The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
GENERAL CASS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION.

We hope our readers will pay some attention
to the report Of the debate in the Senate on the
Right of Petition, published on our fourth page
The course of General Cass is grossly inconsist-
ent On the 9th, an account of the proceedings
of a.meeting in North Carolina, demonstrating
against action by the United States designed to
limit slavery, and threatening disunion in GER
tain contingency, was presented by Mr.. Mangum
The usage of the Senate has been, to raise the
question of reception on all papers touching the
question of slavery, except where emanating from
State Legislatures, and to lay that question upon
the table. Among the most rigid in the observance
of the usage is General Cass MIR. Hale, although
opposed to the usage, deemed the occasion offered
by the presentation of these proceedings fit one
for testing the mpartiality of the Senate towards
North and South, and accordingly raised the
question of reception, and moved to lay that
question on the table. The motion was lost,
Messrs Douglas and Bradbury alone voting for
it. General Cass, 50 prompt in voting against all
petitions, memorials, or circumstances, on the
subject, coming from the free States, with his
accustomed reverence for the South, voted to
receive these proceedings from north Carolina
The very next day, MIR. Hale presented the
report Of the proceedings Of an association of
Friends, in Philadelphia, containing the follow
ing prayer
awe however ask you, possessing, as you do,
| the legislative power to prevent the increase OF
this dreadful evil, by the non-admission of new
States into the Union or the non-erection of new
| Territories whose constitutions or organic laws
| do not contain express prohibitions to the estab-
| lshmeut or the continuance OF slavery within
their limits
| Here was a petition asking the Senate not to
act in any way for the extension of slavery.
The question of reception was raised, and on the
motion to lay that question on the table, General
Cass voted yea.
Thus one day he votes to receive the proceed
ngs of North Carolina meeting, praying Con-
gress not to act against the extension of slavery,
and the next day he votes against receiving the
proceedings Of Philadelphia meeting, praying
Congress not to act for the extension of slavery.
A very consistent far-minded, impartial states
man, is he not
Mr. Hale thus exposed this gross inconsistency
"The honorable senator, in the discrimination
which he applies TO papers TO be received by the
Senate, says, if they ask that which we have pal
pably no power to grant, they should not be re-
ceived but he says, if any Of the citizens of this
country apprehend action on the part of Congress
which they think will be dangerous and detri-
mental, they have a right to demonstrate against
that action and we are bound to receive that re-
monstrance. How frail, sir is human memory
On Thursday last | had the honor to present
| precisely such paper as that to this body--the
remonstrance of some members of the association
of Friends-coming here, and not asking for any
action on the part of Congress, but simply, in the
! words of the honorable Senator from Michigan
demonstrating against action which they antci
pated-the admission of amy more slave States, or
the extension of slavery into the Territories
Mr. Cass The object of that petition was to
induce Congress hot to admit any new States into
the Union without prohibition of slavery.
Mr. Hale. No, sir, that was not lit was
petition against action, and comes within the def
milton laid down by the honorable Senator from
| Michigan. appeal to every Senator who hears
me- if that is not the casel 1t is difference of
words between u.s. but ask the common sense
understanding of the whole people if it is not
"Mr Cass Was not the object to prevent
California, or say ether new State from being
admitted into the Union without such prohibit
ton a? 1t was asking us to do what we could not
do--that is all have not another word to say.
"Mr. Hale. Ii was demonstrating against ac-
ton"
There was another rule General Cass laid
down. which he coolly disregarded in practice.
In his speech he said
off we have no power to grant the prayer of
the petition, why should such petition be re-
ceived? And our time thus proftlessy spent
might be devoted TO useful and national purposes.
am not speaking, sir, of a doubtful questioned
petitions for measures of doubtful validity and
about which reasonable men may differ, and do
differ These should be respectfully received and
considered. But speak of applications for the
exercise of powers which We have clearly and un-
denisbly no right to assume-like this for the
dissolution Of the Union, or for the humiliation
of State of this Confederacy.D
Petitions for measures of doubtful ralidty ought
he says, 10 be respectfully reosired and considered
The petition, the question of reception of which
he voted to lay on the table, asked Congress not
to admit any State, or erect any Territory, whose
organic law did not exclude slavery. The grea,
majority of the people of this country believes in
the validity of such non-action minority denies
! it, Even some Of the minority hold that Congress
have the power to admit new States or refnse
them admission, at is discretion. The first resolu
follows
81. Resolved, That Congress possesses, under
the Constitution fill and sreinsire porer 10 ad,nu Of
refuse 10 admit new Safes into The Uaion, Of us ow'
discretion, which discretion though, ought in NJ
case to be exercised arbitrarily, nnjnstly, or I,
the injury Of any Of the sovereign members of thu
: Confederacy, or to the injury or disparagement
= any Of their reserved rights"
, In view Of these considerations, the non-actiol
prayed for by the petition, being held valid by