Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-02-03
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On Monday Z4tn hlt., Mr.. ADAMS pre-
sented a petition praying for the Dissolu.
lion cfthe Union. Mr.. Gilmer, of Virgin
ia, immediately moved a resolution ofcen.
sure upon Mr.. Adams. The time of the
House has, since then, been almost ex-
cluslvely taken up with proceedings grow.
and the resolution. The ever-exis,ing
nuisance, Abolition, is at the bottom Of
all. The proceedings have been Of a
serio.conic character. The Farewell
Address of Washington was, at the in
stance of Mr.. Wise, read to the House,
and the passage in it which exhorts the
American people TO irown indignantly
upon every attempt made at a dissolution
cfthe Union. repeated over and over u
gain. The Madisoniaa thus describes q
scene
Mr.. Gilmer, ofVirginia, offered a reso-
luton of the following purport: That the
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.. Ad-
ans, on presenting a petition for the dis
solution OF the Union, had justly incurred
the censure of the House. Mr.. Under.
wood raised a point of order against en-.
tertaining the resolution +; but his objec-
ton was overruled by the Speaker. Mr..
Adams, with an exhibition of much feel
ing, said that Mr.. Gllmer was playing Sc.
cond fiddle to the member from Accomac.
He was called to order; and amid loud
cries Of order, Mr.. Gilmcr replied, ! play
second fiddle to no man ! am only en-
deavoring to stop the music ola man,
Who in the space Of one revolving moon,
Is Statesman. poet, fiddler and buaoon."
The following northumberland by
Mr., Marshall as a substitute for Mr.. Gil
mer's resoluiion-were accepted, and are
still pending.
Whereas, the Federal Constitution is a
permanent form Of Government and Of per-
pe,ual obligation, until altered or modified
in the mode pointed out by that Instru-
ment, and the members Of this House,
deriving their political character and
powers from the same. arc sworn to sup
port it, and the dissolution of the Union
necessarily implies the destruction ofthat
instrument, the overthrow Of the Ameri-
can Republic, and the extinction OF our
national existence: A proposition, there.
fore, to the Representatives OF the peo-
pie, to dissolve the organic law framed by
their constituents, and to support which
they are commanded by those constitu'
ents to be sworn, before they can enter
upon the execution Of the political powers
created by il, and inirusted to them, is q
high breach Of privilege, a contempt Of
fered 60 this House, a direct proposition
to the Legislature and each member oft
{ to commit perjury /; and involves, neces'
sarily, in its execution and its consequen
ces, the destruction Of our country and Tho
crime of high treason.
It Resolred, therefore, That the Hon
: JOHN q. ADAMS, a member from Massa
!, chusetts, IN presenting Tor the considera
S ton OF the House of Representatives o
s the United States, a petition praying tn
dissolution of the Union, has offered tn
deepes, indignity to the House of which h
n IS a member; an insult 10 the people of tn
il United States, Of which that House is III
u Legislative organ /; and will, if this out
rage be permitted to pass unrebuked an,
unpunished, have disgraced his country
{ through their Representatives, in the eye
G OF the whole world.
Resolped, further, That the aforesai
;. John @. Adams, for this insult, the fir
of The kind ever offered TO the Govern
ment, and for the wound which he hs
permitted to be aimed through his instrl
mentality, at the Constitution and ext
tence of his country, the peace, the sect
rity, and liberty Of tho people of thes
ID States, might well be held TO merit expu
sion from the national councils and II
l. House deem it an act of grace and me
ID cy, when they on'y inhict upon him the
severest censure for conduct so utterl
ne unworthy Of his past relations to the Stat
o. and his present position. This they her
~ by do for the maintenance Of their ON
n purity and dignity for the rest, the
ht turn him over to his own conscience al
e. the Indignation Of all true American CT,
he Zens.
hi A meeting of southern members h
ht been held TO take into consideration Il
I'd petition presented by Mr.. Adams.