Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-21
a7TH ooNGREss--sEcoND SESSION.
MONDAY, Feb. z.

ton upon private appropriation bills, and another
of mixed character, by Mr. Garrett Davis, OF
Kentucky.
On leave gwen, Mr.. Fillmore, from the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, reported bill ma
king appropriations for certain iorhcations OF the
United States for the year 1912 which said bill
read twice, and referred TO the Committee OF
the Whole on the state OF the Union.
The House then resumed the consideration Of
the resolution OF censure upon Mr.. Adams be- |
cause he had conscentiously discharged his sworn
duy,
Mr. Adams said that, during the course oil the
day OH Saturday, he thought he perceived an i'm.
patience prevailing in the House TO get rid of this
subject. Mr.. A. had been charged by the gentle
man from Kentucky, MR. Marshall who had in
roduced one of the resolutions against him, with
having consumed an unreasonable time in his de-
fence thus far. 1t appeared to that gentleman
that consumption of six days by man in Mr.
AS situation was an extravagant Of time, al
though portion OF that space of time had been
con-umed 10y the gentlemen himself in his accu-
saton, as well as considerable portion of it by
another member. A proposition had been made
during the last days debate tby Mr. Saunders) 10
stop The reading Of what Mr.. A. considered n
very important document in his defence. The
Speaker had oyerruled, and, on appeal from
his decision, the House, by very large majority
had sustained the decision. As to the digestion
that six days were too much to be occupied by Il
member of the House aboring under such a
charge, Mr. A. did not know where the gentleman
got his authority ioi such an opinion. Warren
Hastings had occupied seven wears in the trial of
charge not more einuus in it's nature and as
to the relative proportion of the time thus occup-
ed by the accused party in defending himself to
that consumed by his three accusers in endeavor-
ing to destroy him, he did not think there was a
ny principle of justice which could condemn il.
Al the same time, Mr.. A. wished to retain the
claim he had long insisted on, to be free from re-
sponsIbiliiy for the time consumed lie had re
peatedy offered TO let The proceedings be brought
to close without even hat defence which the
House had insisted on requiring Of him, and which
he had partly made.
He wished now to sny that if any of his accu-
sers on this occasion were now willing that the
whole question should be laid upon the table, Mr..
A. was ready 10 assent to such n motion. He had
great deal Of time still to require if he should lie
forced to go on with his defence. He had laid
out The platform which he proposed that defence
TO occupy, and had informed the House of all
that 1t would be necessary for him to prove. But
lie was willing TO forage it all, and dismiss the sub
Ject forever from the House, and, if possible from
the country if that could by possibility be done
without n sacrifice of his own rights and those of
his constituents, and Of the just defence of his
own character.
He would sny one thing further. The gentle
man from Kentucky tNlr MarshaIl had offered
his forgiveness Tor what he considered as injurious
TO himself in Mr.. AS remarks. MIR. A. could not
accept of that forgiveness nthe present stage Of
tins proceeding; but if the House would agree TO
dismiss the subject without injury TO Mr.. AS char
acer and To the rights of these Petitioners he
would say to the gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr.
MarshaH,) TO the gentleman from Accomac, (Mr.
WISE and 10 the gentleman from Albarmarlc, (Mr.
Gllmer) that he was ready to exchange forgive
ness forever hereafter for all that had taken place
lie wished the House, however, to understand
that he did not say this from any wish to shrink
from the further prosecution Of the defence of his
character or from The time and labor this might
impose upon him. Still if the House was ready
10 lay the subject on the table, that it should new
er be taken up again, he was willing TO acquiosee
III such an arrangement
Ii the House was not yet satisfied, and that Of
fer should he refused and the House should
sent to the proposition ofthe gentleman from Vr-
ginia Mr.. Summers TO refer the entire subject TO
u select committee, where Mr. A. could have an
opportunity further TO defend himself and his
stituents, he was willing for that-stil reserving
to himself the right to continue his defence in
conformity with the outline he had already sub
mitted to The House, end to go through with it 10
the end without obstruction or interruption.
Whereupon, Mr. Bolts and said that if he
were to consult his own inclinatons, he should
prefer that direct vote should he taken on the
proposition OF the gentleman from kentucky
MR. Marshall) He (Mr. b. presumed that every
member had made up his mind on the subject
and the House and the country were exceedingly
anxious to get rid Oft He would therefore move,
against his own will, however that the whole sub.
Ject be laid on The table that in the language Of
the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. Adams J
it might be laid there forever.
Mr.. Barnard of New York, wished TO submit
the following resolutions, but was unable, obec-
tons having been made.
j. That the petition in this case is nothing more
than the husy and ill., considered expression of
opinion on the part Of the sgners that the Union,
cOmuOspu he her
and that measures ought, therefore, to he taken
Immediately Tor u peaceable separation instead OF
waiting for the day Of violence and civil war.
ii. That the petitioners had perfect cunStiip-
honal right 10 send such petition to Congress
and any member Of this House had perfect con-
sttutional right to offer that petition TO the House
ana to advocate the views and statements of til
petitioners on this floor, if he sho aid fit to dc
SO. The House, in the mean time, had periec
constitutional right to receive and entertain tn,
petition, or 10 refuse TO entertain it,
ILL That IN presenting this petition to the House
the mover has done no more than if, without an,
petition, he had offered 10 the House resolution
OF his own, TO the effect of the instruction Offered
by him OH presenting the petition, viz. That
select committee be appointed 10 draw up and re
port to the House, and through the House to stat
to the country, reasons why measures ought no
TO be taken for the dissolution of the Union thi
he had perfect right TO do
Nv. That The attempt to convert this petition
and tho expression of opinions contained in ii, in
TO high political oGencs, and to make that oienc
rlabe before any tribunal, and especially to max
II triable before this body, sets the Constitution
the country and every known principle of law an
liberty at utter defiance, aud is deeply offensive
the understanding of the House and the country
II is, moreover an attempt to set up the Represen
tatve body above the Constituent body, aud max
the former the self constituted censors of the pc
iIlical conduct and opinions OF the latter, viii
power to punish for such conduct and opinions a
discretion.
V. That the attempt to involve and identify
member of this House, presenting petition, viii
the petitioners and their peculiar sentiments an
views Notwithstanding his most explicit dsavow
ais, and TO hold him amenabe to the retrbutiy
justice and power of the House on the pretende
ground of contempt, is a high-handed aud DARN
attempt-a gross breach of the privileges and in