The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-16
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

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i Second Week offhe Session.
i The weather continues fresh and clear; but a.
yet the galleries are not crowded with ladies'
The reason is that there is no Immediate hope Of
bitter congressional personalities. In the change
from an age of iron to one of paper, the tourna-
ment is represented by our Congress as well as
by any thing else. The lists below filed with
the gadiators, and above, in their curained baco-
ny, sit the fair damses to distribute wreaths (of
smiles) upon the successful champions of debate.
The progress of the business Of the session is
not rapid. On Tuesday, in the House, an ex-
traordinary scene was presented That weird
and valiant old man, John Quincy Adams, COM
menced the war against Texas and the District of
Columbia. Loaded with his petitions, like an
Elephant with body of armed and mschievous
Indians on his back, Mr.. Adams tottered into
the arena, and opened the attack against the an
nexation of Texas, and for the abolition of slavery
in this unfortunate District.
He was interrupted by several southern men,
who bravely came up to defend the rights of
their country; and while the House shook with
calls to order, Mr.. Adams folded his arms, his
head as red and flashing as meteor, and said,
between his teeth, g viii only be called to order
by the presiding officer of this House, and then
only by the expressed will Of majority of the
representatives of the people!'
Mr. Adams forced them to let him proceed,
and, for an hour or more, he poured forth his
bitter and biting eloquence- striking at every
thing, sparing hing-travelling over the whole
surface Of the globes and ransacking it, he alluded
to the deluded Lovejoy, and said that the same
spirit that had waged war in Texas, was abroad in
this country, killing and Staying the apostles of
abolition-(by the by, another reverend gentle
man has volunteered to fill Lovejoy's place.)
Here he was called to order again, but it was
all useless. Filled with his wild thoughts, the
ex-President aDould 90 on; but the storm finally
blew over, and the House adjourned in the sun
shine
There is rule forbidding any member to
speak on topics not Immediately before the
House; and when Mr.. Adams alluded to Texas,
the Speaker called him to order for speaking on
the Message. With significant look, and rapid
as thought itself, Mr. Adams clutched the Speaker
and held him up to torture. Does the Speaker
mean to say that the President has referred to
Texas in the message?" An excellent hit, for
all the world is astonished at the absence Of
that important subject from the Presidents COM
munication.) Mr.. Adams, of course, had the
Speaker on the hip, and palpably too; and the
consequence was good laugh, at the expense OF
the presiding officer. The abolition petitions,
and memorials against Texas, were ordered to
lie on the table. 0
In the Senate, Mr.. BAYARD, of Delaware, has
introduced his resolutions to expunge the ex
punging lines drawn around the resolution Of
thirty-four. ~ assr
Nothing of importance has as yet been ac-
fcomplished by either branch Of Congress. The
ground is undergoing survey. The leading
politicians are establishing their piquet guards
giving the ountersign-walling in the camp,
and widening the intrenchments; and, amid all
their preparations, hear not one word, as yet,
that gives me the slightest reason to believe
that the Memorial Of the Natives will be treated
Lightly by the representatives of the American
people. Those memorials should not be present
ed until the subject Of the public lands is brought
before the House; then will be the time to prepare
for the contest We will be opposed by a few
western men at first q am afraid) but in the
course of a short time they will see the subject
in its true light, and no people will be more hear
tily with us than these same gallant sons Of the
forests and the prairies. | wish you would take
up the subject Of the public lands more at large
than in your editorial of last week.
Already Mr.. Senator Wright has commenced
| upon the currency of the District-and Mr.. Adj
ans in the House. Fret out your valour, gen
tlemen, in these ten miles square. We are your
most obedient servants--the servants of the SER
wants of the people. We are at the footstool Of
the Representatives of our fellowcitizens, and at
their mercy. But would our brethren throughout
the Union countenance these tyrannical measures,
towards the District of Columbia? The govern
ment over this territory is one Of trust-not of
despotism. 1t was not yielded up by Maryland
and Virginia to be the extreme of iberty-to