Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-01-25
Remarks OF Judge Phelps in the senate on
the Vermont RESOLUTIONS respecting Sla-

We promised, few days ago, in giving al
abstract Of Judge PHELPS speech in the Sen
ate on the occasion of the presentation Of the
Resolutions OF our Legislature on the subject
of Slavery, that we would copy the more com.
plete report when it should be received We
find pretty full sketch of the debate in the
Congressional Globe, from which We give the
extracts below.
ur. UPlIAM presented a report and rcsou-
tions adopted by the General Assembly of Yer.
mont, recommending the establishment of a
bureau Of agriculture in the Department of the
Interior at Washington; which was referred to
the Committee on Agriculture, and ordered to
be printed.
Mr. t., also presented resolutions passed by
the Senate ard louise OF Representatives of the
State OF Vermont, expressive OF their opinion ni
the powers conferred on Congress by the Con.
slitulion Of the United States, aud requesting
the Sen tors and Representatives of that State
in Congress to resist bv all constitutional means
the extension Of slavery, aud to exclude slave
ry from tie District nr Columbia. aud requesting
the representatives. OF the said State TO USE
their eXrrlion tor the organic uiun Of certain
territorial z vernmeut5, with provSo cNclu.
ding involuntary scrvtnde thrlctrom. cxccp,
for crime; which Mr.. L.. moved To have printed
tor the n.e of the Senate.
Mr.. Mi\GUM moved that the motion to re-
ceive the resolutions be laid on the table
Mr.. HALE and Mr.. UpllAM demanded th,
yeas and nays upon the mOtiur.
air. L. cXprc sed hi; surprise at the objection
tn receiving resolutions OF Il sovereign State
II was usual to receive snrh documents and
print them WiiiOut uhrctiur
Mr.. DAWSON remarked that the rcsolr-
tous presented by the Senator had already
been printed, and were upon the tables of Sen.
alors.
Mr.. UPHAM replied that they had been prin-
ted in the other House, and without oIjcc,ionl
Mr.. KING. will stale that lhe practice has
been, that whenever resolutions or memorials
are presented here, if the Chair has any expcc-
tatlon of any Objection on the part of any Sen
ator to their reception, for the Chair to ask
whether they should be received. 1t is paria-
men'ary usage and law, that no paper can be
received without the consent Of the body to
which it is presented and it becomes the duty
of the presiding officer, when he knows that
there is any objection TO the reception of a pa
per, to put the question, Shall it be received
and the Practice has been, in the case Of me-
MORALS on this subject, heretofore, to move to
the table. When, however, resolutions are
sent 10 us by sister States, it has been the prac-
tice, out Of respect TO them, to move to lay them
upon the table, and order them to be printed.
The yeas and nays upon the motion to lay
the motion to receive on the table were here Or
dered.
MIR. PHELPS. Mr.. President, -
Mr.. HALE. That question is not debatabe
is it?
Mr.. PHELPS. Certainly not. arose simp-
ly to say, as II Is question of order, to the
disposition Of these memorials, that | think the
Senator from Alabama Mr. king is right
As understand the practice, it has been usual
to receive all such resolutions, and to order
them to be printed.
Mr.. MANGUM. Will the Senator yield the
floor?
MIR. PHELPS. Certainly with pleasure.
Mr. MANGUM. wish TO say that the
statements o! the Senators from Alabama dc
not accord with what my impression of the set.
tied practice of the last twelve or fourteen years
1t that is the view of the hOnOrabl Senator,
have no objection, and withdraw my motion
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question i,
upon the motion 10 print, there being no objec
lion TO the reception of the resolution.
NJ. BUTLER. Mr.. President | shall vote
in import, they are precisely the same as othe
resolutions offered by non-slavehoIding States
which have been received and printed. there
fore adhere to usage and custom. As long a,
| represent one OF the sovereign States of thi,
Union, shall extend to the other members the
courtesy OF printing resolutions of this kind
But, Mr. President, shall also vote for it for
very different reason. want the people of thu
Southern States to see the progress of opinion
1t the North. ! want them to hear the Language
used by Northern States in reference to South
ern institutions. | want them TO understan,
that northern States have said that this is a,
unworthy copartnership, and that the North ha
been tainted by the Confederacy do no
want, sir, to impose a straw's impedment il
the way of the knowledge of these opinions b,
the South. will not upon collateral issues O
this kind, oppose the printing of the resolutions
wish these demonstrations to 60 forth in exact
y the language in which they send them here
an shall not avoid them in any form in whc
they choose TO present them.
| MIR. PHELPS. ] believe that the Senat
will bear me witness, that for the ten years du
ring which have had the honor of a seat i
this body, have uniformly avoided discussio
upon this troublesome question. have met
mere upon one or two occasions, when the ma
ter was called up, but believe have met it i
splnt OF Cancellation have met il in a mar
ner indicating my adherence to the spirit of ha