Men Of New England, I

You Well Know, Sir, That When The Constitution Was Submitted To The People Of The Respective States For Their Adoption Or Rejection, It Awakened The Warmest Debates Of The Several State Conventions.

Sir, I Am A Republican; And I Desire To See This House Observe The Principles Of That Democracy Which Is Ever On The Lips Of Its Members, And Which, I Hope, Is In Their Hearts, As I Know And Feel It Is In Mine, And Mean It Shall Be In My Conduct.

I Declare And Protest In Advance, That I Do Not Intend, At This Time At Least; To Be Drawn Or Driven Into The Question Of Slavery, In Either Of Its Subdivisions Or Forms.

The Right Of Petition, I Have Said, Was Not Conferred On The People By The Constitution, But Was A Pre-existing Right, Reserved By The People Out Of The Grants Of Power Made To Congress.

And If This House Is To Be Scared, By Whatever Influences, From Its Duty, To Receive And Hear The Petitions Of The People, Then I Shall Send My Voice Beyond The Walls Of This Capitol For Redress.