Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-15
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.

People. We like free, bold, manly utterance.
The People have no right to insult their rep
resentatives for the same reason that no man
has right to insult another They have a
right to speak to them with all plainness, and
in the language of equals.
Mr. Mason, Of Virginia, broached quite
new idea in reference to the right of petition,
which il may be well to embody in revised
edition Of the Virginia Resolutions Of 1898 lie
said the memorial did not come from the petit
TONERS in the character OF citizens, but as cler-
gymen, speaking in the name Of Almighty God.
The Constitution recognised no persons IN such
character. He moved therefore that the paper
be not received. Astute man. he had sat
silently in his seat few days before, when a
memorial was presented against the same
measure, from the Religious Society Of Friends
in Pennsylvanania and New Jersey, as such
They did not come in citizen character, but as a
religious society. As the Constitution recog-
misses no such body, it was wrong to receive
the memorial! This happy thought had
not then dawned upon the sagacious Senator
So, when the Board Of Aldermen Of Washing
ton send in memorial to the Senate, praying
for legislation or protesting against legislation,
in certain matter, the memorial ought not
to be received, for the Consultation does not
recognise such persons--it recognises only citi-
zens!
As we have now no Expounder of the Con-
stitntion, we submit whether Mr. Mason has
not fairly entitled himself to that position.
The People of New England cannot fail to
observe the contrast between the bearing Of
Mr.. Everett on this occasion, and that Of Gen.
eral Houston. Mr.. Everett presented the me-
morial--he is New England man, and knows
that the memorialists represent New England
feeling What was there in the paper which
he feared to endorse? What was there not
in the assault made upon it and the memorial
lists, to stir his blood, and to prompt gener-
GUS and an indignant reply to their assailants?
Here was an opportunity to recover what he
had lost by his timid, halfhearted, UNDERSIGNED
speech against the bill. But how did he i'm
prove it He assured the Senate he had not
read the memorial Not read brief memo
rial on the most important question before
Congress, from the great body Of the New
England clergy who had honored him BY Sc
Letting him as their organ Of communication
with the Senate One minute by the watch
would have suficed for its examination, but he
had not that much time to bestow on 50 trivial
a matter But when the memorial, by request
of certain Senator'S, was read surely he found
something in it to commend No-depreca-
tory as usual, he disclaimed any idea of pre-
senting paper knowing it to be offensive to
the Senate, and he was sure the signers of the
memorial intended nothing offensive-very
pure minded and honest men, were these rev.
erend gentlemen. And that was all,-Our
motives, you see, gracious Sir, were very
good-we meant no offence, indeed we did not
Let not your anger wax hot against US.
1t was left for Southern Senator, Senator
representing . slaveholding State, the chivalric
Houston, to defend the clergy and people of
New England. Without any superfuous awe
for the presence in which he stood, conscious
of perfect equality with his fellow members
and moved by the indignity attempted to be
inflicted upon large class of American citi-
zensy he generously defended not only their
motives but their memorial both it's senti-
ments and language. He said:
He saw nothing improper or offensive in
the memorial, or anything in it which could be
tortured into an indignity to the Senate IL
wfs the right of the American People, singly
or collectively, TO memorabilia Congress; and
clergymen were no less citizens than other
men. He had arraigned the bill as violation
of plighted faith and sacred treaty obligations
with the Indians. He had said, before Il pass
ed, that the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
was as fragrant breach of faith as the viola.
ton of the treaties with the Indians.
@He defended the memorial, and the right OF
the memorialists TO petition upon all subjects
before Congress. at length and said that this
memorial was an indication Of the agitation
which no had predicted would follow the pas
sage Of the Nebraska bill.D
Mr.. Everett was born in New England, bred
among lis free institutions, was once minister
Of the Gospel, now represents the free State Of
Massachusetts, General Houston is native
of the South, bred among slave institutions, is
military man, and now represents the slave
State Of Texas.
Behold the contrast