The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. ., 1889.

"WEDNESDAY, jan Z, 1889.
The journal having been read
Mr. ADAMS moved to amend the same by inserting
the following
;, "A motion was made by Mr. JOHN Quincy ADAMS
that the rules relation the order Of business be
pended, and that the House do proceed to the COLI
sideraton Of the resolutions submitted by him the 9th
of December, calling on the President Of the United
States for certain information In relation to the conduct
Of Andrew Stevenson Minister TO Great Britain, and to
the conduct Of Matthew G. Perry, Captain in the
Navy Of the United States, which resolutions laid
on the table day, the day they were submitted,
under the rule at the same time, Mr. ADAMS sent to
the Clerks table letter received by him, threatening
his assassination for his proceedings in the House IN re-
laon TO said resolutions which letter read and on
the motion that the rules be suspended for the purpose
aforesaid Mr. ADAMS called for the yeas and nays, which
were not ordered and the question being put, it
decided in the negative" -.:
In explaining the object of this motion Mr.. ADAMS
alluded to the length Of time during which the resou-
lions had laid the table, although in the technical
language Of the rule, ordered to lie there only day
The second laying ores he supposed would be for the
whole of the session Therefore was that he had sent
TO the Chair the letter in question, sample of many
which he had received, but which related to the par
ticuar resolutions he had been DESTROYS to take up
And he felt the anxiety to do this, because the
threatening letter precisely and identicay OF the
same character as the transactions to which the resou-
tons had reference. There conspiracy of assas
snaton IN the case and threat OF assassination IN
the other the conspiracy Of assassination being in his
opinion haser than the threat Of assassination to him.
The SPEAKER here. called Mr.. Adams to order.
Mr.. LEWIS, Of Alabama, and said, that he
should not oppose the amendment of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, [Mr Adams although he thought
it was unnecessary. He I'M, IL was the immediate
representative Of the town OF Montgomery, in Alabama
He had inspected the letter, and had hesitation in
pronouncing it quiz. There was no man Of that
in the town. from the whole appearance of the letter. 1t
was evidently one Of those pseudonymous communica-
tons which had been received by many members Of this
House, himself among the number. Ill.,, ....
Mr.. ROBERTSON was understood to express his
perfect acquaintance with the town Of Montgomery and
his conviction that person Of the appended to
that letter 80 be found there. ......
Mr.. ADAMS (amidst good deal Of confusion, which
rendered his voice not distinctly audble) was under
stood to say that he felt much obliged by the feeling
which manifested by the gentleman from Alabama
(Mr. Lewis) on this occasion 1t rs Continued Mr. Al
an honorable feeling to him, and thank him for IT, But
it is not the trick tself is not the danger-l have no
fear Of danger must, however, be permitted to say
that threat Of assassination writing with signed
name, whether true false to member of this House,
for what he has done here cannot with much proprety
be considered guis. Murder is quiz Treason is
a quiz! Forgery is quiz
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts that the question before the House
the amendment OF the Journal
timents Of the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Lewis,
for which feel particularly grateful
Mr. LEWIS said he hoped he was not under cd as
justlfylng such communications
The SPEAKER said it not in order to enter
upon the subject Of the letter in any form.
Mr. ADAMS asked for the yeas and nays on tie mo-
ton TO amend, but they were not ordered.
And the question then taken, and decided in the
negative ayes 70, noes ST. ....
So the motion to amend the journal was rejected
Mr.. ADAMS inquired of the CHAIR, ifthe motion he
had made would now be entered on the journal.
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative.
Mr.. HAYNES asked the House to go into Com
mtee of the Whole on the state of the Union, for
the purpose of considering the Presidents Message
Objections having been made, Mr.. II. moved
suspension of the rules; which motion was rejected
Mr.. CUSHMAN asked the general consent of
the House to make statement in relation TO the Sc
cretary of the Treasury.
Objections having been made, Mr.. C. moved a
suspension of the rules to enable him 10 make il ;
which motion was agreed TO: Ayes LII, noes SO.
So the rules were suspended.
Mr.. CUSEMAN then rose and said l will not
trespass upon the time of the House, not even SO
long as ii has taken to decide the question, whether
should proceed or not All wish to say is, that
on Monday last, resolution offered by the gen.
tleman from Virginia, (Mr. Wse) proposing to
raise select committee to investigate the conduct
Of the Secretary of the Treasury and TO see if that
committee could find suficientevidenc on which to
found articles OF impeachment. The proposition
was, that the members of the committee should be
selected by ballot objected to the resolution at the
time, but it was not because was opposed to the in
vestigation. Far from it. Sir | knew at that time
that the Secretary Of the Treasury would solicit
such an investigation whenever the House desired
it; and say now that if the gentleman from Vir-
GINA will modify his resolution TO provide that
the committee shall be raised forthwith, in the usual
form and manner Mr.. G. was here interrupted with
loud EXPLANATIONS of Oh, oh !D will withdraw
my objection. will even go further So DESTROYS,
so anxious is this distinguished officer of the Go
am authorized to state that he is so--that, If the
House could raise a committee by ballot within any
reasonable time, Twill make no objection.
Mr., MENEFEE rose to point Of order (Cries
Of i" He is through " he is through.'D My point
is that the House gave leave to The gentleman rom
New Hampshire, (Mr. Cushman, to make state
ment OF matter of fact; whereas the gentleman
was resumng the argument which had been COM
menced on the subject
Mr., CUSHMAN. have done.
MI. PRENTISS inquired OF the Chair whether
the argument of the gentleman from New EIamp-
shire was the subject of reply4
The SPEAKER said it was not,
MI. PRENTISS then asked leave to reply
Objections having been made,
Mr., PRENTISS moved suspension of the rules,
to enable him to reply
Mr.. S. WILLIAMS demanded they and nays
which were ordered; and, being taken, were, yeas
w, nays VI; not two.hrds.
So the rules were not suspended
Mr.. WISE rose and said As was not present
in the House when the gentleman from New Hamp-
shire, (Mr. Cushman,) was INDUCED with permits
sion to make statement in relation to a resolution
offered by myself, hope the House will grant me
the indulgence of briet reply, although il has been
refused to the genllemin from Mississippi, (Mr
PrentiSS, who took my place | ask permission to
reply very briefly to the statement Of the gentleman
from New Hampshire.
Objections having been made 49,.
Mr.. WISE moved suspension Of the rules, and
asked the yeas and nays on the question which
were ordered.
Mr.. WISE, before taking the question: begged
leave to notify the House that his object was TO make