Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-15

make it conform to the facts, about which
they had not thought it worth while, in
their very great zeal to put me down, TO
inquire at all. Well, instead of admitting
their error into which they had run, with
out word from me to justify it, the gen.
tlemen took advantage of my explanation
of the nature of the paper purporting to
come from slaves, and bounced upon me
with another resolution, charging me with
the high crime and mlsdemeanor, of their
own false construction of the contents of
the paper, which they assumed to be a
petition from slaves for abolition and that !
l had permitted the House to believe it
was true! So was to be gravely CEN
sured for gentlemen believing what they
had no right to believe, nor even to infer, |
and what had never said one word to !
Justify them in believing! But it was
soon found that this would not do, and
another proposition came from the gentle
man from Georgia, which answered the
purpose no better, and which he was
obliged to withdraw. There came anoth-
er resolution, from the Hon. gentleman
from Va (Mr. Dromgoole,) charging a
new crime of most alarming import, and
that was, that had "giren color to an
idea /" (Laugh) will not say word
upon that charge in the indictment against
: me. The gentleman from Maine (Mr
} Evans,) has so keenly exposed it to the
) ridicule 1t deserves, that those who intro
! duced it cannot desire to hear anything
, more said upon that subject.
Sir, there was. for once in this House, a
f remarkable unanimity between gentlemen
found in opposition to each other on all
: other questions. A gentleman, whose
/ speeches on this floor have not caused him
to be regarded as the most devoted friend
t of this Administration, (Mr Waddy
Thompson OF S. c. proposed his resolu
s ton of censure. A devoted friend of the
: Administration, (Mr Dromgoole of Va
proposed an amendment which the gen.
f tleman from S. Carolina accepted at once
and that was to censure me for giving COL
or to an ideal Sir, it was in vain that
- rose, and gave the gentlemen the sober
) advice to attend little more to their facts
- The moment attempted to explain, and
:, set aside all their assumed facts, whisk +!
~ there came another resolution of censure,
!. charging me with trifing with the House.
n 1t was not what did, but what | did not
= do.
| did not get up soon enough, it seems,
to show these gentlemen the best way to
l." censure me, and enable them to correct
y their resolutions which they had brought
e forward with such zeal and in such rapid
succession, but in which, unfortunately for
them, there was not one word of truth
!, When say there was not one word OF
- truth in these resolutions Of the gentlemen
~ =. from S. Carolina and Alabama, | do not
- call in question their veracity. There
y. are no men in whose veracitv | would
sooner trust my whole life; but tell them
-; thai when they undertake to charge a
-. member of this House, who never gave
J them the slightest cause of offence, with
b crimes that should draw down upon him
- the censure of this body, without first as
e certaining the facts, they have stepped be-
- yond the bounds of discretion and propri-
ETY.; and | will give them one word OF
r. advice,-that when they draw up resolu-
10 tons to censure me, they should first be
OF careful to pay little attention to facts
n This alusion brought Mr. Leaois and
r. Mr.. Thompson both on their feet. MIR.
~ Leaoes OF Alabama, said that he came into
Is the Honse in the midst of the excitement.
d and on inquiry was told that the gentle
u man from Massachusetts, Mr.. Adams, had
3 attempted to present petition from slaves.
IS He TOOK 1t for granted it was petition for
n abolition, and it was full two hours before
y he understood that it was of different
u character. Had he known the object OF
E. the petition, he should not have offered the
al resolution.l
Re Mr.. AdGms-Sir l very readily admit
T. the explanation of the gentleman. He
i took for granted what happened not to be
IS true. But do not intend the slightest
e dIsrespect to the gentlemen. l only take
% the occasion to give them little advice,
- the advice of an old man to ardent Young
"; u men, to govern their future conduct in this
IS House when they undertake to censure
/ their colleagues. But want another ex-
PLANTATION from the gentleman from South
e Carolina, (Mr. Waddy Thompson,) and 7
9 want to know if the language | find here
IL reported in the lntelligencer as his, is real.
II y the expression of his deliberate opinion
> lMr: 1HompsO" rose to explain.l
l. MI Adams-l shall want an exnlana-
< ton of another matter from the gentleman,
'e and he may explain both when have
Re stated it fully. l read from the renort ~
OF that ,gentleman's remarks tn the National
s. Intelligencer: '0''"'
IL " Does the gentleman, even IN the 1,.;.,,,.
" which ne gives to the right Of petition. thu th.
Mt cudes slaves If be does not. he
ly violated the rules of the House, and the faoi
- Ings of its members" TIC leei-
S. [Mr;; Thompson was on his legs again
,e to explain. Mr.. Adams-I have not dono
There iS moro &c =.