'But,  said  itr,
0.,  let  us  inquire,  if  there  has  been  agitation,
who  are  the  agitators,  and  who  is  responsible
for  discussion?  Is  it  I  and  those  who  have
acted  with  me ;  who  have  acted  on  the  defen-
sive; who  have  demanded  a  question  which
every  Senator  has  the  acknowledged  right  of
demanding  on  every  petition,  or  those  who
have  resisted  that  demand?  And  on  what
ground  has  this  demand  been  resisted?  Can
any  be  more  extraordinary  than  that  to  refuse
to  receive  is  a  violation  of  the  constitution  ?
What  are  the  words  of  that  instrument  ?  That
U)ngre8s  shall  pass  no  law  prohibiting  the
people  from  peaceably  assembling  and  praying


for  a  redress  of  mevances.^'  Has  aoy  sod  Uv
been  passed  ?  Have  these  agitators  been  pro-
hibitea  from  praying  for  a  redress  of  grieTsnoesI
Does  any  one  pretend  that  such  is  the  Cict^
How,  then,  can  it  be  asserted  that,  to  refiue  to
receive  these  slanderous  petitions,  pnjiog  tie
enactment  of  unoonstitulional  laws,  is  s  riob-
tion  of  the  constitution  ?

I,  said  Mr. 0.,  am  gratified  that  the  Se&flior
from  Georgia  concedes  the  point  that  Coogns
has  no  power  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  Distrid
— ^a  concession  which  atones  for  much  wfaieh
he  has  said. To  yield  the  right  heie^  b  to
yield  the  right  to  Oonffrees  to  abolish  diTeir
in  the  States. I  would  proclaim,  said  Mr. C^
to  the  whole  Bouth  that,  if  the  li^t  be  mi-
rendered  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  Districi,
their  most  effectual  guard  is  surrendered. Bat
I  wUl  ask  the  Senator  from  Georgia,  if  God-
gress  has  no  right  to  abolish  shivery  in  tMs
District  more  than  to  do  so  in  the  States,  npoo
what  principle  can  he  vote  upon  the  reoepdoa
of  this  petition  which,  he  concedes,  prajs  tk
Senate  to  pass  a  law  in  violation  of  the  coiisti-
tution  ?  Let  us  change  the  question,  to  test
the  principle  on  which  the  Senator  acta. He
admits  the  constitutional  power  of  CoDgr^
over  the  subject,  whether  in  this  District  or  ia
the  StiU»s,  to  be  the  same ;  I  ask  him,  thes,
add  Mr. 0.,  addressing  Mr. 