Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-10-13

AN AIoucS WIN
tyrannized over, and they We're natural
~ in refractory, restless, and'perturbed
condition, and if they could not be heard
orderly, they would do so disordcrly."
Page 5l3.
Verify, Mr.. Bell is the very model of
a law-and- order man! He was willing
to join the Abulitionists to traruple down
the rules Of the House, and set at def
ance its authority.
For all these proceedings, see Con.
gressional Globe, LIST session Gath Con.
gress. The pages have been already
given.
At the next session, the former order
having expired i'll regard to the disposal
of Abolition petitions, Mr.. Davis moved
a suspension Of the rules, in order to
adopt a resolution that all such petitions
be laid on the table, without debate, and
without being read. Mr.. Bell voted
with Adams, Slade & Co., in the mega
tive. Page 80.
On the 23l of January, Mr.. Adams,
having presented a number Of petitions
for the abolition of slavery in the Dis
trict, and the Speaker having decided
that, under the order of the House, they
were to be laid on the table, Mr.. Adams
appealed from the decision Of the Chair.
On ordering the main question to be put,
the yeas were l29. nays 4S, Mr.. Bell
voting with Adams, SIade & Co., in the
negative. On sustaining the decision
Of the Chair, the yeas were las, nays
80, Mr.. Bell lodging the votel
Mr.. Adams then presented another
similar petition, and on the Speaker re-
iterating his decision, Mr.. Adams again
appealed, and the Speaker was sustained
yeas ITO, nays 8. Mr.. Bell again re-
fused to vote. Pages lis, l19.
This contest went on in this way until
the 9Th Of February, when Mr.. Adams
attempted to introduce a petition from
slares asking for the abolition of slavery.
This threw the House into a Juror OF ex.
citement. Several resolutions were ill.,
troduced in reference to his conduct:
M to expel him; another, to bring him
before the bar Of the House to receive
the censure of the Speaker; and still
another, declaring that he was guilty of
. contempt, &c. A motion was made
to lay these resolutions on the table,
which was voted down, yeas so, nays
IA, Mr.. Bell voting in the affirmative.
Another motion was made to lay the
whole matter on the table, which was
again negatived, Mr.. Bell again voting
in the affirmative.
The question then REQUIRED upon re-
solutions offered by Mr.. Patton as an
amendment to the other resolutions. The
first declared against the right Of offer
Ig petitions from slaves. MI. Bell
screwed up his courage to vote for it.
The second, for arresting all further pro-
ceedings in the matter, and excusing
Mr.. Adams, was voted down, ayes %,
noe l37-Mr. Bell voting with the H.
lustrious % to shield and protect his
Abolition friend!
These repeated insults aggravated
the Southern members very much; and
when, on the Goth of December, 1887,
Mr.. Slade presented a petition for the
abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia, moved its reference to a Sc
lect committee, with instructions to re-
port a bill in accordance with the prayer
Of the petition, and then proceeded to
deliver a most exciting and violent ha-
rangue upon the subject, the House was
thrown into the widest state Of excite.
ment. Hon. Thos. H. Benton thus de-
scribes the scene in his Thirty Years
Views"
The most angry and po~rtentous de-
bate which had yet taken place occurred
at this time in the Houseof Representa-
tives. It was brought on by Mr.. VIM.
Slade, of Vermont, who, besides present
ing petitions OF the usual Abolition
character, and moving to refer them to
q committee, moved their reference to a
select committee, with instructions to
report Q bill in conformity with their
prayer. This motion, infammatory and
irritating in itself, and without practi-
cal legislative object, as the great ma
jority Of the House was known to be
opposed to it, was rendered still more
cAasperatlhg by the manner OF support
ing it, I.
Repeated efforts were made by South
ern members to prevent the progress Of
the speechtby calls to order and motions
70 adjourn; but Slade having the floor,
refused to yield it, and was suffered to
proceed. The excitement was intense.
At last Mr.. Mckay, Of North Carolina,
made q point of order which the Speak
or sustained, and SIade was forced to
give way, still, however. keeping his
feet, with the intention Of resuming his
speech, If possible. Mr.. Rencher, another
member from North Carolina, seized the
opportunity thus afforded Of getting the
floor, and moved an adjournment. The
contest had been bitter and violent to
the last darren, and the Housa was in a