The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-19

millee. besides the fact that six cut OF nine were
slayeholding members he observed The same proper
ION offriends TO The administration had been placed
psThans moi the identical six before alluded 10, but
vel members ever ready 10 support The adminis,ra-
lion in every and any measure, be what " may
consistent with their sense OF duty. Now said MT
II NAV be urged as indeed, in his section, had
been repeatedly that the President Of the United
States was against the annexation OF Texas and
that il Is base caunny TO say thai any prejudice in
favor Of this measure had existence az the While
House He had seen such things in The pubic prints
and lately In the official paper IN TINS CITY,
The CHAIR reminded The gentleman from Mas
sachusets that he was sraying from the subject I'M
medately under the consideration OF The House.
Mr. ADAMS would come back, ana keep as
nearly 70 the mark as he could. This he might be
permitted 10 say that he and his colleagues had seem
In reading the late Message OF The Executive, how
much was not in that document as well as how much
tcas in IT, History sir, tells us (sad Mr.. A. of the
funeral OF sister OF one Of the Roman EmpeTors,
which took place al time when Rome was stepped
in slavery, at which the statues OF Brntus and Cas-
sius were not seen among the splendid array OF sta
tues of friends and relatives, which was the custom
to bear in the funeral professions Of the great And
the historian remarks that the absence Of those
two friends of liberty was more noticed by the peo
pie who witnessed the display, than the whole train
which was present; and that the spectators of the
scene, instead OF admiring the pomp and magnif-
cence of their tyranls thinking only Of the abb
statues of Brutus and Cassius, the friends and
advocates of freedom. Sir, could not but recall
Il
saw in the late Message of the Executive, so much
aluson TO the grievances of this Government at the
hands of Mexico, and literally not single allusion
10 our relations with Texas
The CHAIR observed that the Message not
now under consideration.
Mr. ADAMS. The Committee or Foreign Re-
ations will, Of course have the subject Of rea-
tons with Mexico before III and my objections to
the reference proposed by the gentleman from Mary
land are strengthened by this consideration. The
annexation OF Texas and the proposed war with
Mexico are one and the same thing though express
ed in different forms Now, the message is diane
tIically adverse, or as the recently fashionable
phrase is, it is decidedly antagonistical" 10 The
PRAYER of these mcmorialiss.
The CHAIR again reminded Mr.. A. that the message
having been referred the connexon attempted 10 be
shown between any portion Of lis contents and the pre-
sent motion Of reference too far-fetched to be in
order
Mr.. ADAMS But suppose these memorials were
against with Mexico would not be in order TO
discuss that part Of the message relating that subject
upon the question Of reference
The CHAIR That is not the point under discus
sion and will be time enough for the Chair decide
1t when IL arises.
Mr.. ADAMS remarked that did he not know what
the composition Of that House was, he would appeal
from the decision Of the Chair He considerable per-
fectly competent 10 argue he had done, upon the
fitness Of the Committee Foreign Affairs TO act upon
these memorials, by Of the TACT that much of
the message relates the sffars Of Mexico, would
Of course be referred TO that committee. But under
the decision Of the Chair he should what he
had say further that point, until the months Of
members inclined 10 advocate the OF freedom up
on that floor should be permitted to be opened
widely; if, indeed there any hope that that time
would ever arrive.
Mr.. A. remarked in closing that he did not wish the
parliamentary usage such to be strictly observed
in this instance in the appointment Of mover of
lect committee TO be chairman Of that committee, should
the motion he had made prevail but he did claim that
the chairman and the majority should DO favorable to the
prayer Of the petitioners. This he considered was
his right toclaim parliamentary practice OF long stand
ing He did not ask for great majority, but simply
bare majority. ,..' .Ns NJ.
Mr.. WISE. Of Virgins, said he had not risen TO dis
cuss the motion Immediately before the House He
GREETED that the gentleman from Massachusetts had
gone much length and in such manner, into the
merits Of question not yet before that body He felt
no excitement at what he had just been listening to,
though the remarks which had fallen from the gentleman
calculated produce such feelings. He had risen
merely make the motion he had indicated his intention
Of offering yesterday, and he should give his reasons
very briefly, for that motion. "a
All these memorials merely negative. They do
ask for any action Of this House upon any matteyet
before ii, but simply that the poprety Of act, not
proposed to be DONE be referred to committee Of
this House. There clearly need at present, Of
any such reference as was proposed. The Republic Of
Texas had attempted to open negotiation for admis
sion to the Union, with this Government, which
ture was declined the ground Of relations with
Mexico This government had peremptorly refused 10
do any thing whatever upon the matter. Nothing had
been done had been proposed to be done Congress
upon the subject. No memorial in favor Of such
had been before this House No reference
OF any such subject had been made to committee nor
had any committee to consider it been appointed 1t
time enough, Mr. Wise conceived to discuss the
| subject which had been dwet upon with much feel
ing and earnestness by the gentleman from Massachu
setts when 1t should come up regularly for discussion
AS to the question OF slavery in Texas and the infusion
OF its venom into the pure morality Of this Republic,
for the present (said Mr. Wise) we certainly may not
say to the Republic of Texas, in the words OF St. Paul.
Would TO God that thou vert both almost and alto
gether such as we are, except these bonds Y
He moved TO lay the pending motions of reference on
the table
Mr. RHETT and Mr. DAWSON appealed to Mr..
Wise TO Withdraw his motion, to enable them to make
some reply to what had fallen from Mr.. Adams.
Mr. WISE insisted upon his motion, the only
proper course to be taken in the present position Of the
subject.
Mr. GRENNELL, OF Massachusetts, demanded the
yeas and nays, which ordered and being taken,
stood as follows: ~. -,
YEAS--Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Anterior,
Beirne, Bell Birdsal, Bondin, Brodhcad, Bronson,
Brnyn John Calhoun, Cambrcleng, William b. Camp
bell, /. J. Carter VIM. b. Carter, Casey Chambers,
Chimney, Chapman, Cheatham, Ciey Claiborne, Clark,
Cleveland, Coles, Craig Crockett, Cushman, Debeuy,
DeCraf, Dennis Dromgoole Edwards, Ewing, Far
rngon, Fairfield, Gallup, j. Garland, J. Graham Grant
land, Graves. Griffin, Hamcr, Harlan, Harrison, Hawes
Hawkins, Haynes Holt Hopkins, Howard, Hubley.
X. NJ T. Hunter, Ingham, Jabez Jackson, Joseph
Johnson, Jenifer VIM c. Johnson, Nathaniel Jones'
John w. Jones, Kembe, Lawler Lcgare Leadbetter,
LOOMS, Lyon, Mallory, James NJ Mason, Martin,
Msury, May, Mckay, A. Mcclellan, McKm, Meme
fee, Mercer Miller, Montgomery, Moore Morgan S.
w Morris, Muhlcnberg, Murray Noble, Palmer, Pat
ton, Pearce Pcnnybacker, Peiriken Phelps, Plumer,
Pope, Pratt, Prentiss Randolph, Rencher, Rlvcs Ro-
bertson, Rumsey, A. II. Shepherd, Shields, Shepor,
Smith, Snyder, Southgate, Spencer Stanly, Stewart,
Stone, Talafeuo, Taylor, Titus, Toucey, Underwood,
Vail WAGNER, Webster, John White, Thomas T.