The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-02 00:00:00

SLAVER Y.

TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS—SECOND
SESSION.
ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JAN. 7.
Mr. Stokeley, of Ohio' presented a petition for the re-
cognition of Hayti ; and one for the repeal of all laws
width compelled the people of the free States to support
slavery.
Mr. Geddings next presented a petition in the terms
of petitions presented previously, for a law to prevent
the transportion of slaves coastwise, in vessels of the
United States.
Mr. W. C. Johnson said the question involved the
broad question of slavery, and he was understood to say,
that he could not consent to its reception without debate.
Mr. Wise and Mr. Adams rose and addressed the
Speaker simultaneously..
Mr. Wise, whose voice was heard above some half
dozen others who were addressing the Chair, inquired
w hether the petition could lie over, unless it were received.
The Speaker's reply was not heard ; but it may be
inf. rred from the answer of
Mr. Wise, who said he rose then to a question affect-
ing the reception 'of the petition, to which he called the
attention of the House. It not only prayed for the re-
peal of all laws regulating or sanctioning the transport-
ing of slaves in vessels of the United States—which in-
volved the commercial as well as the naval marine—ut
of all laws regulating or sanctioning the " holding'. of
slaves—that is, that the property in slaves shall be can-
celled. And not only this, but it prayed that laws may
be passed, protecting the rights of all persons claimed or
held as slaves, who may be constitutionally entitled to
their freedom, by
going, with the consent of their mas-
ters, beyond the jurisdiction of the State in which they
are legally deemed to be slaves. Here was a new aspect
of Abolition. A slave passing three leagues to sea, no
matter in what vessel, was out of any " State, territory,
or district," and therefore a petition, praying for the
abolition of such slave, did not come within the rule.
Was then a slave, passing three leagues from Virginia,
ipso facto, free ? if this was not abolition, in its worst
form, he knew not what was. He asked whether the
decks of all our vessels, whether in the commercial or
naval marine, were not part of the territory of the United
States, though such vessel might be in the Mediterranean ?
Mr. Geddings claimed the privilege, with the consent
of the Speaker of the House, to reply to the remarks of
the gentleman from Virginia. The petition 'which he
had presented, notwithstanding the construction which
had been given to it, would speak for itself ; it prayed for
the repeal of all laws regulating or sanctioning the hold-
ing or transporting of persons as slaves in vessels of the
United States, sailing coastwise from one State to
another. It could not by any forced construction be said
to pray for the abolition of slavery in the slave States.
Mr. Wise—Look at the latter clause.
Mr. Geddings' reply was not distinctly heard, but he
was understood to say, in conclusion, that never since the
establishment of this Government had the transportation
of slaves from Africa been sanctioned, and who ever did
it, did so at his own peril.
Mr. Wise again called upon the gentleman from Ohio
to read the latter clause of the petition.
Mr. Geddings replied that the gentleman from Virgi-
nia could get the floor when no other man upon it would
think of asking for it; now he (Mr. Geddings) asked that
gentleman to permit him to make his remarks, and when
he had done the gentleman from Virginia could take the
floor, and reply if he thought proper. He (Mr. Gel-
dings) asked permission to speak to the question of or-
der, and to that he would confine his remarks. This
petition, then, he asserted, Asked for no interference,
but that the petitioners might be permitted to withdraw
from all interference with slavery—it asked not that sla-
very should be abolished, but that they might withdraw
their protection from all laws which sanctioned the trans-
portation of slaves coastwise. That was the very ques-
tion which was at issue, and he wished it to be under-
stood that the North did not wish to interfere with
slavery.

The Speaker then decided that the petition came within
the prohibition, and could not be received.
Mr. Geddings—What, not so much as pray for pro-
tection for those who are constitutionally entitled to their
freedom ? I move that that petition be referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
Mr. J. Campbell—l move to lay it on the table.
Mr. Geddings—And I call for the ayes and noes on
that motion.
Mr. Wise hoped his friend from South Carolina
(Mr. Campbell), would change his motion to one on the
question of reception.
Mr. Campbell assented, and the ayes and noes were
ordered.

Mr. Gordon—l would ask if the latter clause is not
already received ?
Mr. W. C. Johnson replied that when the petition was
first presented he objected to its reception, and when
the Speaker decided that part was not receivable, the
gentleman from Ohio desired that the remaining part
should be received, on which the gentleman from South
Carolina moved to lay the question of reception on the
table.—(Cries of " question, question.")
The Speaker directed the Clerk to call the names on
the question of reception.
The Clerk (Beginning alphabetically)
Quincy Adams."
Mr. Adams (in much excitement) cried at the top o.
his voice—Mr. Speaker, I will not answer as it now
stands, for I believe there is a trick in it.—(Confusion.)
The Speaker then announced the vote to be—ayes
104, noes 86 ; so that the motion to lay the question of
reception on the table was carried.

" John

Geldings then said he had a petition to present,
which differed from the one just disposed of ; it was a
petition from a number of respectable electors of the
State of Ohio, praying that proper steps may be taken
to repeal all laws, and the alteration of all Constitutional
provisions by which-the people of the free States, the
Federal Government, and this nation, are in any way
bound to countenance, protect, or aid in any manner, in
supporting and continuing the institution of slavery, or
keeping human beings in bondage,
_ _

Yin Wise asked if that did not come within the rule.

Mr. Geddings replied that the Speaker would per-
ceive it only asked that the people of the free States
should be exempted from protecting slavery. If the gen-
tleman from Virginia admitted that they were bound,
and could not be exempt, he would of course admit the
constitutionality of the free States to abolish. It was a
question, whether the people of the free States were to
be hound to support slavery.
Mr. Wise—l object to its reception, and I move to lay
the question of reception on the table.
Air. Geddings appealed to the gentleman from Virgi-
nia to withdraw his motion thatit might lie over for dis-
cussion. He made the request as a favour to the House
and to the nation, but especially so to the constituents of
the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. Wise—l cannot extend courtesy to the gentleman
so far as to indulge him, in playing the incendiary, to cut
the throats of my constituents.
-Nit% Geddings—l desire to say one word.—(Great
Confusion.) •
The Speaker (impatiently)—Gentlemen will please to
take their seats.

Mr. Geddings—l merely wish to say—(" Question.")
The Speaker—The question is on laying the question
of remptlon on the table. The ayes and noes were de-
manded and ordered.

The Ayes and Noes were then taken and resulted as
follow :—Ayes 105, Noes 86, so the question of reception
was laid on the table,

Mr. Geddings, having presented a number of petitions
of nu public interest, then said he had one signed by 33
citizens of Pennsylvania, praying Congress not to admit
any new State into the Union whose Constitution tole-
rates slavery.
Mr. Wise—l object to the reception of that petition.
Mr. James—And I call for the ayes and noes.
The Ayes and Noes gave the following result:—Ayes
102, Noes 82.

Mr. Geddings said he wished to justify himself to
those gentlemen who had intrusted to him their peti-
tions, and he held the petitions of 10,000 freemen, most
of them resident in Ohio, where they ranked amongst
the most respectable—preying to be relieved from the
necessity of aiding to hold human beings in bondage;
but after whr,t had passed, he should feel justified in
withdrawing them from the house, and returning them
to the petitioners, and submit to the people the question
how far they would submit to such legislative indignity.
Mr. Sherlock J. Andrews offered a petition on the
subject of the 21st rule, and remonstrating against the
stigmatising abolition petitions, or treating them in a
different manner from other petitions.
Mr. Adams called for the ayes and noes thereon, and
asked, with some vehemence, if it was intended to drive
the people into a state of rebellion.
The question of reception was laid upon the table—
Ayes, 99; Noes, 89.
Mr, Andrews then attempted to offer another petition
on the subject of slavery.
Mr. Campbell made the motion as before on its re-
ception.

-Mr. Andrews said he had fifteen petitions on the sub-
ject of slavery, which he supposed would be excluded, if
he might judge by the action of the House this morning,
and he should not, therefore, present them.
Mr. Weller presented a petition for the recognition
of Hayti. _ _

Mr. Cowen had several petitions on the subject of
slavery, but he was unwilling to occupy the time of the
House by calling for the ayes and noes, believing that
the same course would be followed. He, however, felt
bound to present them, and the House could dispose of
them as it thought proper. He presented several, and
the question of reception was in each case laid on the table.
Mr. Stokaley presented several, which shared the same
fate.

VISIT OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA 70 THE
DUKE OF WELLINGTON.—The King of Prussia honoured
the Duke of Wellington with his company. to a grand
banquet at Apsley House last evening, given by his
Grave to his Prussian Majesty anti the distinguished
members of his suite. The banquet, which was in
all respects of the most recherche description, was
followed by a grand concert, consisting almost entirely
of native talent, as the following list of the artistes who
took part in it will show :—Miss Adelaide Kemble, Miss
Rainterth, Miss Hawes, Mr. Stretton, Mr. Harrison,
and Signor H. Costa (brother to the conductor). Lindley
and Dragonetti also gave specimens of their un,
rivalled performances on their respective instruments.
srinte
The concert was under the supe ndence of Signor
Costa, of her Mskin,sty's theatre.
AN EAGLE.— OR Thursday last, Hugh
Menzies, one of Lord Ward's gamekeepers, captitre4
splendid golden eagle upon one of the Cileugarry hills.
This lordly denizen of the Nyiltis 4?,s been for years
known to the shepherds 4-14 the N.district of Glengarry, and
was reremarked,* sis ~kr his size as for his de-
struciton o,f game anti flocks, lie measures between the
tips a wings. when extended, eight feet three inches;
and from the point of the tail to the beak, three feet two
inches. He suffered little or no injury in the capture ;
and although he does not well brook the captivity, he is
quite lively.--Inverness Courier.