The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-18
From the National Era.
MIR. Pierce and the Anti slavery Movement.

petition exercised BY the abolloniss In 1887 when,
after having served bis State IN the House OF Representa-
tives he had taken his seat member Of the United
States Senate he voted 10 receive, ~ the usual MANNER
petition asking for the abolition of slavery in the District Of
Columbia and sustained his by his voice lie took
The ground with Mr. Adams, as 10 the proptey Of
the abolition OF slavery in the District but declared tat
- he would give which might be construed into
denial Of the right OF petition That was uue when the
influence OF slavery in the ascendant-when It was
the fashion back such petitions with contempt IN
OF those who presented the-and required some
courage in poican OF the democratic school TO confront
and defy the imperious demand of the South, that all
MORALS and applications Of this nature should be hgidIy
the extinction OF slavery in the District OF Columbia
admitted but franklin Pierce, whatever be his opin
assert il --NeW Yuk Epening Post
Mr.. Pierce will be as much surprised as Mr. Orr, Of
South Carolina to learn that he has ever stood opposed
10 any OF the imperious demands oil The South Our
friends OF the Evening Post have derived their nforma
ton from very partial record as we shall now show
Mr.. Pierce entered Congress in 1888 Monday, Feb
ruay 3D. 1885, the House OF Representatives proceeded
10 the consideration OF several petitions and memorials
from sundry citizens of the State OF New York, of
which signed by eight hundred ladies'. praying the
Columbia, presented by Mr. Dickson The war on the
right of petition at this time about commencing but
Mr. Dickson was allowed 10 speak in behalf OF the
passage OF the petition; and al the close OF his remarks
he moved TO refer the papers 10 select committee.
Mr.. Chinn did not mean " TO disturb the deep sympa
thy the tender mercies OF tie gentleman from New
York !" he only moved to lay The whole subject the
table, and upon that question he demanded the yeas and
nays The friends OF the right OF petition took the ground
that petitions should not only be received, bu considered
and referred Their opponents while recognising il in
form by receiving petitions, denied it in fact by insisting
that they should be laid upon the table at once, and with
out debate.
The question taken upon Mr. Chinns motion, and
decided in the aHirmaiveyeas l47 nays II The South
aided by such men as Wise, Pickens Peyton, Bynum,
Pnckney, and Gmer with its northern allies, voted yea
John Quincy Adams and his friends, nay. Among The
affirmative votes is that Of Franklin Pierce
Wednesday, December 10, 1895, Mr. Fairfield pre-
senied petition from l72 women for the abolition Of
,a do,
be laid upon the table. Mr.. SIade moved that be
printed Thequestion taken The first notion and
decided in the atbrnave-yeas $780, nays 3lhe South,
with It's northern allies including Franklin Pierce, voting
yea John G. Adams and his friends nay.
MIR Vanderpool moved TO lay the motion 10 print the
table; and this motion prevailed-yeGs 100, nays 10
Franklin Pierce again voting IN the affirmative with the
saveholders.t
Friday, December 1S 1885, protracted debate sprung
NJ IN the House on the presentation OF petition by
Mr. Jackson, ct Massachusetts,, praying the abolition of
slavery in the District.
The work OF pelionng the subject of slavery had
now fairly commenced. Upto this time the usual mode OF
getting rid of the petitions had been by laying them upon
the table without debate This prevented their considera
ton, and excluded all agitation But few southern
OF extreme views, incensed by what they regarded as
saus upon the peculiar institutions determined to open
the door for sectional conoy esy, for The sake Of
barfassng the administration or promoting discus
sion, determined upon more violent course OF pro-
cedufe The presentation OF the petition by Mr. jackson
was used as an occasion Mr. Hammond, of South Car
DINA, moved that il be rejected; Mr. Garland, OF Virginia,
that il be laid upon the table, rambling conversation
followed upon points OF order Al last, Tor the purpose
OF getting at the question OF rejection, Mr.. Hammond and
his friends agreed 10 have the petition considered, and
Mr.. Garland withdrew his motion 10 lay upon the table
1t Immediately ewed By Mr. Beardsley, OF New
York. The House became again perplexed with points
OF ORDER until Mr. Thomas OF Maryland, 10 relieve the
members who had voted for consideration from their
difficulties, moved to reconsider The motion by which the
Huuse had agreed to consider the petition A most eX.
citing debate followed. Some OF the southern members
avowed that they desired agitation ior the purpose
OF being able vindicate their instituons dep
recaied agitation; all denounced it; and they were
sustained by the northern allies OF the slave power
who abused the ntslayery mea, and were VIII
ling to all lengths Tor the suppression OF agtaon SO
that they might he spared the dangerous task OF an unds
gased denial OF the right OF petition. For himself Mr.
Beardsey sad be was ready 10 give direct vote upon
the pettona vote that should mark The opinion OF the
House upon the character OF such petitions by saying al
frmatively that they would not consider IT, " II that
would meet the views OF honorable gentlemen, he was
willing 10 modify his motion 10 lay on the table. and to
move that the House would not consider the petition, or
would reject It's prayer although laying on the table,
lie thought, was equivalent to either OF the modcauons
Mr. Mason OF Virginia, hoped that the gentleman
from New York would modify his motion that they
could have direct vote on rejecting the petition. "
the House is prepared TO decide upon The principle OF The
petition, why reject at once To refer the petition
act OF supeerogaion, which can 90 no good and
will do much mischief" He hoped the House would re-
consider and then at once refuse 10 consider the peon
or Teectit. .
Franklin Pierce hoped the motion 10 reconsider would
be withdrawn, and that Mr.. Beardsley would so lar
modify his motion Gas 10 meet the appreciation OF all
who are most sensitive upon this agltatng question:"
aud he TO add his request 10 thesuggesuon made
by his friend from Virginia" tMr Masonl lie was
anxious for direct vote upon the question he could
not bear that any imputaon should rest upon the North
in con sequence OF the misguided and fanaca zeal oil
few--comparatively few" &c.
The motion 10 reconsider laid upon the table
yeas 10, nays ".
Mr. BeaTdsley perssting in his motion 10 lay the petit
ton on the table, 80 as to get rid OF debate and excite
49, aEan pI in n.
tye-yeas %, nays l2l Those who voted yea were The
conservative men of the South and their northern allies
those who voted nay tie extreme men OF the South,
who wished to force undsgused denial OF The right
OF petition and the true friends of the right OF petition,
who intent upon putting an end 10 the policy by
which that right had been practically nullihed while
technically recognised As might have been expected,
John Quincy Adams voted nay and franklin Pierce yea
The motion TO lay upon the table having failed, Mr..
Hammond moved that said petition be, and the is
hereby, rejected The debate then proceeded with great
TO the notice OF the House that similar petition, pre-.
scented that very day by Mr. Briggs Of Massachusetts
had through nadvertence been referred TO the Committee
on The District OF Columbia Mr. Patton moved 10 re.
consider this vote and then the whole subject over
I'LL the following Monday, the House adourning ill that
day
Monday December 2lst, it again taken up and al.
ter date, The majority being unable 10 agree upon any
more summary mode OF proceeding, motion to lay upon
prevaied--yeas l40 nays 76-the South generally and
It's northern allies including franklin Pierce, voting yea
John Quincy Adams and his friends, with few south
erners hostile 10 any kind of indireciion, voting nay
Mr.. Owens had previously sent TO the Chair the fol-
lowing resolutions