Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-16
GONG B s. S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!

MONDAY, Dec. II.
Mr ). - ADAMS presented 5 petitions, ea eli
! nt which was to the following tenor:
10 the Senate and House of Represenfatipes 81
! Auserica in Congress assembled:
The petition Of tho undersigned inhabitants
| OF Pennsylvania respectfully represents,
mat We believe slavery and .he slave tredc
! IN me human spcC.ea, is great national and
| moral eVI; we tne:eiera ask your body to take
the subject into scriofs consideration nd m So
such law Or lave will entirely abolish slavery
and the slave ira , IN he District IF Columbia
over which Consress has exclusive jurisdiction.
Mr.. Adams ohseycd, that the pcttinns
winch he had Prescntcd to the IIouse did no!
! come from the State of Mnssachnsctis y nor
ton OF whose community hn Ind the honor IN
represent but IRON cit zcns siding in the State
OF Pennsylvania. These p. titions had been
transmitted to hun many moutbs ago with ro
guest that he would present Them. Aithougb
they did not come from his immediate constitn-
ents, he could not refuse request implying a
degree Of confidence in him for which he WINS
bound TO be grateful. From a letter. by which
inc petitions were accompanied, lie inferred thew
were from persons belonging 10 the socis,v NJ
Friends-' a class Of mon for whom he enter,o;n,
cd ibe highest resGCCt--EDi AMONGST whnno in
hI5 hfIn opinion, there as mach of bnmsr
virtue and as litflo Of inffmily end error a. !,
any other class on the face Of the globe The
petition (@lr a. observod) asked two tI,iDcs. ono
a consideration Of the etnto of ;ha aIay, trpGa
IN the District Of Columbia. the other for THO
abolition OF sia7ery. If there were any tb;nr
~ the present state Of the traGic in slaves
winch might become proper subject Of !, rislo
uoh, hc would move that that portion of The no
tItleDs should be referred to the Committee = n
pointed on the affairs of the Dstrict of CoJun6t
DIR win respect to the other part the sboiition
OIL slavery, the petitioners probably expecfcd no
shonib give it his support He felt It hIs sytv |
20 declare, that he shouldn't give !. his supoo,t
w hal ever might DO his opinion Of slavorv ~ |
It1sfr trKr r ~
hoped It wnnld not become subject az d;
eussOn in that House.
1t such should be tho case, ha should then
state hIs reasons for differing from the Oonti-
iheH's OF the petitioners, on this vubIect. The
honorable gentleman concluded by oheorvir,
that the most healing medicines when undnIS
adInIn'ster9d, became the noost deadly poison.
The petitions were Ih,a referred 10 The Cop,
mittce on the District of Columbia
hlT' Mcrcer moved the following resolution.
which was read and laid upon the table. viz.
Re6oiUed, That there shall DO spnoi,fcJ CO..
The present session. and hereafter at tic commence
mont Of each session Of Congress comnitteo or
SeVen members Of this House, 10 bo styled ga
Committee on Roads and Canals whose duty il
snail be to take into consideration all such
and matters or things relating 10 roads and canai.
ana lho improvement of the navigation Of rivcrs |
as Snah DC presented, or may come in question
anc ns referred to them by tho House; n nd TO TO- !
port tneTeuPon; together with such propo,itiors
relative thcrsto, as TO them shall seem erpedicpt
On motion Of Mr.. Duncan it was
HesotUsd, That tho Committee on The PubI,
LANDS be instructed to inquire into the expedicncy
OF reducing the price Of public lands and Of giving
a preference 10 the actual settler.
6eSoEvcd, That tic same Committee be insfrucf
pa 70 lnqoro INTO The e1pedcncy Of authorizing
me sole OF public lands in lets Of forty neres or in
IU0rfer-g quarter sections " "
On motion Of CIR. Polk It was
Resotred, That The Message ~ tho ProsiJon+ n
ne mite" oia:o:, with Bee aeco.nIarvirr docu.
mems Of the an inst. upon the subject Of tic f1n
enfus OF the United States, he referred to a Sc. !
ect Io5AIni'tee and that said COMMITTEES he in '
iruetod to TsPor1 bill fixing tho rotio Of rpnys