The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-07
DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, February :


Mr. GILMER rose to resume the speech which
he had commenced the day previous, but observed ',a
previously to doing SO, he desired to state ,ha' %
mover OF the original proposition when hau 60
rise 70 this entire proceeding, he was w'lIing ~
ter all that had been said and done, 70 ,h.s ,,h
reson,i,n he had offered and which, together WIN
the amen 1mens proposed by the gentleman ifon heh
lucky was now under consideration ny the liouse
pr ,yided that the honorable gentleman rom Massa
chusetis willing ON ms par' '" w'n''a" 'ue r.
ttion he had offered praying 'o' '''so'u' " Wv
u MON. . 80. II,
Mr. ADAMS replied In The face of this House,
Yesterday declared, with solemn appeal TO my God,
that IN presenting the petition had acted under
sense Of duty from which could not dispense my
self That is the answer gave to the gentleman
from Virginia, who heard it,
Then, SAID Mr.. GILMER, am not likely TO with
draw the resolution; for feel myself constrained by
of duty as high as solemn, and as sacred as
tina, which the gentleman from Massachusetts pro-
fesses persevere in urging and supporting the pro-
position have made to the House
observing yesterday, that the proposition was
simple one that il was perfectly inteligiple ana wa
incapable OF being msapprehended that Inc OBJECT
and the whole object sought, apparent on us
face. That il may be more distinctly Iecollec'eu py
the House, will ask that be read by the oieiA
The resolution was here read, as follows;
Resored, That, in presenting to the considerable
of this House petition for the dissolution oi 'n'
Union the member from Massachusetts, Mr.. Adams)
~~~~-i
1t is for the presenting of such petition, and ask
ing this House to consider It, that say the geh'ie
man has incurred the just censure Of this House and
OF this nation. As observed yesterday, the resoi'-
ton contemplates the infection Of punishment save
that public inde nation which such act merits and
the expression OF the censure OF TINS Rouse, NAN
tain that by the act of the gentleman from Ma"sachu
Sets this House has been pacedin aposition IN Whch
1t is compel to give public expression OF Its OPT
MON, either approving or csnsunng IT, Why' ,hen'
these expressions, used by the gentleman anu h's
friends here, about pains and penalties Z 10 near
the language employed by some OF those who have al
dressed the House. one would suppose that the New
gate Calendar was haunting Their dreams i,
These exp essions have no warrant IN any lhing
have said nor in the resolution have offered TO this
Honse The gentleman from Massachusetts, insists
most strenuousy on his right 10 defend himself why
has he not done i'll How often has he not addressed
the Housed Again and again has he most ably
most eloquently, and most dexterously defended MN
self here with all the ingenuity and power for which
he is SO Justly distinguished regret very much that
any necessity should be laid upon 10 refer to the
gentleman's previous course: il would give me tar
more pleasure refer to that he pursued yesterday
butt am really compelled by the circumstances OF the
case 10 look little the gentlenans previous decla
+ ratons.
The gentleman has defed this House and its cen
sure in so many words. He has again and again
declared here sentiments which regard as latai 10
the Union. | shall not refer to them all speaking
of what these petitioners ask for at the hands OF tins
House. the gentleman told us that the time for ac-
ton had not yet Gomez; plainly intlmatng that such
time would come and that when it did come he
should be prepared to act. During the late extra
session, and again now, the gentleman has referred
to the interposon of the treaty-maklng power and
he has said that in certain emergency, this Govern
ment can through the agency of that power, EN-, n
cipate the slaves of the South and OF the West he
repeats that position but will not dwell Tor mo-
ment upon the idea. AS soon as it was uttered, |
made an effort to dismiss it from my mind as quickly
as possible the OF 1t gives me the deep
pain Has he not ayowed the sentiment that there
exist under this Government grievances which . must
and shall be If they cam torcl-
blu if they mustin refer to these things not with
view to connect them with any charge which may
have been preferred against the gentleman, or OF no.
tcing their evil example and pernicious tendency
that is a question between the gentleman and the
country what want is, to show that, IN coming TO
a decision in regard to this resolution It Is proper TO
consider the entire debate, with all that which has
very improperly been connected with the simple ques-
ton originally presented.
is only the right of petition he is now contending for
but do not regard this question as involving the mere
right of petton had that been all, might on tins
OCCASION as most others, have retained my seat.
But this Union is not endeared to the South only IL
is equally endeared to the West, to the North, and to
the East and the question before touches that
Union, and not the mere right of petition. During
the course of the debate reference had by scve-
raj gentlemen to the course of South Carolina on a
certain memorable occasion, and to the opinion
ed by one of the Representatives from that State
(Mr. RHETT) this floor, well as by others not
this floor. Why were these references made' Do
they imply that the subject of the Union of the
States far too sacred to be tempered with Do
they not imply consciousness of more or less Of
guilt in every proposition to destroy the Union And
must the gentleman from Massachusetts be excused
for having here made himself the organ of men avow-
cdy hostile to the Union, because others may, at
other times have avowed similar hostility 1t can
not be necessary that should defend those gentle
men here they abundantly capable OF defending
themselves
Suppose, for illustration, that the gentleman from
Massachusetts, instead of presenting this petition,
should have offered resolution in the same terms
and had moved its reference to select committee,
with instructions similar to those he Indicated at the
time of presenting this memorial. What difference
would there be between offering resolution and Of
fering the seli-same propositions in petitioni 1t is
not the outward FORM it is the substance, the design
the tendency of the proposition, which hope this
House will regard. 1 presume there IS not men,
Der of this body who would in such case have hest
taed to vote censure on the gentleman But so far
as he is concerned maintain the case substantially
the same and that the course OF this House should
therefore be the same also.
| am unwilling to regard the votes given here to
lay the whole subject upon the table as indicative OF
any concurrence or sympathy OF any gentleman on
this floor on the object of these petitioners far from
it, trust that notwithstanding local, sectional,
political prejudces and excitements which may pre-
vail among u.s. the spirit of Sevenysx and of Eighty
seven is not extinct in these halls. II may slumber,
but it still lives and may be aroused when shall
arise fit occasion for its action. And is not this
fit occasion
proposition was made by my colleague (Nr.
Summers) yesterday to commit the whole subject to
select committee, and this measure is urged ON the
ground that it will tend to restore peace. But ask
my colleague whether the most eiiectual method to
rest here. and confidence every where to
re-assure the hopes and to aay the aroused fears OF
all who love this Union, is not to pass the resolution
of censure proposedi Such step will, as
believe give energy and zeal to our free Go
vernment, and will inspire new hopes in the bosom OF
every true patriot.
cIn l,ue hv reIerrinr the subject q