Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-05


eingle town of the District VIII, had the honor
to represent solitary position forwarded before
the close Of the session, with request that would
present it to the louye Sir I did present it, and
il referred the same Committee ON the Dis,rct of
Columbia, and believe nothing more has been heard
OF since From the experience of this session, was
perfectly satisfied, that the true and only method of
keeping this subject out Of discussion, was TO take that
course TO refer all petitions of this kind to the Committee
the District of Columbia other Committee OF
the House to receive their Report and 10 accept
nimously This does equal justice TO all parties in the
country il avoids the discussion of this agtatng ques
ton and, the other II pays due respect TO the right
OF the constituent TO petition.
Two years afterwards, similar petitions present
ed, and at that time effort made without success
to do that which has been done successfully
instance An effort made TO lay these petitions
the table, the House did accede to the propositions
they had been before REFEREED and with the result
For from the moment that these petitions referred
the Committee on the District of Columbia they go
the family vault Of all the Capuets, and will
ver hear of them afterwards
AT the first session of the last Congress, gentleman
from the State ofNew York, distinguished member Of
tins House. now no longer here, which regret to say
although do not doubt that his place is well sup
Piled, presented petitions TO this effect
and delivered long and eloquent speech of two hours
IN support of them. And what the result He
was not answered not a word was said, but the vote
OF the House was taken the petitions referred
the Committee on the District aud W1.-ii6yc heard
nothing more of them since the same session. or
PROBABLY at session. distinguished member of
ens ><u6se from the State of Connecticut, presented
Int petitions 90 the efoct, and de-
cared in his place that he himself coacurred in all the
opinions expressed Did this declaration light up the
fame of dscord in this House, Sir, he heard with
patience and complacency. lie moved the reference of
the petitions to the Committee the District of Co.
lumbia and there they went TO sleep the sleep of death
Mr. Adams, speaking from recollection, was 1.-THE Re-
porter is requested by him 10 state mistaken wiihre-
spect TO the reference of the petitions presented the
last session Of Congress 20 the committee. They
them for the first tune, laid the table the
ton 10 print of them. At the preceding session OF
the last Congress, at all former times, all such petit
tons had been referred to committees and printed when
desired
Why not adopt the same course now? Here is petit
ton which has been already referred 10 the Committee
on the District of Columbia. Leave it there and, my
word for it, sir, you will have Just such result has
taken place time after time before. Your Committee
the District certainly is not an Abolition Committee.
You will have fit, proper, and able report from them;
the House, sub sentio will adopt 1t, and will hear
abouit But you to reconsider the vote,
and lay these petitions the table; if you
the resolution that this House will receive any
petitions, what will be the consequence In large por-
ton of this country every individual member who votes
with you will be left home at the next election, and
will be sent who is not prepared to lay these
petitions on the table.
What will be the next consequence? Sir, you will
have discussions and TO my regret say it, discussion
has been called for and challenged upon this floor 1T
has been challenged. And what will the discussion
amount too A discussion upon the merits of slavery !?
Sir, such discussion every speech made by Rep
resenative Som the north of Mason and Dixons line,
in this House. will be inccndary pamphlet, aud what
will you do with them? The speeches of my colleagues
probably myself will be ncendiary because if discus
sion is thrust upon us, l doubt not might make a
torrents of denunciation have been poured upon
If were capable of the and recreant spirit of
shrinking from expressing, not probably much my
sentiments those of my consttutn ts, should
90 home to their scorn and they would sendhere
who would represent them more faithfully.
Well, sir, what becomes of these ncendary .pamph-
let's the speeches in this House. they gro 10 the public?
What will be done with them by the public press? The
newspapers report these speeches. every speech sor
culated through your whole country, and how you
R Will you introduce resolution that Members
of this House shall speak word iii derogaton of the
sublime merits of slavery? You have resolution
of this kind to follow the laid upon your table this
morning. resolution that member of this House
is that ncendiary sentiment Why it is, in substance,
the contents of these pamphlets Well sir, you begin
with suppressing the right of pettion you
suppress the right of speech in this House; for you
offer resolution that every member who dares
express a sentiment of this kind shall be expelled
that the speeches shall not go forth to the public
shall be circulated. What will be the consequence
then You suppress the right of petition; you sup
press the freedom Of Speech the freedom of the press
the freedom of religion; for in the minds Of many
thy, honest and honorable fanatics, if you please
call them, tins is religious question: IN which they
under what they believe to be of duty TO their
God and howe may be their conclusions
it is not for me- nor for this House to Judge them
the of this House. Difference the respect which
is due 10 the right ofpetion the
to the right freedom of Speech freedom of the press
and freedom of religion hope that this petition will be
left where il has been placed by the House, in the pos
session of the Committee the District of Columbia
and that shall hear more about it.
(DeLate TO be continued