Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-01
THE pTsuNIoN PETITION.

'u'G VI '"tO IN sHNI Instruments lcktl up heTt
AID there from letter writers aud oth crg. proba
by the Editors " hose business is is to furnish the
people with the proceedings Of the Legislature,
thought they could only bear this kind Of
news in very small doses and so arc dealing it out
prudently. The following is a sketch Of the dis
cussion in the Senate on the memorial, as we find
it reported in the Columbian:
FEBRuARY 9th, 1856.
MIR. Cattell presented a memorial from the West
ern Anti.Slavery Society, signed by its officers.
praying the General Assembly to tako the noccssa-
ry measures for the peaceful Withdrawal Of the
state OF OhiJ from the Federal Union. The petit
ton was real at the Clerks desk, when Mr.. Cat
tell moved that is be referred to the Committed on
Federal Relations. lie hoped that tue memorial,
though containing an unusual request, would be
allowed to take the usual course. The only parties
whose names appear in this memorial, were citl-
zens Of his native town, and well known to him to
be persons of good character. They were led to
desire the withdrawal of Ohio from the Union, be-
cause they held--in common with the shareholders
the Democratic party, and all doughfaces in gen
eral-thGt the Constitution of the United States
was intended to extend and protect American sa.
very, and to make it the duty of the people Of the
Free States to assist in the capture and return Of
fugitive slaves. Hence they are enemies of the
Constitution. But however widely we may differ
with them i'll opinion, and however unwise and i'll
adapted we may think the remedy they propose as
II cure lor the evils Of which they complain, they
nevertheless, have the RICH to propose them. 1t
did not appear to him to bo the province of the
Senate to make choice of the subjects upon which
the people may petition. The right Of petition
would be worth nothing if it could be so limited.
The meanest oespotisms Of Europe forbid but a
lew subjects to be petitioners. These people were
adhcrents Of no political party. They did not vote
ut all. They cast away their right Of suffrage.
because, they say, the Constitution REQUIRES of its
supporters immoral and wrongful acts. lie had
thought 1t his duty to make this plain statement
OF facts for the ~satisfacti on of Senators, and he
hoped the memorial might now be allowed to pass
to Incorporating committee without any objection.
lie was quite willing to entrust the whole mat
ter to their wisdom. If any other course was
pursued than the usual one, they should most like
ly be involved in Il long and p~rofitiess debate
Mr.. Brace said if the memorial was to take that
course, he would move the reading Of Washingtou's
Farewell Address.
Mr.. Cattell said, if Senators felt the need of
strengthening their devotion to the Union by the
reading of that excellent address, he had no OBJ
lection; but for his own part, he felt no such ne
cessity.
Mr., Taylor, of Mahoning, moved that any Sena-
tor who desired it, might have leave of absence
long enough for that purpose. This created n
laugh, in which the Senator from Fairfield, (Mr.
Brazee, heartily joined.
Mr.. lIeaton moved to amend the motion to
refer as follows; With instructions to report
in the most decided terms against the unwise,
impolitic and insane request Of the memorial
lists"
Mr.. Kelley moved to amend the amendment by
striking out the word insane. Several Senators
objected.
After some further discussion, the amendment
was put to vote, and lost by a vote Of IS to Q. The
question was then upon referring to tho ommitte
without instruction. Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Tay-
Tor, of Geauga, spoke in favor, and Mr.. Kelly
against.
Mr.. Kelly thought by referring to a committee
we would express some doubt as to the ~propriety
OF the prayer Of the petitioners. lie was unwil-
ling to entertain for Il momcut such a proposition.
We ought TO treat it as a virtuous woman would
an infamous proposition made to her-r.peal it
! with adherence.
Mr.. Cattell said that every fourth day of July,
for three-quarters of Il century, almost the whole
people of the land congregated in masses to cloriGv
and promulgate the revolutionary doctrine, taught
by the Declaration Of independence, that, when n
government ceases to protect the rights OF the peo-
pie, they have the light to alter or abolish it. We
have all been taught this doctrine from our cradles
and we, in turn. teach it to our children. lie ap.
pretended 1t to be sound political doctrine. Gen.
tiemen oughtnot to be frightened by the a%pplica-
ton of a fayorite principle. The safety and glory
OF our republican system OF government are that
abuses and usurpations can be corrected by peace
ful and legal means, without disturbing the ma
chincry or even harmony of the government;
hence he had no wish for nor fears of IL dissolution
Of the Union of these States. lie had hoped that
this Senate, in whose GOODNESS and dignity he had
taken some pride, would be able to receive and re-
fer in the usual mode any respectful petition, even
if it should be for the dissolution of the Union,
without any disturbance Of the regularity of its
pulse. But he regretted to find that yesterdays
proceedings in the House on the same subject, and
the ample experience Of Congress in the treatment
of petitions had failed to satisfy Senator's that any
departure from the established mode in tho treat
ment of petitions must always lead to confusion
and useless debate, and also give Il Fictitious i'm
portanco to such petitions that they could not 9TH
erwise obtain.
The question then being on the motion to amend
by way of instructions, the yeas and nays were
demanded, ordered and resulted, yeas 7, nays 2G
us follows
Those who voted in the affirmative were Messrs.
Brace, @Ileaton, Holmes. Lawrence, Matthews,
Phelps, MILFORD.
Those who voted in the negative were Messrs.
Bayard, Beatty, Brand, Brown, Buckla ID, Bundy,
Bennett Garfield, Cattell, Gardner, Grisworld,
Hamilton, Hardy, llawley, Hycr, Kelley, Kirk,
Lawdep, Lewis, Lunt, Marsh, Musgravc, Rush,
Spencer, Taylor of Geauga, Taylor Of Mahoning,
Warfl.
So the motion to instruct was lost, and the peti.
ton referred.
llousE.-Mr Hunter said the petition came from
a portion of his constituents, and he was in favor
OF Its reference. lie thought now was 4 proper
time to establish the right of petition. No other
class OF petitions were objected to. Mr.. III. refer
red to the time when Southern I~Iotspurs in Con-
gress were talking loudly Of secession, and John
Quincy Adams was censured for presenting II dis
union petition from Il handful Of quiet Quakers.
lie referred to thee characteristics of thu Salem petit
TONERS. They were quite numerous a few years
ago, but latterly many Of them had abandoned
their non-voting position, and a few who remained
believed with the Democratic party, that the Con
stitution of the United States was pro. slavery in
its character, and imposed on the North the obi
cation to extend, defend, and perpetuate Slavery.
They had seen the most distinguished secessionists
of the South appointed tohigh Offices by the Demo-
cratic MISUNDERSTANDING had seen the Govern
ment patronage bestowed upon secession presses
had watched the tendency Of the Democratic party
towards absorption in secessionism, and seeing all
this, many Of them regarded it as the party for
their purposes. Some Of them looked with dis
favor upon the Republican party and favored to
IL Aana-n.nA- l.lG...--Ll ~ -