Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-04

resolution But there was another resolution of the
House which he did consider suspended that re-
CURED the resolution to lay day for consi-
deration.
Mr.. CROSS here read the rule he referred TO-
The SPEAKER said that the motion of the gentle
man from Pennsylvania for suspension of all the
rules that prevented the reception his resolution 1t
did not specify any particular rule but included the
one referred to by the gentleman from Alabama well
as the others.
MIR. JENIFER said he had declined voting on both
the questions presented this morning. in consequence
OF having paired off with absent colleague and il
was therefore, he wished TO offer few remarks, in
der TO prevent any msconstructions being put on his
not voting He understood the proposition be-
fore the House, TO BIZ provision for the reception of
petitions daily for twenty days to come, inasmuch as
the thirty days from the commencement of each scs-
sion, within which the rules allowed petitions 10 be
presented, had expired after having been taken up with
other business. Now, he further understood that this
resolution objected to on the ground that Abolition
petitions might be forced upon the House if il should
be adopted He did to argue the question TO
the eSpedicncy of receiving Abolition petitions: but he
must contend that there others IN the country who
had right to petition this House well the Adolf
onists and that it would be highly unjust to cut them
off from chance of being heard, because Aboltioniss
might also in He not afraid OF being called
Ahotonist and did not consider those gentlemen the
most strenuous opposers of Abolition who got up and
made the most fuss about it. lie of those who,
admitting the right of the people to petition for re-
right refuse any petition IT thought proper. Mir j.
continued his remarks in support of the resolution,
contendng that right and proper to allow time
for The reception of petitions and that if they rejected
the resolution IT would have the effect OF precuding
large portion of the people of the United States from
presenting their petitions to the National Legislature
Mr.. LEWIS made few observations in favor of the
resolution lfthey did not adopt it, he said gentlemen
would not get enough time during the whole of the
suing session. to offer the petitions with which they
| oh nn dayi pt he nj
ed for petitions would be the under the rules,
without passing this resolution thatday would be taken
up for the remainder of the session with the subject OF
Abolition. Petitions first called by the Chair,
from Maine; next was Massachusetts, and when they
came to that State Abolition petition invariably
presented, wlci, occupied the whole day. In
qucnce OF the distractions occasioned by Abolition
petitions from Massachusetts, he had been kept for
months without having single opportunity of Offering
those which he had in his desk, waiting for it, He
was very willing TO refuse the reception of Abolition
petitions altogether but he could agree stop the
against all petitions of every other nature because
those the subject of Abolition night be forced upon
the House.
Mr. STANLY said that when gentleman threw
down gauntlet to him in defence of Southern rights,
he would 20 far he who went farthest lie would
not however, give his support to miserable, aundiccd
resolutions, concoccd i'll caucus, like that OF the last
| session.
The SPEAKER informed Mr.. Stanly that it was
not in order to discuss resolution passed at the last
session
Mr. STANLY said he would vote for the resolution,
because it due to the whole country that petitions
should be admitted and he would not for fear OF hay
ing Abolition petitions presented shut the door against
all others When the call had been made on him,
Southern man. to 90 for Southern interests, he felt
bound to say that he ready any TO 60 for the
true interests Of the South; and he, IN his turn called
upon gentlemen to up to the mark, and not con-
tent themselves with the adoption of miserable reso-
luton made to protect hypocrtes, that would be capa-
bic of construction the North and another at the
South.
Mr.. HOFFMAN observed, that, by the rules of the
House. the first thirty DAYS OF session al
lowed for the reception of petitions; but this period OF
the present session having been used up By the New
Jersey question: the object of the gentleman from Penn
sylvania IN offering lis resolution, nothing more
than to allow the usual time for the presentation and
reference Of petitions. This being the simple question
before the House he astonslcd to find that the
gentleman from North Carolina called upon the mem
beers from the savcholdng States TO be cautious how
they admitted this proposition lest petitions hostile 10
their interests might be brought in under it. 1t seem
cd strange to him, that every gentleman who had dis
cussed this proposition, had considered it only the
ground whether il favorable untavorabe to the
South The gentleman from North Carolina (Alr. By
um had warned his Southern friends of its danger to
Southern interests The gentleman from Alabama
(AIr Lewis, and the gentleman from North Carolina
OR Sanly,) the other hand, dad not deem II 50 OBJ
iectonahlc; though OF them seemed 10 consider
tit the NGTIn ildu any lIlng 10 10 WIN I've question:
iie would. therefore INFORM gentlemen of all parts
the House, that he and has Northern friends had some
| interest IN this matter.
| Mr. STANLY explained that he had supported the
resolution on the ground that the whole country was
| interested in the admission of petitions.
| Mr. HOFFMAN replied that he exceedingly
sorry to have msrepresented his friend from North Caro-
lima, for whose opinions he had the highest respect
and he satisfied that whenever he differed witt
him, he himself was generally in the wrong. Laugh
ter. He agreed with his friend from North Caron;
that the whole country the North and the South, was
alike interested in the adoption Of this resolution Mr.
H. referred 10 the number of petitions from the various
sections OF the Cnion that would he cut ott b. ad
he-ence TO the rules and particularly 10 those from Re-
evolutionary sodcrs and he trusted that resolution OF
this kind would not be bounded by sectional feelings
of Southern Northern men. AL the States have
said he, Revolutionary soldiers; and lie trusted that the
door would be opened for the reception of their petitions
for thirty days longer.
Mr. JOHNSON of Maryland rose for the purpose OF
saying that he should with great pleasure for the
proposition Of the gentleman from Pennsylvania. He
thought due to the convenience Of the members,
as well as the interests of the country He could say
with the gentleman from Alabama, that he had had pc
ttons in his desk for monhs-that he had been pre-
vented from cfiering them the only day in the week
allowed for petitions, by an Abolition debate and
such would BE- the case for this session, if the resoiu
ton not adopted.
Whilst up, he would say one word to his Southern
friends. io wished every Southern man on that floor
10 speak for himself Individually and not ior the South
He hoped all Southern gentlemen would adopt that vo
cabularv and not raise their loud voices here CHAM
pions of the South allow man, said Mr. j. to speak
for me- | follow file leader; and Southern man,
and u Southern Representative ! speak for myself
and my constituents alone am sick TO death, con-
tinued Mr. j., of hearing speak Of the South-the
South and men, too, in whose trust the South would
never repose their interests and if they did, they
would he sacrificed He had been here for six years,
and never raised the voice in favor of Southern rights
but whenever the time came when it would be ncccs-
sary 10 defend them he would be found in the front of
the battle though this he admitted would not be say
ing great deal for his forttuGc at least Mr. J. spoke
Of the great Inconvenience attending the presentation
OF petitions at the latter end of the session. in consc-
quence Of which the committees would he unable TO
C. 10 nt;1, oft IL,