Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-12-28

dams replied that he preferred select
committee. The chair here interposed
and said il the reference was to be de-
bated, the subject must lie over one day.
Mr.. Boon offered resolution enquir-
ing into the expectancy of reducing the
price ofthe public lands. & Of graduating
the price Of the refuse public lands. Mr.
Taylor offered resolution to enquire
into the expediency Of extending the
provision of the law Of July 4, 1886,
granting half pay to the widows and or
phans Of revolutionary soldiers killed, to
all widows of officers and soldiers emit
tied to a pension. On Tuesday, Mr..
Everett, Of Vermont, was announced as
having been appointed by the chair to
fill the vacancy on the committee Of
ways and means, made by the resigna.
ton Of Mr.. Fletcher. and the subsequent
decIension of Mr.. Briggs. MIR. Everett
asked to be excused in consequence Of
his high regard for Mr.. Fletcher, and
the circumstances which led to his dis.
charge from the committee-which was
granted. Mr.. Briggs placed his drclen-
sion on the same grounds. The House
then resolved itself into a committee of
the whole on the reference of the Pres
ident's Message.
WEDNESDAY,, Dec. 20, 1887.
! The first business in order was the motion
made ny Mr.. Slade, on Monday, to refer
two memorialspresenied by him On that day,
praying for the abolition of slavery and the
slave trade in tho District Of Columbia 10
select committee.
| Mr. SIud. ab,lvsaesJ a.. Horso rrraat
length on the subject. He commenced by
remarking that the business Of the country
was transactedhere, by reierence of all sub
jects To their appropriate committees, and
that matters OF The most trivial nature met
with no opposition To such reference. But
no sooner did any member present a memo.
rial relating in the slightest degree to a GER
tair subject, the abolition Of slavery, than il
was directly attacked and placed under pros
hibition. lie said that were he 10 present
! petition from a constituent involving the
small sum OF twenty dollars, even that would
not be denied a reference, inasmucb as il
might involve an important principle but
here were large class VI petitions, signed
by hundreds of thousands asking the action
ST Congress on a subject ofthe greatest inter-
est, aud yet they were disposed of with no
ceremony al all. He then alluded 10 the
course pursued by certain member. in oppo-
si,ion TO such petitions, and expressed his
belief that all The movements in relation to
the subject had been precOncerled with the
regularity OF clock work.
| MIR. Wise explained that, as he had hiih-
erto taken upon himself 10 oppose the refer
ence of such petitions, he would say, once
for all, that as far as his Knowledge WAS con.
cerned, there had been no precDncert i'll re-
lslion to tho opposition to this subject, nei-
| her had he vaI iotto fro, ~
Speaker, or any one else, as 10 the mode oi
! proceeding.
Mr.. Dawson wished to ask The gentleman
from Vermont il he intended 10 include him
in the charge of preconcerting measures in
opposition 10 the subject.
MIR. Slade disclnImed any Intention OF inn
putting dishonorsb!e motives 10 The gentlemen
who had thought il their duty to adopt such
course. He would not say bu, ,ha, they
had acted from pure and conscientious mo
tives; but he had stated what his own i'm
preston was, and what must he the impress
sion Of all who had observed the course pur>
...~S
Mr.. ). then made the motion TO refer The
memorials 10 a select committee, with in
siructions TO report bill prov iding for the
abolition of slavery aud The slave trade in the
District OF Columbia.
MIR. Legare hoped the gentleman from
Vermont would allow him 10 make a few
remarks before he proceeded further. He
sincerely hoped that gentleman would consi-
der we'll what he was about before he ventu-
red on such ground, and that he would take
time to consider what might be its probable
consequences He solemnly entreated him
TO reflect on the possible results Of such
course, which involved The interests OF ma
lion and continent. He would warn him,
m in NJ I.G N
brave and wise men despised, but he would
warn him in the language of a solemn sense
Of duty, that if there was ga spirit aroused in
the North in relation 10 this subject" that
spirit would encounter another spirit IN the
South full as stubborn. He would tell them
that, when this question was forced upon the
people of the South, they would be ready 10
| take up the gauntlet. He concluded by ur-
ging on the gentleman from Vermont 10
ponder well on bis course before he veptur-
| ed TO proceed.
Mr.. Slsde again resumed his remarks;
and after proceeding for some time, he enter.
ed INTO an argument touching the subject OF
slavery IN the Stale OF Virginia, and was a.
bout 10 read paper on lbe same subject.
whereupon
MIR Wise iDterposed, and said that the
gentleman had been discussing slavery in the
South, slavery in the State Of Virginia, slave.
ry 10 bis district; and he now asked his col
leagues TO retire with him from that bail.
MT. Holsey made the same request 10 bis
colleagues from Georgia, and expressed a
hope that the whole southern delegation
would retire.
Mr.. Grsntlond also joined in tho same
wish.
Mr.. Rhett. The whole of the delegation
OF south Carolina has already signed an a.
greemeDt.
Mr. Robertson One rsnark NJ S,sa