The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-01-19

ing. Mr. w. then went on TO say that he could
not tell whether it was himself or others who were
designated as deserving "the thrashing" Be that
it might the prayer of the petition was that the
House would rescind its standing resolution by
which all abolition papers are laid upon the table
Mr.. w. then moved, in substance, that the pc
tition be referred to Committee of the whole on
the state of the Union, with instructions to report
resolution resembling the "Atherton resolutions"
and more especially that portion of them by which
Abolition papers are laid upon the table on pre-
sentation that the memorials already received by
the House and laid on the table, be taken from the
files of the House and returned to the petitioners,
and that in future all Abolition memorials, ofwhat-
ever character, be not received by this House.
Mr., Dromgoole moved to lay the whole subject
on the table but,
Mr.. Wise ntimatng a desire to address the
House on the subject, the motion to lay the ia
bic was Withdrawn,
The Speaker decided, however, that debate
arising, the resolution would lie over one day I'M
der the rules. 1t lies over accordingly.
Mr.. Curtis of New Y ork presented memorial
from 205 citizens and voters of the city of New
York. praying for repeal of four resolutions a.
dopted by the House of Representatives on the
18th of December last on motion of Mr.. Anterior
of New-Hampshire, in respect to memorials and
petitions relating to slavery. Mr. c. said he was
personally acquainted with many of the persons
whose names appear on this memorial. They
were of the most intelligent, substantial, and wor-
thy citizens of New-Yorb. Among them he rec
ognized the name of WILLIAM CULLEN
BRYANT, gentleman whose fame as an au-
thor, and whose learning, and ability as political
writer are familiar to the House and the country.
Mr. Bryant, as editor of one of the leading Jour-
nails of the country, Nhe NewYnrk Evening
Post,) occupies position of much power and in
fuenes over the public mind.
Mr.. G. was here called to order by Mr. Morgan
of Virginia; but upon the declaration of Mr. G.
that he would not occupy the time of the House
further than to state the contents of the petition,
which he had right to do, under the rule, the
Speaker said Mr.. c. was in order, and he pro-
ceeded to say
That the petitions denounced the resolutions of
the 18th of December as false in principle, anti
republican in its character, utterly subyersive Of
all that is precious in the sacred right of petition,
alarming as precedent especially to be reproba-
ted for the unfounded imputatipn which the resolu-
tons cast upon the signers of abolition memorials,
in ascrlbng to them design to "overthrpw an in
stitution of the several States" and above all,
said Mr.. Curtis, these memorialists complain Of
the resolutions because they were passed under the
spur of the previous question, and without con-
sideration, time for consideration, discussion, or
debate. Mr.. Curtis moved the reference of the
petition of Mr.. Bryant and others, to the Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union.
1t is in the highest degree honorable to William
G. Bryant, that he has had the rare moral courage
and manliness to stand out against the policy of
his political party on this question May his no
bic example be initiated by the high-minded and
upright of the Democratic party, in all sections of
the Union.
Hon. CALEB CUSHING of Massachusetts, one
Of the ablest men on the floor of Congress, has
made an important movement.
He presented the memorial of Peter Sanborn
and others, of Reading, in the State of Massachu-
sets, praying the House to rescind the resolution
of the 18th of December last and moved that
said memorial, together with the resolves of the
State of Massachusetts, on the right of petition
and debate, presented to the House on the 2Sth of
May last, and not finally acted on by the House,
be referred to the committee Of the whole on the
state of the Union, with instructions to consider
the expediency of adopting series of resolu-
tons of which the following is the most impor-
tant:
Resozred, therefore, That all that part of GER
tain resolution of the House of Representatives
adopted on the 18th day of December last, which
provides that "every petition, memorial resolution,
proposition, or paper,"o prescribed class, "shal
on the presentation thereof, without any further
action thereon be laid on the table, without being
debated printed, or REFERRED" is violation of the
rights of the States whose official communication
of said class it excludes from due and proper cons
sderationj a violation of the right of petition in
herent in the people of the United States, which
it cancels and abridges, and violence of the priv
ilege of speech and of debate, rightfully apper-
tanning to the members of this House which it
forecloses; and therefore that so much of said
olution be, and the same is hereby declared to be
unconstitutional, and utterly void and of null ef,
feet
mr., C. having indicated a wish to debate this
resolution it lies over for dag under the rules
Among other memorials presented by Mr.. Adj
ans was the following:
This memorial showeth: That whereas sundry
evi-lninded and ignorant persons have petitioned
Congress for a recognition of the independence of
Hayti, otherwise called St. Domingo, black re-
public and, Whereas should such recognition take
place, black negro ambassador must necessarily
take up his residence at the seat of Government,
to the great scandal of shareholders, and the eter
nal disgrace of the Anglo-Saxon blood; and where
as President Ia "Northern man with Southern
principles'0 could not maintain amicable rela-