Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-12-29
The Entering Wedge.
Exc,rrSc SCENE IN THE Housg OF REpREsEN.
TATIvES.
The Slave Trade in the District Of Columbia

sive vt course, as some nity members were ao-
sent; but il is significant Of the advancement
that Public Opinion, the great Regulator of Law,
is making in the direction Of the Right.
W. copy the following from the Washington
Correspondence of the New York Erpress:-
WASHING roy, Dec. 2lst.
The House have had a very exciting morning
session. upon a resolution, moved by MIR Gott.
OF N. Y, as fllows:-
Whereas the traffic in human beings as chat.
tells, within this metropolis Of the Republic, is
contrary to national justice, to the fundamental
principle Of our political system. and is note
rous reproach to our country throughout Chris
tendom and a serious hindrance to the progress
Of republican liberty among the nations OF the
earth therefore, -
Pesolred, That the Committee for the Distric,
of c ,umuia be instructed to report bill, a.
soon as practicable, prohibiting the Save trade
in said District.
The Resolution, as soon as read, was struck
nj by Mr. HARRISON, OF Ga, with motion to lay
ON the table. 1t was lost upon the yeas and
nays-S5 tos2.
The next struggle was upon the previous
question, which was seconded, amidst good
dea of excitement 81 TO 49.
The next resistance was the the main ques-
lively in order to bring mp the main question:
The vote was: yeas ll2 nays "a.
A call Of the House was now attempted, but
It was not in order, the previous quest IN hay
ing been moved.
The next vote was the main one and the prac
tcal one, and excited Il good deal of interest in
the House. The yeas and nays were almost
unanimously demanded, and the vote stood for
the resolution. %, against it. 81.
The announcement of the vote created a
marked sensation in the liouse,--a pause, and
solemn silence cnsued for some seconds.
NJ. Truman Smith rose to vote.
The Speaker said it was too late, the vote
having been announced
Mr. Stuart Of NJ chgan rose to move a recon-
sjeraton OF the vote and commenced an argu-
,nent upon the question, promising TO be brief
and distinct in his statements.
NJ Coarner If Vt, however, held that the
debate was not il order.
The Speaker so decided upon the ground that
Resolutions giving rise to debate went over
M II lines rose in his seat to ask if motion
would oe in order for the Southern members to
leave their seats. mo" "No' mo" was heard
almost generally. The Speaker said that 10
such motion would be in order. ...
NJ llnline-, however, took his hat and left
the HAL, in accordance with the South Carroll
ma spirit, and a recommendation which recently
cmanated from some OF the Hotspurs of the
Palmetto State
There was an appeal taken from the decision
OF the Chair, but the Speaker was sustained by
Avnte Of II. Noes not counted.
This ended the question for the day. The de
bate will come tomorrow, or on Monday, or up
On the first occasion.
Mr. Greeley writes to the Tribune as fol
lows:-
The scene Of the House was of course one o
deep excitement, but there was very little blns
ter and no indecurum. On one or two divisions
the leading ultra Slavery men commenced b,
declining to vote, but they generally had thei
names called again, and answered before the
decision was announced. NJ. Colt had laker
the precaulion to move the Previous Question
when he introduced his Resolution, and this be
ing sustained BY the House, M debate upon i
was in order. md Of course il could not be thrown
Uv,r by offering to debate il. An attempt wa.
made to have call Of the House. but decdet
not in order, since the Tr .vious Question hat
leen dere'. BIT Mr. Hlralson of Ga, move,
that il do lie on the table, and on this motor
tie Yeas and Nays were ordered and taken, i
was lost. A cry nov arose, " Let the South
ern members withdraw" bit saw none o
them heed it. The next step being to order thu
Main Question to be now put, the yeas and ma,
were (very unusually and absurdy) called OF
this but many of the Slavery united with the
anti.Slavery men in the affirmative, and it pre-
vailed bv large vote. Now came the question
"Sha the Resolution pass 2" and the yeas anc
nays were demanded from all sides with entire
unanimity. The prevalent feeling evinced wa.
one Of deep seriousness and earnest resolution
] link the House is not often still during
call of the yeas and nays. The fact that nj
similar proposition had ever prevailed, rendered
Napparently an even chance that this would be-
defeated, until very near the close Of the call
Several members who did not answer wher
called in their order, asked to be called AT the
close, and oRe or two changed their votes. TAI
who were within the bar when their name
were originally called are enIilcd,o vote, at an,
time before the result is announced The re-
suit WAS announced by the SPEAKER, breaking ,
breathless silence. Mr.. Holmes, of s. C., tn
tie Taylor and Butler party in the House. (hay
Ing been Federast of tie school of '9S,
Jackson man OF %, aNuIliier Of 80, for Poll
and Texas in IA, and now for Taylor and But
Lr) who usually leads the the advanced qua n
OF Slavery, but wlo had not been in his sea, Ill
now, rose up and cried ont LET the Southern
members retire - but believe he alone retired
II Is true, however, that many were deeply ex
cted, and that some were grieved to whom
would not willingly give pain. Some woul,
have had less objection to the Resolution with
out the preamble; others considered that III
better part of the whole. AT all events, "Wha
Is writ is writ"
BY Telegraph to the Philadelphia Mort
American,
WASHINGTON, Dec %.
SLAVERY IN THE DIsTRlcr-MsErIyc IN tn
SENATE CHAMBER.-The passage in the low
House OF Mr.. Colts resolution, instructnp m
committee on the District of Columbia TO re-
bill prohibiting the slave trade in the Distric
has caused the most intense excitement nor,
"A meeting is to be held in the s ,nate Chamb,
this evening Of the Wing and Democrats men
bers of both Houses, for the purnose i, il no,
orally understood, Of adopting such course 4
will most likely be acceptable to all sections
the country. The city is full of rumors.
. WASHING TON, Dec. %, 81 p. M.
MEETING OF CoSGREssMEN IN RELATION ,
THE SLAVERY Qursros.-Tht 8 ,uihern mer
bsrs Of Congress. Of both parties, met in cauc
in the Senate Chamber. at half past 7 oclo,
thi. evening: Senator Metcalf presided.
Representative Venable acted as Secretar
A series of resolutions touching the rxte
sion Of Sax~ery'inHew Territories was oife
ed r ..t .,.f-.
Mr. Mmse. of Louisiana, led off in a powe
ful and eloquent speech. ...
Several animated speeches were made.
The stterdance was very large. and mu,
.ntsras A az a ma nj e. II ed in tha ort,r eedinus