Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-01-03

decidedly adverse to the prayer OF these
memorials Three new members had
been placed upon that committee; and,
as if to make it still more emphatically
slaveholding committee, gentleman from
Virginia had been taken from the chair
of another important commute, and placed
upon this, For what he would ask, was
this alteration made! Whatever the mo-
tive, he must say it was, to his mind, an |
additional reason why, as one of the rep |
resentatives of the people of Massachu-
sets, he should not consent that their in
terests, as freemen, should be confined to
it. Upon that committee, besides the fact
that six out of nine were slaveholding
members, he observed the same proper
ton of friends to the administration had
been placed. Perhaps not the identical
six before alluded to, but yet members
ever read Y to support the administration
in every and any measure, be it what it
may-consistent with their sense of duty.
Now, said Mr. A. it may be urged, as
indeed in his section, it had been repeat
eddy, that the President of the United
States was against the annexation of
Texas; and that it is base calumny to
say that any prejudice in favor Of this
measure had existence at the White
House! He had seen such things in the
public prints, and lately in the official pa
per in this city.
The Chair reminded the gentleman
} from Massachusetts that he was straying
: from the subject Immediately under the
consideration of the House.
Mr.. Adams would come back, and
, keep as near to the mark as he could
; This he might be permitted to say, that
he and his colleagues had seen, in read
ing the late message of the Executive,
how much was not in the document, as
: we'll as how much Das in it. History,
sir, tells US (said Mr.. A. of the funeral of
: sister Of one of the Roman emperors,
i which took place at time when Rome
: was stepped in slavery, at which the stat
e ues of Brutus and Cassius we've not seen
among the splendid array of statues of
It friends and relatives, which it was the
e custom to bear in the funeral professions
Il of the great. And the historian remarks
/ that the absence of those two friends of
e liberty was more noticed by the people
:; who witnessed the display, than the whole
II train which was present; and that the
spectators of the scene, instead of admir-
J. ing the magni6cence of their tyrants,
were thinking only of the absent statues
10 of Brutus and Cassius, the friends and
y advocates of freedom Sir, l could moi
e but recall this historic incident as inverse
ly applicable, when saw in the late mes
: sage of the Executive, so much allusion
to the grievances of this government al
q the hands of Mexico, and literally not a
IL single allusion to our relations with
E. Texas
. The Chair observed that the message
was not now under consideration.
r, Mr.. Adams. The committee on for
D. eign relations will, of course, have thu
subject of our relations with Mexico be
s. fore it, and my objections to the refer
,e ence proposed by the gentleman from
Maryland are strengthened by this con
IN sideration. The annexation of Texa.
| and the proposed war with Mexico arr
1e one and the same thing, though express
ed in different forms. Now, the message
Ie is Numerically adverse, or, as the re
,e Gently fashionable phrase is, it is decided
e. ly" antagonistical" to the prayer of thes'
n memorialists.
it The Chair again reminded Mr. A. tina
er the message not having been referred, tn,
connection attempted to be shown between
k any portion of its contents and the presen
he motion of reference was too far fetched t.
al be in order.
n Mr.. Adams. But suppose these me
IL. al NJ
he would it not be in order to discuss tina
O. part of the message relating to that sub
m Ject, upon the question of reference?
Is The Chair. That is not the point un
o. der discussion and it will be time enough
for the Chair to decide it when it arises
Mr.. Adams remarked that, did he no
N know what the composition of the Houst
Iy was, he would appeal from the decision o
r. the Chair. He considered it perfect,
be competent to argue, as he had done, up
C on the unfitness of the committee on for
Id elgn affairs to act upon these memorials
s. by reason of the fact that so much of thu
e, message as relates 10 the affairs of Mex
at co would of course be referred to tina
Ks committee. But under the decision ofthe
id chair, he should reserve what he had t.
rs say farther on that point, until the mouth.
ed of members inclined to advocate the caus.
a of freedom upon that floor should be per
# mited to be opened more widely-if, in
Sc deed, there was any hope that that tim,
"a would ever arrive.
lat Mr.. A. remarked, in closing, that h
p did not wish the parliamentary usage il
e. such cases to be strictly observed 10 thi
of instance, in the appointment of move
dy of a select committee to be chairman @
d. that committee, should the motion he ha,
De- made prevail. But he did claim that tn
lie chairman and the mainritu shonld ha e.