Alfred H. Stone Collection
Volume: 111

22. Henry Clay, Speech of the Hon. Henry Clay, in the Senate of the United States, on the Subject of Abolition Petitions, February 7, 1839 (Boston: James Munroe & Co., 1839). (42 p.)

Speech regarding petitions that ask Congress to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. The speaker does not believe that these petitions should be ignored. However, neither does he believe that Congress should attempt to interfere with slavery in the District. His solution to the dilemma is to accept these petitions, consider them, and then reject them because the abolition of slavery is impracticable.