Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-31
CONGRESS.
MONDAY, January 81.

rom tnc tcsefal Sl1lek-
MIR. Adams said be had many petitions
20 present. but. before offering them. no
had 10 request OF the House permission to
make y s,A,emsni in relation TO their pIs.
senta,ion BY hin. He wished TO present
the true position in which he stood; be.
cause he had reason TO believe II was not
correctly Understood by either OF the
great parties into which the nation was
divided on those great questions which
were now so deeply sgiiatog the eeun.
try.
Mr.. Adams commenced preseG ting Pc
iitions; WHEN
Mr.. Grennell moved that the rules Of
the House DO suspended. to give an OPP
poriuniiy TO his venerable colleague TO
make the statement he desired.
The question being taken, IL was decid-
ed by yeas and nays in the Affirmative
Yeas III. nays 90.
So leave was granted.
MIR. Adams then said: I am grateful 10
the House for the indulgence they have
granted me; aud. in return. will endea.
vor. as Tar ~ M my power. 10 confne my
reli TO the particular object for which I
requested liberty 10 speak, namely. 10
stale to the House and to the country the
position in which I stand, in relation To
the presentation OF petitions against sia.
very 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.
IL Is perfectly we'll known to the House.
and partially known 20 the country. that
from The hrSt moment ihs, general re solu-
tioa was adopted under the screw OF the
previous question. without, allowing n
worc OF debate. prescribing he consideta.
ton OF pcti:isns on the subject Of slavery.
I declared myself against it in as s,ron,
terms as language could supply. Believ.
ing II to be unconstitutional / have Cd.
posed and resisted Il from th at day 10 this.
But believe IL is equally we'll known 10
the House. and partially known, also. TO
the country. that in regard to petitions
Tor the abolition Of slavery. said. from
The very first moment ! offered any OF
them. that va, not prepared TO gran,
the prayer they contained. Ihave so de.
clared repeatedly in ihn House. OF all
the snti.slavery petitions I have present.
ed here. IT is only those against the an.
nexa'ion OF Texas (Which I consider now
out OF the question: and those which call
Tor the prohibition OF the internal slave
trade between the States, which I have
been willing 10 vote for. have repeat.
eddy said that would vote against ali the
others. unless on Tree and foil discus.
sion OF the whole subject in this House I
shall see that ] can change my opinion.
now distinctly say toJhis House. 10 the
country. and TO the world. that have not
Changed my opinion. and iffis question
we're to be put this day. I WOULD VOTE
AcAtNsr IT. ] wish the members Of the
Anti-slavery Society and the Abolition
,'''. and people Of all descriptions. to
know this.
Since the question was first asitaied in
this House. have had sbunds mt reason
10 see the inconvenience and the injury
10 IN: whole country OF q slave holding
spot in which TO hold the sessions Of Con.
gress. Were il in my power. 1 would
re move the seat Of Government 10 place
where slavery does not exist. As al pre-.
seat advised, however, ] do not believe
that would be constitutional; if it could
be done. | should be ready TO recede.
tomorrow. this District TO the States Of
virginia and Maryland, and TO remove
The Aeat OF Government; but as do no,
believe 1t can be, consistently with the
Constitution. | shall neither proyose such
measure. nor vote IN favor OF IL. Isreak
my present seniimentSl DO not pledge
myself not 10 change them on foil and
free discussion in this House. I believe
such discussion 10 be The right Of the
petitioners. do not say but, should j,
take place. ! might chsnge nv opinion.
hold no opinions which may not be
changed by the fIrc- OF argument after a
tuli aud FAIR discussion. But | do say.
that as for The abolition Of slavery in the
District OF Columbia. Is at present al.
vised, ] would not vote for IT, Isay again.
would not vote "a favor Of IL. If the
question should come up this day. And
retsIn this opinion after the ispse OF az
years since ] presented The first pst,tion
on the subject. notwithstanding all the
arguiRent have seen: and many able
arguments have seen. have rea! With
great care all that is said on the abolition
side OF the question in their periodicals.
journals. and pamphlets. I have read
GO0NI0fT-
ed them well and ] have not yet seen
reason 10 oh'nge my opinion. wish
them clearly 10 understand this.
A' Ito my course itself. Il has sometimes
been considered 40 sxcep,ionable. and
many members have been di,gus,ed at
The time consumed. and At The manner IN
which have presented msmorills 9th
which ! have been charged. have now
before me one hundred and seventy five
new petitions 10 present. which have
come into my hands since the last petition
day. No doub, ! might send one hon.
ored and sN'y Of them 10 = bundis 10 The
C'erk' isols. snd say. there are q par
eel OF abolition petitions which I have
been requested 70 pTeseai, ssd I might.
no doubt, thus save some Of the time Of
the House bot should I discharge. N
such case. my duty 10 the petitioners -
ibey are. IN general, Strangers 10 ne