Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-03
wENTY-sEyENTn coScnEss--a.i Session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
IHfSGGy, JdnnNrv p.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

Speaker had ruled to be- in order US question oil priv
lege
Efsolred, Thot in presenting n the consideration Of
tins House petition for The dissolution Of the Union
the member from Massachusetts, ir. Adams has just
y incurred the censufe Of this House.
Which resolution Mr. J. {. Catk bad yesterday
moved 10 lay the table -:
Pending which motion the House hacfadjourncd.
And the question now recurring on Shc motion tina
the resolution b. laid on the table
Mr. HOPKINS asked the yeus and nays; which we re
ordered, and, beng taken, were-ycas ~, nays IL.
So the resola' not laid on The table.
Mr. MARsi' al Of Ky, inquired OF the Speaker
what was The nexi question;
The SpfAK % .s.s-:s would be on thr ldnp.ion 81
lie resolution cRst gfale'nfa from virginia, lM.
Gilner)
NJ. MARSHALL observed that he had prepared a
resolution preiced by very short preamble, but 20
ing somewhat more at large into the SUBJECT than Inc
simple resolution offered by the gentleman from Viz
MA. lie wished 10 propose il substitute for that
resolution, and he hoped that the gentleman would as
sent 10 IT, As the resolution was drawn up (Mr. NJ.
saiG) III his own handwriting, and rs there in
places iHierl,neations and alterations, with the
permission II lie House, in order that the gentleman
- rlt judge whether he would accept 1t IS substi
;u;e f"r tx ~, h" would read Il HIMSELF rather than
send il tothc Clerks table 10 be read there lie wish.
ed further 10 make the inquiry Of The Chair, that he
might not he led 10 attempt any thing that would he
considered IL order whether, in submitting hs
propositions would be in order for him 10 accompany
II With iIw remarks:
hl. Marshall Then read his resolutions.
Mr.. nj then asked The Speaker whether it would be
order far him accompany this resolution by few
rcaaIis.
The SPEAKER replied in the Affirmative.
Mr. ADAMS SAID, have very little TO say on
this su'"c' The gentleman from Kentucky after a
great ya:'",: q arguments 10 prove that lie has no
personal ,nn.ts Il me, That the contrary, the
lie makes arises from pTotuundest patriotism,
and that III using ali the language which the fancy d!
Of ingenuity invent, TO represent ny conduct
III tie most od,nus light h vas governed hy oticr
feeling than love OF the Union. The gentleman sup
poses he making great deal OF political capital by
his present movement SIR, wish 10 wait till see
whether this House wall adopt resolution Of that kind
before call On II 10 aoM the privilege Of defend
ing myself. SCR If the gcnemln has been surprised,
he Affects t. be, IL my having brought forward this
proposition, am not the IS surprised al the language
he has used aud the charge lie has brought against me-
ot beng guilty Of high WHAT'S high treason
The Constitution Of the United States says wat hgl
treason Is, and It is not for him. or his prnr nind 10
define what high treason IS, and conionnd with "hat
| have done SIR, The first volume o. the laws .; the
United States wll sho% what is d-sire the clerk
10 read the FIR, paragraph Of tie Declaration Of lade.
penGancr. RAISING hi voice TIE FIRST paragraph
Of the Declaration Of Independence RAISING h'S
voice to sttll higher pitch Tie first paragraph Of
The Declaration 81 independence
The Clerk then read as ic!lo%s
"When IN the course OF human cren,s, i, becomes
necessary fo- one people dissolve ihe poticn! bands
which have connected them with another, and 10 as
snne among lhc powers VI The earth the separate and
equal station Ia which the laws 81 Nature and II Ma
lures God cn'ilc them, decent respect 10 the opni-
ons IL mankind requires that they should declare the
causes which, impel them 10 The separation.
Mr.. ADAMS. Proceed proceed, proceed, down 10
the ''Tish; and daty.'
The Cjofh continued reading, as follows:
awe hold these truths 10 be seli.evldcm,-;hat all
iaen ted equal. that they are endowed t. Eeir
Creator y:.h certain unalienate rights; that among
l.sc a:c H. liberty and The pursuit Of happiness
That. 10 secure these rights, Governments ins,i
tu,cd among men, deriving their Just powers from tie
consent IL tue Governed; that whenever any ioral 9!
gorernmcn; becomes destructive OF these ends IS Inc
rrit If the people 10 alte. To abolish IL and 10 IL
sl,ute a new Government, laying It's foundation Oh
such principles, and organizing ITS powers III such
form as them shall most likely TO effect Their
safety and happiness Prudence, indeed sill dictate
that Governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes; and, accord
inriy all experience hath shown that niaiik'nd are
more disposed 10 suffer while evils su.erabie than
10 rirh. themselves by abosng the forms 10 which
they are accustomed But when long train oil abuses
and usurpatons pursuing invariably the same object,
cvnces design 10 reduce them under absolute dcsPot
ism il is their right il is their duty, 10 throw OF such
Government, aud 10 provide guards for their iu-
iuFe security
Mr.. ADAMS repeating after the Clerk "risht and
ap,, 10 alter ar abolish H. Now Sir, it there is
principle sacred earth, and established by NE m
srumrnt Just read II is tle r Of the people TO a''r,
change to destroy The En- u tns qi"
existing If the people had not The power III pursuance
oil that right, 70 petition for IT,
Nov, Sir if this House IS copahle 0! adopting lhe
resolution ct the gentleman iro: hcntucKy - sun
lie, Of DISCUSSION, then, shall ask, in my turn, the
rivilrre Of defending myself and oil proving not that
tie conc!us:oI drawn rs these petitioners correct,
,r had ru,rded against hGt,) and had proposed, that
in centing il, il should be referred 10 committee
with Instructions 10 report an answer ASSUMING t'e
reasons why lis prayer should not he granted, ou' h'
,hev had The undoubird right 10 present their petition
Sir # mv attachment 10 This Union and tins Consti.
,u,;on could be questioned that provision would lee sui
crnt 10 rei.e any slamdcrous attacks liat hishl oP
made on me rest that petition On Tie '9cafat"n o.
Independence. present II as tie sentiments OF 'nr
Of one OF my co.'isheS' anu ~ e "'
The gentleman and tell this House, Tia; ihey are not
lie oniy persons in the section at country I" which they
belonu 10 whom these sentiments are familiar
want 10 respond 10 them, and 10 tell them It IS nat
vet Lae for these people, who nre emphacay "pPF'ss
ID 10 seek for redress Of their grievances III TINS way
wish 10 tell them that there are resources pY "n.e
ihcr rights might be restored :9houi rcsor;ins 10 ha
last remedy named in the Declaration o. independence
Ia hev not see tia; they have been oppressed Tor lie
lac. cpht Or ten years. Does tie gentleman from H'i
,ucsy deny that: Does lie deny that Tor me last ~ -
wears the poole have been .lering uhcc! at opess
ed state ofi.ings has been sent here 10 remedy: am
sorry TO sly however that the gentleman has contou
led more than any other member Of this House IN ADDING
m instead IL c,:edyinr those expressions, winch orr
rinacs such petitions these This, however, IS net
VIVA, | rose 10 say. When come I" answer Tins
charge Stall show that one OF the great grievances
of which Inc people complain, IS the suppression oil
the right Of petition, not only in THIS case, but IN
number Of others. shall show That petitioners are
turned out OF lie House, and denied the benefit o.
that Constitution which the gentleman 50 eioqntniiy
eulogizes will 20 through with series Ct oPprrs-
sons on Tie people of the North which they have been
suffering not only at the hands Of this House, nn, o'
the other. The gentleman on one occasion '''a i'p
hat they treated i'll and that he should nave ''eu
TO receive these petitions
Mr. MARSHALL. viii The gentleman state on 'hs
floor that | SAID would vote for receiving such
petition IS this
Mr. ADAMS Not this, bu, other petitions; ana ny
voting for their reception he admits that Il IS 'PPgss'sf
on the people OF the Union to reject them When
come 10 mike nv defence before the House. | shall
show other expressions, only actual, bnt intended