The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-05
Congressional.


SENATE. Mr. Tallmadge presented today
the following important Res olution, which was
ordered to b printed.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiVes, &c. two thirds of both Houses con-
CURING, that the following articles he proposed
TO the Legislature of the several States as n
amendments to the Constitution of the United
States, all or any of which articles, when ratified
by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be
valid to all intents and purposes as part of the
said Constitution.
list. The President Of the United States
shall hold his office but for one term Of four
years, and shall be ineligible thereafter
The second, third and fourth, articles require
that the Secretary of the Treasury, the Treas
urer and the Postmaster General, shall be APP
pointed by Congress in such manner, and for
such term, as shall be prescribed by law.
9Th. No Member Of Congress shall be mp
pointed to any Office under the U. s. until the
expiration of two years af ter he shall have ceas-
ed TO he a member.
The Bill making appr OPERATIONS for cont inu-
ing the Cumberland Road through the s tates of
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, was then taken up,
and the question being on its final passage it
was carried in the afiirmative--Ayes a. Nays
%. The Bill was sent 10 the House for con-
currence.
In the House of Representatives Immediately
after the journal was read. Mr. Haynes Of Geor-
gia moved to 60 into Com mittee of the Whole
on the Presidents Message, but the motion was
rejected land the House proceeded sto its Gus.
totnary Monday business--the reception of pc
titions, memorials, &c.
When Massachusetts was called for,
Mr. Adams said he wished TO make State
ment first, in order to make his position in rea
lion to the petitions he had from time to time
presented, fully understood On this subject,
he said, both parties had misunderstood him.
Not day Of the past week had gone by, that
had not brought to him letters threatening him
with assassination. These threats might he
meant as quiZ---
Here he was called to order by Mallory of Va.
and the Chair decided that he should simply de.
liver his petitions and nohing more.
Mr. Grennell thought MIR Adams had right
TO go on with his statement, and moved to sus-
pend The rules, in order that lie might continue
with il. The motion was carred-Ayes III,
Noes So.
Mr. Adams then made O. epeshatHs upon the
threatening letters he had received. These, he
sad arose from his course in delivering petitions
for the Abolition of Slavery in the District Of
Columbia, and OF the Slave trade his resolu-
ton for inquiring into Mr. Stoyensons conduct
in England, and lastly, the petitions for recognz
ing the independence of Hayti, and il was neces-
sary that he should explain his position concern
ing these subjects. These letters, he continued
were all postmarked, and while some contained
direct threats Of assassination, others, under
friendly adlnonitions, assured him that he should
not survive the session and others again, were
direct challenges to fight .luels, naming the time
would I've murdered in the street, or in the dark
The signature of one known to him, though
he believed it was n forgery--"a QUIZ" as some
gentlemen phrased it. He said though he might
raise question Of privilege in each of these,
yet he would no, do so, as it would consume too
much time.
Mr. Adams then proceeded to explain his po-
sition on each Of the subjects that had caused
these letters to be sent to him. AS to the petit
tons for the Abolition of Slavery in this Dis
ha. ia ba boil ,r ,,.,.o
of this proposition, from the time he first pre-
scented them, and which was, he was not prepar
ed TO vote for it. He wished the House and the
country to understand distinctly, that if the ques-
ton was put on snch proposition he would vote
against it, As 10 the petitions for aboshing
the Slave trnde, that proposition he prepar-
ed to vote fo". ..-..
He further affirmed that ever since the cues.
ton OF Slavery was first bronched in the House,
he had said, that if il were consistent with the
Constitution. he would move TO remove Congress
to part of the country where it did not exist
lie however believed such removal would be
unconstutional-if lie believed otherwise, lie
would mt once move to rccede the District OF
Columbia to Virginia and Maryland. Such
were his opinions, which had been misunder-
stood, and called forth threats of MURDER which
he supposed were designed only to frighten him
into silence and if such was the impression Of
the writer's, they were, he said greatly mista-
ken.
MIR ADAMS next ailnticu 10 me fnCue III WHICH
he had delivered petitions consigned to him
These came from al! parts Of the country. ac-
compan;ed by letters referring to hcni and re-
commenting them to his attention. lie viewed
them, therefore, n trust, and demanding his
particular notice when delivering them For
this reason he did not think it WINS doing right,
to send them en- ,udsse as "Abolilion petitions"
to the table, but considered it his iuty to notice
them particularly and in detail
Washington, Jan. gel.
The Graduation Bill was, this day, consigned
10 The " Tomb of the Capnets" by the House
of Representatives. In the Phrnseology. OF The
Globe, applied TO Mr. Clay's Distribution Bill
some sessions ago, this pet project, insisted upon
so s,renuously by the Administration party of
the Senate. that they would hear Of scarcely any
addition or satisfaction, any amendment, or mod
fration, however sght--and entirely shut their
ears against any delay or postponementi in carry