The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-05-10


the only question upon which his friends in
this State base his claims to popular estimation.
Listen to this letter.
BUFFALO, October II, 1888
Sir:-Your communication, Chairman of n
Committee appointed by the ant-slavcry society of
the county OF Erie has Just come to hand. You So
lcit my answer to the following interrogatorics:
First. Do you believe that petitions to Congress
on the subject of slavery and the slave trade ought
to be received read and respectfully considered by
the representatives of the people?
Second.-Are you opposed to the annexation of
Texas to this Union, under any circumstances, so
LONG .s SLAVES held therein?
7Iird.-Are you i'm favor of Congress exercising
all the constitutional power II possesses, to abolish
the INTERNAL SLAVE TRADE BETWEEN THA STATES?
Fo,rth.-Arc YOU in favor of IMMEDIATE legislation
for the abolition of slavery in the District of Colum
bia?
am much engaged. and have no time to enter into
argument, or to explain at length my reasons for
my opinion. shall therefore, for the present, con-
tent myself by answering ALL your nterrogatories
in the AFFIRMATIVE and leave for some future
sion more extended discussion Of the subject.
Very respectfully, MILLARD FILLMORE.
This is the first footprint-wher do we find
the second? On the 3Oth day of December,
1889, Rice Garland introduced in the lower
House the following resolutions:
!. Resolved. That the freedom of speech. of the
press and of the people pcaceaby to assemble and to
petition the government for redress of grievances.
are rights secured to every citizen of the United
States hut in the exercise of these rights and privi
leecs citizen or hodv Of people in one State of
this Union. has the RIGHT to thom to deprive
the citizens people in another State of th'r RIGHTS
and PRIVILEGES or of the property secured to them
by tho constitution and laws.
2. Resolved That the power given by the consti-
tuition to Congress. to exercise exclusive legislation.
in all cases whatsoever over such district (not cx
cccdinr ten miles sonare) may. by cesson of par
cular Stntos and the acceptance of become
tho scat of government ofthc United States. gives
right authority to take the probate property of
any citizen in such district for public use without
just compensation and much less does IT confer the
power to take such property for at all. with
ont the consent of the citizens Immediately interest
ed, and without making any compensation for it.
g. Resolved. That the interference by the citizens
Of any Of the Ststos with hcview to the abolition of
s,nvoryt in the District Of Columbia is rnhangcring
the rights and socury Of the people of the District
ard that any net or measure of CONGRESS- designed to
nboeh slavery in this District. would he n violation
Of the faith implied in the ccssions made by the States
of Virginia and MARYLAND of said territory. Just
cansc Of alarm to the people of the slayeholding
States and have direct and inevitable tendency to
distract and endanger this Union.
4. Resolved That the House will not consider any
proposition petition. remonstrancc memorial rcsO-
luton. motion paper. asking or requiring. or in
any manner relating to, the abolition of slavery in
the District of Columbia or the Territories, nor will
this House consider any proposition, petition, remon-
STRANGE. memorial. resolution. motion paper ask
ing or requiring or in any manner relating to. the
abolition of the slave trade in the District of Coun
bia. among the several States of this Union.
Fillmore voted with John @. Adams of
Mass, and VIM Slade of Vermont, and Gid.
dings of Ohio those notorious abolitonists,
against these resolutions.
Mr.. Thompson of South Carolina. on the
Al, 49, ~ =,
the following resolution:
Resolved. That upon the presentation of any me-
mortal or petition praying for the abolition of slave
or the slave trade. in any District, Territory or
State Of the Union and upon the presentation of any
resolution or other paper touching that subject, the
reception of snch memorial petition. resolution or pa
per- shall he considered objected to. and the qies
hon of rs recpion shall he laid upon the table, with
out debate or further action thereon.
I Fillmore again voted with Adams, Giddings
and Slade, ngainst the resolution.
On another resolution, which is more com.
prchcnsvc than any of the rest, we find him
still in the same company. And yet, this
resolution was offered nearly a year after the
last one
"R Resolved, That all attempts on the part of Con
gross to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia
or the TERRITORIES. to prob bit the removal of slaves
from Sat" 10 State. or 10 discimnae beneea The ias
ons Of portion of The copcderacy and another are
in violation of the compromises of the Constitution
and destructive of the fundamental principles OF
which the Union of these States rests"
Fillmore voted nay, with Adams Gidding
and Sladc.
On the question of the rccislon of the 2lst
rule, we find him, equally consistent with hi
Erie letter
Mr.. Adams of Massachusetts offered th
following resolution:
"Rcsovcd. That the standing rule of this House
in the following words "No petition, memorial rcso
luton or other paper praying the abolition of slvc
ry in the District of Columbia or any State or Terri
tory, or the slave trade between the states or Terri
tories of the United states, in which 1t now exists
shall be received by this House, entertained i
any way whatever be, and the same is hereby re
, scindcd."
Fillmore again voted with Adams and Slade
Giddings was not present
Mr.. Gales offered the following resolution
i "All petitions memorials. and papers touching tn
abolition OF slavery, or the buying selling or trans
ferrng of slaves in any state district or territory
the United states, shall, upon their presentation,
laid on the table without being debated printed
read or referred, and no further action whateve
shall be had thereon" o,pr
o4oJ,