Litchfield enquirer., 1836-02-04
CONGRESS-.
uousr OF REPREsENrATIvEs-y.s."' Sc e.

Uousr OF REPREsENTATI.1S-s: .:' r.,
AZ. n Adams presented petition Ir"0'
.,,'d.,, 1sdies. citizens OF the DISTRICT repre-
Su" no rim, praying the abolition OF slave
- The dave trade in the DistTic: Vi 20
Iun1bia.
tisn be not received.
Mr.. Adams. I claim the AOOr. and shaI
not yield it. move, sir, that the petition o'
referred to select committee Of this House
with instructions to report thereon.
Mr.. GlascOck rose and asked if the gentle
man was 10 order.
MIR. Adams called the gentleman to order
and proceeded. I address the House, SAT-
he, at this time, on account Ofthe suspension
Of decision on nay appeal from decision o
the Chair, which appeal had the honor o
making some weeks ago. By that DECISION
it was determined that motion OF receP''O"
is debateaAle. os
The Chair stated that the gentIe1na" WI" =
not in order to debate point vi "F"e'
on former occasion. ..:ono fcr.
NJ Adams said. i, is not the question OF or
dor which II IL INV purpose to discuss Inc
Teha;r h,e decided that motion 10 receive
.o.:,;o0 ia dgbateabIe, and that the 45th
Ella does not apply to it. Under that decision.
I"I.;r, rhe floor. and shall proceed to support
49, molten that the petition be received
The Chair said the gentleman was in order
10 discuss the question.
Mr.. Glascock moved that the motion to re-
ceive the petition be laid on the table.
The Chair decided that the n1otiOn was
not in order, the gentleman from Massachu-
sets having possession of the door.
Mr.. Adams resumed. was aware that a
debate on the motion to receive the petition
would consume the day, and being unwilling
10 prevent the presentation Of petitions,
consented to epOstpOpemeut ofthe question.
Mr.. Hardin here rose to point Of order.
The regular course Of things 10 this House
was, first, prayer. then the reading of the
Journal, and then a speech from the gentle
maa from Massachusetts,. He wanted to
know il the gentleman had right to discuss
this motion Of reception.
The Chair replied ia the affirmative.
Mr.. Craig appealed from this decision.
Mr.. Adams asked il this was not the iden-
teal question made by him
The Chair said it was of similar import.
Mr.. Adams was extremely anxious. he said.
to have a decision on that appeal. II the
House should interdict him frous saying a
word on the motion, and decide that the 45th
rule does apply to it, he would most cordially
assent to the decision, and defer bis remarks
to aQother occasion.
The Chair stated the question to be " Shall
the decision Of the Chair stand as the judg-
ment Of the House?''
Mr.. Evans asked for the yeas and nays, and
they were ordered.
Mr.. Cave Johnson moved that the question
be postponed till Saturday next.
Mr.. Craig opposed the postponemeut.
Mr. Hardin said a few words against the
decision of the Chair.
Mr.. Whittlesey Moved that the subject be
postponed till Monday instead Of Saturday.
He said that a postponement till Saturday
would. in effect, be decision that no more
private business shall be transacted in this
House at the present session. He spoke of
the great number Of private bills before the
House, and the obstacles which had been
thrown in the way of their consideration. He
earnestly appealed to the House to give some
attention to the claims of the petitioners,
whose papers had been presented and exam
ined. over and over again, till they were worn
out.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Reed, Harper, and Johnson. of Tennessee.
Mr.. Miller said he thought it impostant that
the question Of order should be decided, and
1t might as well be decided now as at any 9TH
.er time. He therefore moved the previous
question. ...
The Chair stated that the main question
would be, Shall the decision of the Chair
stand as the judgment of the House 7"
The House seconded the motion for the
previous question by vote of IS to IS.
Mr.. Mercer called for the yeas and nays
on the question, Shall. the main question be
now put ~ Refused, 26 to 1871.
The main question was ordered to be put
and, being taken, was determined in the affir.
mative-yeas 142, nays So.
So it was decided the decision of the Chair
should stand as the judgment Of the House.
Mr.. J. @. Adams said that it was for the
purpose of referring the petition to n select
COMMITTEES that he moved its reception. I,
came from 100 females; with request tina
he would present and support it. His wish
was that the petition should be received, and
Beferred to Committee, who should make
a report to the House, which should show sat
isfastcrily TO- the petitioners why the Praye'
Ofthsir petition ought not to be granted. He
with which he might be entrusted to be ar
imperative daty, which nothing should induce
him to decline.
Mr.. Miller moved that the motion of recep
ton be laid ON the table.
Mr.. McKennan called for the yeas and nays
on the question, which were not ordered and
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to
Mr.. J. 9. Adams presented petition sign.
ed by sundry citizens of Western Pennsy Iva.
MIA, praying the abolition Of slavery and the
slave trade 10 the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. Glascock made some remarks on the
subject in reply to the gentleman from Mass,
Mr.. Miller moved to lay the motion of re.
ception on the table.
Mr.. Granger called Tor the yeas and navs.
ana xhSSS., mara s,rd0nod - ~