The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18
CONGRESS-.
THIgTY-FIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
"WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1850.

/ Ellington, New 4 OK CranstOn hhOde lsiahu
! from Maine; from Massachusetts,, Pennsylva
mia, and New York from Portage county, Ohio
| &c, &c
Mr.. Hale was interrupted by Messrs Clay and
l. The former wished to know whether che petit
tons were printed or 10 manuscript.
The latter suggested that TO save time, IL would
be better to send them all to the Secretary of the
! Senate who could make the usual disposition OF
them
MIR Hale replied to MIR. Clay, that the sigma.
lures of the petitions were in writing the head
! ings, some in print some in manuscript
| IL reply to the suggestion Of Mr.. Atchison, he
remarked
! The Senator is altogether mistaken with regard
to my occupying time here every morning Instead
Of doing So determined long ago TO lay them by
as they me to me, and to come here with these
| petitions but once a month, and then make gen.
eral delivery ILaughterl
Mr. Clay. cannot allow this occasion TO pass
without calling TO the attention Of the Senate a
fact connected with most Of these petitions. Sir,
the moment a prospect opens in this unhappy
country Of settling our differences these disturb
ers of the peace these sbotionists, put themselves
in moion-the Jays, the Phillipscs, and others in
other quarters-and they establish concerted
and ramifed plan Of operations, and want to ex-
il 10 the Senate. Here sir. Is little bit of
printed paper holding up the petition which had
been delivered to him 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 no doubt,
at a common centre, and dispersed throughout the
country, in order TO produce common effect, and
| to make an impression on this body, as if they
were speaking the public sentiment in this coun-
try.
The Chair informed Mr. Clay that the petitions
had been disposed Of
"But have one in my hand said Mr.. Clay
Mr. Hale called the Senator from Kentucky to
order
The Vice President. The Senator is called to
order lie will take his seat till the point Of order
| is ascertained.
Mr.. Clay. State your point of order, sir, and
| will answer it. State your point of order
| Mr. Hale. am not to be disturbed by any loud
talk, either before or behind.
Mr. Clay. Well, go on no man speaks louder
than yourself ------ ,y,,,..
Mr. Hale rise to point Of order. am adj
dressing the Chair. | will not submit to inter-
ruption
Mr.. Mangum | rise to a point of order. The
Senator from New Hampshire has no right to
proceed with his remarks unless he reduces his
point of order to writing
Mr.. Clay II gentlemen will have q lite pa
|
order. have right to make motion TO take up
these petitions and refer them to a committee.
The Vice President The Chair is appealed to
on point Of srder. The Senator from New
Hampshire win state what it is.
Mr. Hale The point Of order ! was about t.
state is this The Chair had ruled that these pc
J ttiops had all been passed upon, and the honora
BILE Senator from Kentucky says he has one o
them in his hand. suppose the petition he has II
| 4 = I'LL t1t kasr
passed upon and disposed Of; and II did not
therefore come into his hands without being dis.
posed Of That is the point Of order
MIR. Clay inquired whether he might not pro-
coed with his observations, and then conclude
with motion.
The Chair replied that the motion, he thought,
should precede the remarks.
After some commotion, Mr. Clay proceeded
Sir, of all the bitterest enemies toward the un.
fortunate negro race, there are none 10 compare
with these abolitionists the 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 slide themselves into power, and
In order to display friendship they feel only for
! themselves, and not for the negro race. No, SIR
there are not worse enemies in the country Of the
negro race than these ultra abolitionists To what
sorts of extremity have they not driven the slave
holding States In defence of their own rights, and
in guarding against those excuses to which they
| have a constant tendency.
Now, sir have said all that intended to say
| have some of these petitions, which wish had
been presented to some other person as the me-
dunn of commune ation TO 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 mp these petitions
have right to do II, though have no desire TO
do II.
Mr.. Hale wish to take occasion to make
single remark, as allusion was made to me by the
honorable Senator from Kentucky Hecounselled
me to a good deal Of patience Now, thought,
sir, IL had been old enough To advise that Scna-
tor that he stood in need Of 1t before did, and
more than did.
thought the manner of the Senator In speak
ing 10 me, after | had the floor, and while had
the fioor--fowevcr our situations may differ, how
ever humble | may be rs an individual thought
that the manner Of the honorable Senator did not
accord with the equality Of rights that gentlemen
have here on this floor. am not arrogant nor
presuming; desire In the humble sphere Of my
duty to do IL; and sir, need not tell the Senator
that shall do II and that no insinuations, no
threats, no talk, loud or low, coming from any
quarter, under any circumstances, will deter me
from IL. I have but one light TO guide me, the
light Of my own conscience, to walk In the path OF
my duty. There must 20, and no exhibitions Of
any sort, coming from any quarter, at any time,
will have the least influence upon me at all
[Mr. Rusk here rose, and raised the question
of reception on petition, for the purpose OF call.
ing the attention of the Senate to petition pre-
scented the day BEFORE and received without no
tice. The petition purported to come from citi-
zen of Ontario county, New York, and Is signed,
we have been informed, by names in the same
handwriting. 1t sets forth that, under the Con-
stitution. the burdens and obligations Of the
States we're equal, but that in the enrolment Of
the militia upjus. discrimination was made, by
which three millions Of the population Of the
South were exempt from enrolment and military
duty, while 10 the North, the whole Of it's popula-
ton was burdened In this way. The petitioners
prayed, therefore, for the passage Of a law, by
which the militia Of all the States might be en-
rolled without distinction Of color, class or con-
dition. Mr. Seward had presented the petition
Meantime some mischievous reporter land re-
porters are often amused with the extreme ssnsi-
tiyeness of the Senatorial body brought the mat
ter TO the notice Of Senator from the South, and
this morning scene WAS the result
Mr.. Rusk Of Texas was wonderfully excited,
and he made speech, which will attest to all
rae-hesrtsd Texans his vigilance, his bravery
his patriotism. lie treated the petition In the
most solemn manner, and closed his reflections In
manner as impressive ~ hs could make It, a
follows:
hope, I pray Of God, that these things may
cease appeal 70 those who agitats them; and
| II I thought could be heard among their con-
stitusnts would call upon the freemen Of th.
North TO rise up and at once rebuks this sectional