Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-01-18
CoNGREss.
Debate on petitions for recognizing The In
dependence Of Hayti

uepenuehSS vi lioyu'
The petition presented on the subject OF
Hay,ian independence, by Mr.. Adams, TO-
gether with his motion thereon, concerning
the reference Of the petition to the committee
on Foreign Affairs, with instructions, came
up for consideration.
The following sketch is from the Journal
of Commerce.
The question being upon the motion to
instruct the committee TO inquire and report
on the subject,
Mr.. Adams said The petition tor the re-
cognition OF Hayti was reasonable one J;
and was in conformity with the Uniform
practice of the Government. We acknowl-
edged the right of every people to change
their government, even by the process OF in
surrection. We always recognized the gov
eminent de facto He could not conceive
for what purpose the committees Of this
House we're appointed, unless it was TO con-
slider such questions as these, and the House
would violate their faith to the nation, unless
they attended 10 such important subjects
Upon the subject of the recognition of Tex
as there was an inquiry and detailed re-
port. II this subject cannot be investigated,
where will the suppression of the right OF
petition end If YOU receive petitions, you
will not refer them, and, if you refer them,
you will not deliberate upon them. There
was no end 10 the devices and ingenuity Of
the sercle part of The House for the purpose
of suppressing the right of petition. (Cries
of order" Z" orderly L do not, Sir, by the
scribe part of this House, mean the staue.
holding part OF it Here were cries oil
"order," mingled with much laughter.
Mr.. Adams attacked the Anterior resolu.
tions, but the Speaker interferred and. called
him to order, saying the question Of recep
ton Of petitions is not before the House.
Mr. Bynum. 1.-THE gentleman from Mass
is suffered to go on, hope some gentleman
from the serriic part Of this House, (whethel
from the slavehodlng or non-slaveholdine
States) will be permitted to answer him.
Mr.. Adams. hope so too Only oper
your mouths, gentlemen, that is all ask o
you.
Mr. Bynum. think, Sir, the time ha.
arrived when the interests of the South de
mand full discussion OF this subject
Mr.. Adams proceeded, but Mr. Bynuu
called him to order, and the. Chair told hin
he could not proceed.
Mr.. Reed moved that Mr.. Adams be per
united to proceed, IN order, and thereupor
asked the yeas and nays, which were ord
cred, and wele-yeas IA, nays As.
Mr.. Duncan voted in the negative
Leave being granted, Mr. Adams went on
He had he said, demonstrated and pro
tested against the course OF the House OF
this subject. as a violation of the right of pc
titon, which he considered most sacred
right The resolutions of the 18th instant
were crammed down the threats Of the ser
Uile part Of this House. and no opportunity
was given for discussing them. All dis
cussion upon the subject Of the recognition o
Haytl was also attempted to be suppressed
For what reason inquiry on this subject wa
to be suppressed, he could not tell, becaus
no one OF the servie part'ofthe House woult
give any reasons against it He was oblig
ed TO imagine the objection. 1t was mag
ined. perhaps, that the motive of the petition
ers was the promotion of abolition and a
malgation. Ii the motire Of petition was I,
be imagined, and then made the reason 70
rejecting the petition, it was virtual pros
tration and notification ofthe right of peti
ton. 1t would make the reception of petit
lions a matter of favortism and a matter 0
discretion on the part of Congress
He said these were new doctrines. TIL,
greatest and best ofthe Southern statesmen
had been aboltionistsl Why. then, wer,
abolltonists and their principles TO be fear
ed2 George Washington, whom we al
profess to admire, as the father of his coun
try, wac an abolitionist
Mr. Wise. deny it,
Mr. Adams. assert it, and will prove il
George Washington on his death.bed
emancipated all his slaves. He was an alb
alitonist in the most extensive sense of III,
word [order. orderl The Speaker inter
posed, and reminded Mr. A. that he hac
wandered from the question. Mr. Adams
tgoing onl-Will the gentleman deny tina
Thomas Jefferson was an abolilionisi? ire
newed cries oforder) state these facts tc
show that the principle OF abolition hal
high authority, and here assert that every
man has a right to be an abolitionist.-
ICries of order.l The committee Of foreign
affairs and the House cannot object TO tn
consideration of subject, upon the allege,
reason thatit is connected with abolition, be
cause the petitioners have right to be abo
litionists if they choose to be. The. Hous
cannot, by impuiing 10 them this suppose,
motive, exclude their petitions
Mr. Bouldn of Virginia, rose, he said, I
piv. some reasons why he should vote 70
he MOI, on ofthe gentleman from Massachr
sets. HA thought the reference and consil
GRAFTON oftbe subject would give more peac
and on;,s - ~ country than a refusal I
consider it, The r, "Sa, 70 g,ve :" oc,s sM,
TO petitions had moi dl,. ''",sneu the "a ss