The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-19
SPEECH OF MR. BLACK,
OF GEORGIA.


mttee-
Mr. BLACK said he should vote for the motion OF
the gentleman from Virginia TO recommt; but he
desired TO amend the motion, if he was in order IN
doing So for the purpose OF bringing The House to
test on the question, which was all important TO the
Southern portion Of this country. lie proposed to
amend the motion Of the gentleman from Virginia by
The addition of instructions 10 that committee TO re
port the 2st rule of the last Congress one OF the
rules of this House.
THE Clerk at the request of the gentleman from
Georgia. read the rule to which he referred. III was
the old 2lst rule on the subject of abolition petitions
in the following words
'No petition, memorial, resolution, or other pa
per- praying the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia or any State or Territory or the slave
trade between the States or Territories of the UNI
ted States in which il now exists, shall be received
by this House, or entertained in any way whatever"
Mr. BLACK proceeded to say, it was useless to mince
this matter Sir said he, understand that the rule
just read by the Clerk is omitted in the report Of the
committee; and my purpose in moving this ins,,tc-
ion is to test the sense of this House question of
vital Importance to the interests | represent. | do
this upon consultation with man, but in obedi-
ence to obligations which paramount to all other
considerations; and, upon the motion to instruct
ask Tor the yeas and nays.
Nir. GILMER rose to "A question Of order He con-
tended that the report of the Select Committee on
Rules was no more privileged question than the re
port oil any other committee. Ii in this he was right
the subject was improperly before House, and the
motion OF the gentleman from Virginia, MIR. Drom-
goole, and the amendment Of the gentleman from
Georgia, MIR. Black, were both out Of order He
regretted that there was much excitement in rela-
ton to this subject at this time. He had been two
years member of the House, and he never before
heard the language Of defiance so boldly used as il
had been this day. He hoped this report would take
It's proper place on the Speakers table and when it
came up IN order, the motion and its amendments
would be in order.
MIR. BLACK desired to say few words in reply to
the gentleman from Virginia. He had not expected
reproof from that quarter.
Mr.. GILMER said he had not the gentleman from
Georgia in his mind when he spoke. He was aud-
ing to gentlemen on the other side.
Mr. BLACK Sir am glad the gentleman from
Virginia has made this explanation But, Mr. Speak
er, without reference to what that gentleman has
said, certainly did intend, by the motion have sub
mitted to defy certain persons to whom it would not
Dc III order TO refer by name. | meant to defu the
majority oil the committee, if it be their intention to
report set of rules differing in this essential par
tlcular from those which governed the 26th and 9th
congresses; meant to defy the majority OF this, or
any other House, if they intend to adopt these rules
emasculaed as they have been by the committee. -
repeat That defiance now and when it is urged on
me to Keep cool, my only reply is, that my consttu
ents would be mortified and indignant it, when their
rights are invaded here, should sit silently BY and
keep cool
MIR. CARROLL called the gentleman TO order. He
asked whether il was in order to bid defiance to
committee Of the House
Sir, said Mr.. BLACK, do not intend TO be out of
order; nor will intentionally embarrass the House
or the Chair If shall transgress the order of de.
oate' 'he speaker VIII set me right, and will en-
deaVor TO go on in order My purpose is simply to ask
ior the yeas and nays upon my notion and to
submit that record to the "pubc eye :" and in do
ing SO, must be permitted to say that if | were to
exhibit on this occasion, that degree of GOODNESS
which gentlemen seem solicitous to impress upon
me-a GOODNESS prompted perhaps by some motive
OF policy, apart from the question ITSELF however
acceptable l might render myself to certain DO
lltical interests, | am quite sure such calmness
and Indifference would be anything but gate
iu to those whom | represent. Gentlemen NAV
they thnk proper, treat this as qiestion Of poll
cy, and contradistnguish ii from principle and they
may Indicate by their course here that policy is to
have priority over principle If there be such com
binailons, and purposes 10 accomplish, with what
ever view, know them not, and will have nothing
10 40 with them For myself, have a high duty to
perform, regardless of considerations of mere party
expcdiency; and that duty will perform fearlessE
at least, and lndePt ndently of lrammes or discipline
Of any sort.
Sir, if could be so los, to proper sense Of the OBJ
legations which rest me- to witness these lacks
upon The Interests of the South with a Goodness
amounting 10 indifference, should forfeit as ought
the confidence with which the people of Geogia have
heret ,iore honoied ice. What let me ask is the oc-
CASTOR OF the excitement which confess | feel A
majority ofthe Committee Rules has reported TO us
code Tor the government Of the federal legislation of
he country, which will permit the inco ndlary abo
ZIONIST, with treason IN his heart and lie on his
tongue, To walk into this House and day aer dsy Vi
MY, traduce and insult the whole constituency oftbe
Sou'h. snail remain quiet, and keep COOL when this
hing is being accomplished under my very eve ? Sir.
"hen the South is laid cold too, will be SO but
Mr. GILMER asked il the gentleman from Georcia
alluded TO him
Mr.. BLACK The recent explanation Of the gentle
nan from virginia excludes HIM from my alusion
Was saying for myself independently of any man that
would not and could not, Keep cool when prepara-
IONS are making here in our very midst 10 de, troy
be only restraint these rie nds of human liberty
" no are 10 be let loose in ills Hail. to as.ai with ali
he weapons of alsehood and yiuperation the insti.
uions and interests am here to ma ntain and defend
NO ST. VIII permit no considerations of mere party
poncy 10 deter me from plain, palpable mmedla te
decision OF this question approach II with the same
fearless determination, and upon the same innpxlhle
principle oinght, with which shall approach the her
great questions which divide and apate the coun-
'ryi ana IN lation to which my const tu,nts ex-
pect me to do my duty 10 them, without consulting
The political interests Of any man or trucking to The
Iemporzlng policy ofp rty managers
es, SIR, IN utter d,ance of the prudential conside
'allohs winch, from certain quarter admonish me
TO Keep cool, come forward and before this Hou e
ana the country, demand open, immediate,
-, rsign-fWafd decision OF This absorbing question
IL Tie majority here is against Us and those who are
not Tor US are against u.s. desire to know IL de-
sire those who cent here to know it, nd the soon
ei the better But, Mr. Speaker, will not believe
That this House Of Representatives, in which we have
~ "'cfauc majority Of more than sixty votes j. |
against us on this question Of abolition Shall by
~ithholding this motion, evidence suspicion that
hlS House Is not to be trusted that the majority are
aoou, TO play game with this question fhatthey
are attempting 10 paciy the sbolnopists by the recon
non OF tne petitions, Ond thus secure their votes and
influence IN iuue contest for power and place RELY
lng, the while, upon the supposed gullbity of the
South hoping to keep her generous and confIino
people IN the ranks with fair promises and
lops about The ineIPediency of immediate abolition.
ana Toe necessity of recognising the "ripht of pet
non pr WI not give utterance TO such a suspi
c,on iot VIII be proclaiming trumpet-onqued 10 The
oouh that Their cons tutional rights are regarded
mere as OF ess Importance than abolition votes No