02693cam a22003253u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003701000130007804000110009104100170010205000090011910000310012824502310015926400510039030000470044133600260048833700260051433800360054050000310057650800890060752014740069653400450217065300530221565300330226865300230230185600430232413986UtSlPG20260610133330.0mcr n260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  a10034654  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aE3001 aCushing, Caleb,d1800-187910aSpeech of Mr. Cushing, of Massachusetts, on the Right of Petition, :bas Connected with Petitions for the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia. In The House Of Representatives, January 25, 1836. 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2004  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2004-11-09  aProduced by Curtis Weyant, Andrea Ball and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.  a"Speech of Mr. Cushing, of Massachusetts, on the Right of Petition" by Caleb Cushing is a historical speech delivered in the House of Representatives in the early 19th century. This document addresses the critical issue of the right to petition the government, particularly in the context of petitions advocating for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia. Written during a period marked by intense debate over slavery, the speech underscores the fundamental democratic principle that citizens have the inherent right to voice their grievances and seek redress from their government.  In his speech, Cushing emphasizes that the right of petition is not a privilege granted by Congress but a pre-existing right protected by the Constitution. He argues that the House has a responsibility to receive and consider petitions respectfully, regardless of the subject matter. Cushing recounts the legislative history regarding similar petitions and highlights how previous Congresses have engaged with such issues without denying the right of petition. He warns against the consequences of refusing to hear these petitions, suggesting that suppression only fuels further agitation. Throughout, Cushing appeals to the members of Congress to uphold democratic values and protect the rights of their constituents, ultimately inviting the public to hold representatives accountable for their actions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aSlavery -- United States -- Speeches in Congress  aSlavery -- Washington (D.C.)  aPetition, Right of40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13986