There is a saying of antiquity, which has the confirming voice of all intervening time, that “whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.” And now, Sir, while humbled for my country that such a proposition should be introduced into the Senate, I accept it as the omen of that madness which precedes the fall of its authors. At this moment the number of free persons, African by descent, in the United States, is almost half a million,--being a population two thirds larger than the white population in South Carolina, more than one third larger than the white population in Mississippi, and six times larger than the white population in Florida. I mention these facts in order to show at the outset the number of persons whose rights are now assailed. Already, in several States, free negroes are threatened with expulsion, under the terrible penalty of being sold into Slavery. The Supreme Court of the United States has stepped forward, and by cruel decree declared that they are not citizens, and therefore are not entitled to sue in the courts of the United States. And now, to complete their degradation and exclusion from all rights, it is proposed to declare that their petitions cannot be received by the Senate. * * * * * The right of petition is not _political_, but _personal_,--born with Humanity, and confirmed by Christianity,--belonging to all, but peculiar to the humble, the weak, and the oppressed. It belongs even to the criminal; for it is simply the right to pray. There is no country, professing civilization, where this right is not sacred. In Mahometan countries it is revered. One of the most touching stories of the East is where a petitioner in affliction came before the Sultan, crying out,-- “‘My sorrow is my right, And I _will_ see the Sultan, and to-night.’ ‘Sorrow,’ said Mahmoud, ‘is a reverend thing; I recognize its right, as king with king: Speak on.’”[144] To take this right away from any portion of our _fellow-subjects_--even if you say they are not _fellow-citizens_--will be barbarous. And when I consider under what influence this proposition is brought forward, I present it as a fresh illustration of the Barbarism of Slavery,--most barbarous in the unconsciousness of its Barbarism. The outrage is apparent from a simple statement. In all the States--even in the Slave States--a free colored man may hold property of all kinds, personal or real,--even land, in which citizenship strikes its strongest root; but you will not allow him the poor right of petition. He may own stocks of the United States, Treasury notes, and in other ways be the creditor of the Government; but you will not allow him the poor right of petition. He is strictly bound by every enactment upon our statute-book; and yet you will not allow him to appear before you with a prayer to modify or soften this statute-book.