Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-09


The third evil is that the Marshal Of the District Of Colum-
ba imprsons persons for crime but that OF complexion
and that they Of different complexion they would go
unmolested.
The fourth evil h that there great many persons in
the District who actually held slaves and inasmuch
there widespread deusion the country that Congress
has the power egaze slavery they pray that Congress will
hasten to dispel such deusion declaring that they have
such power, and that they will abolish slavery in the District
have no doubt this comes within the rule
The VICE PRES DENT. The question is on the receP-
ton of the petition.
Mr.. MANGUM move to lay that question on the
table.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. HALE. have received ALSO and been requested to
present to the Senate, petition from number Of ladies' Of
Germantown Philadelphia county, ,Pennsyvania and wish,
in order that the Senate may understand the character Of the
petition, read the commencement They address
g Dear Friends and after setting forth the prayer which
they put in they say Trusting that you will adopt
for the furherance of these Objects we bid you aec
tionate farewell" Laughter
The petition prays that Congress will prevent the inoduc
ton Of slavery the Territories, and also will abolish il
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question will be on the
reception of the petition.
Mr.. MANGUM. move to lay that question on the
table.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. HALE. have also received petition from various
citizens of the county of Philadelphia praying that Congress
will prohibit the internal slave trade SO extensively carried
The VICE PRESIDENT The Chairs not advised whe.
ther this petition comes within the rule.
Mr.. HALE believe it does
On notion the question Of reception laid the table,
Mr. HALE. have another petition from the State Of Penn
sylvania and, presenting il, wish to make single OBJ
servaon The Chair remarked that he did not know that
the memorial just presented came within the rule believe
The VICE PRESIDENT. The usage.
Mr. HALE The usage to receive every thing from the
South and reject thing from the North without asking
IL .t ..n IS
the State Of Pennsylvania requesting Congress to take
for the abolition Of slavery within this District believe
that comes within the rule.
On motion, the question of reception laid the table
Mr.. HALE have also two other petitions from Phila
dephia, numerousy signed, praying for the object.
Mr.. MANGUM. move to lay the question Of reception
the table.
The motion agreed to-
Mr.. HALE have also received petition from inhab-
tants of Pennsylvania and Delaware stating that they be-
eve that the federal constitutions in giving its support
slavery, violates the Divine law and makes upon human
rights, and is inconsistent with republican principles; and
that the attempt to unite slavery and freedom in body
polite has already brought upon the country great and mani
fold evils and has fully proved that such union exist
but by the sacceof freedom to tho supremacy slavery
They respectfully ask Congress TO propose without delay
plan for the immediate and peaceful dissolution Of the
American Union.
rus the Senate decided yesterday that in order
to receive resolutions threatening do the thing forc
bly, they will at least receive petition asking them to do it
Peac2ably.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question will be the
reception Of this petition.
The question was put, and the VICE PRESIDENT was
about state the result when division called for in
several parts of the chamber
Mr. HALE. cell for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays ordered.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | am Of those who have uni
ormy voted for the reception OF almost every description OF
petition, where there any ground upon which the Con
gress of the United States could in reference that petit
on As member Of the other House of Congress- uni
formy voted against what called the wenyrst rule
cludng certain class of petitions and wish to say upon
this occasion that my motive in doing was prevent an
and multiplication Of that agitation in the North which
conceive to be most pudca to the interests OF The south
and to the institutions of the country feel very well satls
Eed from inform alton which received upon the subject
that nothing has given impulse to that Northern feeling ct
which gentlemen from my quarter complain, 80 much as the
in which petitions which have been sent here have
been rejected. FL.
Now although have taken the course that have ndca
ted, have done it with declaration at the time utter
y the right of those persons at the North to make
any such application to Congress and my motive IN dong
what have done upon this subject my willingness to receive
and refer these petitions has always been with the view Of
obtaining declaration from the appropriate committee, and
confirmation Of that declaration by the action of the Senate
the House OF Representatives, III whichever the petitions
might be presented that those individuals who constant
y presenting petitions of this character had such right of
petition and unless understanding be come to sci
ting what this moced right of petition is and in what
sists, shall to any satisfactory mode Of action
in regard to the matter.
Sir contend that there are two limitations upon the right
OF petitions and the petition which have under con-
sideration presents the question fully and fairly and in
duced rise for the purpose making the remarks which
intend submitting 10 very few words One limitation is
where the addressed where the body addressed has
power to grant the prayer of the petition In case OF
that kind s it is than useless for any body of nd
vdua to ask legislative assembly TO do thing which they
have right to do What is this petition which my friend
the way wishes to have received and against the recep
ton Of which shall after making this expanaton but
which would be willing to have referred if the views
presenting be carried out wish What is this
petition II is to ask Congress peaceaby to dissolve the
Unon or take steps with that view. Have the power
to do it deny, sir that Congress- under the constitution
of the country has whatever to Dissolve the Gov
and every step taken with view Of that sort by
either branch of Congress is without authority by the cons
ution and reasonable in its character then say, that
ia this point of view Congress having grant the
object of the petton the petitioners have right to ask the
body to do thing which the body itself cannot perform
That therefore Of the grounds which have always
erned my action in similar cases. w.t. the total want Of
authority the part the body peioned to grant the thing
asked for and wherever that state of things does exist the
petitioner las right before the bedy-none what
ever.
T1ere is another Limitation, sir upon this much mooted
right of petition, ii called which has always influenced
my action, aud upon which should like this and the
other branch of Congress make definite rule. II that
the individual who asks for the passage of law, which law
when passed does operate him personally and does
not operate his property is interfering with the rights
of Others with which he has right to interfere and there
fore. when be asks f the passage repeal modification Of
law which does affect him, acting without right,
legal moral of any other character Most Of these petitions
which here proceed from individuals asking for the
passage modf alton of laws which not act upon
them their property, but which laws when passed modi
fed, to act upon the persons and property of oilers
hold that the very quntesence OF tyranny and des-
posm for of men, for of individuals ask
for the passage of laws which operate upon them