The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-08

Mr. II. said that IN order tha the oenale might uhdei
stand the cordial feelings OF the petitioners, be would
state that the memorial addresses the Senate as dear
friends and after setting forth their prayer, and ex-
pressing their desire That The Senate may isks measures
clude, 1--WE bid you an aifectionate farewell !" The
prayer Of the petitioners that Congress win pre-,
w win aso ns asosS IN the Of Columbia %
The motion to receive the petition was ordered to lie
on the table.
Mr. H. further presented the petition Of Lorenzo Mob
belt and others, asking the abolition OF slavery in the
District OF Columbia the melton to receive which was
ordered TO lie on the table.
suggestion as the Chair had remarked that he did not
know whether former memorial came "within the
rule not, that il was moi rule, but amee practice
usage The usage 70 receive everything from the
South, and to reject everything from the North This
petition fom the State OF Pennsylvania, and there
fore undoubtedly came "within the rule"
Mr. H. also presented memorial, which, he stated,
complained OF various grievances therein enumerated
The first was that two NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Drayton and
Sayreswere Improperly imprisoned in the District OF
Columbia, upon the presumption that there Is law in
the District recognising the existence OF slavery therein
the remedy proposed by the memoriasts being the i'm
peachmen OF the judges The second the refusal by
the Secretary OF State to grant passport to Hamilton
colored The third evil was that the marshal OF the
District Of Columbia mprisons persons in the District
merely on account OF their color Another evil complain
ed of was that many persons in the District wckedy
held in slavery. They asked-inasmuch as il is wide
spread deluson that Congress has power to regulate
slavery the District OF Columbia, whereas Congress
Oo'b.SS1 ~~S-~'~~ ="
this District
Mr. III remarked that he had no doubt that this me-
mortal came within the rule.
The motion to receive the petition was ordered TO lie
on the table. Eta A8ts&
Mr. H also presented the petition of John J. Wood
sylvana and Delaware, stating their belief that the
federal constitution pledgng the strength Of the whole
Union to the support Of slavery, violates the Divine law.
tent with republican principles that its attempt unite
freedom and slavery in one body polite has already
brought upon the country great and manifold evils and
has fully proved that such Union exist but BY the
sacrifice oil freedom the supremacy of slavery and they
respectfully ask ysu devise and proposes without delay
some plan for the immediate peaceful dissolution OF the
American Union.
Mr. H., in presenting this paper, said that he trusted,
the Senate had decided yesterday to receive memo
rial threatening forcble dissolution OF the Union. they
would not object 70 receive one for doing il peaceaby
Mr.. MANGUM inquired where the memorial was
from?
Mr. HALE replied that it was from Pennsylvania.
The question being put upon the motion to receive the
Mr.. MANGUM voted in the affirmative.
Before the result announced division was called
Messrs DOUGLAS and HALE demanded the yeas and
nays which were ordered
The qgss,iSosn Ss n hayng been again pts stated IN
few remarks IL it be in order. am OF those, Sir,
who have uniformly voted for the reception OF almost
every description OF Petitions where there was any
ground upon which the Congress Of the United States could
in reference TO those petons. As member OF the
other House OF Congress, uniformly voted against what
called the 2lst rule including certain class OF Pc
ttons and wish to say upon this occasion that my
motive in doing that TO prevent the increase and
multiplication OF that agitation at the North, which
conceive to be the most preudca to the interests OF the
South and to the institutions of the South. feel very
well satisfied from the information have received upon
the subject that nothing has given impulse to that north
feeling, OF which gentlemen from every quarter have
complained, so much the OF the rejection oil
these petitions which have been here has done Now
sir, although have taken the that have indi-
Gated, have done under declarations at the time
utterly the right of these persons at the North
make any such applications TO Congress My motive
in doing what have done upon this subJect-my will
ngness receive and efehas always been with view
OF obtaining declaration from the proper committee, and
confirmation OF that declaration by the action OF the
Senate and of the House oil Representatives wherever the
petition might be presented that those individuals at The
character had right Of petition, and until some
dersandng can be reached, to settle what this mooed
right OF petition is and in what It consists, we shall
come TO any satisfactory mode OF action IN regard
contend, sir that there are two limitations upon the
right OF petition. The petition we have now under con-
sdetion presents the question fully and fairly, and that
induced rise to maket remarks intend to submit
in a very few words.
One Limitation is where the body addressed has pow
er grant the prayer OF the petitioners In case OF
that Sort sir il is than useless for any body OF in
divduals to ask legislature 10 do what they have no
right TO do petition which my friend wishes
to have received and which shall vote against but
which ] shall be willing TO have referred, If the views
which present be carried out as wish them car
red out? What 10 this petonf III Is 10 ASK congress
peaceably TO dissolve The Unon to take steps Tor that
purpose Have you the power to do that deny, sir,
that Congress has any power whatever under the cons
tuition Of the country dissolve the government and any
step taken by either branch of Congress for that object Is
without authority from the constitution and reasonable
In its character say that in that point OF view, sir,
Congress has power to grant the object OF the petition
The petitioners have right to ask Congress TO do
thing which cannot perform. This is one oil the grounds
which have governed my action in similar cases, VIZ
total want of authority the part Of the assembly to
grant what the petition asks And when that power does
not exist the petitioner has right TO come before that
body--none whatever.
There is another limitation upon this right which inau
enced my action and which would like to settled
upon definitely early day, by this and the other
branch OF Congress. The Limitation is this: The ind
vidual who asks for the passage OF law, which law,
when passed, cannot operate upon him personally, or
upon his property, interfering with the rights OF Others
that he has right to interfere with and therefore, when
he asks for the passage modification Of laws which do
not affect him, he is asking without right moral, legal,
or of any other character. Now, sir, most OF the petit
tions that here proceed from individuals who are
asking for the passage of laws, the modification oil
laws which not TO act upon them or their property,
but which laws, when passed or modified, are to act
upon the persons and property OF others Now, SIR,
hold that this s the very quintessence OF tyranny and
despolsmfor set OF men, or individuals, TO ask for
the passage Of laws which do not operate upon them,
but which do operate upon the persons and property OF
other individuals Whenever OF that sort occurs,
hold that the ndvduas asking for the passage change
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