The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-23
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirsissh Coogvsss-vssvs s>s-s~~.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER "a. iss7.
From the Official "Pyocssdi~gs and Dsbafss
SENATE.

Mr. GREENE presented the petition OF Elizabeth
praying the patronage Of the governmen, the pubea
ton of the writings OF her late husband; which wa
referred to the Committee on the Library. :.
Mr. ATCHISON presented the memorial OF Henry Nj
Sheve praying compensation for the By the govern
ment Of snag boat, OF which he is the inventor and
patenee and the purchase Of his patent right BY the
United States: which was referred TO the Committee ob
Mr. HALE presented the memorial of the year,,
meeting of anti slavery Friends of Indiana praying iof
the adoption Of fo5ihe immediate termination OF
the with Mexico, and ~ the immediate termination
OF slavery.
suppose Mr. President as this petition prays for The
exertion of all the powers of government, so far as
they extend in relation to this ,h subject, includes within
and am informed that the practice has obtained in the
Senate. when petitions of this character presented
is laid upon the table, there the matter drops As THE
course does not accord with my conviction OF duty,
must urge different disposition OF this petition; and
hope that il exception be taken, it will be taken with
out this sdeblow Of motion to lay on the table.
With this view, if the question of reception be raised,
hs i FREsSe t oFF * a3f ossy in favor
Mr. HALE. Was The motion made to lay the motion
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is to be
put a matter OF course. ,
Mr. HALE was not aware of the existence of such
rule but that being the case, would like to say
single word on the main question, the motion lay
Mr.. BERRIEN. trust that the established usage OF
the Senate will not be departed from this occasion.
When petition Of this sort is presented the question of
reception raised by motion TO lay petition on the
table raise that question; move to lay the motion
Mr.. HALE Upon that question | ask the yeas and
nays ,
be in order to move postponement of the question OF
reception till tomorrow!
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question to lay
Mr.. JOHNSON of Maryland then said that his only OBJ.
ect that the Senate might be full before the question
The PRESDNG OFFICER II IS to lay the motion
to nee IsceTs The n1 PETITION xS q the table De-
The PRESIDING OFFICER The abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia
MIR. HALE If it be in order will state the subject
matter of the petition The petition comes from the
yearly meeting Of Friends at Newport, Wayne county
Indiana, praying the termination of the war in Mexico
and also praying that all the powers vested in Congress
upon the subject shall be exered for the termination of
Mr. BUTLER That does not say anything about
Mr.. HALE. remarked that that was included in the
petition
The question then taken on the call for the yeas
and nays sufficient number of members rising the
yeas and nays were ordered and were taken, follows
YE as Allen Ashley. Atchison, A,hsron, Bad
Ronn, cass Davis: Of Mississippi Dickinson, Dix, Downs,
Fairfield Fetch, Foote, Hunter Johnson, of Maryland
yier, spruance Sturgeon. Tumey, Westcot and Yuee-
NAYs-Mcssrs Baldwin. Clarke corwin, Greene, Hale,
Miller, Phelps, Underwood and Upham-9
So the motion to receive the petition laid upon the
Mr.; HALE presented the memorial of David T. Burr
and sxty-nne Others citizens of Pennsylvania praying
for such alteration OF the constitution and laws as
shall Al. abolish b slavery throughout the Union;
standing rule or order OF the Senate that raises the ques
ton whether this petition shall be received the motion
to receive the petition is debatabe! Am correct sir
f fSSspfPREs iDiN SeDe oFFfcER 1t is debatable
MIR. HALE. So understanding it, sir, wish to say
single word in vndcation of the which deem
my duty to take this occasion 1t with no desire to
discharge Of my duty under deep and the earnest convc
tons of my understanding, that attempt to discharge
that duty What is the refusal of the Senate receive
these petitions II is saying that there subjects
on which the people shall not approach this tribunal
In this day. speculation is adventurous We venture to
inquire into all the secrets of the material and the spu
al world The researches of geological science have
penetrated the bowels of the EARTH and have there found
the materials BY which it is essayed to prove that
He w Who made the world and its age reveald
Nay inquiry goes with adventurous flight to the very
throne Of Eternity and undertakes to the laws BY
which he who sits thereon governs His actions and
thus adventurous, have we, in the United States OF
America, an institution which exas itself above God
deiyng examination Or inquiry OF petition event. Most
the people of the United States have peculiar right to
come and ask of this body respectful hearing of their
petitions and respectful hearing this very subject
Sir, is no mere abstraction II is an element of pOliti-
cal power in the formation of our constitution; it is an
element which the constitution of the other House is
regulated: and it j. element in the political discussion
ana acton OF the present day. which involving the ma
ton IN foreign and aggressive war; at an expense of
forty or nifty millions OF dollars annually And if the
people of the United States are to be thus taxed for war
growing Immediately and directly out of an institution of
this character, they to be told that they shall not
come and respectfully present their petitions upon this
subject? :
have thus discharged my duty TO those who sent me
here, without expectation of influencing the action
OF this body-whou any desire to excite angry feeling
or discussion ask that the petition may be received
Mr.. BERRIEN The practice which has been adopt
ed by the Senate has been the result of calm and de6e
rate consideration has protected from those ex-
lung discussions which, another branch of the national
Legislature have too often occurred do not apprehend
that anything which has fallen from the honorable SEN
calculated to change the well settled conviction of the
Senate on this subject therefore, sir, the question OF
reception being before the Senate lay that ques
ton on the table
the table f
Mr. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, presented the petition
o ~ a. "auef sion, praying compensation for services
as clerk IN the once OF the surveyor general of Louisia
ma winch was referred TO the Committee on Public
Lands.
Mr. MASON presented the memorial Of William r
Slaughter late Secretary of the Territory of Wisconsin
praying the repayment of money expended bv him in the
public service: which referred to the Committee ON
the Territories
On motion by Mr. YULEE, it was