Caleb Cushing

The right of petition is an old undoubted household right of the blood of England, which runs in our veins. ”

These our great natural rights we keep to ourselves; we will not have them tampered with; respecting them we give to you no commission whatsoever. ”

I maintain that the House is bound by the Constitution to receive the petitions; after which, it will take such method of deciding upon them as reason and principle shall dictate. ”

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. ”

Be the responsibility on their heads who raise this novel and extraordinary question of reception, going to the unconstitutional abridgment, as I conceive, of the great right of petition inherent in the People of the United States. ”