Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-13
ABOLITION PETITIONS.

"A SITlV6,
To fit my soul for Heaven
ABOLITION PETITIONS.
In the Senate, on Wednesday last, Mr.. HALE hav-
ing offered large number of Abolition petitions
Mr.. ATcH1soN said Mr. President, will make
motion which think will promote the dispatch OF bu-
sness it is that the Senator from New Hampshire
have cave present all such petitions to the Secretary
and that he be authorized to make the usual disposition
of them This would save much time, as almost every
day nearly half the usual morning hour IS consumedby
the presentation of such petitions
Mr. HALE. 1wish to remark to the Senator that he
is mistaken
The honorable gentleman yielded the floor that
message might be received from the President OF the
United States.
Mr. ATcHIsoN. will withdraw the motion
Mr.. HALE. Twas going to say that the Senator is al
together mistaken with regard 10 my occupying time
here every morning. Instead OF doing so, determined
long ago to lay them by as they to me, and TO
come here with these petitions but once amonth, and
then make general delivery. Laughter
Mr.. CLAY | cannot allow this occasion to pass
without calling to the attention of the Senate fact
connected with most OF these petitions. Sir the mo-
ment prospect opens in this unhappy country OF set
ting differences, these disturbers of the peace these
abolitonists put themselves in moton-the Jays the
Phipses, and others in other qnartes-and they estab
fish concerted and ramfied plan OF operations, and
want to expose it to the Senate Here sir is little ot
of printed paper holding up the petition which mad
been delivered to hlm scattered throughout the whole
country. Some of them found their way into my own
State | presented them the other day from Lewis
county, printed, have doubt, at common centre,
and dispersed throughout the country, order to pro-
duce common effect, and to make an mpre ssion on
this body if they speaking the public sentiment
The VICE PRESIDE The Chair begs leave to sug
ges to the Senator from Kentucky that these petitions
have all been passed upon.
Mr. CLAY. But have one of them in my own hand.
sir and the Chair does not know how my remarks may
terminate, nor what motion lmay make.
Mr.. HALE. 1call the Senator to order.
After some conversation on the point OF order which
was that Mr.. Clay could not speak to the petitions
after they had been passed upon he affirming that lie
had right to rise to make motion to take them
up
The VICE PRESIDENT. 1t is the opinion OF the Chair
that the motion must precede the argument
Mr. CLAY. Very well, sir; then will make my
motion
The VICE PRESIDENT. l may be mistaken, and if |
| am shall be glad to be corrected
Mr.. CLAY. Well, then, make the motion to preeede
the argument though that is not my opinion will tell
you what is the law. II member gets up and makes
speech OF unreasonable length intending to follow it
with practical motion, the Chair may require him to
state what his motion is That done in a
memorable case in which Mr.. Randolph made speech
of about an hour against proposition not before the
House, and not submitted by him, when he about
to make motion that it was inexpednt to declare
called him to order, and he was pronounced out
| of order
The nvariable practice and the rational practice of
every deberative body upon earth, is to allow
Der who is going to make motion, to preface that mo-
ton BY brief and pertinent remarks relating TO the mo,
tion | think, sir, know the law on the subject, and
have reason to know it. Well, sir do not know that
shall present any such motion, but have right to put
myself in order by making such motion, and trust
the honorable Senator who listened to by myself with
as much compacency as any body, will not manifest
any very great Impotence at my calling the attention OF
the Senate to this ramled and concerted plan OF the
abotionsts to circulate their little bits OF printed petit
|
ing the slave trade; one for abolshng slavery in the
District OF Columbia one for removing tie sea: OF gov
eminent from this District in every shape and mode in
which they bring up the question OF slavery trust
that neither the Senator nor his friends IN the house or
out of the house. will manifest any great degree OF i'm
patience while call the attention OF the Senate and OF
the country to the fact and show that the object is to
manufacture sort of public opinion in order to make
an impression upon us at moment when we are en-
deavorag to heal the wounds OF the country and to re-
concile its distracted and unhappy parts.
| Sir of all the bterest enemies toward the unfortu-
nate negro race, there to compare with these
aboltionists pretended friends of theirs; but who like
the Siamese twins connect themselves with the negro,
or, like the centaur OF old, mount not the back OF
horse but the back OF the negro to ride themselves IN
to power and in order to display friendship they ee
only for themselves, and not tor the negro race NO
sir there not worse enemies IN the country OF the
negro race than these ultra abolItlonlsts 10 what
sorts of extremity have they not driven the slaveholding
States in defence OF their own rights and IN guarding
against those excuses to which they have constant
tendency.
Now, sir, l have said all l intended to say. have
some OF these petitions, which wish had been present
ed to some other person the medium OF communca-
ton the Senate but they shall not deceive me by this
attempt to create false impression as to the real state
of feeling throughout the country. will make the
motion If the gentleman insists, TO take up these petit
tons have right to do It, though nave no desire 10
do it. 49,,
No wish being expressed that the motion should be
Mr. CLAY continued Sir, while am up will pre-
sent petitions, not exactly OF the same character,
but which relate TO business before the Senate.
Mr.. RusK called attention to petition presenteda
few days before by Mr. SEWARD, and laid the table,
that the negroes of the South be enrolled in the militia.
After remarks by Mr.. RusK, Mr.. BUTLER, Mr.. FoorE,
and Mr.. HALE
Mr. CLAY. | move to take up the petition on the
subject OF the enrolment of the slaves of this country in
the militia for the purpose OF making motion, and
without further argumenupon the subject. invite the
Senate to act upon it expressing hope, and shall
call for the yeas and nays for that purpose that this Pc
on will be rejected by the decisive, and indignant,
and unanimous vote otthe whole body. move you,
sir take up the petition and will then move to re-
ect the prayer Of the petition and call for the yeas and
nays
and carried
MIR. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, sa id: addressed the
Chair, | believe, before the question was put.
Mr.. CLAY. | do not think my motion will take up
any time
arrived for taking up the special o rider.
Mr. Clay Oh, let us come to vote upon this mat
ter first move reject the prayer the petition, and
call for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. SEWARD explained and defended his course. He
said
shall not shrink from the performance Of what is my
duty under any circumstances OF censare go little
further in explanation, because ! shall vote Tor re-
cevng this petition shall vote against the resolution
to reject it.
Mr. CLAY Tin his seat The motion is to reject the
PRAYER of the petition
Mr.. SEWARD l thank the honorable Senator from
Kentucky for the information. | understood it to be
motion to reject the petition itself.
SENATOR. Oh, no; to reject the prayer OF tho Pc
tion. .,.,
Mr. SEWARD am very glad to receive the explans,"
ton 1t furnishes me an occasion on which cam with
great pleasure and satisfaction, manifest the spit when