Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-10


difference in the language, though Tie SUBSTANCE
was substantially the same in both papers ID 10 Prov
thai there was no COLLISION or understanding between
the different Reporters
What now was the proposition OF tue gentiem
WIN that this question which had consumed 80 '.I -
n the time of the House, with regard TO winch 'he
gentleman proessed entertain much delicacy, Is
70 be postponed give him time TO get documents il"
the Executive Departments to enable MN u ii'ane ou
his case He lays down his grounds and caiis iof .e
proof Now, far as the question between the gen'Ie
man and himself was concerned and far as the ques
ton bsfore the House was involved, he was wiling 10
admit that all the gentleman sought to establish was
,rne protesting however, against ITS being used al any
r,iure time What was ii that the gentleman propos
ed To Justify himself and his constituents LOT present
mo petition for dssolvng the Union, on the GROUNDS
~ The Declaration of independence: and ne now calls
for proof 10 make out OF grievances, ana snow
Thai the time had come and the right existed TO ABOLISH
our present form of Government.
Tint was the gentlemans course OF argument, aud
,h, was the course he had pursued for the last Six
d,us So far as he (ir NJ was concerned, he was
wiling 10 admit all that the gentleman wished TO prove
and he now called upon the House to know 10 what
end all the gen,lemans arguments and all h's docu
men,s were TO be produced. Would the course the
The act CHARGED against him : Would il justify HIM,
should he be able prove it, that there existed IN the
South those reasonable designs he had charged against
IT, to force the institution of slavery on the tree STATES
and 10 abolish the habeas corpus, and the trai ny
inry: Suppose the House should agree 10 postpone,
ment, till the gentleman cou!a or'nS io,""la pU"'
to sustain the charges he had made; what them was
The House 10 acqrit him, and TO answer the prayer
of the petition. Such conclusion, from the senlie-
mans own showing, was what ne aimed at. But mao
il any thing do with the question before the Honse'
Suppose all that the gentleman said was true, and ne
here conceded for the sake of argument, that was
So did that change The powers and duties OF tins Go
vernmcn or did furnish justification for the course
pursued by the gentleman from Massachusetts ihe
House was called upon by these petitioners TO fepeai
the union Of these States-to overthrow the Constln
ton and 10 exlnguish the national existence OF TINS
Republic; and the gentleman who was charged with
contempt for proposing the House to commit this ACT
which would involve lis members IN the crimes oil treason
and perjury, complained again and again that ne was
charged with treason and perjury The gentleman
persisted in leaving out of view the real offence WIN
which he charged and made the issue on an Of
fence with which he not charged lie would not,
however, review that part of the gentleman argument
again; but lie would ask, what possible change could
il make the decision of the House, on this question,
if the gentleman succeeded in making out the case
he had stated; That House had right to act on
such petition as the gentleman had presented, and
the gentleman himself had no more right without be-
ing involved in contempt TO present u Tor lie con-
sderation of The House. if he made out his case,
than if he did These things however, were TO 90
out to the country part of the gentleman defence;
ne issue was be made, and bitter appeals TO the
preudices of the North, with the most vindiclYe as
saults on The South TO be connected with his SIM
pie proposition, which wholly foreign 10 the sub
ice. of Abolition Upon proposition so simple as the
question before the House, the whole toodgates OF the
genlenan's rancor TO be opened, and he was to
have two weeks time allowed him, perhaps one
month, in which to pour out his vuperatnon oil llie
South and its institutions, by making an issue winch mad
nothing to DO with the question before the House. lie
had Marked MIR. Nj. said, the various changes which
.taE.n had hp nj
the last six days The other day the gentleman enter
tanned the House with biographical history OF himself
for forty years. with anecdotes of Cauncour and the
Emperor Alexander, and with 4th of July oratons that
he had delivered. All this more for the Abolition
lists of the North than for his defence 10 the House
Emboldened since by The apparent sympahes of the
House. he abandoned the ground that he took the other
day ola strong attachment for the Unon and now was
attempting show, that there existed in the nsttu
tons Of section of the country grounds to justify
proposition to overturn the Government. Now, said
Mr.. NJ, after the gentleman had consumed so much
Of the time of the House in the manner he had done,
were the Northern members prepared, during the ex-
s,ence of the 81 rule to give him further time TO
enable him 10 connect the question of Abolition with
the tremendous question of dissolution OF the Union.
After few further remarks from Mr. NJ,
MIR. ARNOLD observed, that he had opposed from
the first the introduction Of this matter into the House,
and he had, every occasion that offered, voted to
lay it the table, believing that good could result
from The proceedings lie snOuu vote now against le
posponement asked for by the gentleman from Massa
chusetts nasmuch it would then leave the question
open the motion Of the gentleman from Virginia,
| MIR Summers 10 refer the subject 10 select commit
tee, and should that motion prevail, the gentleman
would have all the time he desired. lie should, for
his part prefer the reference OF this matter TO select
committee, moved by tue gentleman from Virginia,
MR. Summers believing that to be the best,
and because il offered mode by which gentlemen
might escape from the situation in which they were
| III.
for testimony the House could not, lie thought, in de-
cency, refuse him opportunity Of using H. MIR. A.
then moved the previous question on Mr. Adans's mo-
ton.
Mr. GWIN moved call ofihe House; which motion
was negatived-vcas s. nays IS.
Mr.. ADAMS requested Mr.. Arnold To withdraw his
call for the previous question: which having been
ed to- Mr.. Adams then withdrew his motion for post
poncment, and continued on with his defence complain
ing of misrepresentation, Of persecution and Of the exist
ence of slavery in the Southern States He read
ing copiousy from Abolition pamphlet Tor the purpose
of showing how inferior the State Of Virginia was 10
New York in population wealth. and resources, because
of the existence oil slavery in the former, when
Mr.. SAUNDERS rose 10 a point Of order, which he
reduced to writing as follows: That On The question
then pending before the House 10 commit the resolution
of censure on the Honorable J. O. Adams 10 Select
committee il in order TO read essays and
paper paragraphs either support Of in opposition to,
the right OF slavery in regard 10 the conduct pu
poses of the Abooni>ts, not being pertinent 10 the
question then reiorc the House
! The SPEAKER having overrued the point Of order,
| Mr.. SAUNDERS appealed from the decision of the
Chair: and
The question on the appeal having been put, The de-
cision OF The Chair was SuSianed-ayeS ~ noes 81
Mr. ADAMS then went on reading the pamphlet; al
ter which he continued his remarks ill half past three
o'clock, when he gave way 10
! Mr. Bolts, who moved an adjournment
| Mr. HOUSTON called for the yeas and NAYS which
were mol ordered and on taking the question,
| The House adjourned.
.Nonday Febrnary7
SENATE
Mr. BAGBY, Senator from Alabama, who had been
confined to his bed for time by severe ndisposi-
ton, appe AIRED in his seat this day.
|