Year: 1875

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In 1888, William Slade of Vermont,
introduced into the house Of representa-
tives fire-brand, in the shape of motion
to refer a number of petitions against
slavery to select committee with in
structions to report bill for the aboli-
ton of slavery in the District of Co
lumbia. This motion was like dropping
a lighted match into keg of powder.
The house at that time was strongly pro-
slavery and Slade was met with storm
of indignation. But he was bold man,
knew his rights, and could not be choked
off by the demonstrations made against
him. In vain the members from the
South stormed at, threatened and coaxed
the gentleman from Vermont. In vain
they asked him to give way for motion
to adjourn. He would not be moved,
but went on discussing the question with
as much freedom as if he led powerful
majority instead of helpless minority
If he departed in the least from the ques-
ton before the house he was called to
order if he touched on slavery in the
states he was raped to order by the
speakers gavel; if he read from the de-
claration of independence or the consti-
tuition of the United States he was at
once proclaimed out of order; if he
touched old English law he was declared
out of order; in fact, few members of
the house have ever been called to face
the same unfriendly spirit shown Mr..
Slade. But he had the spirit of free
man, and faced the storm with calm
ness as provoking to his enemies as it
was calling to their pride.


At last, James j. Mckay of North
Carolina, hit upon an expedient to close
the mouth of the bold anti.slavery ad.
vocate. There was rule of the house,
grown musty with age and remembered
by few, that when member was called
to order he should take his seat and, if
decided to be out of order, he should not
be allowed to speak again, except on
leave Of the house. With this nice point
of parliamentary law, Mckay arose and
said


Mr.. Speaker The gentleman has
been pronounced out of order in discuss
ing slavery in the states; and the rule
declares that when member has been
SO pronounced by the chair he shall take
his seat, and if any one objects to his
proceedings he shall not do so unless by
leave of the house. Now, sir, l object
to the gentleman from Vermont pro-
ceeding any further"


This was an unexpected shot to the
brave Slade. He tried to proceed but
the speakers hammer and the excited
shouts from the southern members
drowned his voice, and forced him to
take his seat. The speaker read the
rule, said it was the first time it had ever
been called into practice, and ruled that
the member from Vermont could not
proceed without the consent of the house.
This he asked, but, before a vote could
be taken, the house was adjourned-th
adjournment being polite notice to
Mr.. Slade and his friends that no dis.
cussion on the question of slavery would
be tolerated in the house.


Mr.. Campbell of South Carolina, stood
upon chair and invited all members
from slave holding states to attend
meeting then being held in the district
committee room.


There was rush to this room the
gathering was an exciting one. SHADES
fire-b brand had touched the heart and
and infamed the passions of the south.


Rhett of South Carolina, denounced
the effort as the beginning of crusade
on southern Institutions He favored
the dissolution of the Union, and for
this purpose wished the appointment of
committee of two from each state to
report upon the best means to secure its
peaceful dissolution. But the wiser coun-
sells prevailed. The evil required
remedy, but not the breaking up of the
Union. The remedy was found in the
changing of the rules of the house, so
that in the future all abolition petitions
could be quietly disposed of by stand
ing rule of the house


This had already been adopted by the
senate with good results to the slave
holding interests.


Mr.. Patton of Virginia, was delegated
to offer the resolution, and on the follow
ing day presented it for adoption. 1t
read:


Resolved, That all petitions, memoir
ials, and papers touching the abolition
of slavery, or the buying, sellingor trans
ferring of slaves, in any state, district or
territory of the United States, be laid on
the able, without being debated, printed,
read, or referred, and that no further
action shall be had thereon"


This was adopted by vote of135 yeas
to so nays. Senator Benton, in referring
to this votein his Thirty Years View, T"
says;