Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-02-23
Mems 8 of the hrek.
XxXIst Congress.

presented memorial from the AS9Ociau0n oil
Friends in Philadelphia for promoting the abo-
lition Of Slavery and improving the condition Of
the free people of color, asking that the GO
vernments of the new territories may exclude
slavery, and that no new slave State be admitted
to the Union. Mr.. King, of Alabama inquired
if the memorial came from negroes to which
Mr.. Hale replied, that he believed the rule did
not req uiro him to state the complexion of petit
TONERS, and that the memorial was silent on the
subject. The question being on the reception
Of the petition, the motion was laid on the ta-
BILE, 25 to 81.
Mr. Hale presented another petition, from
Collins Centre, n. Y, relating TO the imprson-
ment Of Drayton and Sayres, Slavery in the Dis
trict, &C., which was disposed of in the same
manner.
Mr.. Hale said he had petition also from n
number of ladies of Germantown, Philadelphia
county, Pa, and wished, in order that the Sem
ate might understand the character of the petit
ton, to read the commencement. They address
us as /" Dear Friends" and after setting forth
the prayer which they put in, they say: "Trust-
ing that you will adopt measures for the furth-
orance of these objects, we bid you an affection
ate farewell" lLaughtcr.l
This and several others were disposed Of in
the same way as those alluded TO above.
Mr. Hale. / have also received petition from
inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Delaware, sta
ting that they believe that the Federal Consti-
tuition in giving its support to slavery, violates
the Divine law and makes war upon human
rights, and is inconsistent with republican prin-
ciples; and that the attempt to unite slavery
and freedom in one body polite has already
brought upon the country great and manifold
evils, and has fully proved that no such union
can exist but by the sacrifice Of freedom 70 the
supremacy Of slavery.
They respectfully ask Congress to propose
without delay some plan for the immediate and
peaceful dissolution of the American Union.
trust, as the Senate decided yesterday that
II was in order to receive resolutions threaten
ing to do the same thing forcibly, they will at
least receive petition asking them to do it
pcaceably.
This led to debate, which was not conclu-
ded when the Senate adjourned.
Fe6. Sh.--The petition for dissolution again
came up and led to n spirited debate. Mr..
Sturgeon, of PENNSYLVANIA, denounced the petit
ton as spurious, "thc work of some violent,
black hearted aboltionist." Mr. Dawson, of
Georgia, came down upon Mr.. Hale in great
wrath. The latter said in reply;
have sat here during this session, and have
heard this Union not only threatened, but its
dissolution announced. have heard IL again
and again declared by Senators coming from
another section of the Union, that if Congress
should adopt certain measures, they would not
submit, but would resist them at every hazard.
Such declarations called forth no rebuke. The
Senator from Georgia Mr. Dawsonl sat in his
seat as quietly as did, but now some people
who do not hold exactly to that mode of doing
business, who do not come here threatening and
denouncing the Union, believing that Senators
are in earnest in their threats, ask us to do it
peaceably, as they are non-resistants; and all
this indignation is worked up and poured out
on my head. The Senate is called upon to put
me down, and an appeal is made to know why
the Senator dared TO present such petition. /
dare walk up to the line of my constitutional
duty, as 1 understand it. dare do everything
that believe to be constitutional, and the Sem
ate cannot put me down until they resolve to
put down tho constitutional privileges of the
State which l in part represent here.
In regard to this petition, 1 see nothing irri-
tating or insulting in it. 1t is for the people to
judge as to what they shall petition for, and
when the time comes for action, then have the
right to judge as to what is the power of Con-
gress to grant their prayer. The people who
petition have tho right to judge also whether
Congress has right to act, and then, when tho
subject is before us, we have the right to judge
and decide on the propriety and power of Con-
gross to act.
Mr.. Davis of Massachusetts, G Honest John)
spoke with some warmth against the reception
OF the petition. 1t called upon them to destroy
what they were sworn TO support.
Mr.. Foote exI .essed his cordial acquiescence
in the patriotic sentiments of the Senator
from Massachusetts. lie then spoke of the
course of Mr. Hale, atirbuting it to the morci-
less castigation he had recently received from a
Disunion Convention in the city of Boston, in
which Mr.. Garrison and Abby Kelley figured.
repeat, said Mr.. Foote, that but for the COM
miscration which feel for the honorable Sena-
tor of New Hampshire, constrained, as he evil
IDENTIFY considers himself to be, to play the
wretched part which he is now playing as the
representative and agent of factionists and trail
tors, should be not only induced to censure
him harshly, but should even be in favor of
enforcing against him the heaviest penalties for
factional misconduct Perhaps might even be
willing to submit such motion for expulsion
myself. As it is, / will not dol il. / am willing
to let the Senator from New Hampshire do pret-
ty much as he pleases in relation to this whole
subject of slavery. shall offer no motion for
expulsion, and feel half induced even to take
back my former threat of hanging him. Yes,
sir, will take it back; and l do accordingly
declare that have not the least idea of ever
hanging the honorable gentleman, however Of
fensive his conduct in future may be. l hope
that this formal declaration may be effectual to
dispel all apprehensions heretofore entertained
on that point.
Mr.. Hale. / have but q word to say. The
Senator thinks the speech made this morning
to have been tho result Of some castigation l
have received from newspapers. On the same
principle, then, it is very probable that tho
speeches We get from him are to be attributed to
the castigations he has received from the same
sources. If so, appeal to all the newspapers
and letter writers in the country, in the name OF
the Senate, and of humanity itself, not to casti-
gate the Senator from Mississippi any more, for
in doing SO they punish the Senate and the
world.
Monday, FEB. lin the SENATE the ques-
ton of the reception of the petition for disso-
luton of the Union was again taken up, and a
debate ensucd, in which Messrs. Chase, Hale,
Dayton, Cass, Webster, Davis, Butler, Cooper,
Clemens, and Seward, took part