Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-01-04
SPEECH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
in Defence of The right Of Petition.

IN Defence Of The right OF Pehtton.
/ In the House the unfinished business Of yestel'
day was the consideration of of the Joint Resolu-
tions ofthe last Legislature of Massachusetts, pre-
scented by Mr. Adams, which resolutions he had
moved to refer TO Select Committee.
The Speaker decided that the debate of yester-
day had not been in ORDER but had been suffered
by general consent of the House.
AS several Members had been permitted yes
tcrday 20 assai the positions and reflect on the
proceedings of Mr.. Adams, and he had no chan ce
TO reply, Mr. Thomasson of Ky moved that he
(Mr A. be permitted to address the House.
MIR Adams pressed for decision on the resolu-
tons at this time They were, he said, democrat
ic resolutions ofthe Legislature of Massachusetts,
for in both the branches which passed them had
the Democrats power. He hoped the question
might be taken.
MIR Hudson of Mass Moved suspension ofthe
Rules to permit Mr. A. to speak.
| Mr. w. Hunt of n. Y. asked the Yeas and
Nays on Mr. Hudson's motion, which were order
ed and taken Yeas 1873: Nays 46
So, twothirds voting in the affirmative the
rules were suspended, and leave was granted to
Mr. Adams to address the House Whereupon,
Mr.. ADAMS said it had not been his intention,
nor was it now his desire, to trespass the time
ofthe House. nor would this be fit return for
had been made to refer the resolutions of the Le-
gislature of Massachusetts, presented by him last
! evening, to the committee on the Judiciary to
such disposition of them he should very willing
ly submit; and there had been another to refer
them to Select Committee, to consist of one
member from each State had he any objec-
ton 10 that He was willing that they should go
TO an appropriate committee. And if the House
should send them 10 select committee, he was
willing that the Speaker should omit his name, as
being under the circumstances, scarce likely to
act with perfect impartality upon the subject; and
besides, he had no desire TO act in any way on
, these resolutions
But the debate which had occupied so much o.
: the time of the House yesterday, had turned on
matter wholly different from these questions o
:. reference A gentleman from Virginia, over the
: way, (Mr Wise.) whom he did not now see in hi:
. place, had risen and called the attention of the
1 House, and had particularly invited that of thu
d Reporters espccalyto whs, he was going to say
which was that he renounced from this time forth
: and forever, the 'wAR" which for seven or eigh
years had been carried on in this House the
u subject of abolition petitions adding for one, tina
d he was heartily sick and tired of the manner il
}. which il had for some time been carried on
S whereupon another gentleman, from the yer,
j highest pitch of Southern chivary, had instantly
d sprung to his feet and declared that however wea
: nv and disguised the gentleman from Virgini
l. might be with the war and The way IN which
= had been managed he was not so far from 1t tina
y on the contrary, he was ready at once, to rail-
a all his forces and make battle.
J, Now the first observation Mr. A had to max
r on this state ofihngs, was that he regretted e,
d ceedingly that this most martial this most bell
h perent figure of speech should have been used b
n either of the gentlemen. The gentleman fror
IT Virginia, indeed, did say that this was not tn
place for such species OF warfare, which wa
e. perfectly true This hall was not fit place tc
r. battle of any kind; this was place for delber
ii tion-for the delberation of friends, of brother
r all citizens alike of one great nation, met to col
1t suit ON common interesl-and where all, as b
er hoped had at heart most passionate desire L
C. the GOOD of the country All battle, all coniil
lg and hostile opposition between different portions
I'd our country Represented in this hail. oughtto ceas
a This. Mr. A said he always had hoped, and
&c sill did hope, notwithstanding the martial aut
of assumed by the gentleman from South CAROLYN
ed (Mr Holmes) and in part also by the genilem;
er from Virginia, (Mr Wise,) although the latt
ed gentleman had gi7en notice that nc would
nd longer hold the military post he had once occu
" ed and commanded, but would take another pc
~ ton Certainly The gentleman nerer did 'ol'
he thing in his life, la taught for the position was
X tenable, Inc people ol this uhIOh "ou,a ~ % -,
ri Dor, those who should attempt 10 hold It. 1
he gentleman had therefore done wisely in giving
ar an unequvocal surrender. The position was
lat longer tenabe, thank God Almighty The
FRS stion of Representatives attempting TO dictate
'es their constituent sovereigns, and turning out
cir doors all petitions and petitioners whose pray
he thew did not think proper to grant was poSIll
co. no, tenabe. and they who attempted TO hold
would not be sustained by the People of th'
United States.
an Mr. A. would take the liberty to rem nd
lin his good friend from South Carolina Mr. Holm
pm ofths. and 10 express his hope thai the gen'len
ay would strip off his gliuering armor, IN which
rk. had clad himself cap-a-pie; tha, he would lhr
be aside his epauleis and take off bis sword
IN, though il might be as great as that of Duranda
he in the ancient cable, or capable of even grea
Ills miracles than the far-hmed weapon Of OIlan
lee whether inamOrata or FuRIoso, Much lau;
ich teri