The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-06

HS SAENA tuCi lCau tHS JoutHdl VI 1tsVIudy'-
After which
The SPEAKER announced the first business in
order to be The
REPORT ON THE RULES.
MIR. DUNLAP asked and obtained the leave of the
House to report bill, establishing a new collection
district in the State of Maine which was read the
first and second lime referred Committee of the
Whole,made the order of the day for tomorrow and
ordered to be preted.
Mr.. ADAMS called for the orders of the day, but
Welded the floor to-
MIR. WELLER, 10 present resolutions Of the Legis-
laure OF the State Of Ohio, in relation to the i'm
proyemcnt of the Western waters; which were laid
upon The table, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. BELSER brought forward bill in relation to
certain claims in the State of Alabama which was
referred to the Committee on Claims.
MIR. HAMMErT then and said that nothing
was more foreign from his thoughts when he left
home, than that he should be called upon to debate
during tie present session. the subject under consde-
ration-the retention of the 25th rule but had
thought that his attention would have been called to
other subjects Of legislation. lie had thought that
alter such an overthrow with which his advcrsaries
had met with IN The late elections that the right of
his constituents to their property would no longer be
denied but as this subject had taken different di-
rccoD, the question has resolved itself into how
long are the people of the South TO be protected
their property guaranteed by tho compromises Of the
Constitution and III debating h, question he hoped
he would be enabled 10 throw some light upon the
subject aud show to the House the danger to hc
manency OF the Union IN pressing this question which
vitality sfiec the hole South, and with which the
pon.ssye holding States have nothing whatcvcr to do.
The subject before the House is Nhoiher the 25th
rule shall be part Of the regulations OF The House
or not but the issue appears TO have been we'd
down as to the right OF petition, which he had
, denied; and in discussing this question he should
kgo back to the right of petition existed in Eng
land, which had been ably discussed by the gentle.
m 70 nlIual Mr. RIett \ .rH IA.
tleman from Alabama Mr.. Be.cr) The right of
petition was established in England, however, for
what To guard the people from oppression in
peaceaby assembling to petition for a redress of
grievances. The trainers of the Constitution adopt
ed similar right in that instrument to guard and pro.
tect the people of the United States from punishment
IN peaccably assembling to petition Congress for a
redress Of grievances but it never intended that
Congress should go beyond this rule Ii was never in
tended to give Congress the power of imbruing the
hands of The people in each others blood which this
question is certain TO accomplish il it is not at once
checked and that forever. II the right 10 petition
this subIec, should be persisted 10, and the rule
be elected they alone would create mass Of busi-
ness which would require the whole attention of
Congress. This the trainers of the Constitution new
er intended; because that instrument has given DOW
ers TO Congress, as well the people the right 10 ne
tition which must be exercised in their wisdom and
IT must be made clearly manifest that there is a
grievance, before Congress can grant relief If
there Is no grievance, il cannot. There never was
doubt, and there be one, the right of
the peoI lie TO their property, which was acknow-
lodged at the time of the adoption of the Federal
Constitution, and which hal been sustained by the
decisions OF the Supreme Court. Judge Mclean had
so decided IN the of Briggs rs. the Common
wealth OF Pennsylvania, which brought up to
the Supreme Court This was of negro who
ran away from his master in the State OF MARYLAND
and was followed INTO the State Of Pennsylvania and
there claimed as a fugitive from labor and hrs mas
tar obs cd In riylts Inv or
cial tribunals of that State. The Supreme Court
not only protected him in his property bu
brought him through trumphantly by iustifying
his whole course VI procedure. Ii had been remark
ed this floor that there disposition to skuIk
behind the Judiciary and he hoped those gentlemen
who the Judiciary will look a, this subject
IN its proper light, and stand by the decision of The
Judiciary which is all the South asks.
The gent cman from New York Mr. Barnard
with the goodness Of his heart, said few DAYS ago
in debating the question Of the improvement of the
Western waters, (aud who protested against an un-
derstanding between the South and West because
the gentleman from South Carolina MIR UoImesl
had said that he would go for the Improvement OF
the Western waters, If the West would help the
South TO reduce the tariff that he would vote SI5
OO0, 600 for that objcet and was willing TO borrow
more, but tina, the tariff must be LET alone This
however reminded him Of the anecdotc of a good
and honest Catholic, who had become little intox l.
Gated, and in attempting TO mount his horse fell back
INTO The muo, ana hnaIiy INVOKED the Virgin Mary,
but he fell again. exclaming that his holy mother
when she good, she was too good, which remind.
cd him of the gentleman from New York, who was
too good to the West. The gentleman from New
York wishes few lighthouses, and the gentleman
from OHIO Mr.. GiJdngsl who is very patriotic is
anxious to get an appropriation fox the Improvement
of the Western waters, and particularly in the district
in which be resides, perhaps with the intention Of
building few schooDers TO aid the negroes who run
away from Kentucky, into Canada
The SPEAKER said il was out Of order TO refer
to gentleman in debate.
Mr.. HAMMhTT Sir, am only abiding to the
gentenfan's patriotism.
Mr. H. resumed aud said, that the gentleman from
Massachusetts MIR, Adan,s) coptcnded that Congress
has the Cons utonal power to sbolish slavery IN the
| District OF Columbia; and although he acknowledged
him 10 be honorable man, and for whom he enter r.
tanned tho hgbss, respect for his long public services
he utterly denied the power, and was ready TO make