The Right Of Petition, I Have Said,

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.

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.

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