Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-22

in what constitutes the true potca pnhosopny hs uos-
which should the States oil TINS Union being
en,usad with the management Of their own domestic
Germs and should leave the sentiments and as lar as posi-
be the domestic Institutions OF the states 70 'ne care Oh tne
States themselves and where uniformity cannot DC COM
peled should be content without exactng enre harmony
Whe,ser these petitions referred and considered
or whether they shall be allowed to accumuae as tney Will
in nv humble Judgment continue TO accumuate rom session
TO session. the result will be that those who Halter themselves
that they have arrested agitation Will nod that they have, by
this very course, increased ue asi'aaoh WIN" was 'non
| object to allay - ~
may say this sir am sure, because, although have
been distinguished occasions by the ephe OF aga
tor bappen TO be at least member OF this bodyhow
manv obsrs there arc do not know-who Introduce
this apang subject of slavery here who have been content
with the debates which had upon when it came eg
tmaey before us form Of bills requiring del ae bills
which, in the process Of legislation became might become
laws am who has spoken the subject in this
house since the bills referred to became laws, and OF whom
be said that have occasion BY speech writing
or otherwise addressed the people the subject since those
bills became laws Sir claim then TO be Of those who
have been content to these the scrutiny of
the people, and abide their judgment and the Test Of time
and truth have added codc and have none TO add,
vary enforce explain what had occasion to during
the debates these questions Having thus no desire to In
terere with the public investigation Of these questions in any
MANNER bat leave them to the examination OF the
people without interference my own part msy certainly
be allowed 10 express my feelings on the question
And do therefore express my desire that the right Of petition
here and for that especially well as for the others
already stated, shall against the reconsideration
Mr. BERRIEN desire simply to say, that, as under
stand the ON introduce! BY the Senator from lodana It is
bill which proposes declare that the Of 1850 did
peal the Of 1793 That very distinct proposition from
the contained in the memorial presented to the Senate
That seeks modification Of the act OF 1885, and therefore
throws open this subject that agitation which 10 desirable
on all bands should be avoided trust that the motion Of
the Senator from Missouri will prevail, and that the memorial
will be laid the table, those OF similar character nave
been. ..s Saa
Mr. BADGER. The distinction between the bill offered
by the Senator from Indana stated by the Senator from
Georgia, (Mr BERRIES and the memorial under consider
aton is clear and papable. That bill the object OF
which interfere with the provisions OF the act OF
the last session. with the provisions of the act OF 1873
but to declare-and very unnecessarily, thinklhat the
of the last session amend the act of 793 did not
the act Of l793 That all The bill proposes to touch
the provisions of neither of these but declare the sense
of Congress that the last does repeal the first STILL
Mr.. President am extremely sorry that the Senator from
Indiana introduced that bill. very sorry that the bill
not instantly laid the table, for, although the dsnc
ton between the two plain and obvious saw then,
several of my friends that subsequently PROPOSE
ons the subject of this description would be brought be-
fore the Senate in consequence Of the reception and reference
of that bill.
will say word about the humbug concerning the right
Of petition This know, in connexon with the course
taken by the Houses Of Congress- has been seized
and made subject Of fruitful denunciaon and dscuson
and small Of mischief throughout the Northern
portion Of the United States because rule adopted in
the House Of Representatives that the question Of receiving
such petitions should be laid upon the tables in other words
that the petition should be received We have
edition, and extension Of the right Of petition ;fo
dersand the Senator who last addressed the Senate he
sders that to lay the question Of receiving petition on the
table, and petition the table aert isreceved here
are in substance, and the thing each involving
particular denial of the right Of petition Then let what
this leads According to the Senator, if receive petit
ton or memorial although the whole Senate may be OF the
L.
ect, obliged to refer it to committee for if lay
it the table refusal of the right of petition We must
refer it. Well them from precisely similar course Of reason
ing, the committee do not report the Senate must require
them report because reference is made solely for the pur
pose of obtaining report and if they do report and the
Senate do not compel them report it by the process
Of reasoning, denial of the right Of petition
Well, suppose the committee report bill not in conform
bill lie upon the table, According the reasoning up
this subject that equal violation Of the right Of
tion for it will be said "What will you receive petit
ton, and have referred and report made and then treat
petitioners contemPuousy not consider it. but
der il to lie on the table 7"
Mr.. President that what habually do We receive
memorials and petitions and order them lie the
be refer them not according Of the ne
cessy proPrety of the reference And when receive
petition, say that bound to do any thing moe
of regard to the rights Of the petitioners say that when
they think proper to petition memorabilia Congress any
subject Congress only obliged hear but upon
it, and for aught can see, to do what is desired
Mr. BERRIEN. And substitute their judgment for our
I.1Ek
Mr. BADGER. Yes, the Senator from Georgia
suggests it is to substitute the judgment Of the petitioners for
Now, Mr.. President, told that if p1r
sue this course shall promote agitation and the Senator
from New York is exceedingly socous to prevent it, and
talks about the philosophy Of government, the phi
losophy of obligations. think have need involve
ourselves in any ntricaces Of philosophy Here is law
passed at the last session. and the Senate satisfied that
the law ought be suffered stand until time and expert
ence have tested its wisdom, its merits demes then the
Senate with due regard the interests ofthe country and
their own duty dare prematuey agtae subject which
they believe has been closed which would be otherwise
unjust and offensive to the public ITSELF and injurious to the
public interests The agitation Of the subject in unfend
and hostile manner now would be reopen the agitation
OF the subject before there has been opportunity for the
public to know whether the wise and good not
IL therefore seems to that this question has nothing do
with the night OF petition, unless the right of petition be the
right to compel this body consider and upon subecir
respective OF Its own judgment of its proprie,y shall
for the reconsideration Of the motion by which this memorial
was referred to the Committee the Judiciary with the
tention Of voting to lay the memorial the table, because
believe its consideration will be injurious cannot be bene-
hca In the exercise OF my judgment feel that have
invaded the privileges rights Of portion of the citizens
the United States.
MI. BRADBURY Iregad the decision Of this question
OF great practical Importance whether the vote Of reference
be reconsidered the memorial be left with the committee to
which it has been referred The Judiciary Committee has
the subject fully before at the present tme-as fully with
out this petition can be with it. petition of the same
character this referred months ago. and the
mittee have agreed upon report upon that petition. The
bill introduced by the honorable Senator from Indiana
referred in like manner and the committee have also agreed
upon a report.