Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, lS4S.
PEACE MEMORIAL FROM THE QUAKERs.

- ~ representatives Of the yearly meeting OF the 500
sv az Friends for New England, praying LOT me speedy
of the war with Mexico and moved its reference
= ~ Committee on Foreign Affairs, and that 1t be printed
rh motion was divided and the memorial was reieried to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The question recurring on the motion to print
M KING addressed the House follows: had sup
noscd that memorial important coming from people SO
Iespecable would be printed without question This me-
mortal comes thousand persons residing IN SIX so'e
reign States Of this Union who for soorey gene
m nqence and private worth compare favoraby with any
other class Of citizens warmly attached TO the country
and It's free institutions. They men who enphatcaly
mind their business, who maintain Their own poor pay
taxes for general purposes and educate their own cdfen
thew are not found burden the community IN amshouses
ials or penentiaes they render to Cesar the things mat
are Cnsar and ask peacefully to ENJOY the rights OF con
science and 10 obey its dictates.
tn Friends Of New England who present this memorial,
like the other followers Penn throughout the Union have
no party political organization they never vex congress
with petitions about banks tariffs or land distribution, or
subtreasures it is only great moral ana rehgious cues
tons that they here only when conscience prompts
that their voice heard in this hail. and that solemn voice
must not now be suppressed. -, !,
The expense Of printing this memorial VIII not exceed
three or four dollars every day pint papers oil very mule
Importance, and of doubtful character Wlhn
the last FIVE minutes you have ordered the printing OF n
which provides for paying for horses lost or killed IN the m
arv service Of the United States This deemed worth
printing but memorial decent, so respectful, from Inc
Society of Friends who consider themselves bound 10 10 10
others they would that others should do 10 mem 'he me-
sity laid on them TO their testimony faithfully against al
and fghtiugs testimony which their predecessors IN
religious profession have uniformly borne through good report
and report and former times through much cruei sur
fering both bodily and mental must not be printed on ac
count Of establishing bad precedent On the taoe before
you lies petition, printed IN The senate OF ,ne " W
United States army Mexico praying for the passage Oh
law making provision old and disabled oicers II may De
right them provide disabled officers but It not right
to agtate the question of bringing speedy close the war
which makes such provision necessary The progress OF the
war must moi be questioned though forty battles have achieved
enough for glory though the blood OF more than twenty
seven thousand slain and wounded Americans citizens of the
sister REPUBLICS has renched the Mexican soil though
of thousands widows and orphans and friends mourn
ing their loved and lost friends may be night to vote
and for the OF this war OF INVASION
but the refusal TO print this memorial must be as he
expression Of determination not TO give the question oil
speedy termination Of the respectful and decent consid
Grafton.
Mr. X said be hoped he should not be obliged TO ask for
the and nays but that the House would permit this me-
mora from class Of the people and worthy.
and subject which involves the character the prosperity
and the lasting honor and true glory OF the nation, to be
printed He hoped that, however much members might be
suspected want OF conscenouness there they would not
manifest wanton reckessness and dsrespect for class OIL
who abhor all and fighting who cherish the belief
that the peacemakers the children OF God and whose lives
and conduct e1emp and prove the truth OF their professions
Mr. COBB Of Georgia. opposed TO the printing of this
document without reference to It's contents to the character
and respecability of the memoass The gentleman from
Massachusetts that opposition had been made
the printing of any memorial OF individual citizens however
respectable The utmost extent to which the House had
with few exceptions prn, the memorials and reso-
luions of State Legislatures II was unjust nVdious TO
draw distinctions between citizens OF different portions oil the
country If they printed the memorial OF the Friends, they
ought print the memorials any other citizens of this
try who respectfully petitioued this House for action on any
subject.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr KISs) said that
these emorialists good citizens that they maintained
their poor educated their Children paid their own
taxes and obeyed the laws Every word OF this however
and bah If
y in regard the citizens he had the honor represent
and the citizens of the State of Georgia had than
occasion passed resolutions their primary meetings, and
had signed petitions which when presented this House
refused to be printed. And not only So but the fact
equally true regard the constituents OF every gentleman
this floor Yet they did expend the public money
printing these al, unnecessary and uncaed for
once open the door, and would be print all th
petitions which presented, Ito which he, Mr. g. pre-
sumed single gentleman this floor would consent Of
determinations nyidous dscrimnaons must be made be
tween the citizens Of the country.
He knew the character of the memorial he had not
ained IT, He did object to its printing account Of lis
coming the Society OF Friends his objection the
principle be had laid down. He trusted the House would
depart from founded in justice and propriety-hs
was refuse print memorials whenever presented unless
they from the State Legislatures unless there
peculiar for their printing To this rule be knew
there had been exceptions but he trusted they would
be repeated He movedto lay the motion print the table
Mr.. KING, Of Massachusetts, asked the yeas and nays on
the motion
Mr.. HENLEY said he did not like be obliged to vote
upon a question Of this sort until
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman from Indiana that
the motion TO lay the table no, debalabe
Mr. HENLEY appealed to the gentleman from Georgia
(Mr CoBB) TO withdraw, TO give him the opportunity make
some remarks.
Mr.. COBB in compliance with the request withdrew the
motion.
Mr.. HENLEY, resuming the aoor addressed the Housc
Mr. Speaker, (said he,) this is the first time since
this began that memorials Of this character have
been presented to this House, containing the views
And what do these memoriasts ask for They pray Con-
gress feel the responsibility Of the situation occupies he
fore the country aud TO take bring about peace
When they and ask TO feel responsibility before
the country and bring about peace they charge with
feeling our responsibility and with having desire for peace
And in charging they charge asehCol this Congress
that particular party against which they max,
it, II for tins that desire make few remarks
admit they respectable people, admit they gooJ
citizens. am proud acknowledge that there many
them IN my state and in my district There
Of that class apeope amongst my relatives Many
Of my connexions that denomination Of people know
Them, and they know they have been opposed this
in every contest In the holy Of the Revolution they
against their country because Of their peculiar notions
the subject Of They may have been honest bst the
fault Of this people that they permit their peculiar notions
their patriotism and love Of country That il the
fault they have committed They may charge the fault
Others, but may charge on them They know that
they opposed 10 this country in the last with Great
Britain. That every will acknowledge. This people
then prayed tor peace, and what conditions Not because
peace would the honor and glory Of the national char.
acter but they desired peace al all hazards And that