Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-10

the question before the House.
He proceeded to say that he was one of the members
the floor who had voted us did the gentleman from
Massachusetts, (Alr Adams to lay the whole subject on
the table, but, he confess, from very different mo-
tves than seemed TO actuute that member. lie was
conscious, the gentleman had stated, that there
great eycitcmon; Throughout, the nation on the sub
ect which he had introduced. If any State, part OF
State III the Union North South, ngiiaied on
the question whether negroes should vote not il had
not vet reached his knowledge. If such the fact,
that gentleman the first TO appze him OF it, Solar
from agitation and conruson among the States OF thus
Union the present question, lie believed that there
nothing OF it out OF this Hall Here, on this floor,
was the and spring Of most of the agitation winch
existed in relation Ia the black population OF Tins mon
lie was sorry 10 find tina, this Hall continually
thrown INTO excitement and diverted trom the grave pur-
poses tor which by the Constitution. and
sformed for the agitation OF questions
settled when the Constitution itself framed, and
that day after day those who ought most to revere that
nstrue ard to sustain the institutions sanctioned aud
Guaranteed hy il those who were dong most 10
overthrow them. And there those whose ingenn-
ty taxed 10 find questions OF irritation to
the South and fresh modes of assault upon us nstitu-
tons They had heard learned ess, quaint outcome
nv, and piquant sit used here time after time, when
utler means exhausted, against the slave holding
region Of the Union and thIs too, otenest from those
who in their history, had al ties most anxnnsly WOO.
ed Southern interests and Southern influences And
these recent assaults sprang most frequently from mem
bes this floor, who had, in earlier HE forfeited the
confidence of their constituents and people at tine North
and had been repudIated at home by u people with
whom they were reared and whose feelings they had out
ragged and had thrown Themselves on the broad, warm
bosom OF the South, 10 be nursed again into political lie
and power by the generous confidence OF that region,
and by the liberal benevoence OF Presidents who were
the propr-,ors and owners of slaves.
There were such gentlemen; aud one memorable n
stance OF the kind this floor remarkable, he
was forced TO say than any of The rest. That gentle
man, when consigned to private life al home, was placed
bv 4 Southern President IN station OF exalted rank
and dignity, and made he has said, 'the boy
Minister, representative of the nation abroad Inns
was bnt step stone to the higher honoTs and higher
Offices within the gift Of Southern savehoding and
slave protecting Presidents
What was the course Of this gentleman then: Was
it then as nov: Has the Constitution been altered
since then: Who, then, so able-who went 50 Tar MS
himself in defence Of slavery and slave territory: Ills
strong pen and ready tongue ever used IN defence
Of both AS if 10 Justify his recent outrages on The
South now he boasts offset to his present
course that then he went far very far beyond the OPT
Mons of Southern President, and all The Southern
members OF his Cabinet, in vndicauon OF slavery ana
the territory Of the South Then the gentleman would
have Teaas-not as now excluded from the Union
but " ould have been willing to have the Southwestern
borders of the nation extended almost TO the very pa
laces of the Montezumas. Then none SO ieTce ana
unyeldng that gentleman to vnd'caie the Ameri-
can flag, on whatever ship found flying, and the at
tenpt3 the al England 10
at sen and interrogate them rudey were most bitterly
denounced. And, Secretary OF State, his was the
last and most reluctant pen To indte instructions 10
our Minister in London TO negotiate treaty Tor Tie
mutual right 10 search save-trac'ng vessels. lie
would repeat-wose pen and whose tongue were then
so ready or so strong yindca:e all that the South
now eXac,s:
THE Speaker here nerposed
Mr. Johnson said that the gentleman from Mas
sachrsctis (Alr Adams) had discussed members on
heir he
most indicate supplementary personahty-and had
not then been interrupted by the Chair, and as he
meant 10 make but few remarks upon the principles
of that gentleman he hoped he would not be inter
rupted.
Mr. Johnson proceeded, and said he not con-
scious that the gentleman had changed his opinions
IN relation to the South, even IN lc24, when the
South had in a body voted against him for the Ere
sidency. On these doctrines and principles, when
the penemans pen and tongue had so long zealously
advocated, SO long the South could give vote
on the Presidential question: and he candidate Tor
re election, the gentleman Was yet unchanged Inc
obdurae South might yet prefer hun, and appreciate
as he did himself his efforts in her behalf.
But by the election in ISIS the gentleman was con-
signed again the shades of private life, without the
hope of being eplaced in the office which lie had hed
1t was until the South preferred another candidate
10 himself and another elected and he consigned
TO the shades of New England without this last crown
Ing honor Of his ambition, that they behed him who
had been nourshed and supported until he had grown
strong and powerful by her former generosity, win
anas saturaled with the most deadly hate and tongue
which outvenoms all the venoms "i Mic, That he,
like the character in the fable turned upon TO laceTaie
the bosom that had nourlshed him into power. and ted
into energy the latent venom of lls nnture And now,
like Marins who had filed the highest honofs OF the
most rcnowned republic in the world when evc'ed ny
the power Of his rivals from place, he would TO indulge
his ambitious thirst for noiore,y and 10 crafty his re
venue upon what he would please to CONSIDER an I'M
grateful people whom he had served, retire TO the ron
tine marshes and exhort the fugitive slaves that they
had been cruelty treated by their masters, and ieil the
that they were equal in all respects; discourse on the
rghts OF man. the equality OF human nature that the
God of Nature made all men free; that slaves we're not
property. but persons; they had right to VOTE ana
right to rule and their passions by art and elo-
ouence revenge their wrongs and then, ike arus,
direct their revenge first against their masters Of he
coni,a of the republic and then for supremacy to de
LUCE republic in blood.
MIR James rose to point Of order
MIR. Johnson resumed, and said he had but single
remark more to make upon this branch OF the SUBJECT
and he would then relieve gentlemen from ther soci
tude.
The great theory of our Government, and OF every
Representative Government, was, MS he understood w.
tina, the Representative should faithfully rehect the
wishes rs we'll rs the interests OF his constituency
The Constitution, for particular purposes, mace Con-
qress the Legislature for the District OF Columbia
The people Of Alexandria, part of the District,
wished them 10 pass specihc law, Tor whlch 'hey
had mcmorlalized Congress, and when me commit
Ice far the District had reported in a bill 10 the
House They now heard the rights of man. the rights
of liberty, the rights of negroes TO vote dsquson
on tie shades of color, and the colored population IN
general, all brought up and they were seriously m
voked to discard the proposition oil The committee
which resuon ed faithfully to the wishes of the people
of Alexandra, and adopt series of different and ad'
verse schemes We now find gentlemen 10 gfauiy
whatever personal feelings they may have, or what
ever fances might float through their excited mag,
nations Introducing nTaies +" bauk proper
Legislation, and hwat the wishes Of that people, who
were immc diately interested in the subject
lie was conscious of principle, either under The
Constitution Of the IT, s. or in accordance with the
genius of our institutions, which could justify Inc mo-
p r ,ho from, Massac husetts the