The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-02-15

se"I vi ueidne d inemUeT, whose poIltlcd
creed is opposed to their own. This
course of conduct has attached an odium
to the name ola Washington letter writer
which will require years Of contrary
| course OF conduct TO eltace.
AT the close of the proceedings in the
House on Tuesday, Mr.. Adams presented
the proceedings or resolutions OF the Mas
sachusetts Legislature, praying Congress
so to amend the Constitution hat the South
should have no representation for their
slaves. The report accompanying these
resolutions in the Massac huselts Legisla-
ture, it appears, was drawn up by Mr..
dams son, now member of that body.
Mr.. G, j. Lngersol, on Tuesday st,when
Mr.. Adams presented the soutIonS, ask
ed him i! he was not the author of them
Mr.. Adams gave Mr.. IngersoIl one of his
peculiar looks, and then without replying,
said, 81 ask for the ayes and noes, Mr..
Speaker !" at which the House burst out
laughing, at the peculiar manner of the
old man, silently eloquent. The cores
pondent of the United States Gazette, Mr..
Nathan Sargent (who signs himself "OIi
yer O,dschooI') IN describing this scene,
characterized Mr.. IngersolI's question as
highly impairment, and said that Mr.. AID.
ans rebuked him with calm dignity.
When the House met yesterday, Mr..
lngersolI rose and read the Rules of the
House referring 10 the reporters, and then
read the extract above mentioned from the
"Uni,ed States Gazette" He then stated
that the whole statement was false from
beginning to end, & called on the Speak
er to exercise the authority vested in him
by the rules, and Withdraw from him the
privilege Of Il seat on the floor; ia other
words 10 expel him. Mr.. IngersoIl went
on to say, that the Committee in granting
this privilege, had particular meaning
in using the word Reporter;" that they
never iuended to admit mere letter writer's
at all.
The Speaker said that every person
who had thus applied to him, and who
had been admitted to the floor, had repre-.
sented himself as a reporter; he had ia no
instance granted the privilege to mere
letter writer And some of them were
known TO be most excellent reporters.
Mr.. IagersoIl said that the author of
this false statement was Nathan Sargent,
and he called on the Speaker to expeI him
Mr.. Ell. Morris defended Mr.. Sargent,
said that he was worthy man, and had
once run for member Of Congress
Mr.. Wise declared that he knew Mr.
Sargent to be the most mendacious letter
writer in the country; that this had been
proved under oath in courts of justice
and that "when caIIed to an account for
his lies, his cowafdice was equal TO his
mendaci'y!" This produced a great
sensation.
Mr.. Holmes most sensibly and truly
remarked, tina! there ought TO be sufficient
dignity in the House TO preserve more
order and decorum and that The late dis.
graceful personalities ought to have been
avoided.
Some member, Mr.. Hudson, of Mass.
believe, said, that before the House at
tempted to regulate the reporters, it ought
to regulate itself
Mr.. Adams then rose and said
that he endorsed all the facts stated by
Mr.. Sargent, aud even his inferen-
ces and added that the question put 10
him by Mr.. lngersoI on former day
was highly imperinent one. He
also said thai he was not the author Of the
resolutions that he was not ashamed of
them-and that he was not afraid to avow
anything lie did or wrote. He condemn
the practice of other members in always
making personal illusions to him, when
he said anything in the House he was
charged with being member or friend
Of the Hartford Convention; out he never
was; ane oil this was highly indecorous
and imperinent
Mr.. IngersoIl replied in a pretty severe
strain of satire and said that whenever
HE SAID anything in the House, that Mr..
Adams was sure TO rep y to him with in-
suit aud abuse in various ways, until it
became almost unbearabIe He then
charged Mr. Adams with being opposed
to the last war /; SAID that he had enjoyed
all the highest Offices his grateful coun-
try could beStow upon him aud vet he
came here and endeavored 10 break down
the Constitution and TO destroy The coun-
try. And when he saw him do this, he
would always attack him. He again
called on the Speaker 10 expel Mr.. Sar-
gent.
Mr.. King of Mass. defended Mr.. Ad.
ans, and said that this State was proud of
him; and Mr.. lngersoIl ought to make
great allowances for Mr.. Adams ardent
love of liberty.
Mr.. Winthrop said they had been dis
cussIng The creates! principles of liberty
LIST, the habeas corpus-2d, the right of
petilion-and Sd, the freedom oflhe press.
AS soon as he said this, he was inter-