The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,


Mr.. STUART, of Va, offered resolution, pro-
ylding 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Representatives not superseded by any resolution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 le
gslatlon of the House for the present session. and
that the select committee heretofore appointed, be
mted to revise and report the rules al any time.
Mr.. lSTuART said his object to endeayor To
compromise this great difficulty which had agitated
this House for the last two weeks. 1t would be per-
ceived that this resolution did not undertake decide
way or the other on this important question, in.
voving the night Of petition. Its effect merely to
postpone the question for the present session. 1t
would alay the excitement and arrest discussion, and
enable this House to proceed at once TO the discharge
of the high duties for which they had been here
from the People. Ii would be recoected that tho
Committee the Rules had reported which report
had been adopted providing that all subjects not in
cuded in the Presidents Message, be suspended
ill the regular session; except General Bankrupt
Law and limiting in this manner the action OF all tho
committees except the Committee Elections, Ways
and Means, and Mileage
This resolution, restricted by that rule, would
put over abolition with other subjects not specified in
the Message till the regular session.
Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS called the previous
Mr.. NISBET asked him to withdraw the ques-
ton, giving him opportunity to make few ie-
marks, pledging to renew il. He should endeavor t.
present very briefly, the reasons why he should sustain
the proposition. He did because he felt constrained
to Go it, He was one of those who came here to deal
"in hings which partake, MOI Of EARTH ike pords.
but Of Heaven"-but he had been prevented like
others, by ntermnable debate and most unnecessary
harangue, and he should now vote for the proposition,
and with a solemn conviction that tbs rights Of tho
counry-le interests Of this great Confederacy, and
the venerable shades of that good great and honest
recently entombed in your national cemetry, with
voice loud thunder, and fierce lightning,
called that they proceed TO action, the great mat
tiers that had called them here. lie concluded by mo-
wing the previous question.
Mr. RHETT rose to debate the previous question,
and stated his why he should vote against
the previous question: and believed the subject Of
abolition had been discussed for two weeks, il should
be settled for this Congress, and not reserved for
agitation again. at the regular session.
Mr.. BROWN, of Pa, was opposed to the main
question being now put He believed, with the gen
teman from South Carolina, Mr.. Rhett) that the
the question OF abolition settled the better
He opposed the proposition, and had resolution
which he would Offer when it was in order, providing
for the adoption of the rules of last House. except the
2lst; instead of which, rule be inserted that Pc
tton memorial praying for the abolition of slavery
in any State, III the District of Columbia or any OF
the Territories the slave trade between the States
or Terrific les, shall be received, unless from, and sign
ed exclusively by the people resident where the slave
ry exists; and the question of reception them
should be laid on the table without debate.
He was called to order several times, but was per-
mitted by the House to proceed.
| Mr. Afford hoped the House would not sustain
the previous question. He wished to say what he did
in the most cool and dispassionate manner. He
teemed the question of the greatest Importance.
He wished to know whether the 2lst rule was ex-
cepted in the resolution
Mr. STUART recapitulated the substance of the
| resolution
Mr. Afford continued. 1t was his most So
lemn duly-his sworn-his 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 be to the South
the Constitution and the country, would never yield
one inch, until the 2ist rule was reinstated. This
~
and the vital question for the South and he enteated
his friends the South this dark hour to stand
firm for the defence of the South and firmly to resist
all encroachmens their rights, by the readoption
of the 2lst rule. He wished measure adopted
i which should declare that these petitions should be
ected long as the 9Th Congress has the power to
, resist them.
! Mr.. PICKENS should not vote for the prsviou.
question: and opposed the adoption Of the rules Of the
last House, preferring 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 tbs
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Brown.) He
wished to give his views the subject, and if he
the rules of ORDER he hoped he would be
t pardoned by the House. He never had and never
would vote for any proposition that should counte-
nance the idea that this House has any jurisdiction
over slavery in the District, in the States and
opposed the reception of Abolition petitions. He dis
claimed the idea of compromising Southern interests
the people looking to them for relief, and if pos
give it.
Mr.. GENTRY waving all questions as to the
right of this House to receive abolition petitions, would
for the previous question, and for the resolution
He would adjourn the question till next session OF
Congress, and in this did not conceive that he COM
promised the rights interests of the Southern people,
or his duty to them.
Mr. GAMBLE believed it right and proper that the
previous question should be sustained; without which
the House could not be reorganized He considered in
voting for the resolution that he yielded no rights OF
the South They came here not to fight the battles of
abotionism but for higher and more noble purposes
and opposed wasting their strength and time IN that
which was useless. He could see good that would
grow out Of this matter at present.
| Messrs. PROFIT, c. II. WILLIAMS, and
HOLMES briefly advocated the previous question.
Mr.. GILMER opposed the pre- vions question, and
the resolution and wished the question relative to Pc
,itions to be settled this DAY and wished the propo-
ston of the gentleman from Penn, Mr. BROWN to
be brought fairly before the House. for consideration
Mr.. STUART said his purpose was not to settle
this agitating subj now, but having been convened
for special purpose they ought not to engage the
time of the House this subject, and therefore wish
ed the immediate adoption of the resolution
Mr.. WISE replied to several members VINO mad pre-
viously spoken; and opposed the previous ques'on
' Mr. MARSHALL, at some length, advocated the
/ previous question; mainly as being medium ground
between those two who in every thing were. directly
opposed, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Nir
Adams) and from Virginia Mr.. Wise) and advoca-
ted the osponemcnt of this question 10 the regular
session.
/ Mr. WISE briefly replied to personal remarks made
by MI. Marshall.
: MIR. KENNEDY repudiated the charge that had
been thrown out, that the minority desired TO retard
the progress of business and declared it was their
desire to advance speedily possible but that the
various divisions and conflicts OF the Wing party were
the of this hlndrance -,
Mr.. CUSHING accepted of the mputation of the
gentleman from In,liana-as one of the w hg party
this floor They had majority of forty in this
House. and were responsible to the country TO the
constitution and their God for the discharge OF their
duty 1t was their duty to proceed to the organza-
ton of the House. in performance of the business for
Which the country had sen. them here. He appealed
to the Wing party to perform their duty-to act and
, act manfully and cxpediously-to come up to the
nd rnupr whatsOeVeI rulea