The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-01-04


said he was constrained 10 take an appeal
This put Mr.. Speaker 10 nonpIus. and
he was then willing 10 look at the preced-
ents. The Clerk turned him to the entry
on the Journal, which is all as plain as a
pikestaif, and while The Speaker was
pondering, apparently, to see if he could
conf ure up some Virginia abstraction, 10
be fog what was absolutely clear, his con.
siderate colleague came to his relief by
the motion Of adjourn. n
Wednesday, p. n.
Another turn in the order of priority.
After an hour spent upon motion going
to inquire into the validity of the claim Of
Mr. Levi, to have held the seal OF Dele
gate from Florida in the last Congress,
the House, instead of going on with the
unfinished business of yesterday, for the
admission Of which the rules were sus-
pended, tell back once more on the "priv-
LEGGED question" on Mr.. Garrett Davis's
resolution, which, under the p. c., was
put aud carried, yeas, las; nays, 80. So
the House resolved that the Committee
ON Elections examine the credentials of
all the members, and report whether they
were elected according to law. After the
disposal of some one of the questions
about entering the celebrated protest on
the table, Mr. Adams's appeal came up
n order The Speaker SAID that the de-
lay had allowed him the opportunity to
look into the presidents, aud he found
that such petitions were received by the
last Congress and referred that on look
ing at the terms Of the rule and compar-
ing the petition herewith, it was plain
that ii did not come within the letter of
the rule. and as the role itself was re-
slrictive, the Chair was not at liberty to
extend it by construction. He must.
therefore, decide ha! the petition was not
excluded by the rule.
Mr.. Cave Johnson, of Tennessee, then
said he should object 10 the reception Of
the petition. He could never consent to
the receiving of such a paper by the
House. The Speaker said the question
would then be, shall the petition be re-
ceived? Another sIave-h holder moved that
this question be laid on the table. After
an anxious inquiry by Mr.. E J. Black,
of Georgia, whether the vote to lay the
question OF reception on the table would
rot involve a virtual reception of the pc
tition, 20 which the Speaker responded in
the negative, the Question was pot by
yeas aud nays, and carred-.yeas, 81;
nays, 80 So the House have determin-
ed 10 carry out the gag, by the SenatoriaI
process, where the gag itself fails 10 de-
feat the right of petition. | shalt give an
ana ysiS of this vote, so far as to explain
the difference between it and the vote On
the repeal of the gag. After presenting
some petitions that came within the rule,
Mr.. A. presented a petition that no new
State be admitted 10 the Union that toIer.
ales slavery. The Speaker decided that
this came within the rule He said there
was territory [Floridal now applying
for admission, in which slavery existed,
and therefore the prayer of the petition n-
VOWED, virtually, the abolition Of slavery
In that territory. Mr.. Adams explained,
briefly, the distinction between this Pc
lilion and the rule, and appealed from the
decision, and was proceeding to debate the
appeal, when Mr.. Hopkins, Of Virginia,
objected, that whenever a petition gave
rise to debate, the debate was 10 lie over.
! The chair so decided, and that the debate
on the appeal must lie over. Mr.. Wise
then inquired where the petition would
be, and whether it did not receive and
carry the petition. He said the proner
subject matter n0w ia debate was on the
question Of order. not the petition, and
therefore was not within The rule which
requires petitions that give rise 10 debate
shall lie over. The Speaker SAID, that 10
allow debate on this collateral question
would render the rule itself nuIity.- -
Mr.. Wise then took an appeal, but finally
dropped it, and the case went by. Peti-
lions against the annexation OF Texas we've
then presented, and referred to the Com
'miuee on Foreign Affairs, Mr.. A, pleas
antly observing that the House must con-
slder them safe enough in the care of the
Chairman of that Committee, the gentle.
man from PennSy lvania, &c. j. IngersoIl.
Next Came petition which he hoped The
House would consent to receive, at least
and hear it read, Whatever other dispose
they nigh make Of it. 1t was a petition
praying that Congress would restore anC
secure to all the people Of the U. S, those
rights which the Declaration OF lndepend
ence declares as a selfevident truth TO b
inalienable-the right to lie, liberty, ant
the pursuit of happiness. The leading
was called for, but was strenuous v resist
ed BY Mr.. Wise. The Chair then decid
ed tha. the petition did not come within
lhe,rule. Mr.. HARRISON, OF Georgia, theI
= objected to the reception of the petition, a
disrespectfu 10 the American Congress
The Speaker decided that the question O
reception was debatlbe, and as there wa
debate arising, it would 90 over. Nj
Wise again appealed, and insisted that
. WAS nni The nelilinn ihnl ones over