Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-07-03

occasion formally TO define his position upon the
subject of abolition petitions. A petition for the
abolition OF slavery in the District of Columbia
was then before the House. General Pierce
said:
This was not the last memorial Of the same
character which would be sent here. Il was Der.
feciy apparent that the question must be met now,
or al some future iime luly and explicitly, and
such an expression of this House given, as could
leave no possible room to doubt as to the
opinions and sentiments entertained by its mem.
/ bers."
"tie was unwilling that any imputalion should
rest upon the North, in consequence Of the mis-,
| guided and ianatcal zeal of a few-comparatiyely
! very few--wbo, however honest might have been
their purposes, he believed had done incalcula.
BILE mischief and whose movements he knew re-
ceived no more sanction among the great
mass Of the people Of the North than they did at
the South.
"For one, he Mr.. P. while he would be the
last TO infringe on any of the sacred reserved
rights Of the people, was prepared to stamp with
disapprobalior, in the most express and unequiv
ocal terms he whole movement upon thi.
subject"
Gen. Pierce further said:
"He felt confidence in asserting that among
the people Of tie State which he had the
honor in part to represent, there was not one in
hundred who did not entertain the most sacred
regard for the rights of Southern breihren-ney.
not one in five hundred who would not have those
rights protected al any and every hazard. There
was not the slightest disposition to interfere with
any Of the rights secured by the constitution,
which binds together, and which he humbly
hoped ever wuld bind together, This great aud
glorious confederacy as one family"
On The motion to lay said petition on the table,
Gen. Pierce said:
''If the motion to lay on the table be persisted
in. he would ,ote for il, though be would prefer
10 meet The oleslon in some form which could
by no possibility be considered either equyocal or
evasive."
On the i0lt of February, 1885, Gen. Pierce
was appointed one Of select committee on The
subject of abolition petitions, of which Mr.. Pinck- |
ney. of South Carolina. was chairman. On the |
18Th uf May, 1896, said committee made unan-
imous report, submitting the following resolution
10 the House
Resolped That Congress possesses no consti
tutionaI power 10 interfere in any way with The
Institution of slavery in any of the States of :his
confedefacy.
Resolved, That Congress ought not interfere
in any way with slavery in the District of Co.
umbia.
And uhereas, 1t is extremely imporinn, and
desirable that the agitation Of this subject should
be finally arrested for the purpose Of restoring
TO the public mind, your committee
respectfully recommend the adoption Of the fol.
owing additional resolution, viz
Resolved, That all petitions, memorials, reso.
uf nF mai in |
way, or to any extent whatsoever, to the subject
4 slavery, or to the abolition Of slavery, shall,
without being either printed or referred, be laid
pon the table, and that no further action what.
ver shall be had thereon.
The vote was taken separately upon these
esoluiions, and each one passed by large ma
Pierce voting in the affirmative up
N each one.
In 1897. Gen. Pierce was elected TO the Sen.
tie of the United Satee, and on the 18th of De.
ember, in that year, he made a speech in which
% said:
"As a member Of the select committee Of the |
ther House, Of which Mr.. Pickney of South ]
,arolina. was chairman, be had fully concurred :
a the sentiments Of the report presented by that
entleman at the first session Of the 24th Con- :
ress, and further examination and reflection bad {
My served to coninm him in the opinions which ,
2 at that time entertained; but, mad and fanat. .
,al as he regarded the schemes of the abolition &
us. and deeply as he deplored the consequences
their course upon all sections ol the Union. Y
e could give no vote that might be construed in. q
a denial Of the right of petition. and thus ens b
le them to change their position, and make up n
false issue before the country. n
In DPce mher. 1897, Mr.. Calhoun offered Sc. b
es of resolutions. which we're subsequently n
lodiiied and passed in The following terms a
/. Resoired, That in the adoption Of the fede u
II constitution, the States adopting the same ac- e
d, severslly, free, independent, and sovereign
iates; and that each. for ITSELF by lie own vol
ntary assent, entered the Union with the view s
it. increased security against all dangers, Do. u
EsrIc as well as foreign. and the more perfect 81
I'd secure enjoyment Of iis advantages, natural, IT
,liiicsl and social. p
2. ReSclced. That in delegaiing portion Of r
cir powers to be exercised by the Federal Gov ID
nmeni, the States, severally, retained the eK n'
usive and sole right over their own domestic h
situations and police to the full extent to which n
ose powers were not thus delegated. and are y
one responsible for them; and that any inter- hs
eddling of any one or more States. or a COM s.
nation Of their ciiizsns. with the domestic in ca
uions and policy Of the others. any gsoUad. iis
liical. moral or religious, or under any pre-. e.
n whaieger. with the view 10 their alteration or &c
diversion, is not warranted by the ConsiitH- ia
N. tending to enoangsr the domestic peace and in
nqui!ny of the States iHierfrred with. sobver
'e Of the nliecis sr which the Consiiiut on was q
med, and. ty necessary consequence. tending OF
weaken and destroy the Union itself tai
8. Resoioed. That this Government was in !n'
ued and adopted by the several States Of this to
lion. a. common agent, ia order to carry into CO
rct the powers which they bad delegaied by he
Constitution Zoe their mutual security; and sf'
4 in TIE fsifllnent Of this high and sacred |"
81 this (sOrerumenf IA brs,nd a. "a srerrfea ia al