The Right Of Petition, I Have Said,

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.

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.

Men Of New England, I Hold You To The Doctrines Of Liberty Which Ye Inherit From Your Puritan Forefathers.

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.

It Is Impossible, In My Mind, To Distinguish Between The Refusal To Receive A Petition, Or Its Summary Rejection By Some General Order, And The Denial Of The Right Of Petition.