Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-02
ALEXANDRIA, Cd. c.
THURSDAY MORNING. LaNU.aRY 2, 1891
THE PRESCRIPTION.

he
seen, has appealed to the Representatives of the
People to interpose in behalf of the right of op.
MON and the liberty of speech. Will his appeal
be disregarded bv those whose province it Is "a
preserve the freedom of the citizen? We sub
Join what occurred in the House OF Representa-.
tlves on the subject on tuesday:
MIR. DAVIS, Of Mass, rose and said that he
held m his hand the petition of Noah Fletcher,
native citizen of Massachusetts, but at present
of the District of Columbia, and lately Clerk
in the service of this House, which stated that
he had long been In the service of the Govern.
ment, not, however, in any Office of distinction
and emoIument, but as a abOrer. That be had
removed from his native State to this District,
where he bad contracted the relations of hus.
band and father. and had family of numerous
children, dependent upon his exertions. That
all he had been able to save out OF the earnings
of many years OF toll was invested in this CITY,
Mr.. ID said, further, that he understood the me.
morialIst was IN esteem here for good conduct
being universally held as man of upright and
honorable character. He came to this House TO
demand redress for what he conceived to be an
injury inflicted upon him. He had been renOg.
ed from office without previous admonition, and,
so far as he knew, without fault. The petition.
er. Mr. ID. SAID, considered this House as the
sanctuary of the People Of the country, the sane.
tuary, il peculiar manner, OF their liberties and
privileges.
1t was here that free citizen of this Republic
might flee. and lay hold upon the horns of the
altar. Here, to the Representatives OF the whole
nation, he might pour out his grievances, aud
tell his wrongs; and it was here that he had
right to demand redress. He must be allowed
to say that the eyes of the nation were aIways
directed towards this body with peculiar int,
rest, inasmuch they looked to it as the last re.
fuge of liberty. No wrong, no violence, 20 ar.
btrary despotIc use OF power. should here be 10.
erated. And if, said Mr. d., there is, 10 he
community, Verres, whose arm shall dare to
put the scourge over the helpless, it ought to be
safeguard enough for any man to say, :. / an e
Roman citizen" Here, Mr. ID. said, was a
humble individual, who came TO this House, not
as a Roman, but as an American citizen. who
asked, respectfully but firmly, of this body the
redress of an injury which he considered himself
as having sustained. II was one Of the great
privileges OF ali American citizen to think and
act, so long as he acted within the law, according
to his own Judgment and understanding. This,
said he, is the great prer0gatlve we all claim
1T is the great attribute OF freeman, and the
characteristic of liberty itself.
1t belongs to our freedom that each man shall
be permitted to utter his sentiments without re.
straint, according to the dictates of his con.
science and understanding; and wherever this is
impugned, 1t is the duty OF this House to inter.
pose, and exert its guardian power. 1t is for
this body to preserve the citizens of this country
from being brought under subsection to any pow.
er or authority that may rise up and seek to do
mineer. Under conviction Of this truth, the
hor
And, give me leave to say, oppression, no
abuse of power, should ever be tolerated within
these walls.
Mr. CLAY, Of Alabama, he called Mr. Da.
Wis to order, insisting that he violating the
45th rule OF the House, which directs that when
a member presented petition. he should only
briefly state what it contained. The gentleman
on the contrary. was going to deliver his views
as to what were the liberties of the People, and
into an argument on the merits of the petitioner.
The CHAIR said, the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts was certainly cut of order, and must
conflne his remarks to statement of what the
memorial contained.
Mr.. DAVIS replied, that it was far from be-
ing his intention to excite the feelings of gentle
men, tar less OF the learned gentleman from Ala
bama, by any remarks he had made He thought
that the ordinary indulgence of the House would
Po' "'" ~ P'o'u ouJeCI VI tue ine'HOi''
al, and the reasons why it ought to be received.
So far as his information extended, the course
which had been pursued toward this individual
was without a precedent. II was SO stated, and
1t seemed to him proper that The House shea!d
inquire into the case; that the memorial should
be entertained, that the House should inQuNe
who 1t was that has been guilty OF this offensive
exercise of power. The memorial stated that
had been done by an officer of the House: BY an
individual. who but few days since had been
elevated bv the voice of that body to the place
he held. Mr.. ID held that, as such, lie was &C
eountable to the authority that had appointed
him.
The SPEAKER here interposed. and again re-
minded MIR. ID. that he was not in order
Mr.. DAVIS said he should not proceed farther,
it that was the opinion of the Char. He had en-,
" been giving reason why this memorial should
be entertained by the House, and why the House
should act upon the subject to which it referred,
and enquire for what reason power had SO Geen
exercised The memorallst, he said, went on 10
state that he had been removed without CAUSE.