The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-02-15
Correspondence of the Atlas.
WASHINGTON, Feb. s, ls42.
The Senate did not sit today.

WASHINGTON, Feo. o. io2I
The Senate did not sit today.
Mr.. Adams still goes on TO defend himself af,
ter the fashion OF Scipio, by carrying leadly wal
into the enemy's country. He commenced his
remarks today by reading from the Inleliecncer
of this morning, an ticle in which the Editor
complained Of the unjust imputations cas-, upon
the able reporters of that journal, and stated his
int nIion TO give no further occasion Tor such at
lacks, but TO refrain from publishing The remarks
Of Mr. Adams, unless handed in by himself
and Mr.. A. Proceeded 10 reproach the Editor
for tie suppression of his defence, and 10 specify
what he considered The inexcusabe errors and
omissions of The reporters-who he commended,
/ were waning not in The ability, but in the dis
passion to do him justice. He then produced
/ several letters and pamphlets, having relation TO
the proceedings of jDhamDable citizens of
/ Charleston, upon the memorable occasion Of
their attack upon the Posi- Office-and CHARGED
the South with a combination, not TO defend their
own institutions merely. but force the law Of
slavery upon the free States.
After several documents tending TO support
this accusation had been read by the Clerk, and
the sarcastic orator had commented upon them
with indignant severity, he said, that as his re-
marks were not 10 be allowed 10 appear in the
newspapers and tie Nation and himself were To
be deprived Of their rights in that particular. and
as he wished 10 obtain for his defence the infor-
nation required by the resolutions he had sub
mi,ied, he would move 10 postpone the subject To
next Thursday week.
Mr.. Marshall opposed this motion.
Mr. Arnold also opposed the motion to post
nome and xpresse himself decidedly in favor
Of The resolution offered by Mr.. Summers, pro-
vidIng for the appointment OF Committee 10 take
the subject into consideration. He concluded oy
moving The previous question.
The Chair decided That the previous question
would apply first TO the resolution offered by Mir.
Gilmer, and afterwards TO those of Mr.. Marshal.
and Mr.. Summers in lurn.
A call of thei House was then moved, but neg
atived, BIZ Ayes 50, Noes 80.
Mr.. Adams then Withdrew his motion, and
proceeded with his defence, He asked tie gen.
man from Ken ucky by wha; LAW he proposed
to cen uTe bin. There was no law, even upon
the gentle ans own showing, except necessity,
the ryrant's plea in all time, as now. They were
not swnrn TO support the Union, but 10 support
the Constitution and the Constitution contem
plated in certain cases such as those specified
/ in the Declaration of Independence, The dissolu-
ton of the Union The gentleman admitted for
he purposes of the argument tina. there was
league against The rights of the Norih-ihat the
South was cndeavoriny 10 deprive her citizens Of
the sacred right OF petition, tu stifle the voice Of
her people and her Representatives in regard 10
their rights on many most Important subjects
10 interiear with The right of ier citizens 10
travel freely in sll the States, and 10 transmit let
tiers 10 their ir:rnds-and 10 frample upon anv
provision Of The Constitution that might appear
too strongly favorable 10 Freedom. Were moi
these such grievances as would warrant dis OIL
! tent and Gs fiction 20 the Union2 Were they
not similar 10 those which justified cur fathers in
their rebe!li =, ? And might not The citizens of
the free States properly gay that the advantages
of the Union were not reciprocal, and That they
wculd no longer submit; 10 their wrongs? Ger
tainly these things gave sufficient grounds for dis
content. and even it they dill not, the House had
no jurisdiction over the petitioners, in regard 10
the free expression of their opinions. The pro
ccedings in this matter were direct ATTEMPT 10
reverse the law Of the land and violate tie rights
secured t. the people by the Consii;uion.-That
instrument intended to make the Representatives
responsible TO his constituents. But il was now
sought TO make the constituents responsible 10
the House foi The manner in which they exer-
cised their constitutional rights, and t, make the
Representatives alsu responsible, penalty, Tor the
manner in which he construed theConsiiu,ion. IF
a member cnuld be censured for presenting this
petition, tie could be also for presenting one for
the abolition of slavery, or any o'her which
might offend the majority ofthe House. The
right of petition would be wholly lost-it would
degenerate into mere privilege 10 petition Con-
eress upon different matters.
lie then proceeded 10 read several extracts
from published speech made BY MIR. Marshall,
in the Legislature of Kentucky, and which con-
tained reveral most eloquent and powerful de-
nunciations of slavery.
Mr.. Saunders, OF N. c. asked If it was 10 order
| 10 read The pamphlet
The Speaker said it was for The gentleman from
Massachusetts to Judge of what was necessary 10
| his defence.
Nit Marshall asked If The gentleman was read
| other dav. "'''- '"e
| MT. adams replied atirma,ively, and hoped i,
was mol him IN confidence
| Mr.. Marshall seia he knew his man ,oo well
Tor that. The gentleman respected no conf
dence.
Mr.. Adams said Out with intense cxul,a,;,,
.;Ah The gentleman winces!'
After reading reveral pages, he expressed his
| admiration ofthe glorious sentiments contained
in the pamphlet, and said 'wou'd to God he had
the power 10 embody his own feelings in such
words Of 6re'-and then asked if the House
c"uld have imagined, that man who had uttered
such sentiments, with such burning enthusiasm,
would have been the leader of a conspiracy 10
eensure him Hr presenting petitions to aboaiss