The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-22

ton on the table, thereby virtually refusing to
entertain the petition.-Gdies d SedtOns Regis.
ter, Poi. xii, Part 3, p. 2,OO7.
May l8, 1896, Mr.. Pinckney, from the select
committee on the subject, made a report con
corning the disposition OF papers relating TO the
question of slavery, concluding with the follow
ing resolutions:
" Resolved, That Congress possesses no constitu-
tional authority to interfere in any way with the in
stution of slavery in any of the States Of this Con
" ResoiUed That Congress ought not TO interfere in
any way with slavery in the District Of Columbia.
" And whereas il is extremely important and desi-
rable that the agitation of this subject should be
finally arrested for the purpose of restoring tranquil
lily to the public mind your committee respectfully
recommend the adoption of the following additional
resolution, viz:
Resolved. That all petitions memorials resolu-
tons propositions or papers, relating in any way
TO any extent whatsoever to the subject of slavery
the abolition of slavery shall without being either
printed referred, be laid on the table, and that
further action shall be had thereon -C;aLeS d Sta-
TOMS Register, Vol. xii, Part 3, p. 1888.
Various motions were made, and points of
order raised, and the subject went over to the
next day, when hot discussion took place. a
few extreme men from the South Directing TO
the resolutions, because they did not assert ex-
plicitly the absence Of constitutional power in
congress to abolish slavery in the District. The
morning hour expired before any question was
taken; and the subject did not again come up
till the 18th, when, after long speech from
Southern member, the gag was applied in the
shape of the previous question, Mr. Adams
struggling in vain TO be heard, and the main
question was ordered TO be put-yeas 100, nays
I'm nh H..
Points of order were raised by the friends of
free discussion, but they were overruled by the
Chair, and, on an appeal, his decision was
sustained by the usual vote-FRANKLIN PIERCE
voting in the affirmative.
The first resolution was generally agreed TO
the second, by a vote of 1872 to As the third,
by vote of III to 68$-FRANKLIN PIERCE in
both cases voting yea, with the South and its
allies, and Mr.. Adams and his friends, nay. A
few extreme Southern men refused TO vote for
the reason assigned above.-GaIes g. SeatOn s
Register, Vol XII, Part A, PIP. 4,03l, 4,054.
This was the first gag law on the subject of
petitions adopted in Congress Mr.. PIERCE
was a member of the select committee that
prepared and reported it; and he gave his in
fluence and votes for ii in all its stages, until
it was adopted by the House and in a debate
in the Senate, December, 1887, he publicly
avowed that he had concurred fully in the SEN
timents Of Mr.. Pinckney'S report, and further
examination had confirmed him in his opin-
ion.- Congressional Globe, TOl. vi, p. 81.
The report contained long and elaborate
argument against the abolition of slavery in the
District, Con the grounds that it would be vio-
laton of good faith, would endanger the inter
ests of Maryland and Virginia, would be blow
aimed at the institution Of slavery in the South J
and also an argument against emancipation
even by the States, as fraught with most mis-
chievous nsequences.-.fppendir TO Gales q
Seaton's Register, Tol. xii, Part a, p. lO4.
In all this, Mr.. Pierce declared his entire con
currence.
December &c, 1886, Mr.. ADAMS presented a
petition from citizens OF Pennsy lvania, for the
abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the
District Of Columbia. In reply to question
by Mr.. Pickens, the Speaker said that the rule
adopted at the last session, for the disposition
of all such petitions, expired with the session
A motion was Immediately made to lay it upon
the table, and it prevaed-yeas ll6, nays 30
FRANKLIN PIERCE among the yeas, john
QUINCY ADAMS among the nayS.-Gaies =
Seaton's Register, Vol. xiii, Part | !, p. ,l56.
January 9, 1887, Mr.. Adams presented {
similar petition; Mr.. Gascock Of Georgia OBJ
jected TO its reception Mr.. Parks moved Il
lay the question of reception on thatable, anC
this motion prevailed-yeas, 100, nays 90. W.
do not find the names recorded, but II is fair Il
presume that Mr. Pierce voted in the afiirma
tive, from the fact that he had voted afiirma
lively on an Identical motion made by Mr.. Da
Wis on the preliminary question in relation t
the reception of petition presented by MI
Adams, February 3, 1886.
The Speaker said that the effect Of this me
ton was to arrest the action OF the House o
the petition, and not to lay 1t upon the table
| In other words, the House refused to receiv
it.-Gales g. Seaton's Register, FOL. xiii, Part
p. ,3l6.
The same day, Mr.. Adams presented anothe
Anti-Slavery petition, and the question was pu
directly on its reception. The Northern allie
of the Slave Power were not prepared to den
in this gross manner the right of petition
though they had been constantly violating
in fact, and they voted with Mr. Adams an
his friends to receive 1.-THE name of FRAME
LIN PIERCE being recorded for the first time O
the same side with Mr.. Adams's. The petitio
having been received, 1t was laid upon tn
table without debate or consderation--yea
l56, nays 50-FRANKLIN PIERCE voting wit
the yeas, John Quincy Adams with the nays
Gales g. Seaton's Register, FOL. xiii, Part !
p. 800.
January l6, 1897, several petitions for tn
abolition of slavery and the slave trade in III,
District were presented the question of recep
ton was raised in every case, and laid upor
the table-the Speaker deciding that the eilec
of the proceeding was to suspend all action
and leave the petition exactly Where it was
We have no record of the yeas and nays il
these eases; but Mr.. Pierce doubtless voted a,
he had previously done.
January 10, 1887, the House, under the screw
of the previous question, adopted, on motion o
Mr.. HAYES of Kentucky, the gag rule of III,
last session, reported by the select committee
of which Mr.. Pierce was member, and IN th'
report of which he entirely concurred. II wa
adopted by similar vote to that given for it a
the last session.-GaLes e. Seat0n's Register
Voi. xiii, Part 2, p: l,4l2
February 6, 1887, Mr.. Adams rose, and SAT-
he held in his hand paper, on which, befor
it was presented, he desired 10 have the deci
sion of the Speaker. 1t was a petition from
twenty two persons declaring themselves TO b.
slaves. He wished to know whether the Speake
considered such petition as coming within lh'
rules of the House
The reader of the debates in Congress, wher
Mr. Adams was struggling against fearful Odds
for the maintenance Of the right of petition
will recollect what then took place. The House
was shaken as with tempest. Although Mr.
Adams had not presented the petition, retain
ing il in his possession, declining even 10 sent
il TO the Speakers chair till he had obtainet
the decision of the Speaker as to whether,
presented, it would come within the rule, tn
Slayeholding members, blinded by their lndig
nation, gave way to excuses OF passion, ant
introduced one resolution after another, with ;
view to inhict punishment on the venerable
man for an act he had not committed. Severa
days were spent in this insensate attempt Il
crush the defender of the right of petition, ant