I have sworn ufon tho Altar df Cod, eternal hontlllty to oveiy fiHa of Tyranny dvbr Ulo f Main" Thornas Jeflcwon.
PltlNTED AND PUBLISHED BY If. WEBB
Volume 1H.
ELOOMSIBIJBG, COLUMBIA COTOTY, FA. SATURDAY,
APRIL 25, 18
t
f
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT,
foprosriTB St. Paul's Onuncn, Main-bt.
TERMS :
TAc COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT will be
Jpublished every Saturday morning, at
-1 TWO DOLLARS per annum, payable
'half yearly in advance, or Two Dollars
'Fifty Cents, if not paid within the year.
'No subscription will be taken for a shorter
period than six months; nor any discon
tinuance permitted, until all arrearages
are discharged.
ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding a
square will be conspicuously inserted at
One Dollar for the first three insertions,
and Twenty-Jive cents for every subse
quent nsertlon. CJJi liberal discount
( made to those who advertise by the year.
'LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
away the right of trial by jury ; to pass an
ex post facto lair ; to abricJgo the freedom
of speech or of the press ; to establish reli
gion by law; nor to destroy the lights of
property, or the personal liberty of the citi
zen. These rcserrcd rights are as sacred
in the District of Columbia as in tho State
of New York. They have the same right
to consider the abolition of slavery in New
York a grievance, and petition to Congress
to establish it there, as the citizcrs of INow
York have to consider it n grievance in the
Diatiict, and petition Congress to abolish it.
t heir right in either case to assemble peace-
bly and make their petition, I do net call
in question ; but trie obligation on my part
to present it to the Senate, 1 do not admit.
It a number ot citizens should consider a
Republican Government a grievance, and
petition Congress to establish a monarchy ;
r others should consider religious toleration
grievance, and petition Congress to des
troy heresy, by abolishing all religious seces
ut their own, 1 should not consider it my
u ty to present their petitions to the Senate,
nor do 1 consider it my duty to present
stition, the certain tundencv of which is to
circumstnnnn rtUu. umiAr, from whm I bsvutdid not observe it until it was too lato."
.. i . ... ... . ir .ut. ..14 l.. ....-.:.. r ,t:.i
noucea auove, wnicn would mane me reiuc- una wuum u iMam u. uojuaiua,
tant to present this netiiion t cornea from not observe the Might oi the enemy "Uh
ladies, ordained bv nature, and bv the eus- til it was loo late" to pursue them.
- I . . o 1 T . . . it. ..
toma nl nil eivilixKd nalinno In nnrnnv n DUI. wr. opuaiver, i hiuei return lu uiu
hiirher nlace in societv than that of neii- mornine of tho Oth November, when tin
linnera to a lpcrislniivft bndv. consummate General was within eleven
... . " I rt.: i .. .
11 eourtesvrnU il indum mc. on a enh ent miles oi me scene oi nia suuacuucut u
that could not bncnme n mailer nf ininrimiB ploitS. A march of Six miles is made
ABOLITION PETITIONS.
THE LETTER OF THE VIUB PRESIDENT
TO LEWIS TA'PAN, OF NEW YORK.
. UPON DECLINING TO PRESIDENT TO
THE SENATE AN ABOLITION PETI
TION, SIGNED UY 140 WOMEN. .
Washington, March 23, 1840.
Sir : Your letter of the 7th instant was
duly received, enclosing a petition to Con
gress, igned(by 140 women of the city and
county of New York, praying for the abo
lition of slavery and the slave trade in the
District of Columbia, and in thoce Territo
ries of the United Slates where thev exist.
and to admit no new sTare State into the U-
. - .- l? .1. . . . -
mon, ruquestuig hiu id lay wie same oeiorc
the Senate. 1 have also received your let
ter of the 17lh instant, lequesling me in in
form you when! would present the petition
Having inclined to present the petition, it
is, perhaps, duo to tuotfair pel ttoners. and
to you, the organ, as well as myseH, to
state some of the reasons which dictate my
course. The constitutional right of petition
.la contained in tne nrat article -ofamend
'incntst as 'follows :
"Congress shall make no law respecting
nn establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exerciso thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press ; or the
right of tho people peaceably to- assemfue,
and to petition the Gorernmcui for a redress
of rrievances."
Congress has neer made a law abridging
this rich l : but tlio people assemble at pleas
tire, and petition at pleasure, for a redress
of grievances. Of course, this purl of the
Constitution has not been violated ; and
it did not exist, uongress could not, con
stitutionally, have passed such a law, be
causo no such power is delegated to Con
cress. This right, reserved to tho people
does not devolve upon tho presiding officer
of the Senate the obligation of prctonting
petitions of every conceivable descrip
lion.
There are considerations of a moral and
political, as well as of a constitutional na
tnre, which would not permit me to present
petitions, of a character evidently hostile to
the Union, and destructive of the pnnci
pies on which it is founded. The patriots
of the Revolution made great sacrifices
blood and treasure to' establish and confirm
the doctrines net forth in the Declaration o
Independence, kadi Slate was men an
independent sovereignty ; and to form
perpetual Confederacy for ihe safely and
benefit of the wholo, embodying the great
doctrines of the Declaration, a comp.omise
'was made ; and the principle which your
fair petitioners are now agitating, was set
tied. The right of regulating and abolish
intr-slavcry wts reserved to the States : and
Concress havo no more right to dei
slavory in Virginia and Maryland, than
ihev have to establish slavery in New
York or New England. The right of pe
nition for these objects is reciprocal ; and
"the obligation of the picsiding officer to pro
- weiil a petition to the faenate, it it exist
cither case, is equally strong in both. But
1 cannot recognise the obligation in eilhe
case, though I acknowledge the right of th
neonte in both. Is a differenco made be
tween the District of Columbia and th
States of Maryland and Virginia, from
which it was taken ! The question wu
settled in relation to this District, by those
States, by the formation and adoption of th
Federal Constitution, when it was a pa
of those States: and u subsequent cession o
jurisdiction could not deprive the citizens to
the ri'hts already secured lo them uy uolh
tho Federal Constitution and the Conttitu
lions of their respective States, The right
of Congress lo exercise exclusive Icgiala
' tion in all cases whatevor, does nnt mean
-'omnipotent legislation. Congress have no
vrifiht,.iii the District of Columbia, ' to tafco
, and not Of constitutional right. me roaa, anu mo luuunieo rmuineu ami cav r'-"". i """6" Y.,h
riir itn nr wnman arn cnuro llirnnirh a rV 111 iroill, in WIB rear, anu on U1C liailKH, ucui ,u uiu uo v-
"fca" v. .H I . .... I I ! I -.L.ll 1 1 -
.,.-. ... . I ..,t.n nnm ni, n lt,A mind ivnm h whn r Willi Wl ll W 31111. OWICT UTU3I1 TIJUU .
sex ineir lainers, uieir nus- "'"-" -'""5 "t'v" "'w r. r i r i
it,.:, l..i,.., t. r armv is formed m order to battle. A com- ward the left flank this beach oi In, ,
destroy the harmony, and eventually to
rcak ussundcrthe bonds, of our Union.
In regard to new States, the case is, if
OEsible, still stronsrer. They must be
united upon terms of equality. Each State
laving reserved the right ot regulating inis
ubiect for itself, no one can be constitu
tionally deprived of the right. The State
of New Yoik has abolished slavery; but
this abolition is not the condition on which
he holds her place in the Confederacy. It
a her own pelicv ; and if it shall be her
Measure to change it, Congress cannot in-
leiforo. So, if new States are admitted in
to llie Union, when admitted; they will
stand upon an equality with New York.
The may establish or abolish slavery at
their pleasure, and neither Congress, nor
any clher Stale, will have any more right
to interfere with the subiect, than with the
aws of primogeniture m the Brilish empire
The object of the petition does not affect
the abstract question of slavery ; that it is a
ubiect wlucJxtho Abolitionists of the tree
States can no more aflVct than they can that
OIXHIC pnyicgcs ui me uriuaii iiuuiuij.
.Th plain, nuottion is this : shall wo can
tinue a milled conlederaled Hepuulic, of
hall we dissolve Ihe Union I If the nray
cr ot tins ana similar pennons siiotua ue
crraiitcd by n majority of Congress, the me
ltable eflect would be an. immediate des
truction of the Confederacy ; and with it,
those bonds of affection which have united
us as one great, one harmonious family
-It lus been my grief to observe a reckless
ness on the part of some, whom I other
wise highly ..esteem, showing an utter disre
gard .of 2II the.consequonce.s which mustre
sult from the perpetual agitation of this sub
iect. We have an interest at stake too dear
to be compromilted tor a phantom which we
can never gain, however enthusiastically we
may pursue it. As a free, a powerful, and
a happy nation, we stand unrivalled ic the
annals of the world.
Turnine the eye alternstely to ererv re
eion of our country, it is greeted with the
smiles of happiness, amid the scenes of li
berty, and peaco, and pleuty ; and yet im
agination frequently pauses upon Ihe locali
ties which remind us of the prico at which
these blessings were gained, Do we com
pare our condition with that of adjoining
colonies I We look lo Quebec and there
Montjomcry fell. Wo return to view the
beautiful town of Boston and take our stand
on Bunker Hill there Warren died. Wo
cross the delightful fields of Connecticut
there Wooster bled. We continue our ob
nervation through tho Jerseys, till wc reach
Princeton there Mercer perished.
Even from the Uapitoi in which we are
assembled, we cast a look to tho South, and
the heights of Vernon remind us that the
mighty Washington slumbers there, who
forsook those peaceful shade for the toils
the dangers, and the privations of the san
guine field, where, with thousands of others
equally brave and patriotic, the onemies of
our rights were defeated. It is at the price
of their blood that we, in common with
your fair petitioners, now enjoy these
blessings. When the right were again
ihreatcnrd, I regarded it my duty, in hum
ble imitation of these apostles and matyrs
of liberty, to offer my own lifo upon the al
tar of my country, to confirm to you and to
them the permanent enjoyment of those
blesiinn. A merciful providence protected
me, and I find a twofold recompense in the
preservation of our institutions.
With these viows,I cannot reconcile it to
my sense of duty to present tho petition,
I shall eiilct into no discussion on the prin
ciple of slavery, as that ia not involved in
the subject. I can view it 111 no other light
than that of an interference'with the consti
tutional rights of others, and in such a way
as tench to tho destruction of the rich inher
itance purchased by the blood and toil of
the fuUiuie of the. Revolution. - Another
J.
"found tho ground for the encampmo"1
not altogether sucll as could wish it." It
was edited for regular troops; opposed to
regulars, but it afforded great facility to
the approsch of savages." ,
Here followr) a description of iho ground
from thb official report!
It was a peice of dry oak land, rising a
linn I (on fpi't nhnvn tils Iflvcl of n marshy
mai coniu noi oecome a matter 01 injurious . ...
notorictv.to present a petition from females through open prairies, with the infantry prairie m front (towards the Indian Iom ,
yet I should regard it purely as a matter of in two columns 01 files on either side ol and nearly twice that height abdve a uh
courtesy
The
the coarser
u.J. n.t
vauuc, im iui.,1 uiuuibi.i A. is uiu livm Ul J . . .1., , ,, t.l
,m . it; - .i. . nanv nf mounted riflemen formed the ad- widened considerably, but became
in tho bustle of politics and of war. She Uanced guard; then came the United Slates My narrower in the oppomlo diwctv
does not serve on iuries. hoc nerform the infantry, flanked by twd companies ot mill- ai me instance oi one iuur?u 5,v
duties of the bailiff or executioner, because infantry aud one of mounted rificmen; yards from the right flank, termihuit
.1 ,i, j k. o I .jai nn ,.r i,., j nn i mien comes inc uafpacc. coverca uv uiree "'"i" huui.
n ..C- ,i i... com Dames of m i ilia infantry: and astlv On this ground pointed out be qn erts
nnrtirt.- fnn. , ,i, ! o ,;.51.,i..,i comes the cavalry. Wo oueht now to ex- ana "UHoruingcieaiacimy 10 uie.i pprnac
character, and man is her substitute, who pect a fight, for the whole army is " ih the of savages, were traced the lines 61 u night
' I t ... i . .., i , i - .....i i : . .... t.
ronresents her n all these druditcrios. order ot Dime. uui we arc aoomeu w ciiuwu.im. Muum
mo ; i.n.,n,t u .i, .,r.? i.,. r disanDoiiitment. The order is piven Id araied from each oihcr aboul twenty s
custom, of nature, and of honor, to protect "break offin short columns of companies," rods on the left, and fourteen rods on
and serve her. This is the lirht in which and to move slowly and cautiously along, right flanki
. . o . t.i i i : : . . .1 . t 1 . , it.. ii " , ' ,
ii, nbf r Mm n nnM ih ivnmun shn uiu ccTerai uurp uiiuiibiuu pua.i.uu mice nir. unuerwoou nerc inau reo wnni an
--"- r .. .u. .i:.. "r - " ;i t i. i... I ....... . n . . , r. ..
tunes in mo uniuuuc ui a nine. jvi ui i moniy ivir. j. nau ior saying uie rjrounu
a creek is approached, when the order for was pointed out bv the enemy.
battle again passes irom column to column. Mr. Crary refered him to ihe official re
Mr. Lincoln here raised a question wheth port, where ho would find it under General
er it was in order to discuss matters not be- Harrison's own siun manual,
fore ihcJHouse.. But to return to ihe order of encampment
Mr. Cole said no friend of Gen. Harrison The front line was occupied bv one battal
tion the nrincinle of tho Divine law. If ieared the discussion. lion of United blalcs inlantty, flunked oil
the rights of man are inviolable, they arc of facverat memserB expressing a wnn tor ihe right by two companies of ini.nia, and
course confirmed to women; and the most l"e d0"8 10 proceea.mr. Lincoln wimorew on the lelt by one company.
.Imn;e.,l nt !.. v ..i il,. !., ;n. n.l tn 1 Ills motion. l he rear lino was comnoseu ol another bat
tllI III Ilk V. Wl (lib dWA .III 1 1 1 D I.U.I lUUIIIIVU .U I . ... . , I ......
meddle with miblio matters. I mesume fe- Mr. Orary resumed, and said he did not allien ol United States infantry on ihe left,'
males, who sign petitions. I should be exP.e?1 10 be allowed to proceed. It was and four militii companies on the fight. '
severf
Ihd
veiled and silent even in religious discus
sions ; not because she is unworthy, but be-
cau.e she lo exempt irom the strue of man ;
and it is her right to obsorvc that retired
modestv which renders her the object of ad
miration and esteem. In this respect, the
Constitution of our country is established
very reluctant to be accessory to an act 10 hira a matter ol no consequence, no 1 ho Jell Hank was tilled up by two coiupa
which should, in any degree, cast a shade thought, however, he was indulging m no mes of mounted riflemen, and the right
of reproach upon an individual of that sex, greater latitude of debale than was yesler- flank by one company. Two troops of
whose modest dignity is
man. Thus, sir, I have
my views in returning the petition, as lnow
da
I trust you will not deem it disrespectful
lo you, nor to tho ladies lor whom yon act
De assured that, for yourself individually, I
the rlorv of Uav permmen 10 me genueman irom inui- dragoons were encamped tn the tear ol the
frankly stated ana Lftir. rroint.j n nen Air. v. was ueri flank, and one troop in rear of tho front
BjicjM.it;, ""EB" iuiiuiiiijr ut;i.ujiii;u jmc. i nese iroops were an in mngit; ranui;
the speaker s cnair. inai genueman nau
convassed not only the merits of General
Harrison for tho Presidency, but called up
the past political hisloty of a member of
he House, (Mr. Wick, and yet no one
and were deicnded by two iupiuiii gunids
consisting of eighty-eight men, and twd
subaltern's guards, consisting f twenty
men. But a the report makes nn mention
either oi a picKct guard nr :i common camp
nnlprtam tiioli riaimprt ' nnrl rnnM T
- b" . - i .nr.l J. 7. : J
you personally, it would give me great toao -.mlcu lu u,uc' Flul'ut"ll;cu ",c guaru.u seems uiai tins iiiuispeiiEiiiite re
pleasure lo du so. Though a stranger to remarks irrevelent to tho question. He quisitu of any aimy, eucHtnptd iff utf ene
the signers of tho petition, I do not doubt was ireo 10 aumii inai such u.scussion was
the reanei-taliilitv nf thffir nhararinr. ami 1 1 unprofitable; but if it waa in order lo make
deeply regret he'ing requested, on their be- he attack, it ought also to bo in order to
half, to perform an act with which I cannot :naue a lvl"i - . "tro B'"c pri-iruu
rnns!stnllv pnmnlv ; hilt with lti vinwa I to allOW Ot CU
men prarciu
h a ccurso of attack, and
a.replv? If so, evil would
whSr.h I pntnrtaiu. I nannnt hcllKr tpslifv
m'y regard for them than by returning the e out of it of no ordinary magnitude,
npiitinn . Mr. l'roilu rose to explain. Ho appe:
i -
Most respectfully,
tuy's country, was entirely oierMikct! rfnii
omitted. '1 iiis is evident from the fact,' thai
in ttiu opt'iiing i' ue tunic, some ot ills'
men were stricken down in the very doors'
of their tents.
We have hcr, Sir, the camp of Generaf
Harrison, when in an Indian country, and
so apprehensive of an attack ihat the " orde
RH. M. JOHNSON.
Lewis Tappan, esq. New York City.
plain. Ho appeal
ed to the House, whether he said any thing 0f encampment was the order of baiili- nmt
disrespectful of his colleague. He did not each man slept opposite to his post in the.
nueiiu i-j injure ma lucimjja. i line, uenerai uarrisou flays his order of
Mr. L-rary said, he was aware thnt the march was " similar to that nsed by G6h-
GENERAL' HARRISON'S MILITARY . ? , ni II""8U.1 :laiT-.,T '.crKJ ,WCIB eral wayno." JJut was tho order of tn-
ACHIfiVEMENTS.
Extract Irom the remarfis of Mr. Crary,
ol Michigan, in the House ot Kepreienu
lives, rnday, f eb. 14, 1840.
Ihe gentleman from Indiana TMr. Prof- drawn up in the order ot battle. JN'o ene
fif who occupied the floor yesterday, has ray, howover, rppears; but from certain in
brought before tho House the hero of North dications of a hostile feeling, it is determin
Bend, not as he is in his old ago, with men-led to eneamp for tho night. "Whilst 1
tal infirmities fast thickenin; upon him, but was ongaged in tracing the lines for the en
as he was when irr command of the North- campment, liilorraalion was received that
western army in the last war. The gentle
not injured. But this did not justify the at- campment that of General Wayne, pr that
lacs, uiu mo genueman Know uiai he of anv other General w nn ncr warn.?
would not hurl his leenngs ( Did General Wayne ever encarnh in an ln-
But, Mr. Speaker, to return to General dtan country withoui firtt throvViiier tip a
Harrison, vhom we left with his armv breastwork eilhcr of wood or of earth I
Was not thi3 course ptinued by all the ear
ly Indian lighters of New England ? Such",
breastworks are often spoke of by her ear
ly writers, and Hubbard tells us of one case
where a stone breastwork was thrown up'
in the midst of a fight. Did Colonel John-
the Indians had answered every attempt sen ever encamp, when in the midst of hos
man has applauded the Presidential candi- to bring them lo a parley with contempt tile Indians, without defending liu camn bv
date of the opposition for three treat ex-1 and insolence. A refusal to answer by the a breaswork 1 If he had, Sir. Ills calfanl
ploits: 1st, the battlo of Tippecanoe; 2d, Indians, caused the lines of the camp to be little band of mounted men would never
being the hist to susreest the armament of traced; but when they answered " with con- covered temselvcs with glory at the battle
the lakes; and, lastly, for the battle of the tempt and insolence," the lines arc oblitera- of tho Thames. In the Black Hawk war
1 names, i have a few word to say on ted the airny moves forward, with " every I did general Atkinson ever omit the bam
eacn.oi meie subjects. nan eager to ueciae inc contant immediate- caue ior a single nigiu rever. When it
lnoDauiooi j ippecanoe, win see mat uen. camp, oui io tnaoie i o noio a parley iong mo nonor oi encamping an army with-
Harrison periormed no great act of general- with inree Indians, one ol them the panic- out ureasiworts.in sight ol an Indian town,
ship on that occasion. From the General a ular triend ot 1'rophet. " Well, what does
own confessions, the army was encamped this friend of the prophet say?" Why
m an exposed position, artordin? " ffreat inai an answer nad been sent to lien. Har
facility to the approach of savazes," and nsoti a demands, but that the bearers "have
ai nigiu was completely surprised uy the uniortunaieiy isxen uie roaa on the south
the inhabitants of winch " had manifested
nothing but hostility Let the honor bo
his, and let his political friends write it
(should be one of blood the blood o"
Indians, and only escaped destruction by side of the Wabash." What was this an- of u most gallant and chivalrous army
tue gallantry ot the brave Kentuckians, and swer s ihe omcial report ahoweth it not. uut, Mr. opeaKer, I have not yet
a party of the old fourth regiment from It only says, "answered that had no with this camp upon " drv oak land,"
Massachusetts. But I would confine my- intention of attacking them until I discover- surrounded by u " marshy prairie." It ap
self to the official report, that will prove all ed that they would net comply with the de- pears, from tho official report, that the lues
that has been asserted. It will also prove raands which had mado." On a promise were built with the ramp, and wero burning
mat general Harrison was the greatest ego- iron this triend ot the i'rophet that no hos- at a quarter alter tour o clock in the morn
ist that ever wiote in the English language. Unties should be commuted till the will of
Other generals have awarded some mor- the President of tho United States was ex
it to the God of battles, but not so with plained, our hero resumes his march, and
Gen. Harrison. It was " " that did all resumes his march, and advances within
from the morning that " announced that one hundred and fifty yards of the town. slaughter that ensued 1 The fires were in
had no intention of attacking them (the Fifty Indians sallygfortu, and demand a halt, dved extinguished after the battle enmmeno
Indians; until J discovered that they would - immediately advanced lo tho front, and ed, but this proved that they should not
not comply with tho demands that had caused the army to halt. ' In a few mo- have been built, if it proved any thing.
mado that would go on and sncamp at ments the man (the friend of the Prophet) Camp" fires were necessary, but in Indian
the Wabash." halted," and ro- who had been with me before, made his warfare they rhould bo without tho camp'
sumed ray march." "advanced," and appearance, informed the him that my if allowed to bum all night. They then
' rose at a quarter after four o'clock." object, for the present, was to procure a gavo no advantago to the enemy On tho
I mounted my horse, rode to tho angle good place of ground to encamp on, where contrary, on coming to their range, the eu
mg. "uur uies atlorded a purifal liglitf
which if it gave us tome oppportuni
ty of taking a surer aim." Under iuch
circumstances, need wo wonder at thef
that wa9 attacked. reinforced every part we could got wood and water. Ho inform
of the lino, formed tho body of dra- ed me that there was a creek to tho north-
goons, meant to pursue tho enemy lu their west.'.wluch he thought would suit or pur
flight," but, aye but, "being engaged, pose," .
r "... . "
emy became the object of Vsurer aim."
Sir, I pass over tho movements of the
General during the battle. I say nothing
of his horseback ride in a camp with aright
t