Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-04-10
Petitions.

Very few petitions have been presented TO
Congress during the present session, on the
subject of slavery. And it is quite as well
that it is So The purpose of congress is SUI
fciently well known, contempt of the right
of petition and insult TO the petitioners would
be the only result. One year ago, large
class of persons talked loudly about petition
ing Congress, for the repeal of the fugitive
law, we hear little of it now. Occasionally,
however a stray petition finds its way to Con-
gress, afIording some choice occasions for
the exhibition of oyerseerism aud dongh-
facodness.
There is in the U. S. Senate a renegade,
called Norris, from New Hampshire. The
Free Soilers swung their hats aud burnt pow
der, in their extasies at his election. If lie
ever had any prcjudices against slave catch
ing, ono yenr's membership in the Senate las
cflectually conquered them, and he is now
able to exhibit most prompt aud commenda-
ble alacriiy in doing the will of Honorable
kidnappcrs Messrs. Walker and Seward,
recently presented petitions for the repeal of
the fugitive law, on which occasion, Senator
Norris on an ntimuion from Mr. Mason of
Virginia. that the memorial be laid
Oh the table, which was agreed TO, by vote
of thirty-three to eleven.
Another petition praying for the extension
Of slavery remained 10 be acted upon. We
give the history of this action in the language
of the National Era.
But Mr.. Norris had not done. Tho pcti-
ton praying Congress to institute measures
for the extinction of slavery lis not the Eb-
ony line proposed by some us a measure OF
this Kind y was yet 10 be disposed Of Mr..
Norris moved that it he laid upon the table
but his eagerncss to do service led him to
commit blunder, which Mr.. King. the
president, kindly suggested to him. "Docs
the Senator from New Hampshire, " snid he,
" object to tho reception of the memorial,
and move to lay the n,otion to receive on the
table z" Il object TO the reception" was
the answer. IN the conversation that sprung
up, there was danger that Mr. n. might cs-
cape the responsibility, of the assault on the
right of petition; and Mr.. Hale put the
question distinctly to the Chair, whether the
objection was made by the Chair, or by tho
Senator from New Hampshire. "By the
senntor was the reply. Tie question was
then tnkcn on laying on the table the mo
ton to receive the petition, and it wns decd-
ed in the affirmative; Ieas, 36. Nays, t.
80 the petition was not reccived-the
Free-soil Wing from New York, MIR. Fish,
voting ;hs time in disregard OF the right Of
petition.
Mr.. Hale followed with memorial against
the Fugitive .l.pw, which was also laid upon
The table. On presenting it, he made
statement which places the submissive Mr..
Norris aud his friends in very disagreeabIe
predicament. -.
81 wish TO call the attention of tho Sem |
ate, before they riss upon the petition, TO
Dne fact which occurred upon the floor off
he Senate some two years since. The hon
,rahle Senator from South Carolina MI
Butler, not now in his seat, gave notice, up
IN certain OCCASION, that he would never
'gain object to the reception of one Of these
petitions. The reasons for this announce
nent do not remember that he gave. And
III the same occasion the honorable Senator
rom Virginia, Mr. Mason,] now in his seat,
said that he would never interfere with any
'f these petitions that might bc presented
Iy--such us |. And | believe in ac-
'ordancc with these declarations of those
senators who were supposed to he qualified
o look aiter the interest of the institution
# --thosc who undertook to protect
his bill-ihey never have interlered since"
MIR. Mason ussentcd to the correctness of
he statement.
Here, then, is fact to be pondered. After
'lessrs. Butler aud Mason, of the South,
nave given up their war against the right OF
and announce their purpose no
onger to interfere with the disposition of
petitions, Mr.. Norris, North
'rn man, elected to the Senate with the gen
raj understanding that he was Free-Soil
Democrat, is the first man TO outrage this
'rea' constitutional right, performing, with
hameless zeal, work for Southern men
which they are at last ashamed to do for
themselves.