The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-07-10


table, IA to 81. Pierce yes, Adams and Gushing
no.
Jan. 6, 1886, Mr. Jarvis, Of Maine, moved lin
substance) that this house ought not to entertain alb
clifton petitions" 1t was moved to lay this on the
table. Not carried, Sc to 1913. Adams and Gushing
voted yes,
Jan. Is, 1886, motion to lay Che above on the
table failed again. So to 156. Adams, Cushing
and Hoar, voting yes, F. Pierce no.
Jan. % Motion to lay the question of receiving
an abolition petition the table, passed 143 to A.
+. Pierce yes, Adams, Cushing, &c. no.
Speech of c. Gushing the Right of Petition for
the Abolition of Slavery and the Stare Trade IN
the District of Columbia January %, 1885.
We have been told that the prayer of the petit
TONERS is for thing which the Constitution does
not permit to Congress, and so the petition itself
should not be received. ask the House how It ap-
pears that have no right, bv the Constitution to
legisate upon the ubect of the petition? 1t
may be So and it may not One member of the
House has earnestly averred that it is another that
it is not Which of them is right confess, for
myself that I cannot think it becomes the House to
decide either way, upon the mere tpss dl1it Of in
diyidual members. Besides, the the petition calls
in question not only slavery, but also the
in Slares And will any gentleman affirm that the
slave trade of the District is among those holy things
which Congress may not eonsttunonaly handle!
Is this District set part by the Constitution under
whatever changes of opinion fact the progress of
ClVlHLaUOn may " DC aHu
forever a general slave market for the rest OF the
Union? confess, that ], again, am disappointed in
that Among all the confident things said in denial
of the constitutional powers Of Congress in this mat
ter, there has not been, so far as | remember, any
systematic argument the perfectly distinct branch
es of the double constitutional question involved
in it. namely-the slave property and the slave traf-
fc in this District. A,td lohat shall be said Of
constitutional poer i,s the purchased territories
der the the jurisdiction of the United States is not
this the Wilmot ProvisO? to which some of these
petitions apply And what clause in the COnstitu-
ton restricts the right of petition to constitutional
things This house cannot grant beyond its pow
ers; these are limited by the Constitution; but the
people may petition for anything tor the right Of
petition is by the Constitution, secured for ever
against any and every limitation or restriction.
Men of Virginia countrymen of Washington, of
Patrick Henry, of jefferson, of Madison will We be
true to your constitutional faith? Men of New York,
will We ride the principles of Democracy We pro-
fess? Men of the West, can We prove recreant TO
the spirit of sturdy independence which carried
you beyond the mountains? Men Of New England,
Ihold you to the doctrines of liberty which We in
herit from your Puritan foreathers. And il tbs
House is to be scared By ,chateVer influence from ITS
duty TO receive and hear the petitions of its people,
THEN SHALL SEND NY VOICE BEYOND THE WALLS OF
THIS CAPITOL FOR REDRESS. To the people say,
your liberties are in danger; they whom you have
chosen to be your representatives untrue to their
trust Come ne to the reScltei for the vindcation
of your right of petition, to you appeal you the
people who sent US here, whose agents we are, and
to whom We shall return to render a reckoning of
our stewardship and who the true and only soye
reigns in this republic
On Feb. Sth, 1886, the question arising to refer
all petitions, &c. to select committee, Mr. Cushing
voted yes.
Immediately after the second part Of the reso-
luton coming up as fOlows-''with instructions to
report that Congress possesses consttutionalau-
thory to interfere in any way with the institution OF
slavery in any of the States of this confederacy"
Mr.. Gushing had stepped ont, and his name is not
found recorded.
On the third branch-"And that in the opinion
of this House, Congress ought not to interfere in
any way with slavery in the district of Columbia
Mr.. Gushing reappears with Adams Jackson and |
Phillips, voting no TO the above.
And on the fourth brauch-"Because it would he |
a violation OF the public faith, unwise impolitic and
dangerous to the Union''-Mr Cushing voted against
its adoption, with his brother AbOitionists, Adams
Jackson and Phillips-whie upon the whole of the
above +. Peirce is found in the affirmative.
May %, 1886, on the follQYing-ResOIved That
Congress ought interfere in any way with sla-
very in the District of COlumbia-Franklin Pierce
voted yes, Cushing jackson, Phillips, &c, no; and
upon the resolve TO lay all petitions &c. on the Ia.
bic without further action, Franklin Pierce voted
yes, Gushing and friends no.
Monday, Dec %, 1886, Mr.. Adams presented
petition for the abolition of slavery and the slave
trade in the District of Columbia, which was laid on
the table, ll6 to SO. Franklin Pierce in the afir-
native; Adams Cushing, jackson in the negative.
January 9, 1887, Mr.. Adams presented another
similar petition, which tabled $50 to So Pierce
voted yes; Cushing, Adams and Phillips no.
Jan. IS, 1887, Mr.. Halves moved that "all Abo-
htiOn petitions &c, be laid the table without be-
ing printed referred and that no further action
be had thereon, upon which Franklin Pierce voted
yes Cushing, Adams, Phillips, voted no. l29 to
go Passed.
On Saturday Feb. IL, 1887, the House voted go |
to S5 against receiving petition from slaves, as it
would be "disregardng It's dignity the rights Of
a large class of citizens Of the South and West and
the Constitution of the United States" Upon this
last quoted Franklin Pierce voted aye, Cushing Ad-
ans jackson and Phillips voted no.
Tuesday, Dec. IL, 1887, Mr.. Adams present q
petition for the abolition OF slavery in the District Of
Columbia. Laid on the table, 1855 TO 20. Adams |
Gushing, Phillips voted no. |
Thursday, Dec 81, 1897, Mr. Patton having !
moved in substance that all abolition petitions should
be laid the table without further notice. Cushing
and Phillips voted no.
On the 18th day of December, 1888, Charles G. |
Atherton, of New Hampshire, introduced a series
of resolutions into the House Of Representatives TO
the reception Of which Caleb Cushing objected but
which admitted under a suspension Of the rules
in spite of his objection and among which were the
following:
2. Resoiped That petitions for the abolition of
slavery in the District Of Columbia and in the Ter
ritores Of the United States and against the removal
Of slaves from State to another, are a part of
plan of operations set foot affect the institution
Of slavery in the several States and thus indirectly
TO destroy that institution within their limits
8. ResOlved That Congress has no right TO do
that indirectly which il cannot do directly; and that
the agitation OF the subject Of slavery in the District
Of Columbia, or the Territories as a means and with
the view of disturbing overthrowing that institu
ton in the several States is against the true spirit
and meaning OF the Constitution Infringement Of
the rights Of the States affected, and breach Of the
public faith upon which they entered into the con-
federacy.
5. Rssolued, therefore, That all attempts on the
part Of Congress to abolish Slavery in the District
Columbia or the Territories 20 prohibit the re-
moval of slaves from State to State, to discrim-
mate between the institutions Of portion Of the
confederacy and another, with the views Aforesaid
Constitution destructive Of the