Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-20

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair is Of the opinion
i il is too late TO raise that point of order now.
Mr.. DAVIS Of Mississippi. The objection should have
1 been made at the time the amendment was proposed
Mr. DOUGLAS. wish to call the attention of the Chair
the fact that no vote has yet been taken upon the motion
refer the resolutions submitted by the Senator from Kentucky
Nor has any vote been taken upon referring those introduced
by the Senator from Tennessee. And when proposed to
discuss these resolutions yesterday the Chair decided that
we were amendments could not discuss the original
resolutions And could discuss these the that
were taken not upon The original resolutions hut upon
amendments which offered Now, for the first time,
according 10 the decision of the Chair have got the
original resolutions for the first time, according the deci-
SION OF the Chair, they are open for discussion And
tamy they were not open for discussion, they open
Tor being voted upon ask the Chair consider whether
TINS Is not precisely the case, have stated il
Mr. CLEMENS. disagree with my colleague, and my
friend from Mississippi, to the importance of these abolition
petitions think they are great humbugs at the best agree
with the honorable Senator from Kentucky that will be
proper to send them to this committee. want them to go
there and while up, will give notice of petition which
have received from New York. and which shall present
morrow, and ask that shall go along with these petitions to
the committee. will read it.
70 The Hon. the Senate The u States respectfully sloryeth
your pet,ioner with all respect to your honorable
ted States lunac asylum, for the immediate
OF the worthy Senators and Representatives Washing
ton Your petitioner has viewed with pain the mad
suicidal by of the abolition members and
would respectfully ena that they may placed in
sonhnemen SO that they not irjure themselves, their
friends, or their country"
then to particular Senator and sug-
gest that may at once be sezed and be placed in the
place in Washington and that his head be shaw
ed and bted and that he be at once bed and placed on
water diet" (Laughter]
Mr. CLAY. As to the point of order, the proposition is
to refer these petitions committee of thirteen, and
have been acting upon the subject II is like putting in
plea in abaenent after putting in plea on the merits of the
case We do it if first made but according to strict
parliamentary usage the first motion should been
take up the resolutions Of friend from Tennessee and my
own and then to move to refer them But nasmuch the
motion was made to REFER and have discussed the
and proposed amendmenst the resolutions before think
my friend from Illinois will with that in this pro-
ceedng, 1t is rather too late to raise question of order
wish, however, while am up, to make suggestion.
This proposition totally different from those have been
voting upon to-day. Those have been voting day
were those of restriction The proposition is of
largement Of the powers Of the committee without restriction.
And what is it is to refer all those questions the
mee and to consider such circumstances proper respect
VIII lead them to besow upon them. know that friend
from Alabama and myself differ about the proprey of the
reference OF these petitions, and regret it. have always
been dlslncned to give chance any portion Of the
try to eproach Congress for the non-recepon of petitions
and it precisely upon that principle that now hope
the opposition to the reference of these petitions may be
Withdrawn.
Sir congratulate you, congratulate the nation, con-
graduate mankind upon the prospect that opens for
final and amicab!e settlement Of this question: believe such
settlement will be made after the occurrences in this body
this week. and after what know the patriotic disposition
OF the majority in the other House. Now, sir when
questions settled want have in his power
home and make just such speeches
me lNr mas made IN the Senate.
go home and endeavor to excite the people by using such
guage as this
!" Your petitions treated with the indigniy.
They were laid the table, unread unconsdered when
proposed to refer them the committee which all the
suect-matters of the petitions referred with which,
therefore, they had necessary connection, that OPP
posed"
am great hand at making stump speech but think
could take up that theme in such way exasperae and
excite the popuace. hope these petitions will DO taken up
and referred to the committee. do not think there is any
wi nendan
as do fear that the nonreeIence Of these petitions would
tarnsh the prospect Of general amy, with satisfaction to
the whole country therefore, favor of the reference
OF these petitions to the committee.
Mr. MASON. Mr.. President, | would prefer always to
defer the experience and judgment of the honorable ena
tor from Kentucky, but this occasion constrained
say that differ with him altogether Sir, why have
these petitions been already referred TO other commiteeso
the Standing committees of this body Why have those
praying for the abolition Of slavery in this District been refer
red to the Committee for the District, WHY have not those
praying the abolition Of slavery in the forts and arseals been
referred to the Committee Military Affairs 1t has been
because the Senate will consider petitions Of descp
ton because they will not consider the subjects embraced in
those petitions They have been received and laid upon the
table by the assent of the Senate Now proposed give
them the dignity Of efereHce to special committee.
Sir it would be utterly idle, utterly in vain, if know any
thing of the matter and of those who send petitions Of this
sort here to suppose that you appease them by
sions Of this kind know little of the humanity, will
not say Of the perverse humanity the Senator who makes
this motion. And the Senator from Kentucky supposes
that he induce him refrain from exciting and disturb
ing his constituents upon this question: dispose of these Pc
Gon you may he mistaken AS has said before
on this floor, you might well expect him put from him
self the aliment upon which, politically be feeds trust
the petitions will be taken up and have this reference
trust they will not be dignifed in the way proposed.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | desire to make suggestion to the
Chair to point Of order. will state that agree
fully with the Senator from Kentucky that the motion
fer his resolutions would be equivalent motion take
them up from the table. On that point agree. Then the
motion Of the gentleman from Mississippi to refer those
luions motion to take them up But the vote the
question OF reference has not been TAKEN If the Chair
will give attention to that point will state it distinctly.
agree with the Senator from Kentucky that the motion
fer his resolutions equivalent to motion to take them
from the table, but there has been the
ton to refer, it in precisely the position if the
ton to take up from the table had been made and had
been voted upon shows that these resolutions
have not been taken up and before US, and it
upon that ground yesterday that ruled Of ORDER and
could not make speech his resolutions therefore SUBJ
init TO the Chair that these resolutions have been taken
up, they not before the Senate And that precisely the
position of the petitions alluded by the Senator from New
Hampshire. certainly have desire that these petitions
should be referred to the committee in favor Of
this reference but really do wish uniform decision,
know the Chair does and the Senate Does upon points Of
order growing out Of this question.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair will decide the
point order rssed by the Senator from Illinois by reference
to the rule.
The Chair begs leave remind the Senate that the pro-
position to refer is collateral proposition, and If
peent to move the previous question: that proposition would
be cut Oft by that previous question Therefore body
must that in this it is motion resolution, and
r.