The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-11
VOIC OF F R E E D o M.

And if the House should send them to t
select comnitee, he was willing the
Speaker should omit his name, as being
under the circumstances. scarce likely tC
act with perfect lmpartiality upon The sub
iect; and besides, he had NO desire what
ever 10 act In any way on these resolu
lions. .a.,. ..
But the debate which occupied Sc
much of the time of The House Yesterday
turned on matter wholly different from
these questions Of reference. A gentle
man from Virginia over the way, (Mr.
| WISE whom he did not now see Ia his
place, rose and called the attention of the
House, and particularly invited that of
the Reporters 10 what he was about 10
say, which was, that he renounced from
this time forth, and forever, The "wAR'
which for seven or ei ght years past had
been carried on in this House on the sub.
ject OF neutrality-suspicious., adding, that he
for one was heartily sick and tired of the
manner in which it had for some time
been carried on; whereupon, another gen
tleman, from the very highest pitch of
southern chivaIry, (Mr. HOLMES instant
y sprung TO his feet and declared that
however weary and disguised the gentle.
man from Virginia might be with the war
and the wav in which it had been con-
Quoted, he was not; so far from it, that
on the contrary, he was ready, at once, 10
rally all his forces, and make battle.
Now, the first observation | have TO
make on this state OF things, is, that re-
greet exceedingly that this most martial,
this most beigerent figure of speech
should have been used by either of the
gentlemen. The gentleman from VIr-
GINA, indeed, did say that tins was not the
place for such species OF warfare switch
is perfectly true. This hall is not fit
place for battle Of any kind this is place
for deiberalion-fo the deliberations OF
friends, of brothers; all citizens alike OF
one great nation, met to consult on one
common interest; and where all, as |
hope, have at heart most passionate de-
sire for the good of the whole country
All battle, all conflict and hostile opposi-
ton between different portions of our cuun-
try represented in this hall, ought TO cease.
This | always hoped, aud do still hope,
notwithstanding the martial attitude as
sumed by the gentleman from South Caro-
lima, (Mr. HoImes) and in part also by
the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. WIse,)
although the latter gentleman gave no.
tice that he would no longer hold the mil
itary post he. has occupied and command,
ed, Tor seven .or eight years, but would
lake another position. Certainly the
gentleman never did any thing mo!e wise
in his life than he did in abandoning his
old position. for ii is not tenablr; the peo-
pie of The Union never will support those
who attempt 10 hold it. The gentleman,
therefore, did wisely in giving The signal
for surrender. The position is no lon
ger tenabe thank God Almiohty The
position of a Representative body assum-
ing 10 dictate to their constituents and TO
the sovereign people what they may peli-
ton for, and turning out of doors all petit
tons and petitioners whose prayers they
DO not think proper to grant, is position
not tenabIe, and they who attempt TO hold
IT. will not be sustained by the people Of
these United States. take the berly OF
reminding my good friend from South
Carolina, (Mr. HoImes,) OF this, and of
expressing my hope that that gentleman
will stri p oft his arm or cap-a.pie, and
throw aside his epauIeites; and take off
his sword-ay, though it may be as grea
a sword as that of Durandana, in ancient
fable, or capable of even grealer miracles
than the f,r-famed weapon of Orlando,
whether IaamOrato or FURIoso! Much
IaughterI The gentleman surely must
agree, on little reflection, with the opiu-
ion Of his friend from Virginia, (Mr.
Wlse,) that this is not the place wherein
TO brandish that sword. ! say this. be-
cause these gentlemen and others WHO
have spoken on the subject, after holding
out this threat 10 the northern portion oil
the Union, have all resolved themselves
at least into the position that they would
stand upon the Constitution of the United
States, and, by implication, if not by direct
assertion, seemed 10 intimate that The alb
clifton petitions (f1r neither Of the gen
LIemen referred at all to the resolutions OF
The Legislature of Massachusetts, the re-
ference of which was the question before
The House, are violations OF the Cons,itu-
ion! Petitions violations of the Consi-
luton That is what it comes to. The
gentlemen. ia the very midst OF their NIL
llary fury, all declared that they were
most deeply, most devoutly, in the very
bottom oil their hearts, attached to The un.
ion of the States, and seemed to intimate
hat the Legislature of Massachusetts,
Though they made no direct reference to
he resolutions of that body,) and more
the abolitionists who sent their
petitions here, are not attached to the
Union.
Sir, am not here TO answer for The
Dur poses or views of any abolition society,