"If there be any plausible reason for supposing that we have the right to legislate on the slave interests of the District, you cannot put down the investigation of the subject out of doors, by refusing to receive petitions"

This quote by Caleb Cushing recommends that if there is a reasonable validation for the federal government to enact laws on the servant interests of the District, then it ought to not be overlooked. Cushing is recommending that the government needs to not simply decline to receive petitions on the matter, but must rather examine the concern even more. This quote suggests that Cushing thinks that the federal government needs to take the time to think about the issue and not merely dismiss it without further consideration. Cushing is recommending that the federal government should be open to hearing the viewpoints of individuals and need to not simply overlook them. This quote is a reminder that the government need to be open to hearing the voices of the individuals and should not simply neglect them.