Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-31
NeY York. January ], IL
Twenty-fiath Gonsress---:sd Sess
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

before of.rnp them he had request of the House per
mission 10 make statement IN reistlHn 10 'he'' pre-
sentaon by him tie wished TO present the true posi-
ton in which he STOOD because he had reason TO oceVe
il was not correctly understood by either OF the gfea.
pa,es into which the nation divided those great
questions which now 80 deeply aga''ns 'ne e'u"
try. .,,, ,,
could not proceed without leave Of the House
rCries of Leave leave No. no. Order.
MIR Adams said his position was not understood, ana
hence il happened that scarcely day passed but he re.
ceived from the Southern portion OF the United States
letters similar to which had been read TO The House
some days ago. . -
The Speaker interposcd Mr. must con6ne himself
TO the presentation OF petitions, and briefly state their
contents unless the House gave permission TO do other.
wise.
Mr. Adams | have received number o: letters
threatening assassination if continue TO present abo
ton petitions Whether they are quizzes Gas they have
been called by gsncmen) or whether they are design
ed merely 10 inlinda", or whether they co. lhueed IN
dictate intention to carry out the threats lhey
contain. | express no opinion; but | ask Of The House
permission To make statement.
GCries of hear him ! hear him No! Order
Mr. Grennell inquired whether his colleague had not
light make the statement referred to: 1t was mat
ter which involved a question OF privilege
The Chair qaoted the 18th rule, which says
Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed to
the House shall be presented by the Speaker by a
member in his place; brisf statement 0. the contents
thereof shall BE- made verbally by The nroducer they
shall not be debated the day of their being presented
day assigned by III. House tor The receipt Of
petitions after the first thirty days OF the session, unless
where the House shall direct otherwise, but shall lie
the table to b. taken in the order IN which they were
presented
Mr. Adams commenced presenting petitions; when
Mr.. Grennell moved that the rules d. the House be
suspended To- give opportunity t" his venerable col
league 10 make the statement he desired.
The Speaker said ths, the Char wished for It's own
government know the character OF the statement me
gentleman desired to make.
Mr.. Griffin Of South Carolina desired the yeas and
nays suspendiDg the rules.
Mr. Gr.nne referred % what hlr Adams had stated
his position not being known in III" country, aud
the threats of assassination which directed against
his life lie hoped the House would, in courtesy, per-
nit him make the statement he had Indicated
MIR. Petrikn wished to know what the subject
which the gentleman desired to address:
The Speaker said i, mpossI Lle for the Chair to
anticipate what statement Ia" gentleman from Massa
chuselts going 10 make
The yeas and nays ordered
Mir DrnGigooe inquired whether the statement was
which was expected to involve question OF priv.
lege and 10 require any proceeding the part OF the
House against tSe who had written the hre aienTg
letters referred To; lit was the gentleman should have
his vote most willingly.
Mr.. Adams said IT not his purpose 10 raise The
question Of privilege. He had wish 10 lay the
q, ks table have read 10 The House any Of
the numerous letters he continually receiving q: a
tenor similar to which now lay before him Eu, if
the House should refuse him leave make the state.
ment he desired, he should lie completed 10 raise the
question Ut privilege hereafter.
The question beng taken i, decided By yeas and
nays in the affirmative: Yeas H. nays jS
So leave granted.
Mr.. Adams then said am grateful to The House for
the indul gence they have granted me- and return
will endeav"r as far as IN my power, 10 confne myself
to the particular object for which requested liberty 10
speak namely, state TO the House and 10 the country
the position in which stand relation 10 the presen.
taton Of petitions against slavery and the slave trade
and all The other classes of petitions which the House
has determined shall be laid the table without fur
Their action thereon. Also, my for Offering
the resolutions have done, in regard 20 the conduct
one Of our ministers abroad; which resolutions now
stand first the calendar OF business, occupying by
the rules of the House. the morning hour, aud which
did hope would have up for discussion last week
and in the Let ',ce. the ground HIGH have oferft
another class of petitions those which pray for the
recognition OF the indie OF the Republic of Hay
H. nams these three things because they the grounds
Of the letters have received from various quarters Of he
country with postmarks showing that they have beer
mailed at places very distant from each other containing
many Of them, positive threats OF assassination other
Of them filled with friendly advce-assuring tina
il continue to present petitions similar to 'hose have
heretofore presented in this House, days number
ed, and never shall survive the present session These
come professedly from friends; and they recommend
me TO from thus giving occasion TO many 10 pu
an end to my life. Some Of them in the form o
direct challenges 10 duel Ia laugh. Of which charac
ter is one | now hold in my hand 1t is chaen q
TO fight with rifles; the time and place designated, ht
day and the spot, and is added that, if
refuse. shall be murdered in the in the dark
One letter OF that description it'll known
attached TO 1.-THE name OF person well known 10 me
] have doubt it IL forgery; or, as il has been de
nominated here "qniz;' for we have rlpabe
tca language among US, aud threat of murder and ar
oct Of forgery IN The modern dialect denomlnated
"quiz" and "hoax" | presume should have been a
liberty under The Rules OF the House, consider each
Of these letters breach Of privilege and thus
have consumed much Of The time of the House de
termined not 10 do this. dc mt complain of any q
these letters. do not wish 10 iDq ue whether they
quiz2"s hoaxss serious threats shall trouble
The House with them, however proracted the
pondence shall be, (a correspondence all side
however y for there is scarcely day passes but re
ceive more letters of the description.
have. therefore requested opportunity 10 state my
motives and The position in which stand, in relation
to the presentation Of petitions. and my entire
in regard 10 them, and 10 the resolutions have pre-
scented.
II is perfectly we'll known 10 the House and partially
known 10 the country that from the first moment tina,
general resolution wns aduped under the screw Of the
previous question. without allowing word IF debate
prescribing tie onderat;on uf petitions on the subject
Of slavery, declared myself against it in as strong
terms as language could supply. Beevingi, to be un
constitutional have opposed and resisted it from that
day 10 this But believe it is equally well known 10
the House and partially known, also, TO the country
that in regard 10 petitions for The abolition Of slavery,
said from the very frs, offered any Of the IN
that was not prepared grant the prayer they contain
ed. have declared repeatedly in this House. OF
all the an;i-slarery petitions have presened here it i
only those against the annexation of Texas (Which |
consider out of The quesnn) and those which call
for the prohibition Of the internal slave trade between
the States, which have been willing 10 vote for.
have repeatedly said that would vote agains, all The
Others unless free and full discussion Of the whole
subject in this House shall see that can change my
opinion. stincty say TO this House, to the
country, and 10 the world, that have not changed
opinion and II the question TO be Pat this d9y
WOULD VOTE AGAINST 1T. | wish the members of The