The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-02-08
MR. ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETI-
TION.


A number of citizens Of Haverhill, Ms. sent to
John Quincy Adams petition, praying for peace
able dissolution of the Union. desiring him 10 pre-
sent it to the House He did so, accompany ing the
presentation with the expression of his opinion
thar the uraver of the petitioners shond not be
granted. At this the fury Of the south broke out,
and resolutions censuring Mr. Adams for this act,
were Introduced For the action upon them see
the proceedings OF the House.
For some twelve years past the cry OF dissolution
has resounded in the Halls Of the Capitol, coming
altogether from southern men; but sooner is a
faint and solitary echo returned from tho north
than these chivarous heroes cry out ''lreason, AS
though they would bring up ''sprits from the vastly
deep" During all this time the north has cringed
like a whipped spaniel TO the South, and scarcely
has public measure been adopted without first
conforming it TO the especial and peculiar interests
of the slave holding community. The Tariff has
been sacrificed the right Of petition has been ig-
nobly surrendered-yea, every thing through fear
of Notification and to the threat Of dissolution
1t is time to stop-the free States should no longer
bow in tame submission to the naughty and impe.
rous demands OF the South.
The people possess the right of petton-and
although they may ask for that which is uniting
for Congress TO grant-as in this case-they are,
nevertheless, entitled to respectful hearing, and
their agents who comply with their requests in pre-
senting their petitions, should not be suffered TO be
disgraced. Let the task masters Of the South drive
and whip about their miserable slaves, and the re-
representatives. Of New Hampshire, and such other
dough faces of the north choose to "bend the
plant hinges of the knee but let the Jreemcn of
the north take of themselves and defend their
agents from outrage and insult. We like the tenn
per the following extract from the Boston Atlas,
in reference to the attempt to censure the venera-
Bile Elk President
'Let them go on in their career of outrage, in
justice, and infamy, far they dare TO go. 1t is
well to know the worst, and to provide for it, If
the question, whether the NORTH rs to be gagged
and fettered IN The exercise of sacred and inalien
able rights, and their Representatives outraged and
insuled for doing their duty, while the utmost Ii
centiousness OF thought and speech is guaranteed
to slave-hoders only, the sooner it is met and de-
cded, the better. If WE to he treated SLAVES
we desire to TT We tell these fool
hardy and desperate agents of usurpaton and OPP
presson that the voice of an outraged and nsulted
people will be heard, in louder tones than those
surgng notes Of rising tempest, which now
breaking upon the ear, and sounding forth from
cuery free State in The Union. Let them remember
that there is point ,oherc orbearance ceases to be
pi,iue-aud that that point has been reached al.
eady! The people of the North, the majority of
these United States, have borne almost every spe-
ces of indgniy and insult-of unprovoked con-
tumey and haunting reproach. They have suffers
ed all this, and suffered it long enough. They aoHl
bear il no more. If these outrages upon the sacred
and naenable right of petition pushed any
farther, they will rise in their might and hurl from
their seats in our National halls, which they now
disgrace, those less political desperadoes who,
"Clothed with little brief authority,
Play such fantastic tricks before high Heaven,
oI,o Oh L.,