Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-31
TWeahty-fourth COngrcss--lst Sess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Friday, December Is, 1885.

Mr.. Hopkins said, that they very much en-
barrassed and it occurred to him that there but
conceivable mode by which they could be relieved from
that embarrassment. He understood that by the rule of
the House, upon the presentation Of petitions unl-c
question is required to be put BY of The House,
or ny The Speaker that ih- received matter
OF course i'll oi!:cf words, received by vote Of the
Hous1 5a0 scno. If this be fact, then, this petition
had been received. 1t seemed To him that the best mode
would be TO throw the petition back again the point
where it left by the gentleman who presented it !;
and in order to do that he would propose to
consideration of the Of the House by which the Pc
gentleman from Maryland, (Mr Tholnas) and move 4
reconsideration Of the vote of the House, whereby the
petition lad been received.
MIR. Mason of Virginia, said his colleague would be
satisfied, upon moments reflection, that no benefit
could result from such motion 1t was the constItu-
tional right Of the people Of this country to petition to
that House. and vote was ever taken on receiving
petition When an honorable representative and
presented petition it received; and the first qucs
lion which any member had right to demand was that
be considered If the House determine not 10 cons
der IT, they to determine at once and that he under
stood be the point their proceedings at Which il was
the object r tie gentleman from Maryland TO arrive; and
Mr. NJ hoped the gcntemans motion would be adopted.
He had hoped that after The proceedings which had al
ready taken place in that House, there would have been
general acquescence in the only, if not the express
sense of the House, by overwhelming majority, not
10 entertain such petitions that under considerations
The only mode in which there could be more direct
sense Of the House the jet was by adopting the
motion of the gentleman from Maryland; and then 1t 1t
be the pleasure Of the minority of the House not to con-
slider tie petition and 10 determine at once, there the
matter would end, and he hoped the motion would be
adopted and then that the House would determine not
20 consider the petition.
Mr. Beardsley satisfied that NEST Of the difficulty
arose from isconccption. The honorable member from
s. Carolina desired to have direct vote of the House
upon the motion to reject, not to receive the petition
under colside Other gentcmcn who agreed with
,l,o 1,.t
Chair said they would not vote in the affirmative on such
ii question: because it in violation OF the rights OF
the people Of this country 10 petition upon all SUBJECTS
and the House Of Representatives was bound to receive
their petitions When received, 1t was true the House
E,rht Ccclnc acting thcm might dispose OF them
in variety of ways For himself Mr. b. said, the House
having received this Petition lie ready 10 give d-
rect vote upon it, vote that should mark the opinion OF
the House upon the character Of such Petitions by say
in atIrna;ivcly that they would not consider It, II
that would meet the views of honorable gentlemen, he
was wiling to modify his motion TO lay on the table,
and 10 move that the House would not consider the pc
li,;on or would reject It's prayer; although laying 1t on
the table, he though equivalent 10 either OF the moIi-
cations indicated.
All MI g. desired 10 preserve the right of their
constituents to petition sacred and invaluable right
guaranteed to them under the Constitution, and the cX-
crcse of which the HOUSE bound to treat with re-
spcct If the pctition were in insulting TERMS they might
send back but if their constituents sent them one that
was respectful in its language but OF whose prayer they
entirely approved let them lay it on the table or re-
ect its PRAYER. II any gentleman supposed tat Votc
of the House not to consider this petition and all other
petitions Of the same character, would more distinctly
mark tic Reproduction of the House, then MIR. Is. would
6ho re sts5R!HFs mody his mo',1n' why tGe e
gentleman from MARYLAND Ps5 s Enat purpose VAS j,
entertain the question OF rejecting inc lrti'i"" re
understood that be the object of the mover, and if
he hopcd the House would not reconsider, but they
would preserve their constituents tho right OF pc.
toninr and by lay the table, preclude all
further debate upon this exciting ana mischevous
Mr. Boudin said he willing to meet this question
in any wav He had been the last session ard the
session before, and declared his willingness then, in de-
ference and respect TO mis- Southern brethren. VINO ne
knew agreed with him in interest and feeling; and al
teir sugnesiion he agreed with them in voting to give
The mattel the roby He then thought and still thought,
that the people Of The South ought to know and 10 Sec
and to hear, all that Know and see and near upon
this subject He anxious, however, that II tney
were TO come to any expression OF opinion ana teens
n, This matter so lnomcntous TO the South, that they
should not be brought to that vote entangled by the
rules of that House. He wished, when the OPINION OF
the South upon this subject should be expressed, and
their feelings made known, 1t would he dome IN way
hot wouid leave no doubt what that opinion and those
feelings were. And he was persuaded, that when
their opinions and feelings came unshackled ny forms or
rules or any thing but the mere question llse inc oou
would satisfy the North, East and Ncst-"ould satisy
rhc whole worId-nay, would convince even fanatics
themselves that they must let MS alone upon this point
and convince them and all the agtators and movers OF
these petitions that they had as we'll let US alone, ana
.nuloy themselves in removing from their own eye the
b.an which is in ii, rather than disturb themselves so
npch about the that is in their brothers eye Let
ms not said Mr. b. TO vote that Will leave the
world in doubt whether voted on the rule or inc tnS
let this petition pass and doubt they will be com
ing again to morrow-ayc, IN nall i'our"'. one uas
vii enable US to meet il face face. and Toe to toe, ana
po We neither them nor the world in doubt what we mean
MIR B. concluded by saying. that lie rose 10 ask "i'l
would be the effect OF his votc-aye or noon the Gucs
ton itself. lie would give the best vote lie coulo; ou'
did moi know himself how that vote would be unoerslood
He would content himself with the bc!iei thai Inc ques
ton would come up in form which would ieaVe ITO
doubt either with himself OF any one -,
Mr. Pcy,on was in favor OF the m@noh 10
Hc would not have troubled the House with any re-
marks apan but for the position assumed by the gcnte
man from New York That gentleman COMMENDED lhal
the rirht Of petition was sacred Iight sua'a"''eu "
eyery American citizen under the Constitution ana lat
the House had right TO deprive them OF the exercise
Of that right Mr. T. said they had the right 10 peto
and to think and TO say what they Peased and
they had the right to send any matter they choose
out all the country, without regard 10
and that House had no power 10 resist theH' TIC
,;nod that when il came 10 that House, the represent
t,,ves had the right to treat it and dispose o. i IN
a manner as they thought best. was inc sacieu IN.
of peti,ion any drarer than many other sacred lgS
the right 10 property. to liberty, anu 10 e b. the
not The attention of the House been called, py inc
aoe of the President of the United States, 10 ms very
question of this sacred right Of think'ng ana "l'ans
and sending through the mail such documents as WE
then before them Should they connect the efforts OF
few fanatics disturb the harmony ana Peace ..
country with those sacred and lnaenaole flghs 10 w'1
the gentleman alluded: Should they connect lnc d.
TEMPT whether came by petition to Congress or by
document transmitted in any other mooe, 70 'n!TT
STeLrand into the South with the sacred rights OF Oe
The Sneaker reminded the gentleman that the merits
Of The question could not be gone into under the motor
Mr. Pey,on only meant to reply to what he CONSIDERS
to be the constitutional right conended LOT oy ,e gen
rbere to send such papers and petitions there lie
epdea1ong to this by saying that the slave CUES
ION was not one to which the right of peoning
but that if it did, and petitions were sent to tat ous
d ,,n,rs of the same character were distributed owe
I un,rv il would have the effect OF touching cho1
,ro,eo all America.