Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-01-24

Mr.. Chambers reiterated his call TO order,
and the Speaker told Mr.. Adams 10 take his
seat.
Mr. A. proceeded, twiih great rapidly Of
enunciuion and in very loud tone voice.
" And 10 declare every human being free
who sets foot upon its soil"
Mr.. Chambers insisted on his point Of or
der, and the Speaker again, with great earnest
ncss Of manner, told the gentleman from Mas.
sachusctts to take his scat.
Whcreupon MIR. A. yielded the floor.
1.-The confusion in the Hail at this time was
so great that scarcely word could be heard
by the Reporters
Mr.. Chambers then stated his point Of or.
der The rule Of the House, provided that ev-
cry member, on presenting a petition, should
state briefly the substance OF it. Could that
rule be evodcd by any gentleman who chose 10
avow that he would read the clifton as pur,
ct his speech? lie would be the last man in
the world TO disturb any gentleman in his re-
marks, but he thought this course entirely out
of order.
The Speaker read the rule OF the House up
plicable TO the question. 1t s as follows:
"RULE 45.-Peltions, memorials, and 9TH
CT papers addressed TO the House, shall be pre-
scented by the Speaker, or by a member il his
place brief statement of the contents shall
verbally be made by the introducer, and shall
not be debated or decided ON the dsy Of their
being first read. unless where the uouse sball
direct otherwise, but shall lie on the fable 10
be taken up in tlle order in which they were
read"
The Speaker said he would give his dccs-
ion if il should be insisted on but he thought
much time might be saved by not pressing
decision at this time, because he understood
that The gentleman from Massachusetts Ind
gone through u greater part of the contents of
the petition.
MIR. Chambc., said that his objection was az
to the principle, whether q member had n RIGHT
to read petition as part of his speech. Hn
insisted, respectCullv. on bayno tho dpci.ion
Of the Chair.
The Speaker said he Decided. tbon that il
was not in order for a member 10 read n NET {.
ton, whether il was LONG or short.
MIR. Adams said thai. Is he intended to an
peal from the decision of the Chair. he wouid
reones, the member from Kentuckv IN roGuro
his point of order TO writng. md he would
likewise request the Sneaker to reduce h;s de-
cision TO Writing He opneoled f., ~, anu do
cision which went TO establish tbe nrinci,Ie
that member of the House should not bavc
the power 10 read what he chose. lie had
never before heard Of such thing. If This
practice was to be re, crscd, let the decision
stand upon record, and let it appear how en-
tlrely the freedom Of speech was suppressed in
this House. If the reading af paper was %
be suppressed in his own person, so help him
God, he would only consent 10 it as matter
of record.
The speaker presented in writing, the sub
stance Of his decision that it was not in order
for member 10 read the whole petition if OBJ.
jected to, but that he had only the right TO
make " q brief statement ofthe contents there
Of"
MIR. Adams said he proposed 10 withdraw
his appeal in order 10 save the time of the
House, if the gentleman from Kentucky would
permit him to complete his "bricf statement of
The contents" OF the petition. 1t was, indeed,
SO brief, that to read the petition in its own
language was the brciest statement that could
be made.
Mr.. A. then read from the petition thar the
petitioners respectfully announced their in
tentlon to present Inc same petition yearly be-
fore this honorable body, that ii might at least
be memorial In the holy cause oil human
freedom, that they had done what they could"
These words were read amidst tnmultuous
cries for order from every part OF the House.
And order having at length been restored,
Mr.. Adams Withdrew his appeal.
The question then REQUIRED on the objection
of Mr.. Glascock TO the reception Of the petit
ton.
Aitcf some remarks from Mr.. Dawson, dep,
oondon5n;n1 in stron1 terms ,bo cnJ,,o, my ~
the fanatics in agitating it,
Mr.. Boon moved 10 lay the preliminary mo-
non 1 OIL leceP'l9n vi .1e -. 'apie'
vote on the direct question Of reception.
After some desuItory conversation on points
OF order, MI Boon withdrew his motion to lay
H., liz p''' ''''' - i'''" VII '"0 '"'
MIR. A. Mann said that. as this oues,ion had
been most fully discussed at the last session