Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-01-31
Twenty-ffth Congress.
In SENATE, Monday, Jan. 81, 1882
SECOND SESSION

lOlnt resolution was lntrOouced Dy MI.
TaIlmadgc for the amendment Of the
Constitution of the United States. This
resolution provides that the President
shall be elected for one term Of -four
years, and be ineligible thereafter; also,
that the Secretary Of the Treasury, the
Treasurer, and the Postmaster Gene a
be elected by Congress, for such tern
and in such manner as shall be prescrib.
ed by law and that no member Of Con.
gress shall be appointed TO any Office il
the Government Of the United State;
uutil the expiration Of two years after he
shall have ceased to be a member ol
Congress. ~
The Cumberland Road bill was read
third time, and, after an Intellectual at
tempt on the part of MIR. Clay, Of Ala
bama, TO defeat the bill, il was passed
by vote Of "a to 90.
The Senate then went into Executive
session, and spent some time therein.
In the HOUSE, MIR. Graham, OF
North Carolina, then offered resolu-
lion calling upon the Secretary of War
Tor information. The resolution was
adopted. The information sought for is
10 ask Of the Secretary why it is tina,
six hundred Cherokee Indians are now
in North Carolina at the point of starva.
lion This is a fact, and the cause oI
it is presumed to be misapplica;lon ol
the Public Money.
Petitions were then received from the
several States, beginning with Maine.
Petitions were presented from all the
New England States asking for the
Abolition Of slavery in the District Of
Columbia-for the Abolition Of Slavery
in Florda-for the abolition Of the Slave
trade-ag ainst the admission Of any new
Slave States into the Union-for the
Repeal Of the resolutions Of December
laying Abolition memorials upon the
iable-against the Annexation Of Texas
TO the United States, and for various
other objects connected with the Abolit.
ion movements.
When Mr.. Adams rose, he said he
had upon the floor a large number oI
petitions, relating To the Abolition OF
Slavery. Some of them would be laid
upon the table, under The rules Of the
House, and others might be REFEREED
Before presenting these petitions Mr.
Adams said it would be gratifying to
him if the House would allow him to
state his position lie wished to be un-
dcrstood by the House and the Country,
for he was not now understood. lie had
before him he said, multitude, of let
ters, all Of them from the Southern Sec
ton Of the country, and all Of them
threatening him with assassination
Whether these letters were intended to
threaten or intimidate him, or to put the
threats into execution, or were intended
10 quiz him, was a matter Of no impor-
,ance. But it was right that he should
he understood, and he therefore asked
leave 10 make n statement.
Objections being made, MIR. Gronnell
moved to suspend the rules. The ayes
and noes were ordered, and the motion
to suspend was sustained. Ayes III,
noes SO.
Mr.. Adams expressed himself grateful
10 the House for The indulgence granted
In referring TO the letters received by
him, he said that they bore different post
marks, and came from different sections
Of the country. Some Of them came
professedly from friends, and some of
them threatened him with direct assass-
nation, and one of them challenging him
10 fight duel, mani 2 time, place,
weapons, Sc. Mr.. Adams said he had
10 doubt the challenge was forgery,
although il bore the name Of one known
TO him. Mr. Adams further said that,
as question Of privilege, he had ri ght
TO call the attention Of the House to this
subject. But he chose not TO do so, be-
cause such course would have con-
sumed "A great deal Of the time Of the
House. Mr.. Adams then said, that II
,cas weH knolcn, or should be ,Uell kno,pn
that he Uas mol for granting The prayer Of
The Petitions. lam, said he, against the
prayer, and II The question should come
before The House at this day, ! should rote
against The abolition Of ISlarery IN The
District Of Columbia. Ihare made This
declaration repeatedly.
If could be done, continued Mr..
huuHIS, WOuiu to-iDOIIoW fotc W ItCtut
the District Of Columbia to the Senate
Of Maryland and Virginia. would
have the Capitol Of the Country in some
section where Slavery does not exist
i DO not think the Constitution Of the
United States would allow this, and
therefore l shall not propose it, or vote
for it when proposed by others.
I wish, said Mr.. Adams, that my
views should be understood upon this
point. Iwish The .8bolitionists TO ander-
stand that after reading their papers and
documents, aud all that has been publicly
said IN taror Of The Aboiiiion Of Slavery
here, 4 am not prepared 10 vote for it.
However, am open to conviction on all
subjects, and not SO fixed in my opinion
as not to be willing to alter that opinion
Speaking Of another subject, Mr.
Adams said, think it much easier to
threaten to murder man than to murder
him. But history is full of examples
where such threats have been put into
execution. Men excited often do such
things, and no subject is more likely to
cause excitement, than the one TO which
the subject Of Abolition refers.
Speaking Of the authors Of the letters
cont him MIR dnma remark ed tha a.