The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-09
N UNE BIER 6.

were directed against his life He hoped the
| House would, In courtesy, permit him 10 make
the statement he had indicated.
MIR. Perkins wished to know what the subject
was on which the gentleman desired 10 address
the House?
The Speaker said it was impossible for the
Chair to anticipate what statement the gentleman
from Mass. was going to make.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. Dromgoole inquired whether the statement
was one which was expected to involve guess
ton of privilege, and to require any proceeding
on the part of the House against those who had
written the threatening letters referred to? If it
was the gentleman should have his vote most wills
lingly.
Mr.. Adams said it was not his purpose to raisd
the question of privilege He had no wish to
lay on the Clerks table, or to have read to the
House, any one of the numerous letters he was
continually receiving, of tenor similar to one
which now lay before him. But if the House
should refuse him leave to make the statement he
desired, he should be compelled to raise the ques.
ton of privilege hereafter.
The question being taken, it. was decided by
yeas and nays in the affirmative: yeas III, nays
IS.
SO leave was granted
Mr.. Adams than said am grateful to the
House for the indulgence they have granted me
and, in return, will endeavor, as far as in my
power to conGne myself to the particular object
for which | requested liberty to speak, namely, to
state to the House and to the country the position
in which stand, in relation to the presentation of
petitions against slavery and the slave trade, and
all the other classes of petitions which the House
has determined shall be laid on the table without
further action thereon; Als0 my reasons for of
fering the resolutions | have done, in regard TO
the conduct of one of our ministers abroad which
resolutions now stand first on the calendar of bust
ness, occupying by the rules of the House, the
morning hour, and which | did hope would have
come up for discussion last week; and, in the last
place, the grounds on which have offered anoth4
class of petitions, viz. those which pray for the
recognition of the independence of the Republic
of Haiti | name these three things, because
they are the grounds of the letters have recev-
ed from various quarters of the country with post
marks, showing that they have been mailed at
places very distant from each other, containing
many of them, positive threats of assassination
others of them filled with friendly advice--assurs
ing me thatif continue to present petitions SIM
liar to those have heretofore presented in this
House, my days are numbered, and shall never
survive the present session. These come profess
edly from friends; and they recommend me to
cease from thus giving occasion to many to put an
end to my life Some of them are in the form Of
direct challenges to a duel, a laugh of which
character is one now hold in my hand. Its
challenge to fight with rifles the time and place
designated, the day and the spot; and an assur-
ance is added that, if refuse, shall be murdered
in the streets or in the dark. One letter of that
description comes with known name attached
to 1.-THE name of person well known to me,
have no doubt it is forgery; or, as it has been
denominated here, "quiz;' for we have new
alphabetical language among us, and threat Of
murder and an act OF forgery, are, IN the modern
dialect "quiz" and "hoax." Ipresume should
have been at lbeRy, under the rules of the House,
to consider each of these letters as breach of
privilege, and thus to have consumed much of the
time of the House. determined not to do this.
| do not complain of any of these letters. do
not wish to inquire whether they are quizzes or
hoaxes, or solemn threats | shall not trouble the
House with them, however protracted the cores
pondence shall be- "a correspondence all on one
side, however;) for there is scarcely day passes
but receive one or more of the same description.
| have, therefore, requested all opportunity to
state my motives, and the position in which
stand in relation to the presentation OF petitions,
and my entire course, in regard TO them and to the
resol ions have presented.
II perfectly well known to the House, and
partially known to tho country that from the first
that general resolution was adopted under
the screw of the previous question, without allow
ing word of debate prescribing the considera-
ton of petitions on the subject of slavery, decar
ed myself against it in as strong terms as Ian
guage could supply. Believing it to be uncon-
have opposed and resisted it from
that day to this. But believe it is equally we'll
known to the House, and partially known, also, to
the country, that in regard to petitions for the abb
clifton of slavery, | said from the very first mo-
ment offered any of them, that was not prepar-
ed to grant the prayer they contained. have so
declared repeatedly in this House. Of all the
petitions have presented here, it is
only those against the annexation of Texas (Which
consider now out of the question: and those
which call for the prohibition o. the internal slave
rade between the States, which have been will
ing TO vote for | have repeatedly said that |
would vote against all the others, unless on a
rec and full discussion Of the whole subject in
his House i shall see that can change my o.
,inion. now directly say to this House, to the
country, and to the world, that have not chang
ID my opinion; and if tho question tcere TO be pnt
his dag, WOULD VOTE AGAINST 1T. wish the
members of the Anti Slavery Society and the Alb