Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-12-21
CONGRESS-.

ance, except the making OF some mischief /
N the Abolition question. He who ngi> I
a,es that subject COR party purposes and
or party ends no matter on which side
Il the question he places himself--can be
10 friend of the Union.
On Tuesday, Mr.. Charles G. Atherton,
new member from New.hampshire, in
reduced to The House of Representatives
he following series OF resolutions:
RESOLVED, That this Government is n
Government of limited powers. and that,
BY the Constitution Of the United States,
Congress has no jurisdiction whatever over
The institution Of slavery in the several
States Of the Confedcrecy.
Resolved That the petitions for the Abo.
Iition Of slavery in the District Of Colum
bia and the Territories Of the United States
and against the removal Of slaves from one
State TO another, are a part of the plan Of
operations set on loot TO affect The institu
ton Of slavery in the several States. and
thus indirectly 10 destroy that institution
within their limits.
Rescued. That Congress has no right
to do that indirectly which it cnnno. do
directly; and that the agitation of,hc sub
ject Of slavery in the District of Columbia,
or the Territories, as a means, and with n
view Of disturbing or overthrowing that
institution in the several States, is against
the true spirit and meaning Of the Cops,i-
tuition, an Infringement of the righ'a of the
States affected, and breach Of The public
faith on which they entered into the Con.
federacy.
RESOLVED. That The Cos; ituti ion rests on
the broad principle Of equality among the
members Of the Coufederncy. and tina,
Cong ess. in the exercise of its ncknowl
edged powers, has no right to discriminate
between the institutions OF one portion Of
the States. and another, with q view of
abolishlng The one and promoting he other
Resoiued. therefore, Tina, all attempts
on the port Of Congress to abolish slavery
in the District OF Columbia. or the Tern.
tories. or to prohibit the removal Of slaves
from Sinte to State, or to discriminate he
tween the institutions of one portion Of the
country, and another, with the views afore-
said. are in violation Of the Constitution,
destructive of the fundamental principles
on which the Ujlon Of these States rests.
and beyond the Jurisdiction Of Congress
and that every petition, memorial, resou.
ton. proposition or paper touching or rela
ing in any way. or in any extent whatever
to slavery as aforesaid, or The abolition
thereof shall. on the presentation thereon
wilhou, any further action thereon, he laid
on the table without being debated. printed
or referred.
As soon as these resolutions had been
read. Mr. Athcrton proceeded 10 make a
speech upon them. in which he labored 10
make as much party capital as possible GU,
of the Abolition question. He spoke half
an hour, and closed by moving the Previous
Question! on these resolutions introduced
BY himself and by him advocated--,hus
forcing the House TO vote on his own pro-,
position without allowing any body else to
discuss and hardly time to understand it.
Can this be honorable!
Much excitement prevailed in the
House ('he rules having been suspended
1873 to 66-in favor Of the immediate con.
sideratlon nf these resouiions.) when the
Previous Question was carried by vote
OF 1903 10 lO2; the Main Question ordered
BY ia TO l07, and repeated motions to
adjourn nega,ved by close votes. Several
Members entrea,ed Mr. Atherton TO elbow
out effect. Mr. G.. II. Williams Of Tenn.
asked 10 be excused from voting. Refused.
Mr. Wise also asked to bc excused. telling
the House iha, he should refuse 10 vote at
any rate. Not excused. Several Mem
bers attempted to explain. but were called
to order. Finally, the frs, resolution was
carried: Yeas 1913; Nays--J' @. Adams,
Evans. Everett, Potts, Russell, Sade-6
Adjourned.
On Wednesday, the second rcsolnl ion
was likewise passed: Yeas 1856; Nays g.
The first clause Of the third resolution
was carried oy 10 to 80; the remainder
by l64 to 80.
Tha first part part Of the fourth resolu.
ton was carried by 1853 to 90; the residue
by ITS to 90.
The first part Of the last resolution wa;
carried by LAT to 81; the balance by l2-
to 10. So the resolutions were all passed.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 10, 1888.
The Senate to day presented very ami
mated scene. A bill was introduced b,
tho Chairman Of the Committee on Finance
"to further postpone the payment Of tn,
fourth insiament to the Siates;" who init
mated, ct the same time. that The presen
condition Of the Treasury demanded promp
and speedy action.
Mr.. Clay was Of opinion that the bill
ought to assume definite shape, and will
the view to give it one. moved to amend
by inserting the LIST day of Jan. 1910. o.
this Mr.. Wright called for The yeas.an
nays. when there sprung up n very warn
discussion, not only as to the policy of tn
amendment. but as 10 the original impo,
and intent of,his far. famed deposite net.
Messrs. Benton and Niles were unusuall
ferocious. and denounced it as trick Il
raise revenue from The people, to dslrbut,
among the Sales--that the safest plac,
for money was in the pockets orthe people
and II this thing were suffered 10 20 ON