I Maintain That The House Is Bound

When We Fled From The Oppressions Of Kings And Parliaments In Europe, To Found This Great Republic In America, We Brought With Us The Laws And The Liberties, Which Formed A Part Of Our Heritage As Britons.

Men Of Virginia, Countrymen Of Washington, Of Patrick Henry, Of Jefferson, And Of Madison, Will Ye Be True To Your Constitutional Faith?

Upon The Constitution, Upon The Pre-existing Legal Rights Of The People, As Understood In This Country And In England, I Have Argued That This House Is Bound To Revive The Petition Under Debate.

The Proceedings Of This House In 1790, In Reference To Petitions On The Matter Of The Slave Trade, And Of Slavery In The States, Have Been Cited. It Has Been Said That Those Petitions Were Not Received.

Here, Again, As I Conceive, Gentlemen Forget That This Government Is A Republican One, Resting Exclusively In The Intelligence And Virtue Of The People.