Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-02-17
Resolvpd. That the aforesaid J. O. Ad.

the presence Of the House Of Representa-
tivnS.
Mr.. w. Thomson accepted the modlfica.
ton. aud Mr. Haynes withdrew his pro
posed amendment.
The debate was continued, Of very great
length, by Messrs. Lawlcr, of Ala urging
the necessity of some measure Oh the part
Of the House to mark its Misrepresentation OF
the course pursued by Mr.. Adams; by NJ.
Robertson, of Virginia, disappearing Of
the course Of Mr.. Adams, but declaring
tha, he never could vrc for this resolution
of ccnsure. because he looked upon i, as
an lnfrac,lon on the freedom of speech, and
q violation of the rights of the members OF
the HuuSc by Mr.. Afford, Of Georgia, IN
condemnation of the proceedings Of the
abpluonIsls generally; and by Mr.. lIo'sc!'
OF Georgia, IN an Argument to show that /,
was never contemplated by The constitution
that petitions from persons o. color should
be presented. and that the member who
would introduce such petition was dcser.
wing the scverest ccnsurc Of the House.
Mr. Lincoln. Of Massachusetts. spoke
at great length in total condemnation OF
the resolution, and Of the grounds on which
it assum cd TO be based, and con,endcd
that so far from having LAID himself open
to the ccnsure proposed, Mr.. Adams had in
the very outset propounded a question to
The Speaker by which his (Mr. AS course
was to be guided, and an answer TO which
enquiry had not been returned to this mo-
mCnt.
Mr.. Bynum after submitting remarks
having general reference to the Incendary
movements of the aboIitlonsts, moved 10
amend the resolution by striking out all az
ter the word "resolved," and inserting as
! follows
nat an attempt to present any petition
or memorio, 10 this House from any slave
/ or slaves, negro or free negro, from any
part Of this Union, is a contempt Of tins
House, and ca'cula'edlo embroll 1t in strife
and confusion, is incompatible with tie dlg
nl'y Of this body, and every member gully
Of the same, justly subjects himself to the
stFic'cst censure Of the ljouse.'
| "Ec3o'ved further, that a committee be
/ appointed to inquire into the facts whether
such attempt has or has not been commit
/ ted by any member Of this House, and re
! port the same as soon as practicable"
/ Mr.. Graves Of Ken. expressed his Geci
/ dcd dl>approyal Of the course pursued by
/ the genllcnan from Mass. and his wiling
nee- for any such resolution If there were
/ any thing to Justify Il, but said 1t was not
/ possible for him to vote for this resolution
Of ccusurc. The gentleman from Mass.
! had not presented, nor offered to present
/ the petition, bat had merely asked lnslrnc-
tons from the Speaker. He would vote
Tor ever against every proposition which
went To deprive man of the power to
think, or the right to express that thought.
Mr., Patton, Of Virginia. proposed the
following, which no ael:oL Mr. Thonn-on to
accept "a modification
Resolved, Tha, the right Of petition
does not belong o the slaves Of this Union,
aud that no petition from them can b. pre-
scented to this House, without derogatlng
from the rights of the slavc-hoidlng States,
aud cndangerng the integrity Of the Unlun.
! Resolved, That any member who shal
hereafter present any such petition 10 The
iluusc. ought IT, be considered as rcra'd.
loss OF The feelings Of HE House, the lights
% the south and an enemy 20 HE Un,ou
/ Resolved. TNa, the Hon. john @. Ad.
ans having soIcmnly dlsclalmcd all design
Of dong any thing dl>rcspcctiul to the
/ Unusc. IN the cnoulrv hn made If ,ho
Sneaker Il, TO the nerilIon uurpnr,in, 10 he
from slaves. and havnr avowed his ln,cu.
;lon moi 10 Offer 70 present tho n,,i,,o, if
In. House were of on,nion Thai il ourh,
no, to BE- presented, therefore all further
PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD to his coujoc, now
cease.
Mr.. w Thomson cvorcssod his ;n,on,;on
TO adhere to the fr., Of his modified rcso.
buttons, bn, sa,d tina, he shond At n proner
time withdraw the second which nrono,cd
wa, "'' I'""''9 oc ceuS"Ieu ny ne oP'hNrr'
, Mr.. Caihoon. of XIV. IN rnm,rks ot an,