The primitive Republican., 1852-07-08

D tempest Altnougn MT. Adams had nOtl
presented the petition, retaining it in his
possession, declining even to send it to the
Speakers chair till he had obtained the de-
cision of the Speaker as to whether, if pre-
lsented, it would come within the rule. the
ISlaveholding members, blinded by their in
dignation, gave way to excesses of passion,
and introduced one resolution after another,
with view to infict punishment on the ven
cradle man for an act he had not committed.
Several days were spent in this insensate at
tempt 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 adversaries and vim
dicate his conduct
At last, they agreed to urge the follow
ing resolution, submitted by Mr.. Patton of
Virginia:
"Resolued, That any member who shall
hereafter present to the House any petition
from the slaves of this Union, ought to be
considered as regardless of the feelings of
the House, the lights of the Southern States,
and unfriendly to the Union.
"That the Hon. John Quincy Adams
! having solemnly disclaimed all design Of do
f ing anything disrespectful to the House, in
the inquiry he made of the Speaker as to
the petition purporting to be from slaves,
and having avowed his intention not hereaf-
ter to present the petition to the House, be-
f ing of opinion that it ought not to be pre-
Y sented: therefore all further proceedings in
4 regard to his conduct do now cease"
1t was moved to lay the whole subject on
the table, but Mr.. Adams and his friends
q keenly felt that, after all the vindictive as
e saults upon him, without opportunity having
been allowed him for defence, this would be
e disposition of the subject highly unjust
s They voted against the motion, as did the
n Southern members, who were anxious to
l. have an expression of opinion on the trans
action, the motion failed-but Mr.. Pierce
It did not cote at all. He would not vote to
e give Mr.. Adams chance to be heard; he
1t would not vote against any Of his Southern
is friends,
$, February 8, the subject being still under
N discussion, the motion to get rid of the sub
le ject by laying it on the table, was agar
y made, and with similar result-Mr. Pierce
t. still declining to vote.
m The question was then taken on the frs
a of Mr.. Patton's resolutions, and decided il
ne the negative-yeas 90, nays 105-Mr
ne Pierce not voting. The second resolution
od was also lost-yeas 81, nays 137-Mr
y, Pierce still not voting.
ea Several Southern members voted agains
y the first resolution of Mr. Patton, or refuse
n, to vote for it, inasmuch as the petition refel
ISL red to was for the expulsion of Mr.. Adam
Is, not for the abolition of slavery, and the
: were also unwilling to define in advance IL
nt- kind of punishment member deserved wi
ia should present an Anti-Slavery petition fro
We slaves. Mr.. Pierce, we presume, agree
re- with these; for on the 11th, we find hi
lk- moving to reconsider the vote by which tn
es- resolution had been nrejected-the purpose b
ns, ing to modify it. 1t was reconsidered, ye
M 145, nays 48, and then modified, so as
nd read
~ ~ 'Reso7ced, That slaves donot possess Il
0 right of petition secured to the People of t
! United States by the Constitution"
gia After a great deal more discussion al
Ved denunciation, in the couse of which Mr.. A
Die, ans was threatened by Waddy Thomps
avs with an Indictment by the Grand Jury
led, the District of Columbia, his adversar;
ted failing in their attempt to censure him, S
had tied down upon the following resolutions ;
m tOn "An inquiry having been made by
AGs- I honorable member from DIassachusct
~ whether paper which he held in his ha
4b;a purporting to be a petition from cert'
'nlS slaves, and declaring themselves slaves, ca
'ISe tI within the order of the House of the Il
9 sn9 of January, and the said paper not havi
1'0u been received by the Speaker, he stated t
in case so extraordinary and novel
an- would take the advice and consent Of
Tlon w House:
nro- "Resozved That this House cannot
tho ceive the said petition without disregard
con, its own dignity, the rights of large class
oted citizens of the South and West, and
,oivo Constitution of the United States.
re- "Reeo7ved, That slaves do not possess
side right Of petition secured to the People of
wing United States by the Constitution"
M 15e The first resolution was passed-yeas
az 49, nays 80; the second also-yeas 162, /
= q 18-Franklin Pierce in both instances
:. for u ing yea, John Quincy Adams, nGy!
raJe We have completed the record Of
st;on Pierce in the House. It demonstrates
oOd during the time he held a seat in the FL
d;na of Repr presentatives, he was an earnest,
sns5 ough, consistent opponent of Anti-Sla
xact I agitation and Anti-Slavery discussion;
T W the he was constantly arrayed against Mr.
ioro ~, ans, the illustrious champion of the rig
NC ~ petition; that, while recognising the tet
aS. cal right of petition, he uniformly voted
;ore% ~ tually to abrogate it; that when the S
of4b aS4 holders attempted to crush Mr. Adams,
:; .n with him the hope of free discussion II
- S :; House, he would not vote SO as to sc
~ - - that venerable man a fair hearing;
= - word, that he was the unwavering ally
= CIV supporter of the Slayeholding Interest.
and = Gales & seaton's Register, Vol. xiii, p
7hich, PIP. 1857 to 1,734.
have -
,peti- A Short Chapter on Sacks.
them
1r.l