The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-02
THE THIRD EPOCH
THE ERA OF "GAGsn AND CONGRESSIONAL PETI.

IhE Third
THE ERA OF "GAGs' AND CONGRESSIONAL PETI.
TIONs.
The decade embraced between the years 1885
and ls45 may be termed the third epoch in
the history OF this movement. In that period
the grand experiment of the aboionists was
most eGectually tried. They had felt the public
pulse, developed their power and resources, had the
benefit Of experience, and ascertained to what ex
tent the public mind could be preudced by the course
Of agitation which they had pursued. 1t fact an
Of lessons as well to the country TO themselves
From mere handful the original organization had grown
TO be power within self-a power the ballot box-a
power for right wrong, for good mischief self
reliant and too strong to be disregarded Neither egsa
tive enactments riots personal chastsement nor
pubic opinion had been able to restrain its rapid ad-
vances towards the consummation of hopes II lost
ground nowhere and in every saveholdng its
friends and funds greatly multiplied As an indca.
ton Of its extraordinary growth the number OF anti.
slavery societies in the United States the year 1888
may be safely estimated at two thousand with least
two hundred thousand persons enrolled as members
These however, were not all entitled to the sursges
Of the party They the children and wives OF aoa
tics who learned their lessons Of abolition 10 the Bible
classes Sunday and secular schools and FROM their par
ents and husbands The sentiment was ntruded indeed
in all the relations of fe-socia finance and domestic
and in the affairs Of love, Cupid himself made
subseryen to it, ascendeLcy The bellies OF the day
would hardly look upon suitor who not well
worshpper at the shrine of their polite Al passion ~
Of their beauty and youngste domest c destiny was
at all certain OF fruon who sound upon what
then regarded the soul saving question o abolition
The youths OF 1910 have become the men OF 1850
and IL the increase Of the republican party
the result Of the early influences thus work
For the frs; time in its history, the organization began
IN he rdpd aIa IA,
worthy OF a courtship by those who desired it's influence
and support Candidates for Office began be ca,echscd
and such men William ii. Seward, Levi Lincoln vii
liam l. Marcy and Others found time give len, thy re-
plies TO the authors Of this inquiston setting
forth their views. In local politics il was the
moral and political test by which were
the subsequent state action Of the Northern Iegis
latures upon the subject Of anti slavery.
In both branches Of Congress, also, the question
Of abolition for the first time occupied a large
share OF the deliberations, and was discussed
under every possible aspect. From 1881, when John
Quincy Adams presented fifteen petitions in a single
bunch, fer the abolition OF slavery II the District or
Colombia got up and circulated by anti slavery societies
poured into both branches Of the national Legislature in
steady stream. They also called for prohibition OF
what was termed an "ncrna slave trade between the
States avowng at the same time that their ultimate oh
jet was 10 abolish slavery, not only the District but
throughout the Union. II was indeed the only mode In
which the fanatics could agate thu question Congress
and part of the scheme by which they expected TO
accomplish their purposes tIdor the influence OF the
feelings excited ~ these causes, the Southern senators
and members des rcd anos, 10 a mo- ,h1i II The gseh
efn states could net in the without hat ~
their domestic peace continually disturbed by the sys-
tematc attempts of the aboonsts TO prodnce dssais
iactn and revolt among the slaves and incite their
wild passions 70 vengeance, tLe great law 81 self.
preservation would compel them TO separate from
the North. This persistent demand OF the abotonsts
through Petitions continued from Z, session I'M
al, becoming nuisance, al effort made to prevent
tier farther reception The effort was, Cor time sue.
ccssul, aud resulted In what called the sera of
gogs'-thcsc gags being simply a rule If tho House
"lhat ali petitions memorials resolutions and propri
lions relating any way any extent 70 the question
OF slavery shall, without either being printed or re-
fcrrtd, be laid On The table further action what
shall be bal thereon
This respectively passed in 1855 1887 and 1895
and in 1870 incorporated nto the standing rules OF
the House being thcncefcrward known the Twenty
first Rule The vote upon this was-yeas, 12S nays, Ts
The excitement produced in the House the occasion
q those several votes intense, and speeches were
made upon the question by the most distinguished OF
In 1887 The immediate occasion Of the oontos, wa. the
pcrtinacous effort Of Mr. sade OF Vermont to make the
sentation Of abolition tons the ground II agitation
action against tho inst Iton OF slavery the South
states. Mr.. Rhett OF -uuh Carolina, him OF
lie consequences OF such ufammatory bsranguee and
refusal TO desis from tom the signal for gene
raj disorder and uproar. no next morning resolution
ilar that above quote adopted by vote Of lg5
eas 10 60 nays-thc fun thirds aaa nscen "Thls1
Thomas H. Benton, twas of the important
votes ever delivered in The louise" Upon it, issue de-
10 nded the quiet Of the ~ hand and on the
other the renewal and PEI uaton ~ the scenes of tho
day before-ending in breaking up all elaboration and all
Thus stl0ed, aud u future for a few years nj
least prevented in the Hu sc the inHanmaory debates
these disturbing petitions. II the great session
Of their presentation beng offered by hundreds and
signed by hundreds Of Thousands of persons-mauy OF
them worocp who forgot heir sex and their dutiee TO
mngle in tho infammatory work and ,ome OF them
clergy men, who forgot their mission Of peace stir up
stric among thoec who should be brethren. After long
and protrseed efforts by John quincy Adams who was
then champion OF the a5oltonists tho floor OF the
House this restriction upon the right Of petition was rc
moved IN - ,nbcr 1876 by vote OF 1903 to co. Among
the acts OF tl sateeuan 1899 tho presentation OF
resolution that the follow ing amendments N the copst
tnn OF the United sts should be proposed to the seve-
raI states VI the Lnion:-.
l. Prom and after the 4t 1nk s4, there shall be through
out United States no her sry slavery on and alter
child born IN ne United States their terrItorv
N Jurisdiction shal be born rec
with the exception % ~" Territory ~ Florida there shau
epecforh never be ada INTO this Union any state ths
.or stituou 81 which abs o.ree within the same Inc |
existence 81 slavery.
3 Prom and after s.b ~. ssa bsre shp, DO neither