The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-11
Twenty.Eighth Congress-
From the Emancipator & Free American.


Speech OF Mr.. ADAMS, on the Refer
r ence of the Resolves OF the Legislature O
Massachusetts in favor Of amending tn,
Federal Constitution.
Friday, December %, l843.
The Speaker, announced The regula
order OF business 10 be the call OF the State!
for petitions.
When The House ad journed last even
ing, the business under consideration con
sisted of the following joint resolutions o
the Legislature Of the Stne of Massachu
sets, presented by Mr.. ADAMS. ...
Resolved, That the following amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States be and hereby is recommended to
the consideration of Congress, TO be acted
on according 10 the fifth article. The
third clause Of the second section of the
! first article shall read in the words FOL
lowing: Representatives and direct taxes
shall be apportioned among the several
States which are or may be included
within this Union according to their re.
spective numbers of free persons, includ-
ing Indians not taxed. The actual enum-
Grafton shall be- made within two wears
from the date of the adoption of this
amendment In the manner provided by
the Constitution, and within every subse-
quent term of ten years in such manner
as the Congress shall by law direct
The mum Der of Representatives shall not
exceed one for every thirty thousand. but
each State shall have at least one Repre-
sentative.
Resolved, That his excellency the Gov
ernor be requested to transmit copy of
the foregoing resolve, and the proposed
menGnlent, 10 each of The Senator'S and
-members Of the House OF Representatives
of This comm onwealh In the Congress of
the United Safes.
Resolved, That his excelency the
Governor be requested to transmit copy
Of the said resolve and amendment 10 the
Executive Of The United States and of the
several STATES.
Which resolutions Mr.. ADAMS had
moved 10 refer TO select committee.
Which motion Mr.. JAMESON had nov
ed TO amend by substituting for the words
"a select committee" the words the
Committee on the Judiciary"
A debate had followed, which had talk.
en- place not in accordance with the rules,
tor 1t was out OF order) bat under leave
specially granted by the house.
During some conversation with the
Speaker on the order OF proceedings, Mr..
Adams desired TO remind the House of
the position in which he had been placed
by the lndu gence given to four or five
gentlemen yesterday. Reserving 10 him
stlf the right 10 claim the same indu!-
gence, he was perfectly willing that the
gentlemen from New York should pro-
coed; aud indeed, for his own part, he
(Mr. A } won!d be glad that the indu-
gence might be extended TO every gentle
men who was DESTROYS to avail himself of
it.
Mn. PRESTON KING, OF N. Y, called
Mr.. ADAMS to order.
The Speaker said he was only listen.
ing to the explarolion which The gentle
man from Massachusetts lMr. ADAMs)
was making.
Mr. KING objected; remarking that, in
assuming to sustain the right Of petition
in this House, the gentlemen was throw
ing obstacles in its way. He, {Mr. K J
had in his possession petitions which he
had held since the commencement of the
session, but which he mad never had an
opportunity to present.
Mr. ADAMS. IF the order of business
is 10 be followed up, then. presume, |
am 10 be considered as precluded from re-
plying to the remarks of the several gen.
tlemen who spoke by leave yesterday when
the question was pending. had desired
10 submit some observations
Mr.. ToMAsToN. of Ky, moved that the
gentleman from Massachusetts have leave
10 address the House on this sutlect.
After numerous interruptions and ex-
plantations, Mr. HUDSON moved that the
rules be suspended for the purpose of en-
abing his colleague (Mr. ADAMs) 10 ad-
dress the House. -.... ..... .....
The yeas and nays being called on this
question, the vote stood, yeas 1873, nays
So, two-;hirds voting in the affirmative,
tH0 'uleo "C'0 gu peuueu1 anu leu'0 was
granted to Mr.. Adams TO address the
House. The Northern men who voted
to refuse Mr. Adams leave 10 reply 10
Wise, Holmes, Weller and French, Dec.
% l843, were:-Hamlin, of Me; Burke,
Norris, and Rediug, of N. H.; SInons
aud Stewart, Of Conn. Clinton, p. King,
and Marbery, Of N. T.; kirkpatrick, of
N. j.; Dean, Dimian, N. Causien, MNh-
ews, Moore, aud E. d. Potter, of Ohio,
and II. Smith, of Indiana sixteen in all.
Whereupon-
Mr.. Adams said that it had not been
his intention, nor was it now his desire,
to lrespass on the time Of the House, nor
would this be fl! return for the courtesy