The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-09

tain So far as regards my own course, must Judge OF
that course myself, within the line OF my CONSTITUTIONAL
given me- the evidences OF my own understanding, and
will not go North South for counsel know IL, IN
the exercise Of that duty, uansgess the sues Of tins
body any OF the privileges OF any one any OF the re-
quiremenis of The constitution. will submit TO any
thing that the Senate. IN the exercise OF lis power, or IN
yindcaton OF its dignity may see fit to offer SO much
Now in regard TO this position, do not see anything
irritating, annoying, or insulting in IT, We have here
every day, upon The other side Of the chamber very
that Congress will take immediate measures Tor
the peaceable dissolution OF the Union; and then
we have the criterion that was set up by me
Yesterday by the honorable senator from Georgia Mr.
DAwsoSl to-day and il that is TO be the rule by which
the right petition Is to be regulated the right would 6e
asks il believe that Congress has the power TO grant
this payer That none OF my business i Is Tor me
people 70 Judge Of what they have right TO ask ana
when il comes before us, and called upon TO act II
then for TO judge whether Congress has the rgh 70
act not and then and not till then, have we right TO
say whether shall refuse or grant what they ask A
The honorable senator from Kentucky yesterday adj
vanced the opinon-and II was repeated To-day by the
honorable senator from Geogathat petition asks Tor
action that is not 10 operate upon personally or upon
my property, have right to present IT, II the action
asked for in the petition not TO operate upon me- have
no right 10 pstiton at ALL Why sir that would exclude
nine tenths OF all the petitions presented here daily We
have agrea number Of petitions presented here for
the abolition OF hoggng in the navy which, according 10
that criterion, ought have been prevented, unless the
petitioner had felt the lash upon his own back We have
petitions praying for the abolition of the spirit ration in
the navy yet nobody had right to petition for that ex
cep those who were affected BY i II these two re-
sctons laid down by the honorable senator IRON Ken.
lucky and the honorable from Georgia were 10
be admitted, and we were to have committee TO
s the petitions, it would exclude nney-one hupdredths
of them all He is I'd ask for nothing in the FIRST place,
but that which be granted; and, in the next place,
for nothing that does not operate upon him or his prop
erty The right Of petition, thus narrowed and Whitfield
have nothing more 10 say, but that hope the ques-
ton will be taken, and in the usual way; but will not
make the motion myself.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. wish TO make a
remark two reply TO the honorable senator, who
has taken his seat laying down the principles which
did yesterday, and which,, admit are Tepetilon Of
principles that have for years entertained did not IN
lend to restrict the right OF petition to the extent the
honorable senator supposes know that in the general
regulations in reference 10 the government OF the affairs
of society, everybody has interest Everybody has
an interest in the which the honorable senator puts;
for. although may not be sailor, may become one,
and therefore have direct interest IN the law which
regulates that description Of service Now, lput 1t TO
the gentleman If he has not discrimination enough TO see
that there entire want OF application Of the prihci-
pie announced, in case he presents There are gen
era rules connecting the affairs OF society, which may
hereafter operate upon the lndvdua whoever ne may
be- BY the establishment OF that rule It is an affair IN
which he has personal interest as operates'npon nun
and his popery although it may not al the instant,
does prospecvey, and therefore he has right TO be
heard. This was the conclusion intended to draw.
The class OF which referred 10 IN the remarks
which made, OF such character that neither now
any time to come can the law which the memorial
lists ask to be passed operate upon them or their property
These are the that deny The right OF petition 10
Now sir, let me ask the honorable senator from New
Hampshire, how law, either in this District or in
the State Of Kentucky in reference to slavery, operate
upon citizen OF New Hampshire, who may remain at
home all his life II is impossible that it can operate
upon him.
Mr. HALE He may there, and become a
/ MIR UNDERWOOD. The honorable senator says that
he may there, and become citizen OF that State
and therefore, from that possibility, he has right OF pc
tion Well, sir, let look at il in that respect, If you
please Have right to petition Great Britain upon the
passage OF law TO operate upon her ciizensi Will
honorable senators say that have right to petition
foreign country TO regulate her code IN such way that
/ when | choose TO become citizen, | may have the
benefit OF the laws which peuoned TO have passed
deny that have the right; My rule therefore, restricts
the citizen OF New Hampshire and refuses 10 him The
right of petition reference TO those laws which operate
upon Others until he becomes citizen; and then, and
not till then, viii admit that he has the right to petition
in reference TO those laws All these distinctions think
exist, manifesy, and be apprehended; and think
there is safe rule but that announced yesterday.
Now. in regard TO these petitions recolec the firs
petition. OF similar character, that believe
offered TO either branch OF Congress- ecollect the
saon that produced upon its presentation. Il was
resisted ey ne INTRODUCTION OF series o.
then in the other House. IL not TO 90 far TO expe
him from his seat The proceedings then instituted lost
pJiydus who Offered i. although al the time he did a
he coupled il with motion that might be referred TO
select committee, with instructions to report against
granting the prayer OF that petition Perhaps the
try may have lost something in consequence of not hay
Ing adopted the motion then made OF referring that pet.
ton, as II illegal, il was unconstitutional, 10 a
committee with that gentleman al the head whereby we
might have obtained OF those reports which always
distinguished him against every attempt 10 dissolve the
Union in which we live However that may be, thai
petition was disposed OF by losing sight OF IT, and trying
the individual Tor the improperly OF presenting II in
the other branch Of Congress.
i make no censure upon the honorable senator from
New Hampshire who has taken the he has. He
bas right to take his course deeply regret that
he not aciuaed by the motives o the honorable
ator from Pennsy wanna, upon the other SIDE IL then be-
comes question for u.s. when these memorials pre-.
sented, 10 dispose OF them in way, by resolution
or BY reporo lay down rule by which the peo-
pie OF this country to be governed We should say 10
them, IN some way, that when they present memorials
for action which this body have power 10 grant, they
have no right TO present them and go further and say,
likewise, that when your petition asks Tor thing moi 10
operate upon you bui merely 10 operate upon Others II is
an application upon your part OF intermeddng charac
ter Does il become any attempting TO petition others,
when they to be exempt from the laws imposed upon
them
Now, sir, il we could reason with the people OF the
North, and lay down those principles for their consde
ration, and show that they constantly nermeddng
with matters that do not pertain to their interest in any
way, il seems TO me il might have good effect That
is the only plan have been able TO devise bring an
end these matters that have been constantly agtated be-