The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-09
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FsrpAy, February 8, 1850.
s EMAIL Z.

The VICE PRESIDENT said the first business in
o rder was the motion made by the Senator from
New Hampshire, (Mr. HALE,) to receive a petit
on of certain citizens of Pennsylvania and Della
ware, praying the peaceful dissolution the Union
by Congress.
Mr.. DOUGLAS resumed his remarks ON the sub
ject' He had always been opposed to the introduc-
ton Of any petition or other paper touching the
subject OF slavery, and had always voted 10 lay the
motion to receive such papers on the table. That
had been the rule of the Senate for the last quarter
OF u century. The first departure from the rule
was the reception of the proceedings of public
meeting held at the South, presented day or two
since by the Senator from North Carolina, Mr..
MANoUAi.) He had voted, and he was surprised
that bat other Senator had voted with him, to
lay the question of reception of that paper the
table. That paper demonstrated against any
ton by Congress the subject Of slavery while
yesterday the Senate had refused to receive petit
ton which prayed Congress not to admit any State
which by its constitution did not prohibit slavery.
They were identically on the same subject-one in
favor and one against certain action
He did not wish this injustice TO be done. He did
to insist ON the reception Of petitions which Con-
gress thought not proper TO receive The present
petition he would never vote to receive.
MIR. STURGEON said that he was much sur
prised when it was announced yesterday that this
petition came from the State of Pennsylvania, and
out of curiosity he had examined it, and was salts
fled that it was altogether spurious document.
The signatures were apparently all written by the
same hand. and many of them in pencil and ON
different pieces of paper. He knew that in his
State there a large body of Friends whose opin-
ions on this subject he much lamented. They had
from time to time sent to him petitions on the sub
ject of slavery, but he had always written to them
asking that they would take back their petitions,
for he could not present them. The consequence
was, that for several years past no such petitions
had been sent to him. These persons, however,
not much disappointed, for they all differed
from him in politics; they all old Federalists
of '99, or Wings of 40, and held political sent
ments in common with him. He would take
upon himself to pronounce the petition pre-
scented to be spurious.
Mr. HALE said he had another petition on the
same subject, which, together with the signatures,
written all on one piece of paper He had the
letter and the address of the party who enclosed it to
him.
Mr.. MASON asked that the letter might be read,
and the letter was read.
Mr.. HALE read, from the Journal of the Senate,
Of l4th March,, lS4S, where it appeared that he had
presented several petitions praying the abolition
of slavery, and the motion to receive them was
laid the table; on the same day he had pre-
scented eight petitions praying the peaceful DISCO
luton of the Union, which were received, and on
his own motion, laid on the table. At that time the
Illinois delegation was full, and no objection was
made to its reception.
Mr.. DOUGLAS inquired if the petitions were not
presented and received before the object of the petit
tons was known.
Mr. HALE thought that was not the case He
not know to what committee to have them referred,
except, perhaps, the Committee on the Terrific
ries
MIR. DOUGLAS said that the petitions ought not to
40 to the Committee on the Territories, for he hoped
there was not that committee who was in
favor of the dissolution of the Union, forcibly or
peacefully.
Mr. DAWSON said that the Senator from New
Hampshire certainly could not believe that Congress
had any power to dissolve the Union; why, then,
did he allow himself to be made the means Of con-
tnually agtating the country, and the Senate, and
to interrupt the ordinary business of legislation by
the introduction and presentation of these petitions
He appealed to the patriotism of the Senator whe
ther such course was just and proper.
Mr.. HALE responded that he recognised the right
of petition, and could feel himself called upon
to investigate the object of the petition till it came
before them for legislative action.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD repeated his views, that the
right of petition did not extend to any subject
which the body petitoncd had no control
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, said that his course
the question Of the reception of these petitions
lating to slavery had been uniform. He recognised
the right of the people to petition, and considered
that Congress should receive all petitions which
sought any object which Congress had the power
to grant. He had voted for the reception of petit
tons praying the abolition of slavery in the District
because he believed Congress had the power to leg
islate that subject. But the present petition
prayed Congress to do that which there was no man
who believed Congress had any power to do. He
would, therefore, vote against its reception.
Mr.. FOOTE said he admired the noble senti-
Inents Just uttered by the Senator from Massachu-
SETS and their merit considerably enhanced
because of the fact that convention had Just been
held in Boston-in old Faneuil Hall-whcre the doc
trnes of this petition had been adopted
In that convention the Senator from New Hamp-
shire had been most considerably castigated for his
conduct on this subject Garrison and the other
speakers had devoted some portion of their speeches
10 the castgation Of the Senator for being behind
the party on this subject. The Senator from New
I.I he Al
a speech yesterday and day, and he supposed the
castigatons inflicted ON him had had the effect of
urging that Senator TO make his speeches more
frequent and violent That Senator, laboring under
the effects of the castgation had presented this Pc
tition for the dissolution Of the Union. Now he
(Mr. F.) would not say--wbat perhaps, under
other circumstances, he might say-that the con-
duct of the Senator in SO doing required not only
severe rebuke from the Senate, but the highest pun
ishmcnt in the power Of the body to iniict-cxpul-
sion.
Mr.. HALE said that if his speech was the result
of the castigations said to have been administered
to him, he supposed the frequent speeches of the
Senator from Mississippi were produced from the
same reason. II this were so, he earnestly en-
treated the editors of all the newspapers Of the coun
try, and all the letter writers ofthc country TO cease
their castigations OF the Senator from Mississippi,
for in castigating him they punished the Senate.
fLaughter.1
Mr. FOO'rE said that he had the satisfaction OF
knowing that, in his own beloved State, there was
paper throughout the whole South that disapproved
Of his II true, perhaps, that he as well
the Senator, was somewhat inflicted with the
cacoefiss loqiendi but he would leave IL for pos
terity to decide, which the most amiable or
good naturcd debater--which INDUCED in the most
laundering dccamations on exciting subjects.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, said he had voted for
the reception of the proceedings Of the meeting
held in North Carolina, because they contained
resolutions TO preserve the Union and for redress
of grievances, and the Senate bound TO receive
them. In this case the object very different
there no grievance TO be relieved unless the
Union grievance IL also asked Congress tc
dissolve the Union Congress had power 10 dc
So II there was no grievance and no power, why
should 1t be receivedf II was offensive TO the Sen
ate. II the Union TO be dissolved, il must be
by the States and by the people, not by Congress
Mr.. SEWARD moved 10 amend the motion "a
receive the petition, by adding-and that 1t be re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with
instructions to report that Congress has not the
power nor the inclination TO grant the prayer.
The VICE PRESIDENT said the amendment
out of order.
Mr.. SEWARD said he would state, in few
words, the reasons why he would vote for the re.
Al