The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-17
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON d. c., JUNE II, 1852

come up till the 25th, when, after long
speech from a 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 10 be put yeas
lO9, nays S9-FRANKLIs PIERCE voting with
the South. Points of order were raised by
the friends of free discussion, but they were
overrued 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 vote of 1872 to As; the third,
by vote of III to 6S-FRANKLIS 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 abOye.*
This was the first gag law on the subject of
petitions adopted in Congress; Mr.. PIERCE
was member of the select committee that
prepared and reported it; and he gave his in
fluence and votes for il in all it's stages, until
it was adopted by the House and in debate
in the Senate, December, 1887, he publicly
avowed that he had concurred fully in the SEN
timents of Mr.. Pinckneys report, and further
examination had confirmed him in his opin-
ion.t The report contained long and elab-
crate argument against the abolition of slavery
in the District ION the grounds that it would
would DO violation of good faith, would en-
danger the interests 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 ms
fraught with the most mischevous conse-
quences.t In oil this Mr.. Pierce declared
his entire concurrence.
December &c, 1886, Mr.. ADAMS presented a
petition from citizens of Pennsylvania 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 prevailed, yeas ll6, nays 3d.
FRANKLIN PIERCE among the yeas, JOHN
Quincy ADAMS among the naysS
January 9, 1897, Mr. Adams presented a
similar petition; Mr. Glascock of Georgia OBJ
jected to its reception Mr. Parks moved to
lay the question Of reception on the table, and
this motion prevaled-yeas 100, nays 60. We
do not find the names recorded, but it is fair to
presume that Mr.. Pierce voted in the afirma-
tive, from the fact that he had voted afirma-
lively on an identical motion made by MIR.
Davis on the preliminary question in relation
to the reception Of a petition presented by Mr..
Adams February 3, 1886
The Speaker said that the effect of this mo-
ton was to arrest the action of the House on
the petition, and not to lay it upon the table.
In other words, the House refused to receive
it'll
The same day MIR. Adams presented another
petition, and the question was put
directly on its reception. The Northern allies
IF the Slave Power were not prepared to deny
IN this gross manner the right of petition,
though they had been constantly violating it
n fact and they voted with Mr.. Adams and
iis friends to receive 1.-THE name of FRANK
in PIERCE being recorded for the first time on
he same side with Mr. Adams's. The petition
having been received, it was laid upon the
able without debate or consideration.-yeos
So, nays 50-FRANKLN PIERCE voting with
he peas, John Quincy Adams with the nays.1
January 10, 1887, several petitions for the
lbolition of slavery and the slave trade in the
District were presented; the question Of rccep-
ion was raised in every case and laid upon
the table-the Speaker deciding that the effect
of the proceeding was to suspend all action,
and leave the petition exactly whore it was.
We have no record of the yeas and nays in
these cases but MIR. Pierce doubtless voted as
he had previously done.
January 10, 1897, the House, under the screw
of the previous question, adopted, on motion of
Mr. Halves of Kentucky, the gag rule of the
last session, reported by the select committee
of which Mr.. Pierce was member, and in the
report of which he entirely concurred 1t was
adopted by similar vote to that given for it
ut the last sessions
February 6 1897, Mr.. Adams rose, and said
he held in his hand a paper, on which, before
it was presented, he desired to have the deci-
sion of the Speaker. 1t was a petition from
twenty-five persons declaring themselves to be
Lal t,,l tha- tl,a oLa~
considered such petition as coming within
the rules Of the House.
The reader of the debates in Congress, when
MIR. Adams was struggling against fearful odds
for the maintenance of the right of petition,
will recollect what then took place. The House
was shaken AZ with tempest Although Mr.
Adams had not presented the petition, retain
ing itfn his possession, declining even to send
it to the Speakers chair till he had obtained
the decision of the Speaker as to whether, if
presented, it would come within the rule, the
members, blinded by their indig-
nation, gave way to cxcesses of passion, and
introduced one resolution after another, with
view to nttlct punishment on the venerable
man for an act he had not committed Several
days were spent in this insensate attempt to
crush the defender of the right of petition, and
it was with extreme difficulty he obtained the
floor to correct the gross misrepresentation of
his adversares and vindicate his conduct
At last, they agreed to urge the following
resolution, submitted by MIR Patton of virgin:r
"Resoired, That any member who shall here
after present to the House any petition from
the slaves Of this Union, ought to be considered
~ regardless Of tho feelings Of the House, tho
rights Of the Southern States and uniriendy
TO the Union
That the Hon. John Quincy Adams having
solemnly dsclaimed all design Of doing any
thing disrespectful to the House, in the inquiry
he made Of the Speaker rs to the petition pur-