Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-29
MR.. ADAMS REMARKS

.. MR.. ADAMS REMARKS
On the question ofthe reception eta Petition
from citizens of Illinois, presented by Mr..
4. on Thnrsday.
From the National Integencer
Mr. Adams said he was much obliged to
the House for their kindness, aud he should
endeavor to proceed for very few minutes
IN order, but there had been so much Of
very irrelevant debate in the House since
he had been ordered by the Speaker Of this
House to take his seat in the midst of his
speech, that he should have some difficulty
perhaps in collecting those scattered ideas
which the eloquence and the UiSdom he had
heard in this House since he had been seat
ed had tended to drive away from him, and
in continuing his argument in favor of the
liberties ofthe people of this country, which
he had been exercising the power of speech
to endeavor to support or to redeem.
He had been saying that the petition now
snspended-(God knew where, he did not,
received or not received )-somewhere be-
tween earth and heaven but which formed
the subject of debate now--of the resumed
debate-contained one prayer which he was
afraid the Speaker of this House would con-
slider as included within the rule as not ad
missible.
The question ives on the reception of this
petition by the House. He had been en-
Sleavoring, TO the best of his ability, to show
30 this House that the petition ought to be
received; that it ought TO be read and re-
ferred, at least those parts which, in the
apiaion of the Speaker. might not come
within the rule, and might be excluded from
the consideration of the committee 10 which
the other part of the petition might be re-
ferred; and he was going to add an argu-
rnent or two for the reception aud admission
of those parts of the petition which did not
come within the rule. .l.f 81 st.f
Sir, said Mr.. A., do not know but what
shall transgress the order ofthe House by
saying that hope this House, in regard to
the rights OF their constituents, the sove-
reign people ofthese United States. will not
extend &he exclusion Of certain petitions
of particular class, which petitions coming
from one section Of the country, that ex-
clusion will therefore operate upon that sec
ton, against the rights of the people o! that
portion of the country, when it did not ope-
rate upon another pmt-that the House
would not pr sceed 10 extend this discriml-
nation by exclusion in particular cases, and
on vast multitude of praensions, such for
instance as that the prayer TO acknowledge
the authority of God was an insult TO this
House. Why, he had heard of constructive
ireasons, and he thought those who made
the Constitution of the United States had
heard of constructive treasons, aud OF the
cruel operation of these constructive trea-
sons upon the people upon whom they were
made to operate but of constructive insults
to this House was ii possible for the hn-
man Imagination to conceive what would
not be considered an insult to this House, il
the PRAYER TO this House 10 acknowledge
the authority Of Almighty God was to be
taken as an insult TO this House! IL was
aud II bore upon its face, the prayer of per
sons acting under sense of duty to tbeiI
God, and OF deep conscientiousness; and
although the members of this House, and
possibly he himself, might suppose that il
would have been more prudent perhaps fol
the petitioners to have beenslent on the sub
lect rather than to have made it a matter o
prayer to this House, yet he could not con
ceiye of any thing more wide from til,
truth, reason and Justice, than to say tina
.SuCn prayer as tlls was an hsuit w '"i
House and if this House refused to re
ceive such petition upon that ground
there was nothing in nature that could bt
said by petitioner but what this House
might determine to be an insult to them--i
constructive insult. A prayer for the &C
knowlcdgemcnt of the authority Of God al
INSULT TO this House!
There were large portion Of the people
Of this country continued Mr. A. laborinI
under burdens of conscience, and entertain
ing opinions and feelings in consequence o
the convictions upon their consciences
who would be among the last men in thi
Union to offer insult to this House or to tn
laws of the country They labored, pei
haps, under unnecessary apprehensions an
fears. They perhaps entertained the opln
ion that the majority of this House did nc
sufficiently recognise the laws and autaort
of God; and, although they might be mis-
taken in their views and fears and appreher
sons, yet these conscientious feelings o
their part deserved, on the part of TIN
House, very different return from that
being turned away with scorp, and told tina
they were insulting to the House. He sal
that the petition, on its face, which tn
House had hitherto refused to hear reao
bore proof of having been signed by pei
sons under. deep, religious conscention
conviction; and although Mr.. A. Nigh
himself not be ready to vote for the law
which they required, he did hope not onl
that the House would receive this, but wouI
Yacox :, 40 , cnuu,ittaa and ohtalu irOI