Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-28

dom of the press, and apply put it down. lie
had sort OF doubt but that committee Of tho House
could furnish why the prayer Of these petitions
should not be granted which would satisfy every
bic and humane individual in the country. lie begged
the majority OF the House. North and South, TO consider
whether it was not most just and likely to soothe and
appeared to him tia. would be the proper course, and
that it would be easy matter to show why the prayer
Of the petitioners should not be granted
The Speaker Of the House had the appointment OF the
committees of the House. and he from that portion
Of the country which most deeply interested against
the prayer of the petitioners, and he must be permitted
to say that portion which must be of one opinion, and
cannot dare not, express any other opnion The Speak
had already appointed the Committee the District
OF Columbia the chairman Of which and majority Of
members also from that portion of the Union. If
the Speaker of the House appoints Special Committee,
he will appoint such committee as he shall think best
suited to give sound and solid for the rcusa! Of
the House grant the prayer of thc petitioners. That
would leave the right OF petition unimparcd, and still
secured the House. No aboIonists nor any person
favorable 10 the views Of the petitioners could plead
that this destroyed the right of petition. He hoped, for
the peace and harmony of the community, and for the
peace and harmony of the House. that the petition might
be received He hoped that the sacred right Of petition
would remain unimpaircd and that nothing appearing
TO conflict with that right would be the Of the
House These the reasons why he moved that the
petition be received.
MIR. Miller concurrcd very fully in the views expressed
by the gentleman from Massachusetts. When petitions
OF this character first presented he OF opinion
that there two modes in which they might be dis
posed Of. The first was 10 lay them on the table with
out debate, and If this not deemed advisable
BY majority Of the House, then that they should be re-
fcred II the present pcrsevcrcd in it would
preclude the presentation of every other petition during
the days set apart for the presentation Of petitions Be-
sides, resolutions pending involving the whole sub
cct Under this view, and 10 enable other gentlemen
TO present their petitions, he moved to lay the premi
nary question Of the reception of the petition on the
table.
Mr.. McKennan asked for the yeas and nays, which
were not ordered.
The motion to lay the preliminary question the ia
BILE, was agreed 10.
Mr. Jenniier of Maryland attended and qualified
Mr. Adams presented petition from I60 or I70 citi-
zcns Of Western Pennsylvania, praying the abolition Of
slavery and the slave trade in the District Of Columbia
which he moved be received.
MIR. Glsscock said he had hoped that gentlemen
would have paused before they proceeded to introduce
other petitions Of the character, particularly after
the vote which had just been taken, and also when it
was known hata similar petition had been made the
der of the day for Saturday next and that the resou
tons embracing the whole subject NATTER were in the
possession of the House, and would soon be finally acted
on To press these petitions under circumstances
like these seemed to him, TO be intended to produce