The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-18

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threw the Speaker into SO many
perplexities and contradictions, that
a friend Mr.. Henley, of Indiana,
moved TO lay the whole subject on
the table, report and all, i. e., to put
it to sleep for the session. The ques-
ton was taken by yeas and nays.
and the vote stood, yeas rs, nays
106. This was discouraging and
he gave it up, yielded to their fate,
and let the discussion 60 on.
Mr.. Hamlin, Of Maine, said the
time had gone by, when deep-toned
prophecies and loud threats, like
those of the Southerner from Geor-
gia, could produce an impression on
the House. 1t was no use TO re-
commit. The whole question is in
volved in the 21st rule, and the
House had got to determine that
question. He then went into a bold
and manly and lucid defence of the
right of petition. He would not al
low his position to be misunderstood
by his vote on these mere collateral
or immaterial issues. He could
stand by the South in all their con-
stitutlonal rights but would not vlo-
late the right Of petition.
He was followed by r.Peabody,
of New York, on the same side, on
ly he made a distinction between pc
titions for constitutional objects and
those which were unconstitutional.
The latter he would not receive, but
he did not explain, fully, how it is to
be decided in case Of a difference be-
tween the petitioners and a majority
of Congress, what objects are, or are
not unconstitutional. Next came
Mr.. Cingman, ofN. c., a wing, who
said that as he was the only South
ern man Of the Atlantic States that
had voted against the rule, he wish
ed to set himself right. He had
been denounced by the papers of
his own State, and he wished to de-
fend himself, which he did by main
tanning to the last the right of petit
ton, disclaiming the paltry distinct
ion offered by Mr.. Beardsley. Mr..
Duncan, Cincinnati, next took the
floor, and it being near 4 o'clock, on
his motion, the House ad journed.-
1t has been very interesting day,
and must be regarded as sealing the
fate of the Gag. A majority Of the
House are, l think, fully resolved
that they will not be baff1ed by any
chicanery. but will press to an issue
and abolish the infamous rule, which
all are disguised with. The slave
holders grow tame every day
What shall come next, it is impossi-
bic to loresee.
The great number Of resolutions
and bills received and disposed of
this week, might afford some instruct
i've remarks, but as it isamerely the
inception of business, much of which
is never heard of afterwards, I shall
pass it over. The House yesterday
elected new keeper of their Post
Office, a Mr.. Johnson. Most of the
insubcrdinate clerks, messengers,
&C., have been changed in the House
in the Senate none, not even the
assistant door keeper. Mr.. Rhett
made another move on the Tariff,
by resolution instructing the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means to report
a bill, reducing all duties to 80 per
cent, Immediately, and in two years
to 20 per cent, but his motion was
lost, yeas 81, nays Il2. Mr. Black
tried it again, with instructions to re-
port a tariff exclusively for revenue;
lost. Mr.. Mcdowell another; lost.
Mr.. Adams succeeded in getting
resolution passed, calling for ;ntor-
nation respecting the Smithsonian
fund. Also, the following-which
is very important-at least it may
be so:
Resolved, Tha: the President of
the United States be requested to
cause to be communicated to this
House copies of all the Instructions
given to the commanding officers OF
the squadron stipulated by the treaty
with Great Britain of 9th Of August,
1912, to be kept on the coast of Afri-
ca for the suppression of the slave
trade: also, copies of the instruc-
tons given by the British Govern
ment TO their squadron stipulated by