Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-10

se nj insecurity 10 the institutions OF the Uove'"
mont as we'll as to the personal safety ana P.sa,,
;b,s NJ Individuals What was done, imneoiIleiy
-, such painful events and such strong appeals u
lIav retirement and preserve, protect, ana oe'en
The weaker portion OF the country from domesc VIZ
lence the journals Of Congress, ui OF inhamh'aOi1
matter-and what was not done, 'he oiahk pase' :,
The statute -book-w show. In one WORD, Inc sp',''
r ,botonism with its filming torches in both HANDS,
mare bold mure fanatic than ever, siaked mo "o'n
Houses summoned it's recruits OF every rpGnienlai
there and shook lis fiery petitions more merely l"a"
ayar in the faces Of "Southern brethren! AS eafiy
~ naoe,,ber 16 oeii,ions 10 abolish slavery came IN
from Maine they were laid the table by leu 10 ~
A motion was made 10 PRINT them. IL was ios'-io'
to 40 On the 18th, The memorials came III again, Tue
questions upon them were numerous many, u"e
npcb confusion on numerous memorials, the acuon "'
,he uopse on the 18th OF January 1896, assumed the
definite shape of laying the question OF reception upon
the table, whenever the reception OF ihe mfmo''i'
| was objected 10 by any member ms course was
pursued in almost every case, until !. became leoooS
and very troublesome the House To avoid lhis con-
nunl Interruption of business, 10 nluy excitement, and
- b,rmonize and tranquilize all feeling on The sub
i.ct 1t was urged side that II was best 10 re
fer the whole matter select committee, VINO shouo
calmly deliberate and report upon the best course 10
he pursued, and who should address temperate ap
neal Of reason 10 the whole country on the proper duly
Of Congress On the other hnnd, IL wns replied 'hat
such reports and appeals had already neen mace "s'
Mr. Alexander report, confirmed by MIR. Doddrioge
IyPar
The founda ton of the Government both by its votes
and reports had been but continuous appeal 10 Inc
reason of the nation; that fana'csm could not be
sonpd WITH and that another report would be out uei
for further agitation and incendiarism put, on 'ne
Sh of February, 1896, Mr.. Pnckney OF South Caro-
Ina obtained a suspe nson Of The rules, and the pes
sage of the following resolutions, by overwhelming
malores:
j "Resoired That all the memorials which have been
offered, may hereafter be presented TO ms Rouse,
.Lol.t re ola
Columbia; and also the resolutions fered by an no.
norabe member from Maine, (Mr. JarvisD with the
amendment thereto proposed by an honorable member
from Virginia. tAlr W'se,) together with every other
paper or proposition that may be submitted IN rea'
ton to The subject be referred t, select committee,
with instructions to report
"Tha Congress possesses constitutional authof'-
~ to interfere in any way with The institution o sa
very in any of the States Of lhis Contederacy and
"rhat in the opinion Of this House Congress ous 1T
not interfere any way with slavery III The Distrct
of Columbia because IT would be violation OF The
public IA IN, unwse, impo tic, and dangerous to the
Union; assigning such reasons for these conclusions
as in The Judgment Of the committee, may De best
calculated to enllGhten the public mind; to allay exce-
meni to repress agtaiion TO secure and MAINTAIN the
Just rights of the siaveholdng States, and OF the people
of this District and to restore harmony and tranquility
amongst the various sections of this Union.
committee of nine five from the non slavehoidng
and four from the saveholdng States was appoint
made in conformity 10 these resolutions. Upon these
proceedings several members from the South declined
TO voe and several other members from The South vo-
ted in the negative, on the grounds
/ ls, That Congress had power to affirm or deny
anything in respect 10 slavery IN the States.
2nd. That 10 deny the authority Of Congress posi-
lively the States, and 10 place the exercise OF the
power grounds of expectancy, IN resolutions
Immediately in contrast with each other, as 10 The DIS
tric Of Columbia, 10 yield the power as to the
District, and abandon the ground occupied by Mr.
| Alexandpr's report of n previous date.
/ Sd. That no Southern could affirm, truly,
that Congress ought not TO interfere in any way with
slavery in the District of Columbia; for there were
cases of municipal iursdction thos reported on by
/ Mr.. Alexander Mr.. Randolph and Mr.. Powell, (all
Virginia Repre- ntatives where Congress was bound
10 interfere with certain relations OF slavery, such
have been described federal relations in this report;
and
4h That report in such form and substance would
cause more excitement The South than 1t would al
lay in the North, or anywhere else.
! These views were than fully realized. Agite-
ton rose higher than ever and the in the House
of Representatives were NEST exciting and painfully
personal Mr. Pnckney himself was insul,ed in his
seat, and finally deprived of by his constituents, for
ins;itutng and making such report This report con-
cuded its resolutions by the following:
lnd aehereas, IT is extremely important and desirable
thu, The agitation of this subject should be finally
rested, for the purpose Of restoring tranquility to the
public mind, your committee respectfully recommend
the adoption OF the ADDITIONAL resolution, VIZ:
e.; ReSo!red That all petitions, memorials, resolu-
TONS propositions papers relating IN any way, or to
any extent Whatever TO the subject of slavery or the
abolition Of slavery, shalI, without being either printed
or referred laid upon the table, and that farther
action shall be had thereon.
This resolution passed by vote of liz to 6S,
and thus became the law of proceeding in the House.
II is precisely such as spoken of by some in
lieu of the 25lh rule. Time and events proved how
fruess il was of any good The agitation went on,
and higher Ell the next session than ever Petitions
not only by hundreds into the House, but assum
ing and hideous shapes than for abolishlng
slavery in the District On the 18th of January, 1887,
MIR. Halves moved the following resolution:
Rtsotrea That all petitions, memorials, resolutions,
propositions, or papers relating in any way, or to any
extent whatever, to the subject of slavery to the
abolition Of slavery shall, without being printed
erred be laid upon the table, and that no further action
be had thereon
This was passed by l29 10 Co. Thus was Mr.. Pncl-
neys rule again adopted, and with the success
Under lis operation there ercer excitement than
ever On the 9Th Of February, 1887, member from
Massachusetts Mr.. Adamsl Informed the House that
he held in his hand paper purportDg to be petition
from saceS: signed by twenty persons declaring
themselves be slaves, and desired to know whether
it came within the order OF The House OF the 18th jan
uary. This produced q scene which occupied much oil
the time, and consumed more OF the dignity OF the
House. This rule admitted Of the reception of pet
tons and yet the opposition TO II, and the agitation
citing
December 10, 1897, Mr. Adams presented memo.
rial praying Congress 10 abolish slavery and the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia and moved that II
and ali ohers presented TO the House at the then late
extra session. by the members from the State of Mas
sachusets, be referred to the Committee for the DIS
trict Of Columbia. This motion was laid upon the Ia
bic by vote Of 135 to 10 On the same day, MI
Adams presented several other memorials Of like cha
racter among the rest, petition of Ross Bull. hir
Lnwler objected 10 their recepron and on the question
"Sha the petition be received; 1t passed IN the a!if
mative-yeas 49, nays 60. And the petitions were
then laid the table
December 20h, 1897, ",he House proceeded TO con-
slider abolition petitions presented by Mr. Slade
on the 5h and the motion II refer the same to select
committee, with instruction TO report bull providing for
the abolition of slavery and the slave trade IN the District
oil Columbia scene of extrsordinarg excitement
arose on Mr. Slade of debate this Ma
ny Of the Representatives. from the savehodIng Safes
rose from their seats, and left the House Mr. Siade
declared By the Speaker 10 be out of order obec
ton made 10 his proceeding, and the House ad.
journed in much confusion. The evening of the came
day, the Senators and Representatives. from the slave
holding States assembled in the Capitol and resolved