The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-02-07

marks.
After which the Senate spent few moments in
Executive session, and then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
TUESDAY, Feb 6, 1874
Prayer by the Rev. MIR. TINsLEY.
The CLERK Their read the Journal Of yesterday
The SPEAKER announced the first business in
order to be the
REPORT ON THE RULES.
MIR. DUNLAP asked and obtained the leave of the
House to report bill, establishing new collection
district in the State of Maine which was read the
first and second time, referred Committee of the
Whole, made the order ofthe day for tomorrow, and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. ADAMS called for the orders of the day, but
yielded the floor to
Nlr. WELLER, to present resolutions of the Legs-
ia'ure OF the State OF Ohio, in relation to the i'm
Provement Of the Western waters; which were laid
upon the table, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. BELSER brought forward bill in relation to
certain claims in the State of Alabama which " as
referred to the Committee on Claims.
MIR. HAMMErT then rose and said that nothing
was more foreign from his thoughts, when he left
home, than that he should be called upon to debate
during the present session, the subject under consde
ratiOn-the retention of the 25h rule but had
thought, that his attention would have been called to
other subjects of legislation He had thought that
alter such an overthrow with which his adversaries
had met with in the late elections that the right of
his constituents TO their property would no longer be
denied; but as this subject had taken different d.
rection the question has resolved itself into how
long are the people of the South to be protected in
their property guaranteed by the compromises of the
Constitution and IN debating this question: he hoped
he would be enabled to throw some light upon the
subject and show to the House the danger to the per-
manency OF the Union IN pressing this question which
vitality aztec the whole South, and with which the
Don-slave holding States have nothing whatever 10 do
The subject before the House is whether the 25th
rule shall be part Of the regulations of the House
or but The issue appears to have been narrowed
down as to the right OF petition which he had never
denied; and IN discussing this question he should
go back to the right of petition it existed in Eng
land, which had been ably discussed by the gentle
man from South Carolina Mr. Rbett,) and the gen.
teman from Alabama (Mr. BeIser.) The right of
petition was established in England however, for
WHAT To guard the people from oppression in
peaceably assembling to petition for a redress Of
grievances. The trainers of the Constitution adopt
ed similar right in that instrument to guard and pro-
tect the people of the United States from punishment
in peaceably assembling to petition Congress for
redress oil grievances; but 1T never intended that
Congress should go beyond this rule. 1t was never in
tended to give Congress the power of mbruing the
hands OF the people IN each others blood, which this
question certain 10 accomplish if it is not at once
checked, and that forever If The right to petition
OH this subject should be persisted to- and the rule
be elected, they alone would create mass of bust
ness which would require the whole attention of
Congress. This the trainers of the Constitution new
er intended because that instrument has given DOW
ers to Congress- well as the people the rgI; 10 pc
tlon, which must be exercised 10 their wisdom and
1T must be made clearly manifest that there is
grievance, before Congress can grant relief II
there is no grievance, IL cannot There never was
doubt, and there be one as To the right of
rtv nh, oh
lodged at the time of the adoption of the Federal
Constitution, and which hal been sustained bv the
decisions OF the Supreme Court. Judge Mclean had
so decided IN the case Of Briggs rs. the Common
wealth OF Pennsylvanla, which was brought up to
the Supreme Court This was Of negro who
ran away from his master in the State of MARYLAND
and was followed into the State of Pennsylvania and
there claimed as fugitive from labor and his mas
ter was obstructed in his rights by some of the Judi
cial tribunals of that State. The Supreme Court
not only protected him in his property bur
brought him through triumpbantly by ius,iryip0
his whole course of procedure. 1t had been rema,t
ed on this floor that there disposition to skuIk
behind the judiciary, and he hoped those gentlemen
who reverence the Judiciary will look at this subject
in its proper light, and stand by the decision of rho
Judiciary, which is all the South asks
The gent eman from New York [Mr Barnard,
with the goodness OF his heart, said a few d,vs AGO
in debating the question OF the Improvement of The
Western waters (aDd who protested against an nm
derstandlng between the South and West because
the gentleman from South Carolina MIR Holmesl
had said that he would go for the Improvement Of
the Western waters, if the West would belp the
South to reduce the tariff that he would vote as
100000 for that object, and willing to borrow
more, but thai the tariff must be let alone This.
however, reminded him of the anecdote of a good
and honest Catholic, who had become little in,oxi.
Gated and in attempting to mount his horse fell back
into the mud, and finally invoked the Virgin Mary.
but he fell again, exclaming that his holy mother,
when she was good, she was too good, which remind
ed him of the gentleman from New York who " !,
too good to the West The gentleman from New
York wishes few lighthouses and the gentleman
from Ohio Mr.. Giddingsl who is very patriotic. IS
anxious to get an Appropriation for The Improvement
OF the Western waters, and particularly in the district
in which he resides, perhaps with the intention of
building few schooners 10 aid the negroes who run
away from Kentucky, into Canada.
The SPEAKER said it was out of order 10 refer
to ageneman in debate.
Mr.. HAMMbTT Sir, ! am only abiding to the
gentlcmsD's patriotism.
Mr. H. resumed and said, that the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Nlr Adams) commended that Congress,
has the Cons itutioDa power to abolish slavery o the
District OF Columbia; and although he Acknowledged
him TO be an honorable man, and for whom he cnter
tanned the highest respect for his long public services
he utterly denied The power, and was ready to male