The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-11
John Quincy Adams aud the Right of
Petition.

One day in February, 1887, after present.
ing an enormous number of his usual pc
%titions, Mr.. Adams said hat he had anoth-
er paper of d somewhat extraordinary char
acter, and he would like to inquire whether
its presentation would be in order; it pur-
ported TO be signed by eleven laves Mr..
Speaker Polk was startled, declined to de-
eide the question and said he would refer
it to the House. Mr.. Adams's long pre-
ceding array of abolitionist petitions had
wearied members into inattention, but Mr..
Folks obvious embarrassment attracted
Mr.. Lewis, of Alabama who asked what
the petition was. Being told, he lost all
control of himself, frothed ut the mouth,
turned toward Mr.. Adams, and calculated
at the top of his voice, "By God, Sir this
is not to be endured any longerlp Urea
son treason ~ screamed half a dozen other
members. "Expel the old scoundrel! Put
him Quit Do not let him disgrace the
House any longerl7 A resolution WA NOV
ed that Mr.. Adams, having presented a pc
tition signed by negro slaves, and so given
color to an idea" that bondsmen might
petition, should be brought to the bar of
the House and censured by the Speaker.
Another motion for the rejection of the pc
tition fell so far short of the intensity of
the occasion that it was promptly with
drawn. 1t was intimated that if such an
offender were to escape unchastised, South
ern representatives would do well to &c
home. Mr.. Afford wished the paper to be
burned by order of the House. Mr.. Haynes
moved that Mr.. Adams deserved the Sc
yerest censure of this House; and is CEN
sured accordingly" So the rain of invec-
tive and of condemnatory resolutions pelted
upon the aged and solitary head of tho
stubborn vindicator of the right of petition;
yet the hardy old combatant never finch
ed, but felt quite at home, and perhaps
rather enjoyed himself amid the wild din
and tumult. 81 suppose hat if l shall be
brought to the bar of the House l shall
not be struck mute by the previous question
before | have an opportunity to say a word
or two in my own defense" he said. His
WORD or two' proved, as usual, very rasp-
ing. He reminded the gentlemen that he
had presented no petition at all, but had
only asked n question he notified Mr..
Lewis hat his resolution did not coincide
with the petition, which prayed that slav-
cry should not be abolished: he made the
most irate laugh at the ridiclous and un-
fortunate phrase, giving color to an idea"
He did not, however, content himself with
a mere sparring exhibition, but in profound
earnest made an eloquent appeal in be-
half of the universal right of petition with
out regard to the social status of the petit
TONERS. In time his antagonists became
heartily disguised with the contest; for,
apart from such s%oundness as had to be
conceded to his position on the general
right Of petition they had been over hot
headed and had Numbered into absurd
as well as indefensible attitudes. They pro-
posed to lay the whole subject on the table
but Mr.. Adams ~strenuously resisted this,
being relentlessly bent on having the fight
out. Thereupon the excitement again
waxed furious. The more %perturbed among
the Southerners sent for their esteemed
champion, Henry A. Wise, of Virginia,
absent on other business. They told him
that the Union was in danger. Breathless,
he rushed into the hall but upon learning
the cause of the ummons his indignation
was vented upon his discomfitted friends.
as that nj? ' he said s~cornfully. SIN my
opinion slaves are the very persons who
should petition. 4 The country, l be-
lieve is safe" He helped matters to a con-
%clusion, if not quite in he way expected
by his friends. The House let Mr.. Adams
drop from its scorched fingers and was con-
tent to resolve that it could not receive
said petition without disregarding its wi
dignity and the rights of n large class of
citizens of the South and the Constitution
of the limited States0