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


must say that II was not constituted in such manner
as 10 induce the belief that this report would be in
accordance with the wishes Of the memoriaisis, with
the presentation OF whose petitions his colleagues
and himself had been entrusted Al the head Of thar
committee is a gentleman (Mr. HowARD) who Is,
himself stakeholder, and !, was TO BE- feared, who
entertained widely different opinion, as 10 the mo
rality of the institution of slavery from that held by
the great mass of the memorialists Mr. A. said he
had reason, eyen to fear that that gentleman avofs
the annexation of Texas 10 this Government, and he
feared and believed that such the sentiments OF
a majority OF the committee OF which thai gentle
man was chairman, and 10 which he now proposest 70
refer these petitions Independently of all he had
said, Mr. A. moreover coatended that II was strictly
conformable To The parliamentary rule, when COM
miiees b. appointed TO consider The prayer OF
memoriaists, TO appoint majority OF such commit
tee in favor OF that prayer Tins seemed 70 MN as
one of the incidents Of freedom OF opinion itself ne
cessary carry out and perfect that freedom and he
eonrasted the character OF committee thus appoint
ed with that OF packed committees instancing the
Committee ofWays and Means ofthe House, which,
he remarked could pass upon petitions Of the people
without so much as reading them in committee, as
had been acknowledged by the majority Of that COM
mittee in publication, 10 which their signatures
affixed in the papers of that day, And yet, sir,
added Mr. A. il were better that such should be the
fate Of such memorials those under consideration,
than that they should be referred 10 committee con-
stitued like that 10 which II proposed 10 refer
them, BY the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr.. ADAMS again alluded to the fact that six out
OF nine Of the Committee foreign Affairs slave
holders and he took for granted that every member
Of the House who STAKEHOLDER was ready for the
annexation of Texas TO the Union. This measure in
volved principle with these gentlemen for lis accom-
plishment sought not for the acquisition OF so much
new territory the country but new buress to
the to,iering institution Of slavery
Mr.. LEGARE, Of South Carolina, hero interrupted
Mr. Adams, and demonstrated against the reeratIon of
remarks which, if the latter would but reflect he aver
red, would be acknowledged TO be uniounded,
Mr.. ADAMS claimed the right to 90 on without in
terrupon, and called the gentleman from South Caro-
lima TO order.
Mr. LEGARE was understood to say, as he sat
down. that the time for this discussion had not yet come,
though it might and advised the gentleman from
Massachusetts that sufficient unto the day the evil
thereof
Mr. RHET~T, Of South Carolina, hoped the members
Of the House would suffer the gentleman from Massa
chusetts to proceed without interruption, and hear him
through this most extraordinary speech.
Mr. ADAMS proceeded, and repeated that one great
objection TO the proposed reference that six out of
nine upon the committee Shareholders, and were,
therefore, not proper committee for such reference.
They feeling and in interest committed in favor
of that against which these memorials demonstrated -
He would say, with all respect to the two gentlemen
from South Carolina, Qhe most deeply sayeholding
State in the unon) who had just taken their seats,
that whether the discussion arise hereafter,
as immateral TO him il could be TO them must
come And though might for the present be delayed,
be did not believe would forever be smoihered by
previous questions motions to lay il upon the table, and
all the other means and arguments by which the institu-
ton Of slavery is wont to be sustained that floor
the and arguments, in spirit, which in
other place have produced murder and arson. Yes,
sir, continued Mr. Adams, the spirit which led 10
the nhuman murder Of Loyejoy at Alton
The CHAIR here interposed and remarked that the
gentleman from Massachusetts, straying widely
from he Of Tefp WI telv
under consideration
Mr. PETRIKIN Of Pennsylvania sent written mo-
ton the Chair, which not read, the Speaker de-
caring it to be, at that time, out Of order At the
quest ofMr Dawson Of Georgia, it was withdrawn.
Mr. SNYDER Of Illinois, asked the Chair If he should
be permitted to reply to much Of the remarks Of the
gentleman from Massachusetts related to the recent
Alton affair r
The SPEAKER decided that what was said out of
order il not competent for any member to reply TO
in order.
Mr. SNYDER must, then, he said, call the gentle
man from Massachusetts, TO order, and move that he
take his seat.
Mr. ADAMS should do this when the sense Of the
House Indicated it to be their will
The CHAIR decided that having been pronounced
out Of order by the Chair and motion made by mem
bet that he take his seat according to the rules Of
the House, the gentleman from Massachusetts, would
do so.
Mr. RHETT went on to make some remarks, ex-
pressive Of the hope that gentlemen whom Mr.. Adams,
he alleged, had gratutously assaulted, might be
allowed an opportunity to make reply, when he was
called to order by the Chair.
Mr.. ADAMS said. in reply TO the last observation
that had fallen from the Chair, that he would proceed
without much a whisper in relation to
the recen, affair at Alton. He proceeding, when
The SPEAKER said: the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts will take his seat.
Mr.. ADAMS resumed his seat for a moment
MIR. BOIIDlN, rising to address the Chair,
Mr.. ADAMS rose and asked by what decision he had
been hidden 10 take his seatl
The Chair repeated what he had before said, and
read the rule again.
Mr. ADAMS then said But had said would not
utter whisper TO the winds of what il had given
the gentleman from Illinois much uneasness to
hear.
The CHAIR insisted on the rule.
Mr. ADAMS. And does the Speaker, when
member out Of ORDER peremptoriy bid him take his
seatl IT,. ..'
The CHAIR again explained the requiston OF the
rule, and the duty Of the Speaker to enforce it.
Mr. ADAMS. Bot there is certainly appeal to
the House; and to the House | appeal and ask the
yeas and nays The yeas and nays were ordered
Mr. BOULDIN claimed the floor He had risen TO
address the Chair after the gentleman from Massachu
sets had resumed his seat. If there to be APP
peal from the decision Of the Chair ii should have been
made before another member obtained the floor.
The Speaker said that, strictly speaking, that
true; but the nature OF the case seemed TO require
liberal construction Of the usual rule, in such
cases. ......".
Mr. GRENNEI.L put this question to the Chair -
When gentleman makes motion, the effect Of
which is to permit him TO proceed is not understood
that this motion involves the condition that he proceed
I" in orderl" .'.
The CHAIR said certainly.
Mr. ADAMS declared that to have been his declara-
ton, in what kc had already said when called order
by the Chair.
The yeas and nays being about TO be called
Mr. SNYDER withdrew his objection, and
Mr.. ADAMS proceeded He said that, as there
appeared to be an indisposon on the part Of por-
tion Of the House TO hear him farther upon this 10
pic, at this time, he would abrdge his remarks, and
hasten TO a close What he had said was intended