The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20
WASHINGTON: WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 20

men were! Mr.. CLAY always argued-receive
these petitions, and much Of this clamor will
The result shows he WAS right When had the
honor OF being in Congress In 1882 while the TWEEN
ty- first rule in force, do not think exagge-
rate when say, that during the period of three or
four months, we had what were called abolition Pc
titions presented here, signed by more than one
hundred thousand and women. Like the
camomile flower "the more it is trodden upon, the
faster it grows, this right of petition when denied
was most earnestly asserted. How stands the fact
now? We have been here more than three months,
and not single abolition petition has been pre-
sented Hence the Union will not be dissolved be-
cause Of this aggression. This aggression has
ceased No, sir, there IL no danger to this Union
from any such cause. In this happy land, our
people viii occasionally be guilty Of some extrava
giant conduct. We have numerous population,
who are not always employed.
What was said by one Of England's great poets
of her people, can with truth be said of ours
"Whose only grievance is excess o. easas.
Freedom their pain, and plenty their disease"
When they cannot war against the twenty first
rule they will form peace societies. Noble motives
prompt them in this. These agitators, comprising
"a small portion Of our northern people, not only
seek distinction by their noisy opposition to slavery
but they contend among other things for what they
term 'sthe rights of women do not know what
the rights they claim; whether they think wo
men should vote, should come to Congress, &c;
but if they give to the New England women more
rights than those our North Carolina women have,
they will not have republican government.
Some of these agitators do not believe any judge
has right to administer an oath. They do not
acknowledge the authority of any gistrate Such
people deserve our pity or contempt. They ought
not to be reasoned with. Denunciation, like the
storm upon the traveller but makes them fold the
cloak of prejudice closely around them and go on
with more energy. Forbearance towards their fol-
lies it did with their right of pettionlike the
influence of the sun, will drive them to the shades
of retirement.
But complaint is made against the North because
fNaxxr
these fanatics. How they stop them? New
York cannot quiet the disturbances of her Anti
renters A mob in the city of New York last year,
because of some misunderstanding between two
actors, nearly destroyed "a valuable building, and
caused the death of several persons Massachu-
sets, some years ago, could not in her peaceful
borders prevent the destruction of convent.
Dorrism nearly produced civil war in Rhode Island.
Philadelphia has had church destroyed, and an
abolition hall burnt down by her staid population
If these terrible outbreaks cannot be prevented.
how can the northern people suppress fanaticism /!
And yet we are told by gentlemen, the Union will
be dissolved unless this agitation ceases.
! Who can reason with fanaticism
Z" You may well GO stand upon the beach,
| And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well use question with the wou
Why he hath made the eve bleat for the lamb;
! You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops and TO make no noise,
When they are fretted with the gusts of Heaven
as try and suppress fanaticism by reason or by
law.
| We give more Importance TO these agitators than
they deserve, by supposng that all who are opposed
to slavery disposed 10 interfere with slavery in
the States. II is great mistake. Our Quakers,
in North Carolina and elsewhere, all opposed To
slavery In 1924, I think, Mr.. II. Nj. SAUNDERS
presented one of their petitions here. The Qua
kers, in all countries, are among our best popula-
ton. They are industrious, sober, orderly. They
try and do unto others they wish others TO dc
unto them. But they are no agitators. II is a par
of rel IN
they express in mild terms, their opposition to 1t
received, from my district, few Days since,
paper before me, from one of the best men eve
knew-a Quaker. IL is entitled minutes Of tn,
North Carolina yearly meeting, held at New
Garden, Gulford county, llth month, ls4s.
They send memorial 10 the Senate and House o
Representatives in which they say
"Your memorialists further show, that they be
leve themselves conscientiously constrained e
bear their testimony against the unrighteous sys
tenn Of slavery. Many of them have made pecu
MARY sacrifices TO obtain a quiet conscience
and they respectfully ask Congress TO take the
subject under deberation, and lcgislate for IL
amelioration or extinction as far as they constitu
tionally can. For we believe IL TO be anti-chris.
tan in practice, inasmuch IL is at variancs
with the divine precept Of doing TO others We
would they should do to u.s. We believe it 10 b'
snti-repubcan, because il does not accord will
the declaration Of American independence-wiu
that self-evident truth, that all men are creates
equal. and endowed by their Creator with certain
inalicnable rights; that among these life, lib
erty, and the pursuit Of happiness.
And suggest, for your consideration, th
! propriety Of our government acknowledging tn
Independence and nationality of the Republic o
Liberia, and extending to her the same comfy a
other nations
Your memorialists and petitioners desire tina
you may be guided and influenced in your legis
lation by that wisdom which is profitable 10 di
rect-which is first pure. then peaceable, gentle
and easy 10 be entreated."
Now, these men are among our best citizens
/ | aOf q elayChOldeFs L know
emancipated fifty slaves. II would be a moderat
estimate 20 say he sacrificed 10 his conscience twen
ty-hve thousand dollars. Yet these people woul'
be the last 70 encourage violence. These men woul
not fight; but in the hour Of trial believe many o
them would do as one did in Rhode Island in tn
Dorr rebellion. He found a soldier at his post ex
hausted by fatigue and want Of food. "Friend,
he said, 81 cannot use arms; but will take care o
thy musket until thou hast refreshmcnt" AL
these what has been the effect OF the agitation
Of Abotionsts and they will tell you IL has checket
emancipation contend that it is wrong 20 sup
pose that the great body of our northern people
who believe slavery 20 be an evil, as our Quaker
I do, are therefore disposed TO interfere with tn
southern States, or are "enemics Of the SOUTH
But, TO another aggression the South" Ii
lS43, Massachusetts passed resolutions recommend
ing change in the Constitution Of the Unite'
States. The recommendation was, that the thir'
clause Of the second section Of the first article of tn
Constitution should be 30 changed as to abolish tn
representation Of the southern States for their slaves
This proposition was denounced rs tending 20 dis
union. A gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Gu
mEa,) and one from South Carolina, (Mr. BuRT,]
said Of Il, ga proposition precisely similar TO tina
now under consideration was made by the notori
Gus Hartford convention" think when tina
amendment IL made others will be made, and dis
union will be the inevitable consequence.
Hut though the Legislature Of Massachusetts die
wrong in this instance, u docs not follow that w
our present Constitution stands, she would inter
fere with slavery in the southern States. If !
evinces disposition to interfere IL admits also tb
want Of power under the Constitution. Our Stat
Legislatures sometimes do silly things. They re
solve year against the resolves of the year be
fore. But ] wish 10 call the attention OF my col
league, (Mr. CLINeMAS,) who no doubt regard
these Massachusetts, resolutions an aggression,
10 some proceedings Of the last Legislature Of ou
State We had before us in the winter OF l54S-'4s
a proposition 10 amend State constitution. II
tie gubernatoria canvass OF as, issue unwisely
was made, upon the prOpriety OF striking out frou
our State constitution, provision which require
that all voters for the Senate shall own fifty acres
land. The Democrats raised the cry Of free SUI
fragc." The whig candidate--a most cstmab
gentleman--was understood 10 oppose free suffrage
as might have been expected, the Democrats near
ly elected their candidate In a State that gave TAy
LoR more than eight thousand majority over CAss
But when the proposition brought forward &
! amend orr constitutoh. sornc Of the members from