The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-10

Nouuiltec on the fuDllc Buildings.
Mr.. BlDBACK again offered a resolution provld-
mig by law for regulating the Judicial courts Of the
United Statoe, which was agreed TO,
/ Mr.. PARhlEN'FER offered resolution, which
was decided TO be out Of order.
Mr. T. then moved suspension of the rules to al
low committees to report, without debate.
The SPEAKER put the question to the House,
and it was decided in the negative.
SO the rules were not suspended.
| Mr.. ADAMS called for the orders Of the day, and
the Speaker said the first business in order was the
REPORT ON THE RULES.
| Mr. A. " BROWN was entitled to the loor but
yielded it to
MIR. 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 it
was in order for a gentleman to make such mo-
ton, when he had not yielded the floor for that pur-
pose'
The CHAIR replied that he had right after the
| floor was yielded to him.
| Here there was Cesultory debate between
Messrs. WINTHROP, SAUNDERS, HOPKINS
1 BIDLACK, and SMITH, of Illinois, in relation to
the question, as It was before the House.
Mr.. BlDLACK called for division Of the ques.
ton.
Mr. CLINTON moved 10 postpone the subject
/ Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON called for the previous
| question; but withdrew il TO allow
MrsADAM6 10 make y few remarks --who hoped
4he Hcua4wQuA no longer sposspone this sublsct he.
fi;' E:' "a u sis's ssli
So M j y.D ~ sAsut 70 proceed in his
n MF. q. n NGEReoLi. rcse 70 ask question Of
The elnans}tom Massachusetts (Nr. Adams.)
4tFAsbN. BROWN rose in his place, and stated
EsShat he had yielded the floor for him to ask
question Of the Chair and not Of the gentleman from
Massachusetts, because every person knew his mode
Of answering questions. Mr. Adams laughed
Mr.. ADAMS explained and answered the question
of Mr.. Ingerso
Mr.. A. v. BROWN then took the floor, and spoke
in favor Of recommitng the report with Instructions
He was free TO confess that he was in favor of the
2lst rule and wonldstand up here in defence of that
rule and before his constituents, who We're owners Of
slaves, and the People of the whole country. The
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.. Adams, and
the gentleman from New York, Mr. Beardsey,] and
the gentleman from North Carolina Mr. Cngman,
had taken ground in favor of the reception and refer
of these petitions, right guaranteed by the
Constitution and said this Dist 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
tons were always stated to the House by those
who presented them, should not as they con-
ceived be enforced. He was not at all surprised
at the course pursued by Messrs Adams, Giddings
and Beardsley, but he was greatly astonshed at the
course pursued by Mr. Clingman, representing as he
does the interests Of a.ave State, contending that
the 2lst rule was against the spirit of the Constu-
ton, and denied the inherent right Of petition, which
belonged to the people; yet that gentleman said he
was against the prayer Of the petitioners. If it
constitutional right as he asserted, which be-
longed to the people, he not only bound to re.
ceye them but to entertain the grievances of which
they complained He (Mr. b. denied the right
either TO petition on subject which the Constitution
had settled in its iormation much less to intertain the
subject with which Congress has nothing whatever to
do He commended strongly that the 2lst rule did not
obstruct, in the least the right of petition, and said
he " oud take as an example any petition upon the
subject, which had been presented by Mr.. Adams,
who always read Their contents. Now, if the gen
tleman from North Carolina only commended for the
right of petition he would ask him if the stating the
contents of the petition, were not fully sustaining
the constitutional right of petition? But the gentle
man from N. Carolina had endorsed The tments of
Messrs. Adams, Giddings and Beardsey in the posi-
ton he had assumed upon the right Of petition, al
though that gentleman oud 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
deba1e its contents. Where is the difference Con
gress had Just well debate the petitions themselves
as to refer them, and then debate the report There
no diff whatever, IN constitutional point OF
vi W. between debating the reception of petition and
the report made upon their contents. That gentleman
had said that the best way TO put down the abolition
isis would be to receive their petitions and refer
them that report might be made, and forever put
the subject at rest But lie 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 city, to give up lis forfcations' Ger
tainy not. He then contended that this 2kt rule
was TO the South fortfcsion was 10 the defence
of city, and should not be surrendered. The gen
tleman from n orth Carolina says, oh yes, and let US
receive these PETITIONS not TO debate them but for
reference, which would produce debate Is this
consistent is IT consistent with the character Of
statesman for gentleman to come foru ard and claim
the constitutional power Of Congress TO abolish slave
nv in the District of Columbia and the Territories
and contend for the election Of the 2lst rule as af
iecling the right of petition, and then say that al
though this was his opinion, yet he would not exer-
else the power
Mr. BEARDSLEY here rose TO explain, and said
that his object was simply to refer aud make re-
port and not to debate the subject.
MIR BROWN said that was the very ground which
he wanted to meet The mere reception Of the
petitions moi as exceptionabIe 10 the South as
the reference of the subject TO a Committee who
would report and excite the whole country--the
North and the Soutb--by opening the question for
debate which had been settled the adoption Of the
Constitution.
Mr. CLINGMAN rose TO explain and said thai
his object simply to receive the petitions it'll
out debate but he opposed TO the prayer of the
Abotioniss and he did not wish the subject de-
bated
Mr. BROWN said he was glad to have given the
gentleman from North 'roIina opportunity, as
Southern man, 10 explain. That gentleman (said
Mr. 3D. 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 was all
that his explanation says he wished If he had sim
MY ctr wit me iVh of Mi fho
would have been satisfaction 10 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
nisled by prejudice. II he had stopp there and
gone no farther, hc might with some proprety JUST
fy his course upon this subject. The reason why