The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-23

country and especially those having respect rights
essential those which the resolutions of the Legsa
ture of Vermont related Mr. s. said he did not doubt
that the resolution of the 18th of December whatever
might be its extent however might invade and outrage
the rights of the People, applied sovereign States
well individuals Its terms were unlimited: "Euery
petition memorial resolution, propositions paper" &c.
There might perhaps, in the estimation of some be
what due courtesy towards sovereign State and an in
cinaton yield to that what would not be yielded in
dviduas But it might be well questioned whether res
oluton, perpetratng fragrant violation of right did
the resolution of the 18th of December, could have been
intended to yield any thing to courtesy Mr. b said he
was willing, for one that those who voted to put the gag
into the mouths of the members of the House, and to inn
pair the right of the People petition, Should if they
thought proper sustain the Speakers decison and insult
the states by refusal to permit the resolutions of their
Legislatures to be read here.
But arbitrary and tyranical that resolution was,
there prohibition that did contain, While
declared that every petition, memorial resoution pro-
position, paper, touching relating in any
any extent whatever, to slavery, the abolition thereof"
should not be "debaed printed, or REFEREED it did
declare that such papers should not be Tedd He trusted
therefore, that the Speakers decision that the reso-
luton should be read the House would override it,
and permit the State of Vermont the poor privilege of hay
ing her resolutions read at the Clerks table.
The Speaker said that, although the resolution of the
9Th of December did not in terms, prohibit the reading
of the resolutions it did implicitly. 1t declared that
emo further action should be had thereon, after the pre-
senation and, the reading could only be to inform the
OF contents, with view TO It's action on them,
it fair construction of the rule, that prohibited the
reading, well the debating printing, Reference
He referred decision of the Speaker to this effect
the second session of the oath Congress- upon the resou
ton offered by Mr. Hawes of Kentucky, which decision
sustained, appeal to the House. That resou-
ton in the that of the 9th of Decem-
Der last. 1t did not, in terms prohibit the reading of the
papers, but decided that they could be read
Mr.. Slade said he of that decision, but he
believed it wrong and ought to be reversed. 1t
a inedc sion
of all sound principles of construction to lean in doubt
full cases-supposing this be doubtul-in favoI of
trcting the rights of the People, Constructions, in ca
of doubt, should always be in favor of liberty and if
there in the world in which such rule of con-
strucon should prevail it in which the People Of
this Union undertake exercise the important right Of
pettoning the Government for redress of grievances or
in which of the States addresses Congress- in the
form of resolutions, great questions affecting its or
the interests of the nation. This constituting away the
rights of the People and the sovereign States Of this I'm
ion he regarded refinement of injustice 1t was e.
nough that they submit to the letter of resolution
which grossly outrages their rights without being for
ced to submit to be gagged by construction. Mr. s. said
might to be small matter that, there could be
action the resolutions he should insist their be-
ing read But when rights, dear to the People and the
States were involved he would contest every inch of
ground with those who assaing them There might
be many good why State individuals should
desire to have the resolutions and petitions which they
send here read without special reference any action of
this House them AT any rate, it but respectful
them permit the reading; and he could
for them any essential rights would hold those
which unessentia it, indeed it could he regared as
unessentia that the States and the People should not be
nsulted by refusal to permit their resolutions and petit
be read in the hearing of their Representa-
ves here. He disposed therefore, to insist the
reading of the resolutions
But (Mr S. said) it still more apparent that the de-
cision which the Speaker had made years ago, and
which relied authority, should not be re-
peated, FROM another The resolution
the 2ls of December, 1897, only prohibited the de-
hang printing and reference of resolutions propositions
and papers touching the subject of slavery the gag Of
the preceding year has DONE but it went further and
pressly declared that they should be read That
oluon maured with great care, in a midnight
clave and is fair presume that its authors inserted in
the additional prohibition of reading from conviction
that it would be unsafe rely the co Sruction which
had been given the resolution of the preceding year
to secure that object. They well knew that that consruc
ton was in derogation of the rights of the people, and
that sound principles of construction was it deens
ble They therefore took the precaution to insert an ex
press prohibition of Reading This shows the estimation
in which the present Congress- its last session. held the
decision of the previous Congress- which now relied on
to exclude the reading of the Vermont resolutions.
But this is not all. After having, the last session.
passed gag resolution containing cypress prohibition
of reading this House, OF its present session. repases the
same resolution ouh the omission Of that prohibition
Why this omission. The resolution of December, 2l
1887, have been before the coalition during their
deliberations how they should perform the operation
of gaggng the States and the People Why it deter
mined to Leave out the prohibition to read Sir, tsaid Mr.
s. they dare not put 1t in. The Northern party in this
coalition afraid of the People. They dared not
strain the resolution up the point of prohibition to
read the resolutions of the States and the petitions of
People. 1t would do thus add insult to injury II
They must have the credit of far RELAXING the rgor of
gagtyranny to allow the resolutions and petitions be
read by the Clerk, before consgnng them the tomb Of
the Capuets."
1t is plain them (sad Mr.. S. only from the mere
fact of omission, but from the which obviously
dictated it, that those who drew the resolution did
tend that it should have the effect of prohibition to read
unless they intended deceive the People, by holding
not bad that of the previous year, at the
time that they intended TO rely construction which
should give precisely the effect If this the
purpose of the plotters Of this scheme, will permit
myself believe that this House, in the forced absence of
all discussion and in its headong action upon the resou
ton, seriously intended to second such purpose Having
modified the resolution Of the 2ls December, 1897 by
the omission of that part which prohibited the reading of
resolutions and petitions the subject of slavery it said
the States and the People, in language too plain to be
that that restriction removed. 1t
entirely unavailable by construction which gives the
effect to the resolution though it contained the
press prohibition which Intentionally omitted
Mr. g. in conclusion, said he trusted that for the
he had suggested the House would sustain the appeal
which had been taken from the decision Of the Chair
permit the resolutions of the Legislature of Vermont be