Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-01-31
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsnINnrnN. Ian u.
UNITED STATES SENATE.

Mr.. TALLMADGE induced the following Joint
resoluiion:
Resoiued &c. Two thirds Of both Houses ofCon.
gfess deemirg II necessary, that the following articles
be proposed to the Legislatures Of the several Sfates
as amendments to the Constitution of The United
States. all or any Of winch articles, ratified By three
tourlhs of the said Legislatures, 10 be considered to
all intents and purposes part nf Constitution.
LIST. The President Of the United States shall hold
his Office but for one tenn Of four years, and shall
be ineligible thereafter.
81, That the Secretary Of the Treasury shall
be elected by Congress, aud ia manner lob pre-
scribed by law.
3fd. That The Treasurer shall be approved by Con.
g'ess 10 a manner to be prescribed by law.
an ! nat Tue Post master General shall be ap-
pointed by Congress for a time and in a manner 10
be deiaed by law.
That an amendment shall be inserted preventing
a member Of Congress from receiving an appoint
ment oil The General Government until Two yeais
shall have expired after he ceases to be a member.
Alter an Executive Session the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MI. GRAHAM, Of N. &. then offered a resolution
calling upon the Secretary oil War for informant IN.
The resolution was adopted. The information
sought ior Is that SIX bundled Cherokee Indians
are nov IN North Carolina at the point Of starvation 7
This is a fact, ] believe, and the cause of il is pre-
suncd To be a mlsappllcstion of the Public Money.
PETITIONS.
Were then received from the several States, begin.
ming with Maine. Petitions were presented from
all The New Egland States asking for the Abolition
OF Slavery in FlorIda-for the abolition OF the Slave
trade--aeainst the admission Of any new Slave State
into the Dnion-ior the Repeal Of the resolutions Of
December laying Abolition memorials upon the Ia
bic against tho Anne xation OF Texas 10 the United
States; and for various other objects connected with
tue Abolition movements.
When Mr.. ADAMS rose, he said he had
"A large number Of petitions, relating to the
AbDluIuu of SllNefk. Same pi Ihpn xnpl1 10 laid
upon the table, under the rules Of the House, and
others might be referred. Before presenting these
petitions. Mr.. Adams said it would be gratifying 10
him, iflbe House would allow him to state he posi-
TON lie WISHED 10 be understood by lie House and
County, IN lac was not now understood. He had
before linn he said, "A multitude of letters, all ofthem
from the southern section oil the country. and all
OF them threatening him with assassination. Wheth-
err these letters were intended to threaten or intimi.
date him. or 10 put the threats into execution. or
were intended TO quiz him, wssa matter of no I'M
portance. But i, was tight that he should bo under
stood, and he therefore asked leave TO make a state
mont.
Objections being made, Mr.. GRENNEL moved
10 suspend the rules. The ayes aud noes were or.
dered and the motion to suspend was sustained..-
Ayes III, noes So.
Mr., ADAMS expressed himself grateful TO the
House for the indulgence granted. In referring TO
the letters received by him, lie sad that they bore
different post marks and came from different sections
OF lHe county, some OF them came pfOiesSedly
from trends, and some Of them threatened him with
direct assassination, aud one Of them challenging
nm TO hight "A duel, naming time, place, weapons,
&c. Mr.. Adams said he had no doubt the chal-
lengc was a forgery, although it bore the name of one
known to him. MIR. Adams further said that as a
question OF privilege, he had a rightto call tho atten-
ZION of the House to this subject. But he chose
not TO do so, because such a course would have CON
sumed a great deal of the time Of the House. Mr..
Adams hen SAIL it was wen known, or should be
well know that lie was not for granting the prayer
and ifthe question should come before tue House al
tins day, he should vote against the Abolition oiSla-
very in the District Of Columbia. | have made the
declaration repeatedly.
Hit could be done, continued Mr.. Adams, would
to- morrow vote TO reccde the District OF Columbia
10 the States OF Maryland and Virginia. would
have the Capitol OF the Country, in some sectlon
where Slavery does not exist. | do not think the
Constitution ofthc United State would allow this,
and therefore | shall not propose il, or vote for il
when proposed by others.
wish, said Mr.. Adams, that my views should be
understood upon this point. wish the Aboltionisis
To understand that after reading their papers and
documents, and all that has been publicly said in
favor of the Abolition of Slavery here, am not pre-
pared to vote for it. However, | am open 10 convic-
ton ON all subjects, and not so fixed in any opinion as
not to be willing to alter that opinion.
Speaking OF another subject. Mr.. Adams said, |
think il much easier TO Threaten to murder a man
than to murder him. Buthistory Is iul ofexamples
where such threats have been put into execution
Men excited often do such things, and no object is
more likely 10 cause excitement, than the one 10
which the subject of Abolition refers.
Speaking of the authors of The letters sent him,
Mr., Adams remarked that, to say that | can face a
bully is saying no lno,e than to place me on a level
with all the members of this House. But to say
that am to be intimidaled fromthe course have
pursued here, is saying a great deal more than is
tue.
In excuse for presenting Abolition petitions, Mr..
Adms said, | have on my table IFS petitions. all of
which ] have received since last petition day. They
are all sent and entrusted to my especial care. They
are most of them accompanied with letters earnestly
soliciting me to present them and to take charge
OF them. Most OF these petitions, said Mr.. A., are
from persons who never can do me a favor, who have
not a vote TO give me If | should ever again be a can
didate. What can | do in answer to that trust? |
have ilt IL a duty, and a sacred duty, to meet this
trust by presenting the petitions and leaving them TO
the action of this House. This is all | have done.
| say this in justice TO myself and in justice TO this
House. | do not wish To incur the odium of un-
necessarily consuming the time of this House. |
shall not do so | think. | do but Justice to those who
have conided in me presenting singly the petitions
sent TO me from men who have thus voluntarily con-
hded in me an important trust.
Mr.. Adams then stated what were his motives in
presenting the resolutions connected with Andrew
Stevenson. He vindlcated his own motives, and
said that he had no other object in view than the
honor of the Country.
After concluding his remarks, he presented his
petitions.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.
uNlNTED STATES SENATE.
Mr. ,slnl Io,ya 40 liz -, b.li -,