Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-21

derday adopting the resolution relative to pc !
titions from slaves. The vote was exceeding |
~ CALLING to the members of the slave states, |
who had met in convention at Washington |
10 determine on the course to pursue. Per
haps q Southern Convention will be the result.
SATURDAY, Feb. II.
In the Senate, Mr.. Culhoun's bill to give
away the public lands was discussed and laid
upon the table, &c TO 90.
In the House, the resolution relative to slave
petitions was reconsdered, and the House
resolved 100 10 35 that it would not receive
the petition (of siaves) in the possession Of
Mr.. Adams-Ond 1863 to 10, that slaves have
not the right TO petition by the constitution.
LETTER TO THE EDITORS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. H. 1897.
The proceedings Of Congress for tho last few
days have been ofnterest and great moment to this
nation and to the civilized world. They will form
a memorable page in the history Of this Republic.
The right Of petition--the right of slate to pc
titon the Congress of the u S,-the right Of free
discussion, Of the liberty Of speech and of the press
tho right of the Executive to hold a member Of
the Senate responsible to him for words spoken in
debate "-hs right TO interfere and attempt to in
tmidate and over-awe a Senator in the discharge Of
his official duties-the right of witness, summoned
before committee of Congress, 10 refuse to answer
| nenogations put to him by tina; committee-are
subjects of vast importance to this nation and to the
civilized world. These questions Of right have been
! before Congress during the week full report Of
the discussions had upon them, will go before the
people of the country, and will awaken now feel
ing-a new interest throughout the land. A crisis
is approaching in which the people will have TO act
and those men who have so long quietly and will
lingly submitted to the usurpa,ion and assumption
IF nv The Executive and hn To lonu viad.
| ed passive obedenc TO the arbitrary dctation of
Executive will, must decide whether they will lon
! ger be slaUes, whether they will be freemcn-
whether their posterity shall breathe the pure air Of
! liberty, or whether they shall be fetered by the
! shaCkles Of despotism The people of this coun-
| try have been told repeatedly TO what the mad and
| ruinous measures Of this administration would lead
| them, but they have closed their ears TO the warn.
! ings, and their eyes to the Truth. A delusion has
swept over the land like pesilenco. The cry of
| democracy" and the Hero of New-Orleans" has
| thrown such n charm around the character Of the
! Executive as to induce the people to rally around
him as they would around their guardian angel 1t
| has been mantle TO cover his faults, and shield
against the censures Of the people.
But we are coming near the close Of this Admin
| istration, and we also coming near the fuIfment
of the prophecy Let the people prepare for the
event. Let them put on the panoply other strength
| and be ready 10 battle with corruption, Executive
usurpation, gag-laws,' and Southern domination
In the House, IN Monday last, Mr.. Adams, after
! his hand paper, signed by twenty-five individuals
purporting TO be slaves, and asked the speaker
whether or no 1t came under tho rule relating TO
! abolition petitions. The speaker was somewhat
embarrassed, and said he would take the opinion Of
| the House upon it. a. this time, und before the
! speaker had taken the sense of the House, Mr.
Haynes rose and said he was astonlshed that the
! gentleman from Mass. should rise in his place and
ask leave to present a petition purporting to come
from slaves. He moved that the petition be not re-
ceived. Mr.. Lewis said he thong int that the Rep
resentatives from the slave-holding States should
demand that the attempt 10 introduce such petiton
should instantly put into requisiton the power Of tho
| House to punish the member for such AN attempt
1t this IS not done, every member from the slave
States should immediately in body, quit this House
and 60 home TO their constituents Some one in
CURED, what kind of petition the gentleman from
Mass. proposed TO present? loud cries of he
ought to be expeedn) MIR. Afford said, if the gen.
uemen from Mass persisted in presenting his me-
moral, he should move it be INSTANTLY burnt. loud
cries Of No I! No! Expel him Expe him ~
Mr. Thompson Of s. G. introduced a resolution that
the Hon. }. q. Adams by attempting to Introduce
petition, purporng on its face 10 be from slaves,
mas been guilty Of Il gross dsrespect to the House,
and that he instantly be brought to the bar TO re-
ceve the severe censure Of the speaker. Mr.,
Haynes offered substitute, that Mr. Adams had
rendered himself liza Bile to censure and is censu-
red accordingly. (Cries of No! No! Let him be
brought TO the bar After remarks from different
members, Mr.. Lewis offered the following substi-
tuie' winch was accepted by Mr.. Thompson. Re-
SoNoui lHul - ~ ADAMS, q member from Mass.
by ms attempt 10 Introduce into this House petition
from slaves, for the abolition of slavery in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, committed an outrage on the
r,snIs and feelings of large portion Of the people
81 alS ohioh' Migrant contempt OH the dignity Of
this House and by extending to slaves a privilege
only belonging TO reemen, directly incites the slave
reputation 10 instruction; and that the said mem
her be forthw tn called to the bar of the House and
S S9 py uhe speaker" After Mr.. Wise and
Mr.. Hardin had diseased the question Mr. Adams
oblAined the floor and said that he rose to ask the
gentleman TO modify his resolution because il might
be, that If he was brought to the bar of the House
nc would put an end to this resolution from its
heous statements. The resolution charged him
WIN attempting to present petition from slaves for
inc abolition OF slavery. Mr.. A. said he had not
attempted TO present petition of this description at
a;n. ne haa stated to the speaker that he had in
MS possession paper from persons representing
themselves TO be slaves, but he had not slated what
me ooJect oil It was or what It's prayer was. As TO
le iac' IN relation to the prayer Of the petition he
woulu simply state TO the gentleman from Ala. (Mr
Lewis that he Was mistaken, and if the gentleman
was going TO have him brought TO the bar of the
rouse, he must amend his resolution. He would
ne wiling the petition should be received and con-
eiueIea' out he would not be willing TO grant the
prayer OF the petition, because the gen leman from
Ala. might ind that its prayer was precisely what
he mad been so sIrenuously contendng Tor. These
rena KS OF Mr.. Adams were received with shouts
Of laughter throughout the House. They placed in
Lalher ridiculous attitude those gentlemen, who,
hed with tho gallant chipairy of the South, were
about 10 lnfct censure of the House upon Mr.. Ad-
ANS Tor doing that which he did not do and which they
had no reason TO suspect him Of attempting to do
Inc petition which Mr. Adams had, and was
signed by those twenty-five slaves, prayed that he
lMr Adams,) might be expelled from The House for
presenting abolition petitions, because ncensed their
masters, and thereby caused the chains of slavery to
be riveted The more closely! But after all this was
made known, MIR. Adams not to escape, but
must be punished for, as Mr.. Evans said, giving
color to an idea or, inducing a beef!'
Timely would remark, thai the petition was pro-
sented by Mr.. Adams, not with view to tlHe with