The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-25


tons. For mysells Indignantly spurn the PToPo-
sitiOns, and defy your action.
sc will be we'll recollected By you, Mr. Speaker
and the House, my words upon that refusal were II
fenlphaticatlyTefs 10 Cole! now avow that did,
on that occasion, as now do, hold in sovereign
and sublime contempt and execration the conduct
of heartless majority Of this House, Applause,
who have financially outraged and trampled upOI
nv rights as individual member of q small mino-
rity, BY wholly disregarding and setting at noughI
tho rules MeniSelUes; and more especially the 26th
rule. which saws: ANY member may call for the
division of question, where the sense will admit
Of it, Having previously explained the applica-
ton of this rule to my remarks now, | will only
saw, that your records will show whether ! refused
TO vote conscientiOusly or not; and | shall not
stop TO satisfy the sensibiines Of either of the
gentlemen.
And l now say, that the outrageous and fla
grant course pursued by the majority in every ra-
MITIGATION of this affair, has tended TO the total
destruction Of my rights and privileges under the
rules, as a member OF this House. Such course
l never will submit to, here or elsewhere, silently,
and do hold in sovereign contempt and utter alb
horrence, the action heretofore pursued, and now
attempted to be consummated. by the partisan ma
| jOrity of this House You may, sir, by censurIng
resolutions, and by adopting resolution (alIeady
! offered) giving bare majority the power of cut
| ting off debate, by moving the previous question,
expect to gag and prevent discussion; but, sir,
firmly and independently, as long as my voice can
be heard on this floor, and my feeble arm can be
raised, you will find me opposed to aggression and
| tyranny, come from what quarter il may. While
physically may not be able to cope successfully
with some of the majority, | can only say, that
should any one feel himself personally aggreved
/ by any remarks OF mine, now or hereafter, he has
only to signify it. Perhaps, sir, this declaration
may be considered uncalled for; but as sugges-
tons have fallen from certain members with re-
| l.al,.
| cannot arrive at fairly, can only remark for my
self, that have never shrunk from any RESPONSE
bility devOlving upon me, and God forbid ever
should.
Il believe now that the majority will perfectly
understand, that / refused to vote in contempt OF
their tyranny, as well as from conscientious mo-
tives.'
Mr. Bradford put IN a special plea in legal terms
in which he demurred to the pOwerof the House
to try or punish him even admitting the truth oil
the allegations.
Mr. Clarke remarked that when he refused tc
vote, he gave his reasons. He had repeated these
reasons on several occasions, and did not deem i
necessary to add single word. He had no apo
lOgies to make.
Mr. Cobb said that when he refused to vote, ht
did mean, and did feel the most sovereign and un
utteTable contempt for the majority who had base
y trampled upon his rights, and violated the rules
Of the House.
The question on postponing indefinitely, wa
finally put and carried by vote of 80 to "a.
The members proposed to be censured, feeling
interested personally in the decision of this ques
ton, availsG themselves of their privilege, and de
clined voting. Several members were also excu
sed from voting.
|, Thus this exciting question has been finally dis
e posed Of. Twenty-four members only being fOunt
willing to support BesanGon's insolent and outra
. geous proposition.
al A variety of other business was transacted du
n ring the evening-none of which, however, wa
of much interest