treated al the South, were II not told 10 them here
by men who have never seen it and know moth
ing about il; aur would the people OF The South
know now bally they aere treated by the Noria
were il not told 10 them mere with the paltry view
of influencing popular election.
The wayto prevent sucn eXcitementS was for
every mau 10 mind his own business-lo settle
the territorial question by giving TO the people
thereof Stale goveInGicE ;, aui leaving them
as had been done with The other Safe 20 settle
proper. God forbid ,na TINS country should ever
be ruled by any faction, composed OF men Of all
political parties bound together By no principles
in common, and whose movements we're ever
calculated 10 keep up The fires OF agitation and
foster The SEEDS Of disunion.
Mr.. Underwood also replied TO Mr.. Hale.
Mr.. Dayton said il was eyiden. that The de-
bate had wandered lar away from the question
at issue. In he motion which he had made, he
had simply desire that the petition might be re-
ferfed, leaving any action % inc iulcmeat II lie
committee. Dill tie Senator from Kentucky ex-
pect any action upon the subject Involved No.
But Convention, il was said, was to be held in
Kentucky, and an expression u opinion IRON 80
respectable committee would exert very inl
porlant influence therein. |. was made k own
hoW that committee was constuued-ha, h.
(Mr. Dayion) STOOD alone ON that cummtiee-in
the position OF one 10 four
He was prepared 10 60 as far as any man on
this subject; bat he was unwilling that the opi-
ion Of he committee should be iores,allcd-he
was opposed 10 opening up any new question Of
discussion, in connexion with that whicn was now
agilaline he country, involving the only insi u
ton tor the ameliotaIion OF The slave in which
the North and the Souh can now cordially unite
he alluded 10 the Colonization Society.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Dayton 5
motion TO strike on, The instructions, and II was
decided IN the allfGidbVs.
The question then recurring on the reference,
without instructions,
Mr.. Mason opposed the reference altogether
and gave his reasons al length.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis referred 10 the practic
here OF rcpenling Tor ciher people, and said that
of the clap faps Introduced here, that in geoar!
TO the right II pei ion was he greatest Thrr
had been No interference with The right ot pei
lion. The tight Of petition ,attied with il III
implied declaration that there were grievances 10
remedy, bur hoy wee persons asgrieved by
whom laese aboilion petitions from me North are
presented |; uaight be more appropriate Tor hose
who cry on, ''oood God 10 say Coed Dev,l
Ii nigh, be well Tor those who cry ant
against the institution q slavery at The South, Ia
look on the oter side OF the pc;urr--jo their oSn
acts and their own laws IN tn6s> gone by lie
returned his thanks - tn 'ndio; iica !l,irui,
for the sentiments wni n he hat expressed an,
concu,et wan ,n,s eloquent appeal 10 Norm.
ern men, Il ian q. has stnpis AM preserve n,
pefmaGency o. ide Union.
Mr.. Ba'Iei OPPOSED ine reference. He pro-
posed that II should b. disposed 81 as all petition,
IN reference 10 slavery nave hecn ;iii nero.
Mr.. Bcrrien con-idercd the petition nothing
more nor less than application TO Congress Il
appropriate annually i sum Of money 10 pro.
mote tho emancipation Of the slaves to encuur
age slave owners 10 maucn,t AID END tier
slaves out oil the country. In hi, view Of III,
case he did not think itat Congress- possessed
the constitutional power 10 comply with the
prayer of Inc petition.
Mr. N,es also argued that Congress possessed
no power 10 hold on; any such inducements J ii
was subject winch belonged exclusively ,c
State legislation.
Mr.. Dickinson, To put an end 10 further dis
cussion. Tor Inc accomplis smeut d ~ unconsli
;utional object, moved Inc indei lie postpone
ment OF the who.e subject. "a n $ N ,,ion The
yeas and nays we're o.delcd, an! resulted :
ayes 81, ia %
MIR Jefferson Davis in,5oiucei 4 Joint r,sola
ton, which was twice read aad referred 10 n,
committee On pensions, providing Tor he t,ea
SION OF he bounty iaad ana extra "a. p.ov!s
ions oil the ac' oi iaS: session. 10 subs flutes g.
well as oris,nai eni.s.nelis