The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-13

4
are made up on these subjects by requiring them ex
plicity to stale their opinions and the votes they in
tend 10 give. The matter has been once referred to
a committee, who fully examined IT, and reported
such arguments as conclusiyely show our want Of
jurisdiction. Is II pretended that every petition must
be referred and report be made in full upon H. and
Thai The whole time OF Congress should be spent on
the subJectf The House, and each member Of the
House, has fully considered the subject involved in
these petitions IT, then, the House is decidedly of
opinion, that il has right TO act on these subjects
as The petitioners desire il IS conceive our duty TO
dispose of the petitions with as lillIe DELAY as poss
ble-unless, indeed our object be 10 waste our own
time, and the money Of the people in discussion in
ierminable and unavaiDg, or worse than uaayall
| ing, because intended 10 manufacture public senti
nj for Constituents rather than 10 acouire Iiph
for our own guidance, and thus indicating the as
sumption that the masters instead Of the
servants OF the people. BY The mode Of action here
prescribed the petitions are 10 be presented like any
other petitions. From the statement Of their con.
tents required by The rules Of The House it is per-
ceved that they relate 10 subjects which have been
fully considered by the House and on which a
majority OF the House have defnityely formed an
opinion that the House has no legitimate iuri,dic.
lion. ana they are at once laid on The table
Believing, sir, as do that 'lhe relation of mas
Ter ana slave y matter exclusively within the
regulation OF the STATES where il exists and thai any
interference by the inhabitants Of other s. ates in
regard 10 IT, is not only Unauthorized and intrusive
but faithess and dshonora5le as being against the
letter and spirit Of the sacred compact which binds
US together; !" believing that The agitation prsc-
tised on The subject OF the abolition Of slavery, whe-
Their carried on under the pretext of maintaining the
right OF petition, or any other pretex results either
from total misconception of the nature and rights
Of the General and State Governments, or there
is 10 fear in instances from hostility
our established republican institutions; that il tends
10 ALLEVIATE the friendly regard of different parts OF
country and introduce sectional differences and
dsiinciions-to waste and consume the time of Con-
gress, and enormously TO increase the expenditures
OF the money OF the people that il is dangerous
only 10 the rights of the citizens of the slave-holdng
States but also in the highest degree to the integrity
OF the union that, If persisted in, it threatens 10
involve the whole country in the most alarming
evils, and that it ought to be discountenanced BY
every friend of the Union and Of Republican Go
vernment-I fear not, but trust, that these resou-
tons will meet the favorable consideration OF this
House.
Mr.. A. concluded by moving the previous ques-
ton
Mr.. WISE said that the gentleman from New
Hampshire Mr. Anterior had represented the senii-
menis OF the North, not of the South. He (Mr W.
protested that these were not Southern resolutions;
ne rePudiaed them, and he asked that The South
might now be heard.
Mr. CUSHING asked that the question on the re-
solutions might be taken separately.
Mr.. WISE again asked whether the South should
not be heard
The SPEAKER called the attention of the gentle
man from Virginia 10 the rule which prescribed
that pending the call for the previous question: no
debate could be tanned.
Mr.. WISE asked that the resolution he held in his
hand might be read for Information. The resolu-
tons OF the gentleman from New Hampshire were
trap surreptitiously sprung upon the House.
Mi. TILLINGHAST inquired whether The gen.
tleman from New Hampshire, after introducing his
resolutions prefacing them with speech, and then
moving the previous question, would not suffer other
gentlemen 10 reply
Mr.. STANLY moved call Of the House which
was ordered.
And the roll having been called, two hundred and
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ron the name of Mr.. Wise being called that
gentleman and said that, of the Repre-
senatives of the South he was not here the sub
ject of abolition.]
The names of the absentees were then called, and
there appeared present two hundred andtwenty-three
members.
Mr.. TITUS moved that all further proceedings
on the call be dispensed with.
and nays; which were ordered, and, being taken,
were: Yeas lib, nays SO.
So all further proceedings on the call were dis
pensed with.
The question then recurring secondDg the de-
mand for the previous question,
Teliers were called for, and Messrs. Dromgoole
and Atherion were appointed.
Mr.. WISE rose and asked the unanimous consent
OF the House 10 have his resolution read.
Mr.. CUSHMAN objecting-
Mr.. Wise asked a suspension of the rule.
But the SPEAKER decided The motion to he out
of order.
And the question on seconding The demand for the
previous question was taken and decided in the al
frmave: Ayes l03 noes l02.
So there was a second.
And on the question, Shall the main question be
now taken
The yeas and nays were demanded by Mr.. Briggs,
and were ordered
Mr. BELL rose with view to move an adjourn
ment OF the House, and 10 request that the House
would order the resolutions 10 be printed, SO that
when the members came here to morrow they might
vote Understandings. There could be no debate,
thought House WOuld he O
adopting this course.
The CHAIR said the only motion now in order
was motion for adjournment. Did the gentleman
submit that motion
Mr. BELL said he hoped the House would re-
ceive a motion to print.
The CHAIR said it could only be done BY unani-
nous consent.
Mr. BELL hoped no gentleman would object.
Mr. CuSHMAN objected.
Mr. BELL moved that The House do now ad-
Mr.. CUsHMAN demanded the yeas and nays
which were ordered, and, being taken, were, Yeas
1902 nays ll3.
So the House refused 10 adjourn.
The question now recurring, Shall the main
question be now put ~
Mr.. MASON, of Ohio rose to a question oforder,
He called the attention Of the Speaker and of the
House to the 10th rule and also to the 4Sth rule of
order. The first provides that no standing rule of
order shall be rescinded without days notice and
the latter declares that petitions shall not be debated
the day Of their presentation but shall lie the
table, "io be taken up in the order" in which they
were presented He commended that the filth Of the
resolutions moved by the gentleman from New
Hampshire, (Mr. Aheron,) which provides that
petitions relating slavery shall be laid the table,
and that no further action shall be had thereon,
iced with this rule and thereupon he presented his
question Of order, viz. that the resolutions conflict
ing with the rules OF the House, were no, in order.
The SPEAKER promptly decided the resolutions
TO be strictly in order. The question raised BY the
gentleman from Ohio had been made al previous
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