Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-01-16

ultimate removal oi tne AOOrlglneSe beyond the
Mississippi; measures pregnant with great prin-
cpes, and prolific of rare eloquence furnishing
occasions for genius to utter glowing words
which p5sierty will no, let lie. Nor can we
dwell upon that other memorable contest which
shook the Hall of Representatives and the Sen.
ate Chamber TO their foundations, and filled ev-
cry corner of the land with agitation. We mean
the Notification conflict of lS30-31.
1t was at about the time when the two last
mentioned events were pending, that the Sen
ate began to take lead of the House in the niti-
alton and discussion Of important measures. aud
to attract to itself an unprecedented share of the
public attention. This was due in part to the
recent infusion into that body of several new
Senators who were distinguished not only for
great learning and ripe experience in affairs,
but for splendid ora,orical powers. To LAY that
when Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Wright, Clay.
ton, Rives. Poindexter, Ewing. Tsllmadge en-
tered the Senate, they found already there Ben
ton, Woodbury., Tazewcll, Hayne, Berrien, Ere
linghuysen, Holmes, Forsyth, Spraguc, and
Mclean, is ample proof that the North Wing of
the Capitol was to be the theatre where the
great questions then convulsing the country
were to play their principal parts
But the other wing Of the Capitol, during the
closing events Of Mr.. Adams Administration and
the opening scenes Of Gen. Jackson's display ed
roll of names scarcely less eminent Storrs,
McDuflie, John Quincy Adams, Archer, Root,
Cambreleng, Hamilton, Burgess, Buchanan, John
NJ. Wayne, Polk, Bell, Choaie, Nerplanck. Ste
venson, Corwin, Evans, Binney 1t needed bu;
this array OF learning and eoquence in the House,
contemporancousy with the still grander display
in the Senate, TO entltlc these four or five years
10 be called the golden era Of Congressional or
atory.
The Notification contest and the closely fol-
lowing Tariff Compromise. and the prolracted
United States Bank war, would each afford ma
ierials for chapter in even a meagre sketch OF
public events. But, the intense interest felt on
these questions, together with the leadership of
the Senate in affairs, were SION to pass away
the heat which they had cngcndercd being des-
tined to " pale its Intellectual fires before the
glowing fervor Of a lifelong controversy con
cerning the Essential Rights Of Man. which.
commencing in 1884, has, for three and twenty
years, ragged in the old Hall, TILL its very seat
and desk and aisle, its every column and arch
and lablature, is associated with some historic
event some heroic struggle, some brilliant tri-
umph in this Holy Crusade, or with some effort
of genius, eloquence and courage IN behalf of
the Right and True, which will out-ve the lofty
dome that looked down upon them. Would that
we had time to linger around some of the scenes
can barely touch upon two or three in passing
The Right of Petition was early put in issue
by that persistent body of men, the radical Abo-
liiionists, whose convictions of duty no FIRE OF
persecution was hot enough TO burn out Of them
IL Is a curious fact, that the first modern ,1emor
ial respecting Slavery, ever presented 10 the
House Of Representatives was the proceedings
Of meeting in Utica, n. Y, deprecdtinq the
agitation ofhis subject 1t was offered by Judge
Bearisley, then in Congress, in the opening
days of the session Of S34 g. John Dickson, Of
Ontaro County, n Y, in January 1885, Gust
after the reception of the Utica memorial) pre-
scnted petition for the Abolition of Slavery in
the District of Columbia. lie ADVOCATED ;'-
p".v' Il" a'' aoie speech. Ihs was the hrs
gentle zephyr Of that approaching storm which
ultimately swelled into a tempest that ragged in
the House with undated fury for many years
The earliest defenders of the right OF petition
were Messrs. Dickson, of New York Phillips
and jackson, of Massachusetts, and Slade of Yer.
mont. Resort was soon had to the Gag Rule,
which, as the flood Of memorials began to in
crease in volume, was finally incorporated among
the standing rules of the House These tvran-
nical measures aroused the ire of John Quincy
Adams, who soon became the leading Champion
OF the Right Of Petition. His great age bis emf
ncnt services, his persistent courage, his skill in
ii
commanding position before the country. Dur
ing the sessions of 1868 and ., his desk was
loaded with heaps of Anti. Slavery memorials
from all the Free States. Every petition dav
witnessed a graphic scene as the old man deib-
crately presented one memorial after another,
taking most provoking pains 10 make a brief
statement Of the contents of each as he handed
il over to the little Page, to be ultimately con-
signed by the Clerk TO some dark cell in the
subteranean vaults of the Capitol.
On the 18Th of January, 1887, the House
adopted Il usual rule 10 lay Ant-Slavery pc
tltions on the table; this being denominated the
iawes Gag to distinguish it from the " Patten
Gag and the Athcrton Gag" On Monday,
the 9th of February, 1887, Mr.. Adams having
occupied an hour more in exhausiing his pile
OF Anti Slavery memorials, pausrd, and looking
significantly at Mr.. Speaker Polk, said, hold
in my hand paper purportng to be a petition
from certain Slaves. II | should present it TO
the House, would il 90 on the table under the or
der of the 18th of January ?" The Speaker
seemed bewdered, and had Just time to SIAM
mer out something about the gravity of the qucs-
tlon, when the entire Pro-Slavery side of the
Chamber exploded with most intense wrath
Let him be expelled !" screamed score Of
voices "Expel the traitor ~ shou'ed Dixon IL
Lewis, whose huge body. weighing FIVE hundred
ivo rdupois, came waddlng and wheeling down
the aisle towards the Clerks desk. The whole
corps of Oligarrhs were on their feet, screaming
swearing, gcsiulating like demons. Polk piled
his gave and called 10 order in vain, while the
spectators in the overhanging galleries caught
the spirit of the scene and were going wild with
excitement. Quick as thought resolutions were
prepared for the expulsion of Mr.. Adams, based
on the assumption that he, had presented Pc
tliOn from Slaves for the abolition of Slavery