The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-10

'e, ~ -" 'ot regulating usc judicial courts OF tue
United States, which was agreed 10.
DIR. PARMENTER offered q resolution, which
was decided to be out Of order.
Mr.. +. then moved suspension Of the rules to al
low committees TO report without debate.
Inc SPEAKER put the question to the House,
and It was decided in the negative.
So the rules were not suspended.
MIR ADAMS called for the orders of the day and
the Speaker said the first business in order the
REPORT ON THE RULES.
Mr.. A. v. BROWN was entitled to the floor bu,
Dir. WINTHROP, who moved that the report ON
the rules Be made the order Of the day for the 18th
Instant, and every other day thereafter until dis
posed Of
Mr., A. v. BROWN inquired of the Chair if ii
was IN order for gentleman TO make such
ZION, when lac had not yielded the floor for that pur
pose I M sl f...
The CHAIR replied that he had right after the
floor was yielded TO him. ln an
Here there was desultory debate between
Messrs. WINTHROP, SAUNDERS, HOPKINS
BlDLACk, and SMITH, of Illinois, ia relation to
the question: as il was before the House.
Mr.. BlDLACk called for division of the ques.
ton. se{ aafa.-o ..f.
Mr. CLINTON moved 10 postpone the subject.
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON called for the previous
question but withdrew il To allow
Mr.. ADAMS to make few remarks--who hoped
the House would longer postpone this subject, be-
cause It was necessary that the House should have
the rules adopted by which it should be governed.
MIR. CLINTON withdrew his motion 10 postpone,
and fi8ff aIfff
Mr.. A. v. BROWN was about to proceed in his
renal ks, when
Mr.. C. J.INGERSOLI. rose to ask question of
the gentleman fom Massachusetts mr. Adams.)
MIR. A. " BROWN rose in his place, and stated
that he had yielded the floor for him TO ask
question Of the Chair and not ofthe gentleman from
Massachusetts, hec0uee knew his mn
Of answering questions. Mr.. Adams laughed
heartily]
Mr.. ADAMS explained and answered the question
of Mr.. Ingersoli.
Mr.. A. v. BROWN then took the floor, and spoke
in favor Of recommtng the report with Instructions
He was free to confess that he in favor of the
2lst rule and would stand up here in defence Of that
rule and before his constituents who were owners of
slaves and the People Of the whole country The
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Adams, l and
the gentleman from New York, MIR. Beardsley, and
the gentleman from North Carolina, MIR. Clingman,
had taken ground in favor of the reception and refer
ence OF these petitions, as right guaranteed by the
Constitution and said this 2lst rule which was the
only ground the South had to protect them in their
constitutional property and which did not, in the
least affect the constitutional right of petition, be.
cause, under the 2lst rule, the contents of all petit
lions were always stated TO the House by those
who presented them, should not as they con-
ce.ved be enforced He was not at all surprised
and Beardsley, but he was greatly astonished at the
course pursued by MIR Clingman, representing as he
does the interests Of slave State contending that
the 2ls rule was against the spirit OF the Constitu
tion and denied the inherent right of petition which
belonged to the people yet that gentleman said he
against the prayer of the petitioners If it
constitutional right as he asserted, which be-
ionged to the people he was not only bound to
ceve them but to entertain the grievances of which
they complained. He (Mr. b. denied the righ,
IN cl. .f.,t,z
had settled in its formation much less to intertan the
subject with which Congress has nothing whatever TO
do lie contended strongly that the 2lst rule did not
obslruoi, in the least the right Of petition, and said
he would take as an example any petition upon the
subject, which had been presented by MIR. Adams,
who always read Their contents. Now il the gem
ileman from North Carolina only commended for the
right of petition, he would ask him if the stating the
contents Of the petition, not fully sustaining
the constitutional right Of petition' But the gentle
man from ~ Carolina had endorsed the Sc timents of
Messrs. Adams, Giddings and Beartslcy in the posi-
ton he had assumed upon the right of petition al
though that gentleman would not debate the petitions
Oh no; he would not debate them but he would refer
them, so that report might be made that he might
debate its contents. Where is the difference Con.
grees had just well debate the pc ttons themselves
as refer them, and then debate the report There is
difference whatever, in constitutional point OF
vrw between debating the reception Of petition and
the report made upon their contents That gentleman
nau Saiu tnat tnc Uc>t put uoNH Tue aDOutiOn
lists would be to receive their petitions and refer
them that a report might be made, and forever put
the subject at rest But be asked him. and the other
gentlemen Of this House with whom he agreed on
this subject if it would be acting with prudence in
defending q city, to give up its forifcationsi Ger
tanly not. He then commended that this 2lst rule
was to the South fertilization TO the defence
Of CITY, and should not be surrendered. The gen.
tleman from North Carolina says, oh yes and let us
receive these petitions not to debate them but for
- -
consistent? is il consistent with the character of
statesman for gentleman to come forward and claim
the constitutional power Of Congress TO abolish slave
ry in the District of Columbia and the Territories
and contend for the election Of the 2lst rule, af
fectns the right Of petition and then say that al
though this was his opinion, yet be would not
else the power
Mr.. BEARDSLEY here rose to explain, and said
that his object was simply 10 refer and make
port, and not to debate the subject
Mr. BROWN said that was the very ground which
he wanted 10 meet The mere reception Of the
petitions not as exccponabe TO the South as
the reference of the subject TO a Committee who
would report and excite the whole coun,ry--the
North and the South-by opening the question for
debate which had been settled On the adoption Of The
Constitution.
Mr. CLINGMAN rose 10 explain, and said that
his object was simply to receive the petitions W It'll
out debate but he was opposed to the prayer of the
Abolitionsts and be did not wish the subject de-
bated.
Mr.. BROWN said he was glad to have given the
gentleman from North Cirolina opportunity,
Southern man, TO explain. That gentleman (said
Mr. b. represents State with the largest slave pop
ula ion, in proportion, of any other in the Union-
When he spoke upon this subject, why did he not
stop there, without taking the broad constitutional
ground he did against the 2lst rule, which all
that his explanation says he wished II he had sim
ply stopped with the right Of reception, that
would have been satisfaction to the South, and
also been satisfactory to the Democrats of the North
who have to contend against the feelings of their
People upon this subject, because they have been
misied by prejudice. If he had stopped there and
gone no farther he might with some proprety JUST
" his course upon this subject. The reason why
he had laid so much str 81 upon this subject, and