The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-02
Congressional.
Correspondence of the Boston Atlas.

WAsHINaroN, Dec 20.
In the House, petitions being called for, Sade of
Vermont, presented one for the abolition of Slavery
IN the District of Columbia He sad that pre-.
sen;ng this petition, he felt himself bound, by his
duty to his constituents, make some observations
upon the disposal which had been made of similar
petitions. Considering the determination which
had been evinced in the country TO discuss the sub
lect involved in the petition he presented he could
not but express his establishment the systematic
arrangement which had been entered, into in this
House, suppress all discussion upon it, and put
this question under the ban of empire. 1t not
SO in other matters. AS to all other subjects there
was ample liberty Petitions touching any other
matter, from the most insignificant sources, and up
ON the most insignificant subjects, received
with respect, and referred TO the appropriate Com.
mttee. But these petitions coming from the
respectable sources and from number of citi-
zcns, were no sooner offered than the gentleman
over the way (Wise) sprang upon his feet, Fand be-
fore he had time to utter word. the Speaker, anti
clpaung his lntention announced motion 10 lay up
on the table, which was mt once put and carried.
BY this contrvance the voice of the people
gagged, and the right of petition turned into
a moro mockery;-!or what was the right of petit
ton, when petitions were neither read referred?
This mechanical arrangement for the disposal of
these petitions was an insult 10 the people, and I'M
worthy the House.
Wise here and protested that, in this matter,
he acted without any concert, and especially with,
ont any concert with the Speaker.
Slade said, that he spoke only of what he saw
He did not intend to intimate that the of the
gentleman had been settled in secret conclave, or
by private agreement. The concert, Of which he
had spoken, was the practical, actual concert which
the conduct of certain gentlemen upon this subj ect,
exhibited.
lie said that his constituents were not to be thus
gagged. Their action gpo" this subject was not to.
be thus suppressed. With them it mat
ter merely of sympathy and feeling; it was matter
of principle, which they would, which they must,
follow up. was no hostility towards the men who,
held slaves, but it the great princ pies of free
dom and Of humanity, of which they had taken
hold, and they would not relinqush their grasp. He
said this, because he wished gentlemen TO under.
stand how this matter stood with his constituents.
Free discussion go 1t would not be kept
down. He wished the House, therefore, TO, give,
over this vain and useless attempt, in which they.
were ut present engaged This subec must be met
and grappled with. Let the House, then, meet it
in manly way. II was thing to be discussed
The House must reason about, and not attempt TO
run away with 1t. lie desired the whole subject to
DO referred to select Committee, with ma or;ty
in favor of the prayer. The subject might :hen be
fully investigated. If he had tho slightest hope
that such motion would prevail; he would make
it, and sit down. But ne had no such hope, and he
therefore felt obliged to address the House the
subject. (iere he going into the merits Of the
petition, when he was stopped by the Speaker, who
said, that question of reference, to discuss the
merits of question was not in order.) Sade then
moved that the petition be referred to select Com
nittee, with instructions to report bill, abofshing
Slavery in the District of Columbia. While this
motion was being reduced to writing, Legare made
several attempts to get the floor Slade refused to
yield it.
LeSare nnaly got IL by 1orcc, ana OeSSed the gem
eman from Vermont to be cautious what he
bout lie would not threats, he SAID, but no
would tell the gentleman from Vermont, that ftheIe
was such split among his constituents, as he Lad
spoken of, it would be met by corresponding spirit
n the South. Legare began coolly; but in two min
ltcs, lie burst out into violent dec lamatlon protest
ng that he had examined the subject scientifically,
and he would maintain that the principles of the
geneman's petition involved the sub Jet of the
community of goods, and the abolition OF private
,ropcrty Legare finally sat down. But he got
Up, and apologsed to Slade for having thus broken
n upon him. SIade said, that he accepted the apollo
w. lie could we'll understand the gentleman s feel
ngs, and he appreciated them. He did not agree
With him, but lie willing TO allow him ample
altitude Of expression. Dawson, of Georgia, here
made third Or fourth attempt to get in word, bnt
;lade positively refused to yield to him. Slade re-
umed. IF it touched, he said, nero matter OF per-
onal comfy, there was man he would sooner
eld to than the gentleman from South Carolina,
ut he was a representative of the freemen DIVER
mont, and in their names he must speak He then
proceeded to draw picture Of slavery, and in 80