Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-24

! to render. What he did was according to his
own Judgment. He told his constituents when
he came here that he would come rs a freeman,
or no, ut all. He told them if they wanted Il
slave to represent them they could get one. lie
lorcsaw then what had come to pass.
But he knew his duty, and it was his proud,
est satisfaction that his constituents approved
what he had done. They rccollectcd thai MIR;
pennington'S name was connected Win nroau
seal which. was disrcsarded. They did not
know the fact, and they thought that vengeance
WAS coming after I long delay, and alter tliat
act of parliamentary wrong. But the LesISIa-
tura could not be expected to know that PreSl'
dent Taylor appointed Mr.. Pennington to Office
They could not be expected to know that Pre-
| sident Fillmore appointed him to another
They, Of course, could not be expected To know
that Mr.. Pennington was a Wing in politics. IN
favor OF the enforcement of every law in when
the Southern States are interested, and that III
which Maryland, more than any other, Is lhtc-
rested. namely, the fugitive slave law.
The gentlemen of the Maryland Legislature
could not be expected 10 know, but his con
| S~tituents knew.
Mr.. Pennington is in favor of putting an end
TO the slavery agitation and strife, and he was
4 symboI 10 the country Of that peace winch
! should here prevail. Some Of those who voted
| for the condemnatory resolutions went 10 the
Legislature on his shoulders. They had not t!ie
sense to know that when they sawed oil the
bousl, connected with the tree they would fall.
50 far as he was worth pursuing, he knew he
would DC well houorcd.
There was 4 distinguished example of tins
in the old Hall of RcprcSentativc>-Mr. Clay,
r. I:, 49,, e., I,1,, n-iprv NIuulS tpT
President, was ussailed by dctraction, which
pursued him TO the grave. lie had sat at the ieet
of Henry CLAY and learned, is his apostle, that
no man should vote for any policy without De-
ing willin. to take his life in his hand. As Tor
| himself. he would not allow csamor 10 uGlea'
him in his honest purposes. lie was NOT Hc''
merely as Il representative oil the fouI'n N'",
srcssional District Of Maryland. lie was not
TO consult the pr cIudlces OF his constituents
While he was bound to respect their inter
cs,s tl,cre might be as there had been, III ;llc
great necessities Of public life, occasions when
lie might he called upon TO make palnIt'i ucci'
sions. lie might be called upon 10 diSrcgardtheIr
opinions. lie prayed, however, that such a
necessity NAV never occur; but If 1t should,
he hoped he would have strength for the trial.
The resolution of the Legislature WAS OF SIMS.
ter import. After abiding TO the c!rculliStali'
ccs under which Mr.. Pennington WIS elected,
lie said he could not allow the opportunity TO
pass of placing the olive branch where every
man might see it-an emblem of peace To those
very States so excited and revolutionary in
their measures. Among other things he re-
marked that it was not fair 10 lay John Browns
raid to the account of the North. whose repre-
scntativcs had 50 cmphaticaily and indignant,
L. denied any such completely. lie repeated
that there was no act he less regretted than
bis vote for NJ. Pennington, There Was none
he would more chcertully give this day and
hour.
The committee here rose and the House adj
journed till Thursday.