The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-12

OF the citizens OF this country apprehend action upon the
the interests Of the country, they have right to
monslrae and that their remonsirances should DC re-
ceiyed.
How frail is human memory. MIR. PRESIDENT II was
only on Thursday last that had the honor TO present
precisely such paper that OF which the honorable
senator speaksa petition OF citizens coming here and
asking for no action whatsoever but merely requesting
that Congress would not admit any slave States
and on that occasion the honorable senator voted against
/ M CASS, Onerposing) win the senator from New
Hampshire allow me understand that that petition
prayed io the action Of Congress to prohibit the intro
dason x slavery into new soShns States ,L \ Va. aeao,
action, and precisely within the definition laid down in
The the honorable 4 asked for no ac-
ton whatever appeal therefore, to honorable senators
whether was not clearly within the rule established BY
| the honorable senatorl
Mr CASS. lnerposng) Was i not the object Of that
and such other States as might hereafter apply for admis
sion into the Union?
Mr.. HALE. MOI nothing Of the kind It was sim
petition that Congress should not act for the purpose
Of admitting any State which should hereafter apply for
| admission with slayeholding constitution.
do not know what i is that has called Up such a
ls4s, and find upon the Goth page that the honorable
senator from Pennsylvania [Mr CAMERoNl presented,
petnon from the Philadelphia AntiSlavery Society," OF
precisely similar kind There was no such excitement
no storm that occason-no talk about torches and
burning temples and funeral sermons AT the same ses.
sion presented eight petitions to the same eitec and
quence 1t does grow out OF the petitions, but from
| something exlraneous to them
But will turn round to address word to the honoa-
BILE senator from Massachusetts,, Mr. DAvs,l who adj
dressed the Senate the other day upon this subject HIS
remarks fell upon my ear with pain that cannot ex,
press when he stated that the reason why he Should
vote against the reception Of this petition was.
that we have right nor power 10 grant Its prayer
Well sir, if this is the correct idea, that venera
ted man in Massachusetts,, whose zeal in behalf OF
the right Of petition inspired with much sympathy
and gratitude, all wrong We have been all along
deludmg ourselves into the Pert,nacous asseyeraion OF
petition then the South has all along been in the right in
This contest, and of the North have been wrong
The gentlemen from the South aflrm, and doubt not
with perfect sincerity and honesty, that they do not be.
ieve that Congress has any power over the subject OF
slavery in the Territories, and consequently that peh
tons for any action on that subject are petitions io
action the part OF Congress which Congress is not au
thorzed 10 take. According, therefore, to the doctrine
laid down by the from Massachusetts,, MIR DA-
vIs those gentlemen have all along been right IN voting
| TO receive petitions on that subject Again. say, SIR,
that ii the doctrine attempted to be established Dy the
honorable from Massachusetts, is right we have
been entirely mistaken upon the whole subject OF the
right Of petition and that the OF gentlemen from
| the South has been entirely right
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts,, rose to address the
Mr. FOOTE (interposng) said: Will the senator from
Massachusetts allow word congratulate the hon.
orable senator from New Hampshire on his conversion
congratulate him that he has at last discovered that
the South has all along been right trust since he has
finally 10 light, that he will never again go dark
ling along on his way, as he has formerly done con-
gratulate him on his conversion.
| Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts think the honorable
senator from New Hampshire does not quite do me JUS
ce though he intends 10 do So think that the Senate
will be abe 10 recall their recollection the position
which took the other day when this matter wasup In
the first place, my judgment, the petitioners asked for
wen, on 10 saw that we could not giant the thing prayed
for and OF were disposed TO grant II we could
gave these two reasons for my intended course on
that occasion; and will now add, that what my heart
i tells me right prevail me not TO
do nor TO do that which believe Is wrong. Now, do
say that asking this body to take TO dissolve
this Union, there is papable wrong IL is wrong, not
morally only, but wrong politically IL is out OF our power
concede what is required OF This satisfies my mind
settle prncpein regard TO the general right OF pc
ttion. II is well known that at all times, when that
right has come into question: have supported and main.
tained il; but there comes case that can see IS
papably wrong in itself and am PREPARED TO act on i
further information. know that we have nothing to do
| with the subject.
| Mr. WALES Mr. President, have taken the trouble
TO examine the of the sgners to this petition, which
purports from citizens OF Pennsyvana and Del
aware, and do not recognise the name OF single nd-
vidual known to a citizen of Delaware. believe
the petition had its origin with individual who resides
in Chester county, Pennsylvania. can assure honora-
bic that there is disposition in Delaware TO
agaie the dissolution OF the Union She was the first
State to adopt the constitution OF the United Staies and
she will be the last 10 go Of the Union thus formed
j Mr.. COOPER Mr. President, desire TO say a single
word upon the subject before the Senate. have
always been the advocate OF the right oil petition in its
broadest and most extended sense believe that il is
right which appertans 10 every citizen OF the Unonhat
ii is guaranteed TO him by the constitution, and that ante
4 cedenily 10 all human enactments the right existed
have always repeat, been It's advocate at home, and
here in the hall OF national legisiaton but, sir, have
always Disseminated thus far that the prayer OF the petit
toner must be respectful to the body TO which it TO
be presented This petition do not think respectful,
because il asks substantially what the senator from Mas
sachuseils on my left Mr. WEBsTER1 asserts TO do
that is should violate the oaihs that have taken
at the chair n which you seated That is not re-.
spectful; IL is not proper IL is asking more than
grant; and therefore, much as | am In favor OF the
right OF petition, shall vote against the reception OF this
petition and, If the opportunity offers, vote against the
petition In Pennsylvania there Is deep-I was going
say an everlasting attachment to the Union Of these
States There is considerable or respectable number
Of the people OF that State who not in favor OF the
perpeuaton OF the Union OF the States down to the latest
postey The sentiment expressed In the petition is NOT
The sentiment of the people OF that Sateof very few
OF them at least sure that acting but IN con-
formity with the wishes Of those whom have the honor
in conjunction with my respected colleague, to represent
here and that shall have their approval in voting against
/ the reception by this body Of this petition.
Sir, In every emergency. Pennsylvania will be found
standing firm in her attachment 10 the Union. She is or
posed TO the agitation OF the question OF dissolution
either at the North or at the South She believes that il
Is question that ought not 10 be mooed that il is full
OF mischevous conseq 10 the good understanding
which has existed and which ought TO exist between the
different portions of the country. She does not wish to
calculate the value OF the Union.
The Interests of her people wrapped up in the per-
peuaon OF that Union, but without any interested
il tive 10 attach her TO it, She y attached and will remain
attached TO IT, She knows that it achieved by the
joint efforts OF the old thirteen Staissb the mothers Of
the thirty States that now compose this UnIon know
my fulIy That