Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-05
was referred to the Committee on the District of colom
The motion having been taken up

against snspendng the rules for the purpose taking Cd
tne resolution offered by the gentleman from Georpia
tMr OwensD must have convinced the House and es
peciay those gentlemen from the South who had voted
the former petition on the table pconsistenty
with their Friday las, upon the saline proposition
Of The fuity of any as had been proposed
Tor procuring direct vote of the House the princ
pies involved IN The petitions that had been oeTa and
would continue to he offered praying the abolition ~
slavery In the District of Columbia Those with ,vbo,
ne e anu acted on Ibis question, gave this apparently
inconsistent vote under the belief that there would he M
difficulty in suspendpg the rules 10 take nm the promo
suon OF the gentleman from Georgia. They so cacu-
lated, and were deceived or mistaken l. said MIR p
taken ~ ~ ny his
That vote, said Mr. r., think, has further demon
srated that it is idle attempt to avoid this subject bv
any parliamentary maneuvrc and that the only wav Of
ooaning direct vote upon the great and interesting
questions embraced by them, is by making proposo5
presenting the question growing of the petitions in
connexIon with the petitions themselves
WI. speaker II Is necessary that this House should
oe aPprsed and fully impressed with the necessity of
quoting the anxiety the agitation and The alarm, for the
institutions OF the country which abroad in the land
ana mat as the MEANS perhaps only means of doing
So should meet those questions directly and disnose u
them decisively and permanently.
am ready to meet these questions and believe ex.
press the universal sentiment of the from
the south, IN saying that they are ready TO meet il md
wnie we do not desire discussion and for one will do
nothing TO provoke it, at the time we will not we
cannot we dare not shrink from it, if it be forced mon
US rom other quarters prefer voting upon the ones
uohs az once, and without discussions if possible If
ths SUBJECT must be discussed it ought TO be discussed
ana IT is hoped will be discussed in the spirit which
ought to characterize members of the same political
family, and alike mbued with the patriotic purnose az
rendering permanent this great and glorious Union
et he vote referring this petition be rcconsidered
% maze by inadvertence, and then the petition
VIII De open again for consideration; and in connect;on
with IT. let tho principles involved in the petition he
sened Tor the consideration and decision of the House in
some FORM, which will show distinctly and uneouivocoI
W mat majority of the representatives. of the peola
OF The North we'll as of the South are onposc 10 r.
scnees oil me Ahoi'tionists and also to the efforts
Wcn are making to interfere with the subject of slave
ry IN the District of Columbia Let be shown if the
So mat there is such majority opposed TO an inerar
ehce with slavery in this District: not upon cons;,,,
ons merely temporary, and influenced by existing noli
uca circumstances but upon those high and paramount
CONSIDERATIONS winch belong 10 the great rights Of pro-
P, DIS wen as lndl' ldual and political safety which
are connected with il. ~ ~
My own strong abiding aud confding opinion is. that
nis Government has no right abolish slavery 10 the
District of Columbia But sir am aware ofibe d;g;
cuies which xist in the minds of many gentlemen Go
inc, ,e worm on inns question 1t s perhaps RATIONAL that
tey should, from their position, their habits of thinkn
ana their preJudces, entertain difficulty ON this
SUBJECT than we do feel every disposition 10 reepect
ter opinions, TO make great allowance eyen for ther
prrJudices Give us, then, distinct unequivocn and
unevaSive vote upon the propriety of in,erfering
M VIII .ne subject OF slavery in the District of Co
interference upon the gounds of principle ner,na
nent, ablding.which reach above and 90 beyond lhe
transient and heetng circumstances Of the hour and mn,
influenced by tho existing political contests of the dov
10 thIs ana care nothing about discussing or dccid
,~g o me ;i question will quarrel about
whut WIZ then be mere abstraction declaration of
the conviction of the House. that they will NOT and tho,
.ongress ought not to interfere in this matter NOV, -
hereafter, will satisfy the people of the South and s
caiy the States of Virginia Maryland who are mare
especially interested in the question Ii shouId he knov
it is not disguised it would be mere afn,a, =,
tempt TO conceal the fact that there does exist in man
parts OF the Southern country a strong apprehens;on
WIN not say sospicon-that there are some here and
iy and directly
r 80 6" That paller with US in a double sonsou
ne Char here remarked that the gentleman from,
Virginia would be pleased TO remember that vas NJ,
Properto discuss the merits of the petition upon the mo-
ton 10 re-considerJ
Mr.. f. resumed:
was not MIR. Speaker discussing the merits ne tho
question; and am that the Chair ON rcfection a
wen as Tie House, will do the Justice to remember
that have not said one word in the yav of arTnma,'
on Tie merits OF the question involved in the petition -
an urging me proPrety of considerations so that
we may nave direct vote upon these principles and f
need be, discuss them repeat then and saw /, for
no purpose or wish to the feelings TO influence
that OF rouse lne resentment OF any gentleman here
lnot mere does exist an apprehension, that there are
some who wish to cvade this question and who sea,
70 be WIN us, while they in truth against us; that
Keep me wod OF promise to the and brock il TO the
hope " " '
II rs necessary in every point of view to have direct
vote on this question Let such decision bc made a.
trusts and am willing to believe there will he 1ou b
votes heretofore taken and the present excitement ~
The country will be aayed So far as this subject is
concerned the South will repose again in the confidence
that this most essential and vital interest of theirs viii
not be disturbed and made the subject of perpena arJ
angry conflict Let IL be sure that the efforts made BY
esc Peutons VIII not be entertained by Compress now
nor hereafter, and you will once calm the trouled
waters OF agitation. Refuse TO do it, and You incur Tho
FISK OF aggravating that excitement into storm which
may shake the pillars of the Confedeacy 10 their deenes
foundation sP'''
Mr. Adams and suid he hoped the motion IN re
consider TINS vote would not prevail and he expressed
tls hope Tor The very which the gentleman from
Virginia (Alr Pation) had assigned for voting In fovor
oil he motioh II appears TO me (sad Mr. A y that the
only way OF getting this question onl the view of the
House aud OF the nation, is 20 dispose of all pc ons IN
the subject ~ the same way Tbs is not opinions
assumed this position IN my very FIRST act as n,erobey
oil THIS House, from tho very time when first took nv
seat ~ member of the 22d Congress AT thattime ~
teen petitions were transmitted 10 me- not from nv oc
constituents, but from citizens of the Society of Friends
IN the state oil PennsyVania with request that would
present them TO The House Sir, did so i'm homage 10
The sacred right Of potitona right which in Whatever
manner il may be treated by other members If die
House. shall never be treated by other than with re-
spect.
But, sir not being in favor Of the object Of The ne
uuons j then gave notice TO the House and 10 the
country that, upon tie supposiiion that these petitions
bad been Transmitted 90 one undcT the expectation
that should present them, felt it my duty 10 say
should not support them. And sir tie reason which,
gave at that time or declining to support them ygns
precisely the same reason which The gentleman from
va. now gives for rCcoBsidering ihs motion-pameIv
to Keep The discussion of the subject ont Of the House
said SIR, that believed this discussion would be alto.
geher Improbable TO the House aud 30 the country but
10 Difference TO he sacred right Of petition moved bat
these fhccu petitions, all Of which we're numerously
signed, should be referred the Committee ON the Dis
trct 81 Columbia, at The hcod of which was nj that
time, distinguished citizen Of Virginia now regret to
soy-ana tue whole country has occasion 10 reereno
more. These petitions were thus referred and after n
short period Of time, the chairman Of the Committee on
The District OF columbia made report 10 this House
which report read, and unanimously accented and
L.. utrfe hal ~op hoo f.lt al