The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-22
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON, d. C., JULY o. 1852.

with similar resut-Mr PIERCE still decli-
/ nlng To vote.
/ The question was then taken on the first Of
/ Mr.. Pauon's resolutions, and decided in the
negative--yeas 92, nays lOj-Mr. PIERCE
not voting. The second resolution was also
lost-yeas II, nays l37-Mr. PIERCE still not
voting.
! Several Southern members voted against the
first resolution Of Mr.. Patton, or refused to vote
for it, inasmuch as the petition referred TO was
! for the expulsion of Mr.. Adams. not for the
abolition of Slavery, and they were also I'M
| willing TO define in advance the kind of pun
! ishment a member deserved who should pre-
sent an Antl-Slavery petition from slaves. Mr.
! PIERCE, we presume, agreed with these for
on the 18th, we find him moving TO reconsider
the vote by which that resolution had been re-
| Jected-the purpose being TO modify it. IL
was reconsdered-yeaS lij, nays 4S-and then
modified, so as TO read
Resoired That slaves do not possess the right of
petition secured to the People of the United States
by the Constitution
After great deal more discussion and de
nunciation, in the course Of which Mr. Adams
was threatened by Waddy Thompson with an
indictment by the Grand Jury of the District
| of Columbia, his adversarieS, failing in their
attempt TO censure him, settled down upon the
following resolutions:
AN inquiry having been made by an honorable
member from Massachusetts, whether a paper which
he held in his hand. purporting to be petition from
certain slaves and declaring themselves slaves camc
within the order of the House of the 18th Of Janu-
airy, and the said paper not having been received by
the Speaker, he stated that in a extraordi-
nary and novel he would take the advice and
| sent Of the House
| Resolued That this House cannot receive the
said petition without disregardng its dignity the
rights of large class of citizens of the South and
West. and the Constitution of the United States
ReSOiUed That slaves do not possess the right of
petition secured to tho People of the United States
by the Constitution
The first resolution was passed-yeas 100,
nays 80; the second alSo-yeas 1862, nays Is
FRANKLIN PIERCE in both instances voting yea,
John Quincy Adams, nay !-Gdles g. Seaton'
Register, pol. Xiii, Part :, PIP. ,5S7 10 l,73.
We have completed the record of Mr. PIERCE
in the House. 1t demonstrates that, during
the time he held seat in the House of Repre-
sentauves, he was an earnest, thorough, con
sistent opponent of Anti Slavery agitation and
Anti Slavery discussion that he was constant
ly arrayed against MIR. Adams, the illuStrlouS
champion OF the right Of petition that, while
recognising the technical right of petition, he
uniformly voted virtually to abrogate it that
when the Shareholders attempted TO crush Mr..
Adams, and with him the hope of free discus
sion in the House, he would not vote so as tc
secure that venerable man a fair hearing il
a word, that he was the unwavering ally ant
supporter of the Slaveholding Interest.
Insthe year 1887 Mr. Pierce became mem
Der of the United States Senate. Followin!
u a. - L. ...,l,
pursue the same line of policy in relation Il
the Slavery Question. He took his stand by
the side of Mr.. Calhoun, and stood by him ii
his efforts 10 suppress Anti Slavery agitation
and discussion.
December Is, 1887, Mr.. Wall presented ;
petition from Anti-Slavery ladies' in New Jer
sey, praying for the abolition of Slavery in thu
District of Columbia, and moved to lay it OF
the table. Mr.. Hubbard moved to lay tina
motion on the table. Mr.. Clay was in favo
of reference, and report against the praye
of the petition, with view to quoting excite
ment. Mr.. Calhoun wished by summary meas
ures TO meet the question at once. As thu
action of Mr.. PIERCE in this case has been th'
subject of misapprehension with our friends o
the Erening Post, we shall fully explain II
His whole course in the House had proved hin
cussions and petitions and he had unltorml'
sustained all gag-reSolutions on the subject
But, while violating the right of petition il
effect, he had been polite enough to respect
, in form. This course he continued in the Sen
ate On this occasion he was in favor Of re
ceivng the petition, and then Of getting rid o
it in any way best calculated TO defeat its OBJ
iect and prevent agitation. He did not wisl
TO give the Abotionists chance TO make NJ
: false issue on the right of petition" In an
other place he said" All we demand is, tina
since we are to be the first to feel the effects
Abolition ascendency at home, should ii eve
be acquired, (Which, by the way, | by no NEAR
II anticipate we may meet the question uneu
e. barrassed, and not be driven by any cours
e here upon a collateral issue, such as the rlgl
. of petition, or any other" This is key
the policy of Mr.. PIERCE. Mr.. Rives was !
= favor OF rejecting the petition at once-M
u Hubbard, Of laying the question OF receptlo
> on the table-Mr. PIERCE, OF laying the pet
y ton on the table. The avowed object of eac
!, was to stamp the petitions with dlsapprobaton
!, to prevent all debate and consideration, TO &c
rid of them as summarily as possible, ever
Z one meanwhile declaring his respect for tn
II right of petition.
n 'When petitions of this character shoul
e be received" he said, she would be prepares
s 10 act upon them without delay--to reject tn
h prayer of the petitions, to lay them upon tn
table, or give them any other direction tina
+, might BIZ thought best calculated to silence III,
agltalors, and tranquize the public mind. A:
@ a member of the Select Committee OF the othe
2 House, of which Mr.. Pinckney of South Caro-
lima was chairman, he had fully concurret
in the sentiments of the report presented by
that gentleman at the first session of the TWEEN
) Fty-f fourth Congress and further examination
and reflection bad only served to confirm HIN
in the opinion he at that time entertained bu
mad and lanaical rs he regarded the schemes
Of the Abolitionxts, and deeply as he deplorec
J. the consequences Of their course upon all sec
! lions of the Union, he could give no vote tha
? might be construed into denial OF the right oil
:, petition, and thus enable them 10 change thei
position, and make up false issue before The
country"
I He had voted once in the House TO lay upon
=, the table the motion TO receive an Anii.S
very petition; but so severely had he been
] handled for this, that he bad become more
e scrupulous as 10 forms, and now aimed tt
reach the same object by laying petitions on thu
table without debate printing. or consideration
And this is the man whom The .New f~h
Evening Post represents as having stood Will
. JONI QUINCY ADAMS by the right OF petition
December II, 1887, Mr.. Calhoun brought
! forward his celebrated resolutions on the subjsc
of Slavery in the District. Territories, and
, States, designed ayowedly TO suppress the dis
cusson of all questions Of Slavery.
Several amendments were moved to the first
four of these resolutions, intended to modify
! their phraseology so as to remove any lmplica
4 ton against free discussion, but they were
I firmly resisted by Mr.. Calhoun and his friends
e and in every case deiea,ed-FRANKLIS PIERCE
, uniformly voting with him. Mr.. Morris Of