Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-29
- VOLUME EXXRY.--NO. 20.

P'cVa'ed 1t distinctly DECLARED that the motion to
Fe Ut not receive the petlinn would be in order
'' was competent motion, which any member ftlIc
House had right TO make Now il was understood az
naVinS Deeh received, the proposition not to receive is
merely cut OFT That seemed 10 be the effect If that
De the etectand ii be the effect tho IIouso did mt
intend TO productive trusted the House rond nut ;,s.lf
IN s'nfW quo-and that they should have nm opporunitv
OF phunS direct vote upon it, lfthat was the state of
tic question, Mr. p. would feel himself compelled to mor.
RECOMMENDATION of the vote just taken.
Mr. Bcards!ey said the rig INT to petition was sacred
guaranteed 10 the citizens Of the United States by
the Constitution and was therefore, the House was
o"uno 10 respect 10 otvlate the objections urged by
'ne gentleman he would withdraw his motion to Law the
petition on the table, and move lay the resolution of
The gentleman from South Carolina to reject the petition
OH the table. F'
| Mr. Hammond asked for the yeas and nays. which
! ordered - ~
MI Wise rose to point OF orGer. It seemed to him.
according 10 the usual action Of the House. that the mo-
lon OF the gentleman from New York (hIr Beardslev)
must De out OF order. motion made originally to
5eJect the petition; whreupon motion was then made
10 lay The petition the table, but being withdraw
ne question then came upon the motion of the gentle.
,an 'r SCUM carolina nstancr The motion, there
'o5e 70 lay That motion on the table was out of order
because the Honsc had decided it would in,mc,i;s,.I
| consider the motion to reject.
Inc Speaker said the House had decided they would
consider The petition now, but pending the considerations
the House may decide to lay the table and therefore,
the motion in order.
Mr.. Wise would ask the Chair if there was any pen
ce1.J VI CONSIDERATION III motion TO consider!
lhe Speaker SAID pending the consideration Uf oucs
ti", Was competent Tor any member to to lay the
matter the table.
Mr.. Wise. The motion then before the House was
eiicctuaily to undo the decision Of the House already
Mr. tiaton begged TO inquire Of the Chair as il would
govern ms VOTE II the motion to lay the table the mo-
Ion to reject prevailed, whether the petition would also
60 on 'h table or what would be the pending question:
The Chair understood that by affirmative vote on
the motion to lay the motion 10 reject the table, the
petition also would go the table with it.
MI bcaTdsey said AS gentlemen seemed TO feel some
embarrassment III voting upon this proposition, though
he himself did not, he would withdraw his last MOTION
and rencw the other To lay the petition the table.
Mr. Wise asked for the yeas and nays; which were
dcred
was read from the Clerk table.
MT Thomas said. ne surprised to discover that
There are gentlemen who not content with the evil
drnce which has already been given that Il very large
majority OF this House opposed to any interference
whatever, not only with the rights Of slave holders in
the Southern States but with the existence of slavery
within the District of Columbia. We have already
aId on the table, by vote Of nearly three to one
memorials similar To the unG, considerations
but gentlemen say those votes cQuivocal they wish
to have direct proof that the hts OF slave holders
not in danger from any interference the part of Con-
grcss Mr.. i. said he did not in this opinion
The vote to lay the table had been given to signify
decided opposition to the prayer of the petitioners;
rertEIclcss, he would make motion which would, he
L" afford an opportunity 10 remove all misrepresentation
which really existed and deprive every every where
OF all prccxt ior maintaining that Southern property and
Southern ights arc in danger.
MIR. i. then moved TO Reconsider tho vote Just given
by the House in uvor of considering this petition and
sad, II this motion is adopted shall then have this
petition before us in the position in which it placed
when fist presented 10 the House. In the vote given
III favor OF considering this memorial, many members
had been undoubtedly taken by surprise. Some MEM
Lers who IN favor of rejecting this and other similar
memorials and others who favor Of receiving and
then laying ON the table this and oil petitions of like i'm
port, united ~ the vote which he had moved .cousi.
der his strange combination could not have been
ted without mistake somewhere. Gentlemen must have
supposed that By the adoption of the motion consider
TINS memorial, the difficulty which has arisen by reason
OF the decision OF the Chair would alone be removed
and that, instead Of posponng until to- morrow all ac
ton this subject would proceed to dispose Of
It-cIrr by vote to reject, 10 lay it The table
am disposed, MIR. Speaker, to aft rd unncccsya.
rIly an opportunity 10 discuss here the relative rights Of
muster and slave As one of the representatives of
sIavcholding Stale, would never provoke cxamna-
ton here calculated To- create false hopes the minds of
all ignorant and stupid population. We have been tod
know not how truly that great and general excitement
has already been produced in some Of the Southern
States, by the circulation Of few taatical pamphlets
If this be- true is not Madness, than Madness
struggle TO elicit evidence that there in tina, House
any one man willing to rc-echo the sentiment WHICH
these endary publications contain: have been OPP
posed, sir to all discussion onH this sui. ec and
curdugly have voted repeatedly in the two preceding
Congresses TO lay on the table every proposition cacu
lated to elicit useless and angry debate And have been,
and grateful TO the representatives from The North
and West where slavery does not exist for their cordial
and earnest effort 10 cxtnguIsl every frcbrand whE
has been thrown in here, either in the form Of spef IN
pcliticns tending TO destroy the broad ounds,i orr
which our Union rests. But is it not obvioW srccos,,
eycrtlons have not been crowned with comE, aLi;,;on
In the last two Congresses, the petitions r our rrn,o
lists were laid the table, evidEn =, ,Ln ,,ctrn,
button Of their Objects Notwithstanding ns,i,nns, and
session We have already receives several more. these
shaIi probably nave to alSp0fs abroad, who have
doubt, vices enough at tnou;mr, oL;s,;an charty NJ
'|r correction that eh, and manifest so little, nothing
d,mv,nt inn pour their poisons into that nation
al chacc, from Ihcl the whole people Of the United
States have p long quaited the sweet waters OF Con,
cn-J ,nJ UAon Now what is TO be done? For one,
nm rrrnorI meet directly every question connect
I'D wi,b hrse memorials. | am willing TO follow the
cceJe, set by Congress another que'.ion The op-
popcts Of Sunday mail peloned Congress; their me-
r hts were Rejected because their object was unrea-
,slr they Dc rsstrd, and their numbers increased;
lir House OF Representatives finally referred all those
t,ons 10 a select committee, from winch emanaeo one
o The mos, mastery State pupers which has ever been
published in the country 1t was addressed to inc un
tersandug TO the passions OF the american people,
aud there was response from oil quarters 10 lis cogen
were unanswcred aa are and The pe
toners were silcnccd. The oil was spisad over the
troubled waters and the turbulent became still.
Gentlemen say VIC must prevent any discussion Ia the
subject Of these memorials because they must inevitably
disturb the harmony Of our Union. There was time
when The force Of this could be fully FELT by all
But has not that time gone by; Without our agency,
indeed in defiance of all precautions on the part OF Con-
gross. the power and purpose Of the General Govern
to interfere with the question OF slavery has Oeeh
aud will be- discussed in every newspaper IN every Pc
rlodical publication, from Maine to Missouri. 1t Is
gross error to suppose that this House can, BY mere
sic roo give law to the people OF the United States
The m,,Lcrs Of this House not in positions stable
cnouIh fer la, To attempt it would be vain as the
crt Of Xcrxcs to chain with links O.. iron the surglng
,eo Our march is not 20 be always on the mountain
wave If popular opinion. We nrc here today-we arc