The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY. June 10. 1874

Mr. STUART, of Va offered resolution, pro-
vlding that all the rules and orders Of last House of
Representatives, not superseded by any resolution
adopted at the present session. be adopted for the e
gisatIon of the House for the present session and
that the select committee heretofore appointed be per
mitted TO revise and report the rules al any time
MIR. lSTUARr said his object to endeavor to
compromise this great difficulty which had agtated
this House for the last two weeks. Il would be per
ceved that this resolution did undertake to decide
ono way or tho other this important question, in.
volvng the right Of petition. Its effect merely
postpone the question for the present session. 1t
would allay the excitement and arrest discussion and
enable this House to proceed at the discharge
of the high duties for which they had been sent here
from the People. II would be recollected that the
Committee on the Rules had reported, which report
had been adopted providing that all subjects not in
cluded in the Presidents Message be suspended UNI
til the regular session; except a General Bankrupt
Law, and limiting in this The action Of all the
committees, except the Committee on Elections, Ways
and Means, and Mileage
This resolution, restricted by that rule, would
put over abolition with other subjects specified
the Message, till the regular session.
Mr. LEWIS WILLIAMS called the previous
question.
Mr.. NISBET asked him to withdraw the cues
ton, giving him an opportunity to make few
marks, pedging TO renew it. He should endeavor to
present very briefly the why he should sustain
the proposition tie did it because he felt constrained
to Go it. He was one of those who came here To deal
in things which partake not of earth, like IGOR DIS,
but of Heaven but he had been prevented like
others, by inteminabe debate and most unnecessary
harangue, and he should for the proposition
and with solemn conviction that the rights of the
countryside interests Of this great Confederacy, and
the venerable shades Of that good great, and honest
recently entonbed in your national cemetry with
a voice loud thunder, and fierce as lightning,
called that they proceed action the great mat
tiers that had called item here. He concluded by mo-
wing the previous question.
MIR. RHETT rose to debate the previous question:
and stated his reasons why he should vote against
the previous question: and believed the subject Of
abolition had been discussed for two weeks, it should
be settled for this Congress- and reserved for
agitation again, al the regular session.
Mr.. BROWN Of Pa, was opposed TO the main
que stion being now put He believed, with the gen
tlernan from South Carolina, Mr.. .Rhett that the
the question of abolition settled the better
He opposed the proposition, and had a resolution
which he would offer, when il was in order, providing
for the adoption of the rules Of last House. except the
2lst instead of which, rule be inserted that pc
,ition memorial praying for the abolition Of slavery
in any State IN the District of Columbia or any of
the Territories the slave trade between the States
Territories, shall be received unless FROM and sign
ed exclusively by the people resident where the slave
ry exists; and the question Of reception on them
should be laid on the table without debate
He was called to order several times, but per-
mitted by the House to proceed
| MIR Afford hoped the House would not sustain
the previous question He wished to say what he did
| in the most cool and dspassionate manner. He es-
teemed the question one of the greatest Importance.
He wished to know whether the 2lst rule was ex-
cepted in the resolution.
Mr. STUART recapitulatcd the substance of the
resolution.
/ Mr. AFFORD continued II was his most 80
| lemn Juiy-his sworn-hs conscientious duty, to OPP
pose this resolution. He hoped the previous question
would not be adopted He hoped that every man
from the South who intended TO be to the South
the Constitution and the country, would never yield
one inch until the 2lst rule was reinstated. This
| (slavery) was now the question, the most important
and the vital question for the South and he entreated
his friends from the South in this dark hour to stand
firm for the defence of the South and firmly resist
all encroachmens their rights, by the adoption
of the 2lst rule. He wished some measure adopted
which should declare that these petitions should be
jected as long the 9th Congress has the power Il
resist them.
Mr.. PICkENS should not vote for the previous
question, and oppo.ed the adoption of the rules of thu
last House, prcterrng that the rules Of Parliamentary,
Law be adopted for The government Of the House.
Mr.. HABERSHAM was opposed to the previous
question, and preferred the resolution proposed by thu
gentleman from Pennsylvania mr. Brown) III