Des Arc citizen., 1860-10-03
mR. nrLL's AvrI-slAvrnY nrconp.

m our countrys history. It was subject of dis cussion and negotiation in the convention that formed the Federal Constitution. HAMILTON and his followers. who chiefly at the North, viewed It with jealousy and suspicion; JEFFERSON and the democratic (then republican, party, were chiefly in the South. They contended for the reserved rights of the States, and of their eeyJect equality under written compact. The latter succeeded, and from that day till this, the same spirit has ex- isted, in some shape and under some nane in op- position to democracy, and the seat of its power with those who have always shaped it's destiny, was in the N6fS, which locality has given birth to all the various iSHs that have divided and dis tracted the public mind from the days of federal | ism down to know nottingham, the last great polit | cal bantling, unless the present '' Union saving | party" can be considered different organizations
 Among the many isms to which the North gave birth, at an early period, was aboltionsm, in the shape of '' abolition societies " and anti slavery societies." These, at first, were regarded by the South (thc only party interested) as perfectly harmless; but soon they began to gatherstrength- the leaders became arrogant and began to petition Congress on the subjeet bat the systematic agita- ton of slavery did hot fairly set in until about the George Thompson, made tour through the North States, and preached the abolition doctrines of Wilberforce.
 JonN e. ADAMS was then the leader of the federal party, and also the champion of abolition fanaticsm. Early in December of that year, Mir. | abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, i which were promptly laid upon the table Mir. BELL voting with the South; but petitions accumu- l lated-debates commenced--excitement ran high; and, on the sth day of February, 1886, Mir. PINoK- NEY, of South Carolina, introduced a resolution declaring that Congress had no power to interfere with slavery in the States, and that it would be violation Of public faith, unwise, impolitic and dangerous to the Union to abolish it in the District of Columbia The matter was referred to q com mittee, who were instructed to report ill accordance with the sentiment contained in the resoluton.- On the 18th day of May following, Mir. PINcKNEY reported three resolutions; ill substance that Con gresS had no Consttati0nat poeer to inttrtere pah slaeery n any of te States; Mat Congress ought not to interfere a apy icay tc slaeery in the DiSrictot Cotafnbta; that m order to cease the agitdtion and restore tranquility 10 the public mind, tiirser mo- lice should De take of abolon petitions Aan 10 lay tem on the tab5e; which resolutions were taken up and, on the question C shall the main question be now putt" Mir. BELL voted with Mr. ADAMS and Mir. SHADE, NO thereby manifesting his desire to open the door to discussion and antislavery agita ton.
 The next session of Congress was full of ex ctement. The 20tb day of December 1887, ac- corCing to the report of Mr. BENTON, was indeed memorable day: "The most angry and porten- tous debate, winch has yet taken place, occurred at this time in the House of Representatives. It flyas brought on by WM. F. SHADE, of Vermont who, besides presenting petitions of the usual character, and moving to refer them to commit tee moved their reference to a select comniitee, with instructions to report bill in conformity to their prayer. This motion, inhammatory and irri- tating in itself, and without practical legislative object, as the great majority of the House was known to be opposed to it, was rendered still more eXasperatIng by the manner of supporting it. Mir. | SHADE made 1t the preteXt for discussing the merits of slavery. Several attempts were made by Southern members to get him down, by calls of order, and motions to adjourn, but to no effect; still SHADE kept the floor, and continued to speak. southern men were lnsuted and withdrew from the haf and invited all to foflow. At last AIr A1 MchAY, of S C., made point of order, which | was sustained, when another member moved an adjournment {Slade still standng and ready to go on), which carried 63 members voting with | Mr. ADAMS against the adjournment, among those voting against the adjournment was JOHN BEnL while the aohole South yoted for the adjournnaent
 "This opposition to adjournment,'' says MT. | BENTON, [" was one of the worst features of that unhappy day's work-the only effect of keeping the house together being to increase irritation and multiply the chances for outbreak, From the beginning, southern members had been in favor of I it, and essayed to accomplish it. but were prevented l by the tenacity with which MT. SHADE kept the
 floor; and now at last when 1t was time to adjourn any way-when the house was in a condition in which no good could be expected, and great harm might be apprehended, there we're 63 members, | Delng neartF One-Ghlfd 0f the house, willing to I continue it's session.''
 The southern members held meeting, and it was proposed to abandon their seats and return to their constituents; but more moderate counsel pre- vailed. Iaiey adopted rule to be presented to | the House, that no more abolition petitions should be received, which resolution was introduced by | MT. PAIToN of Va. ADAMS was opposed to the | rule, PATTON moved the previous question: and the 63 who voted against the adjournment, includ- ing Mr. BILL, voted against the previous question:. The rule, however, prevailed by vote of l22 to 74; BELL Tgnsing 10 oOte On the calE
 The passage of this rule cut off exciting debate. and quieted agitation for q while; but in June l936, MT. ADAMS took occasion in speech to de- clare that the slaves had a right to petition for their freedom, and said he would cheerully present such petition. The Speaker called him to order He appealed to the House. The Speaker was sus- tained-eUgy member voting to sustain him, ex- cept Mir. BELL and the acknopIedged abGLiti0nisfs
 Early in the session of l83S,-'9 resolutions were introduced by member from New Hamp- shire, asserting " that the government was one of Limited popers-that it had no jurisdiction over the States-that petitions to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, and in the Territories, and against the removal of slaves from one State to another was part of plan set on foot to abolish slavery-that Congress had no right to do that in- directly which it could not do directly-that the continued agitation of the question: hy petition and otherwise, was breach of good faith--that
 the Constitution rests on the broad prlncpie of the equality Gas0ng tte members Of the c0ntederacy-that all nov ements to the contrary were destructive to the fundamental principles which the Union of the States rests, and that all petitoas papers or memorials relating in any way to slavery or the abolition thereof shall be laid on the table without being read, printed or referred Immediately
 upon the reading thereof Blr. BELL moved that the House adjourn, but (havng just convened) the House refused; and MT. PoTTs, of Pennsylva- mia, notorious aboltionst, moved to kilI the bill Iby laying it on the table; on which motion, Mir
 BELL voted with ADAMS, PoTTs, SHADE Co.,, to
 ldy on tae table
 l On the 3lst December, l839, a resolution was
 introduced to raise select committee for abolition petitions, and, on a motion to suspend the rule, 1 Mr pnII voted with AnAMs. SIAnE. LEHMAN.