Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-11
THE GREAT PETITION,

The following account Of the attempt by Mr..
ADAMS 10 present the great Massachusetts Peti>
ton The House of Representative IS from tho
Washington correspo ndence Of The American.-
What citzen of New York is not proud Of the
prompt Interference of our Representative TO pre-
vent The innocent request of 30, 900 freemen from
being heard'- Pail Forum.
WASHINGTON Monday Feb. 30, lS43
On she meeting Of the House This mnrning, all
eyes were nj once attracted towards The desk ot
John Quincy Adams, upon which stood ponder
cas- wooden wheel or roller, supported on n sub
stantal frame work-having very much the APP
Pearance OF a reduced specimen Of a "flshermans
reel such as we often along sea shores,
used Tor winding up and drying large fishing nets
or SCENES. The whole height Of The frame and
roller with ITS burden was nearly three feet
Upon II was wound immense roll Of paper,
about two feet broad and nearly two fee, in dam
eter viewed a: the end. This curious o. lec, ~
petition from Massachusetts, signed by 81 500
citizens Of tha, State .pravipg Congress to pass
such acts. and propose such anne ndmenis TO tho
Constitution as will separate the petitioners from
all come >uon with tho institution Of domestic
slnseryr' The names Of these fifty one thousand
eight hundred and sirty three s,gners. ~ritien IN
the ordinary form and size, occupied the whole
extent Of this immense roll which is HALF MILE
LONG
Mr.. Adams took tie earliest moment when he
could ge, the floor, offer this petition. this being
the regular day for the presentation OF peuttons
under the rules of The House. But II so hapren.
ed tina, there then pending n motion 10 60 IN
TO Committee Of the Whole, which IS done by n
suspension of the rules, md Mr.. Adams was there.
fore precluded from any action until the vote was
decided. The House carried that motion IN Tho
affirmative; but before The Speaker left the Chair
to tho Chairman Of the Committee at tho Whole,
Mr.. Adams rose again. and asked leave 10 present
the Great Petition. Gas he stood beside II with
his ha nd on the axle OF the roller, II overshadowed
HIM completely. rising nearly loot higher than
his head) The Speaker decided that, as one sus-
pension Of the rules had Just been ordered another
motion TO suspend could not be entertained,
and that the petition could now be received only
by unanimous consent Mr.. Adams then asked
the unanimous consent Ct The House for that
purpose.
Before any slave>ho,de or Souihcrner could
draw his breath utter his objections, two base
Northern Ioco-Focos shouted, II OBJECT and
thns shut the mouth OF the great and venerable
patriarch and off The claims Of more Than fifty
thousand free pen TO be heard by the servants aud
REPRESENTATIVES OF the people.
The man Who first cried, 81 object" was
Representative of New York City, known to tho
and to some Of the Bankers Of that city by
the name OF Fernando Wood. Tho o:her. who
obi ectcd almost at the same instant. wns Charles
j Ingersoll, Of Philadelphia. Noble rivalry Of tho
two greatest cities of free America! Mr. Charles
j lngersoli seemed particularly wrathfnl at The
sight of the petition, and labored 10 make himself
conspicuous in the sight Of The shareholders
their dirt eater. He aspires to be considered tho
most shameless man IN the House; but New
York scorns TO be outdone by Ph,Iadel phia in
any hing.
Mr. Adams then said-"Well, | shall keep tho
psiI!ion on my desk un'li have an opportunity to
present il; and II shall remain here as monu.
meni" (Iere Fernando Wood added In IN audi
bic voice, OF Jour rnfamy !!!')
Now ,sn't that rich! John Quincy Adams nm
cien,, venerable, time honored .-exsl,ed IN soul
IN mind, in station md in fame,-"ihe coeval of
the Constitution" its illustrator and its guardian
whose life IS the history Of the nation, whose cha
rarter and actions lis pride aud boast; tho
fric nd and chosen avorite OF Washington the dar.
ling nd hons ehpid inmate oi Franklin, the com.
panion AID counsellor Of all the great md good Of
our cuun,ry for more Than half century. tho
glory Of three ages,-he, JeHN Quincy ADAMS. 10
''lnfarnous,' Fernando Wood says So!