The native American., 1837-12-23
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
[FRoM QUE REpoRTER.1
Third Week of the Session.

The storm has burst over Congress and the
Country in its full fury, and all minor questions
are absorbed in the madening whirlwind. On
Wednesday last, Mr.. SLADE, OF Vermont, breach
ed, in its most offensive form, the slavery sub
ject and dared to go beyond the limits of this
District, to discuss it in the States. He was in
terupted by calls to order, by Legare, Of South
Carolina, who eloquendy mplored him to pause
ere ne proceeded one step farther;-by Wise,
who, in his emphatic manner, called him to or
derby the whole Southern Representative
but in vain. With his horrid twang, his nasal
cant, Mr.. Slade mockingly de6ed the calls of his
fellow countrymen. Sneeringly, insutingly, he
went on with the odious subject, until the MEM
bers from the South had to come to the determi-
nation to leave the Hall and hold meeting in the
District Committee-Room. cannot describe the
scene-it is beyond my powers-but the House
was fearfuly agitated The members seemed
like SO many angry tigers, with Mr.. Adams, from
the North, leading on to the carnage; his head
glittering, his face Redeemed and in all the super
human energy of bigoted enthusiasm, ready to
grapple, throat to throat. with brothers of the
same Union. Eutopians all-poor and miserable
despoilers of the fairest fabric that ever lifted its
head to Heaven, or commanded the veneration Of
men. Runners of the Government fought for, and
established by Washington, a slaveholder-and
for what! Go ask the idle winds, for no where
else can you receive an answer.
will beg you to insert the proceedings of
Wednesday, from the National Intelligencer, for
the event is one of vast importance, and marks,
to my mind, the first downward step of the Re
public. The. giant totters on the brink, and
brought there by the wicked Vaccinations of our
jealous weirdmen, such as Sade. Why did not
the Lincolns-the Cushings-the Everetts, of the
North rally round the bleeding form of liberty,
and with their gallant and powerful arms, shield
her bosom from the States of the incendiary!
Mr.. sLApE having former day presented two me-
MORALS from Vermont praying for the abolition Of slave
ny in the District Of Columbia and having moved that
they be referred to select committee and debate threat
ening to arise thereon the motion was laid until
this days and the question such reference coming up
in order as the first business before the House,
Mr.. SLADE read one Of the memorials and then pro-
ceeded 10 address the House at large in support Of his
motion. In reply to inquiry made BY Mr. DAWSON,
MIR. SLADE said that he meant TO give application to
the remark farther than the language itself implied
He then resumed; and having, after me concluded
what he had say the manner of treating these me-
morias and what he considered as more manly and
dgnfed to be pursued in relation to the whole
subject by referring them to select committee he pro-
ceeded to the subject Of the memorial ITSELF which prayed
for the abolition of slavery within the District Of Colum
bia. And what, asked Mr.. S., is slavery.
1.-THE CHAIR here interposed and observed that Mr..
s. could not discuss the merits of the memorial on a
mere motion for its commitment. The question before
the House the question of commitment alone and
to that Mr. S. must conne his remarks The motion for
commitment had been accompanied with instructions:
had it been, the whole field would have been opened
Mr. SLADE submitted to the decision Of the Chair and
forthwith modified his motion for the commitment Of
these memorials to select committee. by adding with
instructions to report bill aboshng slavery within the
District Of Columbia
Mr.. WISE inquired whether the motion, thus modified,
The CHAIR replied that the memorial having been re-
ceved, and the motion entertained for its reference to
committee, such would not be the
Mr.. SLADE was about to resume; when
Mr.. LEGARE, of South Carolina, asked leave to say
word.
Mr.. SLADE, pausing-
Mr.. LEGARE said he wished to implore the gentleman
from Vermont soemny to consider what he doing.
He duplicated him for the sake of his constituents
for the sake of those of Mr. L. for the sake of us ALL
pause and seriously to reflect before he took another
had not directed him thus to interfere but, man.
American CITIZEN he would supplicate the gentleman
TO take further time TO consider If it was true the
gentleman had said that spirit had been awakened on
this subject which could he suppressed chidden
into submission, when the most solemn and explicit
tracts forbade its indulgence, when the agitation Of the
question might involve the fate Of nation, of CONT
ent nay, Of the entire world let that gentleman be
assured and he warned him not in the language of de-
fance, for that he well knew brave every where
despised) but let the geleman be well assured that
that spirit would be encountered by another incapable
to the full of being rePressed by any human power If
the question must be forced upon them, they per-
ectly and promptly ready to take up the gauntlet Let
him tell the gentleman most solemny and seriously that
had had occasion to look at the question in deibe-
rate and philosophical manner the gentleman had
proposed it should be examined in committees and he
had come to the conclusion that there was more 10 be
found in the systems of philosophy and in the body
Christian doctrine against both property and than
against slavery. The gentleman might as well look
there for grounds to advocate community Of goods as
to abolish slavery. There had not been, for than
1900 years after the introduction OF Christianity the least
possible pretex brought from its precepts in favor Of war;
even where previous stipulation, as in this case
listed for the preservation of peace. Mr. L. spoke with
great vehemence, and could at times, with difficulty
catch his language; but the above conveys, we believe
the substance of his meaning) Could gentlemen won
His constituents had not sent him there to listen TO these
thingsto hear, from day to day, the most com
monpaces brought mp and reiterated in his ears--to
hear all that vital to the safety Of their resdes and
the very structure Of Southern society ved an Of
fence against God and man. Not only twearsome and
disgusting beyond endurance but he rembed at its obvi
Gus practical results.
Mr. SLADE resumed, when