Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 679 FEBRUARY, 1835.] Writings of Washington. [H. OF R. and the country at large, the true state of feel- that the emigrants from the North to the South, ing, and of the case as it exists here, in the some from the gentleman's own district, perNorth and in the South. haps, are as ready to become masters as any I trust I am well assured that the Represent- who are hereditary masters. To strengthen atives on this floor from the North do not wish their nerves and change their whole principles or design to interfere with our rights. That and opinions on the subject, they have but to they merely-feel bound in their representative change their climes, their homes. And if they duty to present these memorials, so dangerous choose to remain at home, they may cease to in their tendency, and incendiary in their char- take these odious papers. If slavery were abolacter, from respect to a few, a very few only, ished in the District, I know not what would of their constituents, comparatively, and that restrain the press still from publishing advertisethey do not act from their own impulses. ments. And if the papers here cease to publish Sir, on this delicate and vitally important for runaways and purchasers of slaves, still the subject, the moderate, considerate, and patriotic gentleman would leave to cease taking the pamen of the South, as well as of the North, have pers of the South, or to silence them too. Sir, enemies to contend with. In the North we slavery is interwoven with our very political have a few misguided fanatics, whose zeal existence, is guaranteed by our Constitution, and prompts them to rush blindly into the most its consequences must be borne with by our absurd extremes; and in the South, I am sorry Northern brethren, as resulting from our systo say it, there are not wanting those who seize tem of Government; and they cannot attack upon every pretext to inflame the public mind the institutions of slavery without attacking on the subject of slavery. In this delicate situ- the institutions of the country, our safety and ation, what should be the course of the friends welfare. of our country and our institutions? Why, sir, Mr. ARcauE said he considered it almost as the friends of good order, of the constitution, indiscreet in gentlemen from the South or slaveand of the existence of this Republic, in this holding States to discuss this question, as it was House or out of it, in the North or in the South, for the Representatives from the North to inmust use their influence to moderate and quench troduce it. He would add nothing to this rethese spirits of both extremes of fanaticism and mark, but moved to lay the whole subject on of disorganization. When memorials of the the table. character of this now asked to be printed are The question was then taken on laying the presented, it is respectful enough, I should motion on the table, by yeas and nays, and dethink, to the memorialists, to receive them; cided in the affirmative-ayes 139, noes 63. if printed, they will be circulated throughout the country, to fan the flames of the zealots on Writings of Washington. one side, and to serve as food for the disorgan- Mr. WISE, from the committee on the subject, izers on the other. We, who would te safe reported the following joint resolution: and secure in the blessings we now enjoy, will, Be it resolved by the Senate and House qf Iepretherefore, smother these memorials on their sentatives qf the United States of Ameriea in Confirst presentation. I am willing, sir, to treat gress assembled, That the Secretary of State be, and all memorials, no matter how extravagant or he is hereby, authorized to purchase of Russell, preposterous, or of what character, with re- Odiorne & Co., one thousand copies of the writings spect, provided they are fiom a respectable of General George Washington, now being edited body of citizens, decorous, and not dangerous by Jared Sparks, provided that the said works shall in their tendencies. But, sir, I cannot tolerate, not cost more than three dollars per volume. And much less give consequence and eclat to memo- the Secretary of State shall cause to be distributed a rials and petitions which strike at the very copy of the same to each member of the present Confoundations of the social compact and our civil gress, to each Governor of the States, for the use of institutions. I will not hear them; I desire not the State libraries, to each university and college of to see them; and would reject them at once. the United States, and to the public libraries in forWith what sort of respect, I put it to the gen- eign countries, whose Governments have made prestleman from the western part of New York, ents of valuable books to the library of Congress, Mr. F, cl he treat an inenry and that the purchase money of the same be, and is (Mr. FILLMORE,) -could he treat an iIlcendiary hereby, appropriated out of any money in the treaswho should respectfully ask him to permit him ury not otherwise appropriated by law. to apply a torch to his dwelling? Would he regard him as a sober-minded neighbor or mad- The resolution was read twice, and Mr. WISE man? as a fiend or friend? Sir, I was sorry to moved to commit it to the Committee of the hear some of the remarks of the gentleman from Whole. New York. He says that the people of the Mr. SMITH, of Maine, said he hoped the House North are continually shocked by advertise- would dispose of the resolution now. Every ments of slave-dealers in the papers of this gentleman must be aware of the difficulty of District. I am sorry, sir, that their nerves are knowing when a resolution of this description so delicate, when their fathers did more than will be taken up in the haste of proceedings at any other people of the colonies to establish the close of a session. It is impossible for those slavery amongst us. And I appeal to Southern opposed to keep watch of its progress, and it gentlemen for the truth of the remarkable fact may pass from its not being observed, when it

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 679
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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