The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1837-02-17
Hevsu or Rsrnrsss .Trsrs--Noudsy Feb.

HgusH oF REPREsEs 'ATiHfs--Monday feh. &.
NJ Adams presented nnmher Of ne.
li,ions on The spbjeei Of The abolition a
slavery in The DisIrict.nf Columbia; and
among them one from Fredericksburg. IN
Virginia These we're oil laid on he
table. a. direcIrd By the order Of Ihe
House. Mr. Adams then said he had Ia
his possession . petition from iusniy.
fur persons. declaring themselves 10 be
slaves. uf q character different from lI.s
petitions he had just altered. and he ask.
ed the Speaker whether u was subject 10
the urder of Ihs Huuse Adopted under
Mr. HaWes's resolution, and must he lad
on the table The Speaker declined 10
give decision. ~ the question Vas n.w,
and submitted u 10 the opinion u The
House.
Mr. Patton then rose. and afier making
some remarks an the character ol the ne.
ulion from Fredericksburg. that il Vas
signed by people Of color. abandoned
women. &c. he moved that il be relurD-
ed TO The member from Massachusetts.
Just a. this pWni Viz. Thompson Of
South Carolina, rose. and offered IesO.
luton that Mr. Adams. ~ presenting q
petition from slaves. praying Tor The abO.
liiion Of slavery, had eummllIed a gross
contempt upon HE House; aud further
moved tina, he be brought 10 The bar. end
receive the censure Of the House. This
resolution was in some degree modified
By Mr. Lewis &c Alabama; bui the sub.
stance VAS no, altered. A debate Of grra
animation aud interest ensued W.
Granger made few iorcible and impres.
slse remarks. in which he enirealed The
House 10 act with caution and dellbera.
sIon 10 80 serious q matter as passing a
resolution of censlre on q member; bat
animadverted in strong terms to the u.
prehensible conduct Of VIZ. Adams. 10
presenting such petlIlons as the one re,
feued 10 by Mr.. Patton. aud the one
purporlIng TO come from slaves. "a.
Wise spoke with his accustomed spirit
and energy against the resolution nj cen.
sure. lie CONSIDERED that the House
vas more to blame for the course lhey
had pursued on this question. than ts
gentleman from Massachusetts. and
thought il petitions were To be recrned
al all. that slaves had a. much RICH. 10
present them a. Others. aud much more
reason. Mr.. Wise Vas exceedingly slO.
quens IN some paris Of his speech. Ne.
veral other members addressed the Hou.e
and Among them Mr. Patton. who called
upon the members To take care les. lhry
might do an act Of injustice To The gen.
tleman from Massachusetts. II might
he said. turn out that this petition EGi
MOI for the abolition Of slavery! Mr.
Pa,lOns remarks excited immense curl.
oslIy IN every part Of the House; aud
when Mr.. Adams rose. the members
poured down inlo The aisle and passages
and seats near him. in such crowds tia.
the Speaker was obliged To interpose, and
order them back In their proper places.
We have not space for q full accoun!
OF all that vas said and done; but jusuce
requires, perhaps, that We should give
the following explanation made by Mr..
Adams in the course Of his remarks.
"Sir. (saId he. IL is well known to all
the members Of this House; il is cerlsi',
ly we'll known to all petitioners Tor Tie
abolition Of slavery In the District al
Columbia. that from the day entered
this House down TO the present momeGl,
| have invariably here. aud invariably
elsewhere. declared NY opinions To be ~
verse to the prayer Of petitions which cad
iorihe abolition Of slavery in the District
Of Columbia. But. sir. il il equally wei
known that. from the time entered this
House down to the presen, day. have
lelt II a sacred duty TO present any pe'i'
ton, coucI'ed in respectful language. irors
any citizen Of The United States, be is
object what il may; be the prayer Of i!
that 10 which | could concur. or ths! 10
which was utterly opposed, |, is Tor
the sacredness Of the right Of petition thai
| have adopted this course; and when
my friend from New York [Mr. Gram
ger) in,imated his opinIon--not directly
expressed. bu. ye, The necessary inference
Of his remarks-lhat. before presenting
paper purpor,ing to be petition from
Certain ladies Of Fredericksburg, ought
to have shown j. to my friend and neigh
Dor here. lMr. Pslion.) and to have.
followed the advice which he would have
given. reply to the gentleman (Mr. G'l
that such is not my opinion in regard 70
the right of petition. did avoid shoT