Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-02
CASE or MR. ADAMS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Tuun.n.x Ian 0-th 10
IcoNrINuEp |

We are compelled to omit vast deal of the vo
luminous Speeches, and content ourselves with
few on both sides.
Amer the House refused to lay tho whole sub
iect on the table, MIR. Adams raised the question
whether the House had the right to consider the
Resolutions This question being deeIded in favour
of the RIGHT the debate was continued by Mr.. I'm
dorwood IN very able speech, in opposition to the
whole proceeding.
Mr. Bolts then obtained the floor.
Nr. Bolts said he had listened with verv grca;
pleasure TO the warm and patriotic remarks of The
gentleman from Kentucky, mir Under ~ood,) and
should have been perfectly content TO have submit
ted the question the House at this time but that
he differed so widely from the views OF the majority
of this House, indicated by the votes taken, and
SO widely from large majority Of his colleagues
unon this floor and the Southern delegation IN gen
cai that he did not feel himself ut liberty 10 have
the question taken without submit ing his views
this important subject; and doing this he did not
mean to become pledged To defend the genera course
ofthe gentleman from Massachusetts,. The gentle.
man had said and done many things on this floor
which did no; meet his appreciation, and IN saying
this he meant diSreSpect to the gentleman from
Massachusetts. lie must lose all respect for himself
before he could bring himself TO wound the feelings OF
that venerable gentleman; and he meant no imputa-
ton any other gentleman. lie had given some ovi
dence of these things. When the gentleman had
asked on Saturday last 10 defend himself from the
charge of monomania, he had voted to grant per
mission. When he thought the gentleman had
trcspaSsed and abused the courtesy OF the House.
he withdrew that leave and yet he was prepared
TO make many apologies for his course From what
he had OF mat gentleman on this floor, he was
inclined 10 believe that he expressed very many
sentiments an the irrahility Of weight OF years that
hung on him. which his own calm reflection wol.d
Condemn. There c-ough this floor p 'ssing
under his immediate observation 10 provoke the
gentleman, and II he might use the expression, TO
"bejevl" hun.
What was the question before the House, Ana
what was the offence committed by the gentleman
from Massachusetts The gentleman had pi eSeut. |
cd to this House petition, not asking thlt Con |
Grcss should dissolve this Union by act Of Iesis.
iltion, but that Congress should covse measures by
which the peaceful dissolution may be effected. The |
gentleman from Massachusetts, standing here as
OF the patriots OF the land, after having been IN
the service Of the country for half a century, with
one foot s;andinc-he would say, IT the gentleman
would pardon him-On the verge of the grave, "a X.
Cd that the petition might be referred 20 q commit
tee, Of which he would OF course, IN common cour. |
tesy be placed the head, that he might have an |
opportunity OF doing-wha0 OF appealing 70 !
his fellow citizens, and demonstrating with them |
against the horrors OF dissolution Of tic Union |
H had told them that this was feeling not conhn.
ed 10 the forty sX individuals who had signed that |
petition; that II IS a growing and increasing evil;
add that the sentiment i widely spread through.
out the Commonwealth Of which he is a Represen-
inivc Auo he csked them 10 pcrmi, him. a. a
member oil this House, TO present circumstances,
and appeal to these petitioners against the folly Of
their course. mir Adams bowed his head 10 tue /
table N assent 10 Mr. 3 5 suggestion TO his mo.
uvcs.) That was his tNir Bsl understanding OF the
HIbiect. And on that question the proposition was
submitted: hrst, that the gentleman should I've CEN
sured and then, should deem mark Of great
grace AMI mercy on the part Of the House that he
not expelled
The question Of the dissolution OF the Union did |
not sound for the FIRST time his ear, or upon the
err Of the House. II he msiook not some three /
four years ago, a member from South CAROL |
entI nr,,1, Of l,sF..
pared q reso'ution-whether he submitted !i or not
or asked leave TO present il, was not within his re-
couecton-out he knew that there was a letter |
published, which he believed the gentleman after.
wards avowed himself the author OF, in which he |
SAID that he had had In his draw for some time !
resolution asking Congress Tor the appointment OF
Commute. consisting Of one member from each
State in the Union to devise measures for the disso
luton OF the Union.
Mr. w. BUTLER here requested the gen sman
from Virginia 10 stltc to what member from South
Carolina he referred.
MIR Bolts said he had referred to Mr. Rhc,t.
MIR RHErT said, expecting This, IA lausil he
had brought TO the House the document containing
the fact from which lie was about proceeding 70
read, when
MIR ARNOLD said he hoped that this would be
Mr. BOTTS said he yielded the floor only for an
explanation. TCdes OF NO, mol
MIR RHETr said he wanted no explanation *
cept that the gentleman would allow the document
10 which he had referred to be read or n short ex-
tract Of 1t, TO show The real character Of wha, he
(Mr r. al that time did and said. The resolutions
were Intended amendment TO a proposition 10
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia Sub.
mued ~ form OF inslrucuonsby the gentleman from
Vermont
The SPEAKER. addressing Mr. Bots Does
the gentleman yield the hoor2
Mt Bolts said he had no objection; but other
members seemed TO object. ii the gentleman had
the resolution, and would give it to him, he would
read 20.
Mr. RHETT requested cave to explain, not by
any new words of his, but by the words on - b.cb
fHe gentleman relied Tor his accusation. He heIdin
h. h-nc pamphlet from which he requested
Lowe TO read a single page Ii a pamph et
containing an address TO his constituents containing
the resolutions alluded TO- with a narration Of the
circumstances under which they were pre- arcd
j. rectes Tat they written at his seat Cur not
offered 20 the House, during speech delivered by
the gentleman from Vermont (Mr Siade,) who was
discussing the subject Of slavery Virginia. Ii was
OF thatmecorab BILE occas on when the Southern man
bcfs len their seats and went down stairs % d.ttr
ate together on his wanton aggression Of their com
mon interests. Tie then reaO the following extracts:
before entering upon the merits Of the reso.u-
tons, however, permit me 70 remark what sup
pose might bs appafen, TO a.l) thatI had NJ txpec-
teton OF passing them, or Of even takng vote uD-
on them. Trey were intended as amendments i1 IS
motion 20 refer with instructions 10 port bill abo.-
Ilh,ng slavery in the Distnc, OF Columbia. ! tx
pccted them 10 share the fate which inevitably
awaited the original notion soon as the floor
could nave been obtained, w. 20 be laid upon the
table My design IN presenting them was, TO T. ace
before Congress and the People what, ~ my oprn-
ion was the true issue upon this great on yi,si
question; and 10 point Out the course Of 90 cy ~
which II should be met by the Southern States Tie
resolutions al follows
-" and the Constitution OF the United Safe.
having proved inadequate TO protect the Southerr
States IN the pesceabe enjoyment Of fhorr.t.s and
prppeuy, u Is eKpeGent that the said Cons itut.n
should be amended, or the Urlon Vi the States be
SOLVED.
"Rssolr,d, That committee Of two members
rom each State in the Union be appointed, % re-
p'ft upon the eNpediency nnd pracuc.DIlity Of
amending the Constitution, Or the best mems Of
Ielceab'y dissoiylng the Union"
Mr Bolts continued. lie was very ~ .ng to
hear rom the gentleman the Arguments for the mo-
t.on De had proposed 10 make. r. WIS enough fYr
iiu 90 know that member OF The House h d pc
p.frd, and was ready 20 offer eso.uti0n 10 IT. O.,
dissolution of the Union ile dId NOT unl, r.truf
iIm whether be- asked .e1ve TO ole. DO.
VIZ Rhctt did uof1
Mr. b. Yet the -.Yl,uln hima.. 4 who t,I -,,.
pared a resolution, urJ tDlIy 8ud voting 9o. y
Tive opportunity to rr.a.ut D. tJ the House tbtt tte
House should proceed Co dissolve Zoe Union Ola 3
gentleman voted against ayirg on the table i.e
proposition Co cousurc or cTps. the gentleman -er.
Massachuscus 10 was not on.y Che doc,rn. .i ,ts
gentleman from South Carolina, but of h, .gat..
State, or a majority of that State. They Hs4 tI..
they had right % seccde from the Union o. on.
State Ind right to s'ccde, thirteen hit The &C..