Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-02

o5nsI s,S o6iect: Understand the gentleman froea
New York (Nlr DeaIdsey) to have suggested that. N
more agreeable TO the House, he VIII modify ms o.oh
70 law on the table, so refuse consider the prayer
of the petition 1t appeared to him, that this was pre-
cselv equivalent TO direct vote the question OF con-
Alteration; and although avoided 1t must be met on
some other petition OF similar character win th's.
ton When on former day, gentleman from Maine
presented similar petition and moved to lay II on The
table he (hlr Mason had demanded that the question
should be taken by yeas and nays; and IN doing So al
luded 70 the deep sensby which pcrvadcd large por-
ton of the country the subject and asked the cn-
bers of the House to express their opinions on the prn-
cple involved in the petition, IN Inc vote tleh 10 ue
oven The result overwhelming majority
AGAINST the petition lie mad hoped most sincerely, that
the decision then ade would have been acquIesccd IN;
and that gentlemen charged with SUCH petitions, from
respect to the expressed opinion oil the House. would
have withheld them or on presenting them, would have
consi7ucd them the same late Ia Tins he was aisap-
pointed; and him was apparent that laying orc OF
many Of these exciting petitions on the taoe would net
relieve the House. aud it was necessary to ADOPT more
decisive mode, In his Judgment this could only be dcne
by refusing to consider them , =.
Other gentlemen are disposed 10 refer the subject TO
one Of the committees OF the House; lie askeG' "ua
beneficial result could be effected The only onJect OF
reference to committee was, that the SUBJECT referred
mpht be investigated and lis details prepared with more
accuracy and despatch for the purpose OF Legislative &C
ton TO such examinations, committee was DelleI
suited than the House. But surely the House would
not refer petition embracing great pfincP'e, which
has agtated the public mind throughout the country,
and on which every nicnbcr is prepared 10 express his
opinion But it is urged that report adverse To the
p.tition would aid in aay excitement, and restrain
perseverance, in this miscevous course Has net lhs
been done? Has not more than one aoie report, con-
6cmnnr similar petitions, been MADE 10 l!is House I'D
former SESSIONS and Published to the world We can
not desire merely Il republication Of what has already
been published and we will deceive ourselves, 1t We
hope to repess fnatical spirit, hy giving such conn
tenance 10 the illusions of misguided zeal.
IT, said Mr. Mason, the House is prepared to decide
upon the principle of this petition, why may we not re-
iect il ut once? Surely there is not one disposed t" eX
ercse the high and dangerous power winch the peu
TONERS invoke at hands, why then shall We cneTtan
the subject: Why keep alive those feelings OF appre-
hension and excitement which Is sacred duty to
allay? To refer the petition, IS an act OF supererogaton
which do good, and will do much mischief Inc
most une xceponable mode in which we can accomplish
this object to reconsider the vote; and then it will be
competent for the House. at TO refuse to consider
the petition or reject it. and if majority of the
House. and doubt not there is an overwhelming MAORI
ty opposed to the petition, lei them meet the ques
ton at once, and terminate those angry discussions and
allay those bitter feelings which scar, if they do moi
break the pillars Of the noble cdcc OF our Constitution
and Liberty.
Mr. Pierce, of n H. said he had no disposition to dis
cuss the merits Of this deeply exciting question any
time and his respect for the rules OF the House would
prevent his attempting to do under the motion of the
gentleman from Maryland lAlr Thomas,) to reconsider
which motion he hoped would be withdrawn and ther
the motion of the gentleman fom New York, (NIr
Beardsey SO far modified as to meet the appreciation
all who are most sensitive upon this agitatng question
and he to add his request to the suggestion made
his friend Che hoped he might call h from firg na
This not the last memorial Of the same character
which would be sent here. 1t was perfectly upparcn
that the question must be met now at some futur
time fully and explicitly and such expression OF ,hl
House given could leave pos, IDLE room 10 doubt
to the opinions and sentiments entertained by its mem
bers.
He, Mr. P indeed, considered the Overwhelming
A. LIZ, lao othnr I,t 10 al r
similar tenor and he believed the in TERMS upo
the table, as fixing upon it the stamp Of Reproduction II
unnoscd that all sections Of the country would he salts
fed with that expression-but gentlemen seemed now t
consider the vote equivoca and evasive He was IN
willing that any imputation should rest upon the Nor
in of the misguided and anstical zeal of
very swwhS noT ssd da honf.
naisn,,he mischief and whose movements he knew re
ceived no more sanction among the great mass OF til
people Of the North than they did at the South d.. 70
nne upon any of the sacred reserved rights OF the
ue, was prepared to stamp with Misrepresentation In ID