The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-20


70 Insist upon equal and exact justice from the
Senate TO oil its members. But | shall vote
against the reconsideration for another reason
FOR the reason that think 1t most injndicious
ana most unwise to deny n reference to petit
zion OF any class of citizens of the Unten States,
whether they be such as those who have sent
here the petition now presented by the honora-
bic senator from Maine, consisting Of what has
been called here the elite of society, or whether
1t be sent here by plain, unassuming republican
citizens. hold that all are entitled to equal
Legislative respect and consideration, and never
stop to inquire to which of the two classes PEE
titioners belong. have never obtruded upon
the Senate the character, title, or rank Of any
person whose name was annexed to petition
relating to the present subject presented by
myself
But there is still another reason that ! am glad
to have an opportunity to state; and that is, that
it the object of the Senate be to suppress agi-
tation, in my poor judgment they take exactly the
wrong course to do it, For years upon years
the Congress of the United States, in one or
other branch, refused, IN one form or another, to
receive and consider petitions on the subject of
slavery The effect was denial of the right
of petition. History, think, has settled the
point, that that denial of the right of petition
increased the agitation on the subject of slavery
instead of diminishing it. Now, hold it to be
precisely the same in effect whether the Senate
shall refuse to receive the petition and reject
the petitioners from their doors, or whether they
shall go through the fornalty of receiving the
petition, laying it upon the table, and denying
it reference and consideration. Whatever my
opinion, ther, Of the merits of petitions may be,
am in favor, when they are respectful. of Civ
ing them not only a hearing, but a consideration
But desire to state further upon this subject,
that am in favor Of receiving these petitions
for the purpose of consideration and Legislative
action. The Congress of the United States at
the last session attempted to do this thing --
The PRESIDENT. The senator understands
the question before the Senate, does he not?
| Mr.. SEWARD. Certainly, sir, do. | am
speaking of the Fugitive slave bill of the last
session, which is the subject of the present me-
moral; law which attempted, by very rigorous
enactments, TO enforce upon the free States of
this Union the domestic and social economy OF
the slave States; an experiment which believe
has reacted, and will continue to react, upon
the institution of slavery itself. tits of the same
class of legislation as that which demanded in
Great Britain conformity in religion on the
part of the catholic population of Ireland to the
protestant ceremonies and the religion of Eng
land. believe such experiments will fail, and
| believe so because they are not founded in true
political philosophy, in what constitutes the true
political philosophy Of this government, which
should treat the States of this Union as being
intrusted with the management of their own
domestic concerns, and should leave the senti-
ments, and, as far as possible, the domestic in
stitutOns Of the States to the care of the States
themselves; and, where uniformity cannot be
compelled, should be content without exactinp
entire harmony
| Where these petitions are now referred and
considered or whether they shall be allowed to
accumulate as they will, in my humble iudg-
ment, continue to accumulate from session to
session, the result will be that those who flatter
themselves that they have arrested agitation will
find that they have, by this very course increased
the agitation which it was their object to alay
may say this, sir, l am sure, because, al.
though have been distinguished on some oc-
casons by the epithet of agitator, happen tc
! be at least ony- member of this body--how
many others there are ! do not know-who
, never Introduce this agtating subject of slavery
here who have been content with the debates
G which were had upon it, when it came lepiti
\ mately before US in the form of bills recurring
debate; bills which, in the process of legislation
I became, or might become laws. am one who
has never spoken on the subject in this House
since the bills referred to became laws, and OF
; whom it cannot be said that have on any occa-
sion, by speech, writing or otherwise, addressed
the people on the subject since those bills be-
came laws. Sir, claim then to be one of those
who have been content to leave these measures
to the scrutiny of the people, and to abide their
judgment and the test of time and truth.
have added no codcils, and have none to add.
to vary, enforce, or explain what had occasion
: to say during the debates on these questions.
Having thus no desire to interfere with the pub
lie investigation of these questions in any man.
8 ner, but content to leave them to the examina-
ton OF the people without interference on nv
' own part, may certainly be allowed to express
my feelings on the present question And do
therefore express my desire that the right of pc
e htion, whatever else we may do may be re-
spected and held sacred here and for that rea-
son especially. as well as for the Others already
stated, shall vote against the reconsideration.
! Mr.. BERRIEN. | desire simply to saw that.
as understand the bill introduced by the SEN
ator from Indiana, il is a bill which proposes to
declare that the act of 1850 did not repeal the
act of 1893. That is very distinct proposition
from the one contained in the memorial presen-
ted to the Senete. That seeks modification of
the act OF 1850, and therefore throws open this
subject to that agitation which it is desirable on
all hands should be avoided | trust that the mo-
ton of the senator from Missouri will prevail.
and that the memorial will be laid on the table
rs those OF a similar character have been
Mr.. BADGER. The distinction between the
hlll offered by the senator from Indiana as stated
by the senator from Georgia, Mr. BERRIES,l
and the memorial under consideration is clear
and papable. That was bill, the object of
which was not TO interfere with the provisions
OF the act of the last session, nor with the pro-
visions of the act of 1898; but to declare-and
very unnecessarily, as | think-that the act of
the last session to amend the act of 1893 did not
repeal the act of 1893. That is ALL The bill
proposes to touch the provisions of neither of
these acts, but to declare the sense Of Congress
that the last act does not repeal the first Still
MIR. President, am extremely sorry that the
senator from Indiara introduced that bill was
very sorry that the bill was not instantly laid
on the table; for although the distinction be-
tween the two cases is plain and obvious, saw
then, and stated to several of my friends, that
subsequently propositions on the subject of this
description would be brought before the Senate
in consequence ofthe reception and reference of