Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-15

vi
u5 Al M ,h'n to Rourn which motion prevailing,
NJ c,r SM,R se 20 esume the speech which he
bal n,,c cd Yhc da previous, but observed that
previously 10 doing So deared to state that, as the
move. oli!.e original pro sen which had given rise Sc
10 this entire proceeding, Ne willing now, after all
ba, had been said and done, to Withdraw the resolution
he Ind offered, add which, together with the amend
mems proposed tp The gentleman from Kentucky, was
now nnder consideration by the House, provided that
the bor orable gentleman telm Massachusetts, was WI.
limo nm his part Withdrew the petition he had oper-
ed praying for dissolutiox of the Union
Mr. ADAMS replied. IN the face OF tins House
Yesterday declared, with solemn appeal TO my Hod,
that. in presenting the petition, had acted under
sense of duty from which could not dispense myself.
That is the answe gave to the gentleman from virgil
'' Then, said Mr. GILMEf am not likely to with.
draw the resolution. for VEL myself constrained oy
sense of duty ms high semn and sacred as That
which the gentleman from Massachusetts processes 10
persevcrc in urging and supporting the proposition
have made TO the House
WINS observing, Yesterday that the proposition was
simple one; that it WIS perfectly 'n'eiiigoie, anu
wos ncapablc of being sapprehended; that the OBJ
ect and the whole object t sought, was apparent on
Its lace That it may be- distinctly recoieced
bv the House will nov ask that il be read BY the
Clerk.
fThe resolution was her, ead as follows:
sashne,,s slr Adams he Incurred the eensure Of this
1t is for the presenting OF such petition, and asking
this House TO considerit tint say the gentleman mas
incurred the just censere Of this House and OF this ma
ton AS observed yssenlay the resolution conlen-
plates the infection Of mo punishment save that puo'c
indignation which such an act merits and the expires
SION of the censure Of this House. MAINTAIN that oy
the act of the gentleman from Massachusetts, TINS
House has been pltced in position IN winch II Is com
PEELED to give public expression Of It's oP,nion eithe
approving or censuring II. Wy, then, these express
sons used BY the gentleman and his friends here, abou
.pains and penn,es: To hear the language employed
bv some Of those who have addressed the House, one
would suppose ihst the NeIgate Calendar was haunt
ing their dreams.
These expressions have no warrant IN any thing
have said nd in the resolution have offered to 'h
House The gentleman from Massachusetts insist,
most s,renuofsly his right 10 defend himself why
has he not done it. How often has he not ADDRESSED
the Houses Again and again has he most ably, mos
eloauen,y and most dcxerousg defended himself here
with all the ingenuity ana power Tor wh,cn ne IS St
Justly distinguished regret very much that any ne
cessity should be laid upI me 10 refer to the gentle
mans previous course: would give me far mor'
pleasure TO refer 10 that Ht pursued Yesterday but
am really compelled, By M circumstances Of the case
to look little al the geS.leman S previous decara
tons.
The gentleman has defe,l this House and its censure
in so many words. lie has again and again declared
here sentiments which regard as fatal TO the Union
| shall not refer 10 them all! Speaking of what these
petitioners ask for hands of the House the gen
teman told us that sshe time for action had not ye
come" plainly ntmang that such time would come
and that when did come he should be prepared 10 act
During the late ezra session. and again now, the gen
eman has referred Il the nterposition OF the treaty
making power: and he has said that, III certain einer
gency, this Government can, through the agency o
that power, cnancipaie the slaves Of the Sonih and
The West, flc re- psa,s k,t position: hut will no
dwell for a moment upon he idea As soon as Il wa
uttered made effort ID dismiss II from my mind a
quickly possible: The recurrence OF It gives me I'M
deepcst main Das lac not avowcd the sentiment tina
there exst unde this Government grievances which
smust and shall &c rrdressed-peaceabv it they can
forcGu if they mist" refer to these things not will
a view TO connect them Nth any charge which MAY
have been preferred against the gentleman. or oil no
ticng their cvi! ey'mpe and perncious tendency
that is question nctween the gentleman and th
country: what wait Is 10 show that, in coming to
dscsion regard To hs resolution, is proper TO con
slider the entire debate with all that which has yer.
improperly been connected with Tie simple question
originally presented.
is only the right OF petition he is now contendn!
for-bn do nos regard this question as involving tn
mere RICH, of pc,'tion~had that been all, might OF
this occasion, most Others, have retained m.
only-it is equally endcarcd To the West TO the North
and TO the East-undthe question now before US ouche
that Union, aud not the mere right of petition. Dnrn!
the course of The debate, reference had by severa
gentlemen to the course of South Carolina certain
memorable occasion, and to the opinion ayowed by on
of the Repre- natives from that State, (alr Rhett,
on this floor, well by others not on this floor
WHY were these references made DO they not i'm
ply that the subject Of The Union of the States i
one far too sacred TO be tlmpered with? DO thcJ
not imply consciousness OF more or less oil guilt II
every proposition to destroy the Unon' And mus
the gentleman from Massachusetts, be excused 70
having here made himself the organ of men avowedll
hostile to the Union, because others may, at othe
times, have avowed similar hostility 1t cannot b'
necessary that should defend those gentlemen here
they are aburdanly capable Of defending themselves
Suppose, for illustration, that the gentleman from
Massachusetts,, instead Of presenting this petition
should have offered resolution in the terms, ane
had moved its reference to select committee, with IN
sructons similar to hose he indicated at the time o.
presenting this memorial What difference would there
be between offering resolution and offering the self
same propositions petition? II IS not the outward
the ' proposition, which D pc this House will regard
presume there is ! OF member OF this body who
would in such case have hesitatcd 10 vote censure
on The gentleman. Pu'. so far as he IS concerned,
maintain the case is substantially the same, and tina
the course of this House should therefore be the same
also
am unwilling to re rd the votes given here to lay
the whole subject upoS the table indicative of any
concurrence or sympathy Of any gentleman this floor
on the object of these petitioners Tar from it. trust
that notwithstanding local. sectional, political pre-
iudces and excitemcnts which may prevail among us
the spirit Of Seventy-ss and of Eighty is not vel
extinct in these Halls. 1t may siuirber, bat i, still lives
and it may be aroused when shall arise iii occasion fol
| its action. And is not this fit occasion