Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-09

matic,l individuals, who were disposed 10 be bu-
sy bodies in other mems matters. If the House
had any respect for a sister State, n SOVEREIGN
State, they would rerd such nemorial,sts a.
thesc-they would throw such memorial under
the table, and not ag.ravatc to a yet higher de-
, gree, the feelings of a Stale already wrought
up to higher pi'ch than she could bear, and
| who only wanted the application of a match to
blow the Union into ten thousand fragments;
" hen there was not State South of the P,,o-
mac, which not, at this moment under the
highest degree OF excitement, whose People
were not rising against oppression, nnG by town
| meetings aud every other form of expressing
public opinion, were endeayoring to bring the
United States TO sense OF Justice Would
that House consent to ma Ike Itself the instrument
| OF adding excitement to excitement till thew
should rend the Union to pieces? few s,eps
more, and they would bring those States to a
condit on ike that, in which the colonies were
Immediately before the rupture with Great Bril-
tain. He warned,-he cautioned gentlemen; he
would not stoop to enreat them. Memorial.
like these could be got up at any time by
set of deludrd fanatics. Congress should look
to the condi ION of the old States, and not bv a
reckless and unfeeling course provoke them vet
farther. He prayed gentlemen to consider He
warned the House TO proceed with prudence,
and consideration, and though he would rot i'm
plore hem, yet he earn's y warnt d them 10 dis
| regard such q m mortal.
~, d.
the gentleman from Georgia had great reason
to ds'rust himself in reference to the important
question bt fore tn" Huuse. He believed the
| House had seldom wi messed greater emotion on
more inadequate cocssion. The gentleman
seemed to imagine that the petition which had
| been presented, came from the State Of New
York
| lIlrre Mr. CLAYTON, speaking acro's, said he
hid corrected hmsclf Bui it was no such thing.
II was petition from citizens of the United
States, who possessed, by the CoIrsu,ion, q
| right which no gentleman there was competent
to question, TO present their wishes, hopes and
opinions, to the House Of Representatives,.
What was the question: The memorial pre-
sented a statement Of what had been the law
from the earliest period of our National History
until the present time. law which was pub
iic'y known in the nation, and which was sus-
tanned by the treaties of the United States, ard
| by the Constitution. Against which of
| law, Georgia had assumed Jurisdiction which
did MT belong to her, and under the exercise Of
which, two American citizens had been commit.
ted tn prison.
MIR. p. asked whether there was the least por-
ton or ingredient of novelty in the statements
which the petition presented. Was this new at
tempt to resist tho entertainments of Gcorgias-
Far from 1t. Tho petitioners stood up for law,
which while this country possessed any thing that
could be called antiquity, might claim that antiqui-
ty, having been cooval with the existence of the
Government.
| Such memoralists we're not TO be charged with
raslness, or with an attempt at usurpation if thoy
presented their view to the House in a respectful
manner. The petition consonant with tho
| uniform law of tho country. He not prepared
TO say whether, In selecting one of two Commit
tees, any of tho grave and momentous questions
to which tho gentleman from Georgia had alluded,
did or did not arise, but il they did, there an
OBVIOUS Propricty IN sending the memorial to a Sc
lcct Committee. The judgment of tho House. or
o! the Speaker, so advised, would place on such 4
Committee tho talents and tho temper so eminent
~ requisite IN giving to this subject the censidera-
ton 1t deserves In saying this, however, he
meant no disrespect 10 the Committee on Indian
Affairs That Committee had been organized
without any reference to such question as this,
but a selection made at this time, would be made
win direct reference to the subject. He hoped
the House would not DO thought to interfere with
what was often called the sovereignty of Georgia
The use of that expression, however, was but
begging of the question. In the matter in hand,
georgia was not sovereign and the gentleman, in
calling her so. assumed The chief thing in dispute
The circumstance of a solemn and recent decision
OF the Supreme Court gave to the subject addition
al Importance. Such subject of itself suffi-
Gent for Select COMMITTEE and this consideration
aono was sufficient to decide his vote in favor of
such Committee.
MIR. THOMPSON, of Georgia, said that he pre-.
| sumed it WINS not the opinion of(ony nJs Inber OF
tho House that it was proper, at shis tlmo, to
enter upon the discussion Of the great Indian
question. Few could doubt, that, in some form or
other, the subject must BIO discussed during the
session. He should not enter into it at present,
but would merely offer few remarks in reply to
the gentleman from Massachusetts,, (Mr. Adams.)
That gentleman had not stated any specific obec-
ton to the reference of the memorial to the Com
mttee on Indian Affairs. On the contrary, he
had expressly admitted that under the rules of ,he
House, that would be the appropriate Committee
But no had advcrted to a recent occurrence in an O.
Their part Of tho Capitol, which he seemed to think
ought to govern the decisions of this House.
Could il be possibe7 Could any gentleman posi-
bly, think, that q decision of the Supreme Court
ought to dictate course to that House7 Suppose
1t should tura out on a calm investigation that
with regard to this very point there conflict
ing decisions Of that tribunal? How then? But
enough of that. The gentleman from Massachu
setts proposed Select Committee. Why7 This
preference was probably founded on the idea that
the Indian Committee would take different view
of the subject from Select Committee. But was
that any reason why tho rules of the House should
be departed frem7 Would not the same objection
apply to a Select Committee as to the Committee
on Indian Affairs1 Select Committee will of
course BIO composed of gentlemen in favor of the
memorial. This was parliamenta ~. But it form
cd as great an objection to Select Committee, as
any supposed proposition of a Standing Committee
did to it. A departure from the rules of the House.
for the most part, resulted in waste of time. AS
the whole subject would hereafter come before the
House, and would receive a fair and full discus
sion under different shape, he hoped the gentle
man would consent to its lying for the present on
the tablo. Mr.. I. concluded by making that mo.
ton.
Mr.. ELLSWORTH asked him to withdraw it,
bat no refused.
! Mr.. WHITTLESEY then demanded the Yoas
and Nays on the question Of laying tho memorial
| on The Table.
They were ordered by the House, and boing Ia
ken, stood as follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Adoir, Alexander, Anderson,
Angel Archer, Ashley, John s. Barbour, Barn.