FRIDAY, JANUARY 20.

tribute out the proceeds by millions to yourselves, and a

few pitiful thousands to us; that you believe that their MILEAGE OF MEMBERS.

representatives are paid too much for travelling to the The House then took up the following resolution, sub. seat of Government! Sir, do you think they will dismitted on a former day by Mr. UNDERWOOD:

turb the honored ashes of the dead, to pronounce a ver" Resolved, that the sergeant-at-arms be directed to dict against him? If my colleague lived, if he could be lay before this House a statement showing the mileage revived, to reoccupy that still vacant seat, he would reclaimed and the sums paid therefor to the members of buke you in language that I cannot imitate. Thank this House and the delegates from the Territories, respect. God, Mr. Speaker, I represent a liberal and a generous ively, during the last and present session of Congress; people; none of your superannuated districts, where eveand that be also procure and lay before this House a sim- ry thing is in its dotage; where you gloat upon a dollar, ilar statement in regard to the Senators in Congress." and starve upon the memory of a prosperity that is past.

Mr. Boox had moved to strike out of the resolution We have no lordly proprietors and fawning vassals that part relating to the mileage of the Senators of the among us; no miserable, half-fed wretches mourning United States.

over the vestiges of colonial affluence and bondage. The question pending was the motion of Mr. Boon to Ours is a young and thriving country; mine a people liblay the resolution on the table; and on this motion Mr. eral to a fault, prodigal in their benevolence, and who Craig bad called for the yeas and nays, which were or- will never stoop to inquire whether their representatives dered.

are paid one hundred or one thousand dollars. Sir, we The motion to lay on the table was decided in the neg- make no money here; not one man from the planting ative: Yeas 40, nays 126. And the question recurring States carries bome with him a cent. We do not come upon the amendment of Mr. Boon, it was rejected here to hoard up fortunes and save picayunes. Yeas 5%, nays not counted.

Mr. Speaker, the people of the South are a travelling Mr. ADAMS thonght that the greatest respect was

people. Your public places, from Virginia to Saratoga, due to the Senate of the United States; he would sug- are crowded with the citizens of Mississippi and Louisigest, therefore, that the Clerk of the House was a more ana every season; and out of ten thousand who leave appropriate officer to procure this information than the home, probably not one bundred travel by land. Our Sergeant-at-arms.

roads, in fact, in the winter and spring, are impassable. Mr. UNDERWOOD thereupon modified his resolu. We have no stages there; and I myself was lwelve hours tion by inserting the word “Clerk," instead of “Ser. travelling twenty miles on horseback, on my way last geant-at-arms."

year to this city-sucb was the condition of our roads. Mr. CLAIBORNE, of Mississippi, sent the following Sir, I repeat it, the passage of this resolution would amendment to the Chair:

not affect me personally; but I protest against its in"ind be it further resolved, That a select committee jurious operation upon others in llie distant States. It of five be appointed, with power to send for persons and would completely change the representation in this papers, to inquire into and report to this House what House. It would cut off and exclude every man in moddeduction, if any, the members of the House of Repre. erate circumstances in the States to which I refer. sentatives have made in their accounts for per diem com- Many of our public men are poor. The public men in pensation when absent in attendance on the Supreme | the old Stales are, generally, men of fortune, and able Court of the United States, or on the courts of adjacent to live here upon their own incomes. But we bave no States, or on their own private business elsewhere." family influence in the new States; no hereditary repre

Before the question was put, Mr. CLAIBORNE said sentation; no descent of office from one generation to that, personally, he cared nothing for the adoption of another; and the majority of our legislators, here and at the resolution submitted by the gentleman from Kentuc. home, are young men, without fortunes, who have risen ky, (Mr. UnderWood.] He was as able to bear its by their own exertions. Sir, I will vote for no measure pressure as any other man; but he protested against the that will have the most remote lendency to cbeck the imputation wbich it seemed to cast upon many members aspirations or cripple the energies of those who have no of this body. Sir, I charge my mileage by the river fortune to depend upon. I will not consent to create an route, as being the way usually travelled to the seat of aristocracy bere, or to fill this hall exclusively with rich Government, upon a principle sanctioned by a distin- manufacturers or purse-proud nabobs. Let it remain in guished gentleman, (Mr. Clay,) when he occupied ibat the power of all to come here, who have the industry, chair, and by every Speaker who has succeeded him. or the talent, or the merit, to win their way, whether When my deceased colleague (General Dickson) and they be rich or poor. myself arrived here last winter, we were ignorant of the In relation to ihe amendment, Mr. Speaker, it is right role. He inquired, looked at the record, and found that I should say it is aimed at no particular individual, bat our predecessors had charged by the river route- I have heard much, but my curiosity bas never led me tise only one ever travelled; that the members from Lou. to inquire after names. I would scorn to examine thie sana and other States had adopted the same practice accounts of gentlemen; that I leave to those who choose for years; that it was sustained liere by official decisions, to do so, and believe it is their duty. I will never at. and we charged accordingly.

tempt to win my way to fame or popularity by any le. Sir, for our privations, fatigue, and exposure, on our gʻslation intended to injure others. But while I intend way hither, no money can compensate us. We were nothing personal, I must insist upon the equity of the inice-bound in the Olio for days, and detained week after vestigation proposed in my amendment. It is notorious Week for want of a conveyance. My colleague sunk that gentlemen in both branches of Congress do absent under its effects, and I have never recovered from it. themselves without leave, for days and weeks. They Sir, print these facts in your resolutions; publish them go lo Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and in Roman capitals, and send an electioneering handbill to elsewhere, to attend the courts. What deductions have every plantation in Mississippi. Tell my constituents been made in their accounts? They attend the Suthat you, who refused time afier time to giant them re- preme Court in this city. Yes, sir! the very men who Lef-to give tbem the poor privilege of pre-emption to are voting for this ad captandum, this popularity-hunting purchase their hard-earned homes; that you, who have resolution, go there day after day upon professional busionopolized all the public treasure; that you, who tax Sir, do we go ibere? Do we pocket large fees w: labor and industry with a high lariff, and then dis- for court scrvices, when we are sent here to serve the

H. OF R.)

N. & L. Dima & Co.-- Atchafalaya Railroad.

[Jan. 21, 1837.

1840."

people! No, sir, not a man of us. Not one that this them say whether they will favor the removal of the resolution is intended to prostrate ever leaves his seat seat of Government from a lateral to a central position; here to receive fees in the courts of law; we leave that from a poor, exposed, worn-out country, to a point to those distinguished gentlemen who are so much alarm- central to the great in'erests of this Union; in the ed about this miserable mileage. While they are ma- midst of a wealthy and improving region, surrounded by king thousands out of this House, or feasting at some a population as brave, as patriotic, as any in the universe. splendid mansion, we are industriously-perhaps in Mr. Y. addressed the House at length, and conprofitably--attending to our duties here. 'Sir, we will cluded by urging the adoption of his amendment. not shrink from this investigation; we challenge it; let Mr. UNDERWOOD observed that the gentleman us have the ayes and noes on my amendment, and on from Arkangas (Mr. YELL) had not been here at the last another to be proposed by my friend from Arkansas, session, or he would have seen that he (Mr. U.) had [Mr. YELL.] In the vernacular tongue of the West, not moved in this subject with a disposition to criminate

'give us a fair shake," and we will balance accounts any of his brother members of the House; but that he with you. We will leave it to the people to decide wlio had done so with the full conviction that some legisla. are most censurable-lhe members from the new States tion was necessary. The keen perspicuity of the gen. who charge by the route that every one travels—by the Veman from Arkansas seemed to discover that Mr. U. only route that can be travelled—who charge according intended to cast reflections and offer an insult to those to immemoral usage, and by the official sanction of offi. persons who had charged by the river route. Mr. U. cers acting under oath-or those who leave this House, would assure the gentleman that he meant no such day after day, and the service of their constituents, to thing; but had only honestly endeavored to bring to the practice law for extravagant fees.

consideration of the House and the country wliat he Mr. YELL sent the following amendment to the believed to be an existing evil, and one, too, which he Chair:

considered it bis duty to endeavor to correct. It was a “ And that said committee be instructed to inquire notorious fact, not to be denied, that a large portion of into the expediency of providing by law fir reducing the members of the House from the South and West the compensation allowed to members of Congress to claimed and received compensation for their mileage by six dollars per diem; and also into the expediency of the river route, which amounted to a much larger sum providing by law for the reinoval of the seat of Govern- than that charged by the land route; and gentlemen justi. ment of the United States to some point on the Olio or fied themselves in doing so. Now, Mr. U. did not propose Mississippi river, on or before the first day of January, to controvert the reasons which gentlemen assigned for

their conduct, nor did he say that gentlemen acted corMr. YELL took the floor, and said that it was obvious ruptly in making these charges, but he conscientiously that the original resolution was intended to throw cen- believed they misconstrued the law on this subject; and, sure upon the members coming from the distant West, | as a member of the House, he considered it his duly to although it has not the boldness, the candor, the manli. endeavor to correct what he conceived a misrepresentaness, to avow such intention. For one, he was willing tion of that law. The act fixing the compensation of to admit that he charged by the river route, under the members of Congress was passed at a time when there authority of a distinguished predecessor (Mr. Clay) of were no steamboats on the Western waters, and he be. yours, Mr. Speaker, under your authority, and ibat of lieved it was now wrong for gentlemen to charge your predecessor, and under the example of a gentle. by these circuitous routes. If, however, gentlemen man (Mr. Sevier) as scrupulous, as honest, and as hon- could reconcile this with their own consciences, he had orable, as any one on this floor, however immaculate nothing to suy; but he thought they ought to have some they may wish to appear. He charged only for the dis. uniform rule of action in these cases; and, for the purtance he travelled, and that distance was accurately es. pose of procuring this uniform system, he had moved in timated, not mere guess work. Sir, let gentlemen look this matter, and made these excrtions, and for no oher at hoine; let them pluck the mote out of their own eye;

purpose whatever. let them cut down their own compensation to six dollars Mr. WAITTLESEY here moved that the House proper day; and then attend to the duties of the flouse in- ceed to the orders of the day; which was agreed to. stead of travelling off during the continuance of the ses. Several bills from the Senate were then taken up, sion, to practice law, or riut in luxury on their splendid (wice r ad, and referred. esiates. He was disposed to test the sincerity of gen- The House took up the bill for the relief of tlemen. Let them stand up befure the country, and

N. & L. DANA & CO. vote for his amendment, and for the salutary proposition submitted by the gentleman from Mississippi, whose ad- The question pending was on the engrossment of the dress has just produced so much sensation in the House. bill. Let there be no skulking, but give us an unequivocal After some remarks by Messrs. SMITH, CAVE vole by ayes and noes.

JOHINSON, REED, PEARCE of Rhode Island, Sir, why is this war upon the West? Whia! new po. BOND, CUSHING, CAMBRELENG, GIDEON LEE, litical evolution is to be made?

Who does the geile

PHILLIPS, and CRAIG, tleman from Kentucky propose to affect? It is strange, Mr. CAVE JOHNSON called for the yeas and nays sir, very strange, that this proposition should ena- on ordering the bill to be engrossed; which were order. nate from a party opposed heretofore to retrenchment ed, and were: Yeas 57, nays 89. and an economical administration of the Government; a So the bill was rejected. party that had endeavored to thwart General Jackson's Alter acting upon some other bills, suministration, from its very organization, in all its salu- The House adjuurned. tary measures; a party that relie's upon latitudinarian constructions alone to justify their extraordinary assumptions when in power. Sir, this their veil of possa

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21. mer will be stripped away, and the people of the West

ATCHAFALAYA RAILROAD. will see in it only an ignis fuluus, an artifice to gull and Mr. LINCOLN, from the Committee on the Public delude them. If they were sincere, let them vote for the Lands, reported a resolution proposing to discharge the proposition of his friend from M ssissippi; let them Committee of the Whole from the further consideration of vote for the amendment now submitted by himself; let of the "bill granting a right of way through the public [H. op R.

Alchafalaya Railrond.

JAN. 21, 1837.)

that lands the Atchafalaya Railroad and Banking Company;" been chartered to construct a railroad four or five hun.

which was concurred in. The bill having been brought dred miles in length, through the centre of that Slate, into the House, on motion of Mr. LINCOLN, was taken extending from the termination of the canal to the mouth up, on its engrossment.

of the obio. Should such notions and objections pretop

M.PARKS had the same objection to the passage of vail as gentlemen urge, this great and national work this bill

, in its present state, which he had to all other must wither and die. This is the inevitable consequence. bills of this kind; which was, that it contained no pro- These companies are like all others of mankind; they vision for carrying the mails of the United States, public will not do a great deal for nothing. Load them down, stores, &c.; consequently, these corporations charged and our country is not improved. If the United States the Government an extravagant price for carrying the gave this company lands by which the road was to be mails

. Where these charters were granted by the made, it might be right to ask something from the comStates

, and they were under the exclusive jurisdiction of pany in consideration of the same. if the Government the States, the Government could do nothing with them; even granted a right of pre-emption to a part of the bur, where they go through the public lands, he held it land over which the road would pass, a consideration to be the duty of Congress to provide some power by with more reason might be demanded. But this is not which these corporations might be compelled to carry

the case. This company asks nothing but a small slip the mails, munitions of war, &c., for a reasonable com- of land, not to die on, but to live on. Mr. R. hoped pensation. It might be necessary (as, for instance, in the gentleman's motion would not prevail, but that the the case of the Seminole war) that the Government bill would be passed into a law, which would be sershould transport troups, provisions, and munitions, from viceable to the Government, and the people also. one point to another; and, unless some provision was Mr. PARKS was sorry the gentleman from Illinois made by the Government for compelling these compa

should have become disturbed on this subject, by the nies to carry Government property, they might charge simple proposition of referring it to a committee, to intheir own price, or even refuse to carry it. He there. quire into the expediency of adding a provision which fore moved that the bill be committed to the Committee Mr. P. considered right and proper. The gentleman on the Post Office and Post Roads, with instructions to had said that this provision would be requiring these corinquire into the expediency of adding a section providing porations to carry your mails for nothing. This was not for carrying the mails of the United States for a reason- the case; the provision simply asked them to carry the able and just compensation.

mails for a liberal and just consideration. As to the idea Mr. REYNOLDS, of Illinois, said that he hoped to be which the gentleman from Ilinois advanced, that Mr. P. excused for a few minutes, while he would explain to held any enmity to the interests of the Western country, The House the unreasonable grounds of opposition to the he must tell the gentleman that he knew no more about passage of this bill. He condemned the practice of de- it than the man in the moon. The gentleman made laining the House a long time on small matters; but the charges against Mr. P. which were not justified by the motion of the gentleman from Maine, (Mr. Panks,] to facts; and be hoped the gentleman would forbear from refer this bill to the Committee on the Post Office and setting him down as opposed to the interests of the West, Post Roads, was in itself so decidedly repugnant to his until some subject came up which would make it more (Mr. R's) notions of propriety and justice to the new apparent than the present that he had any hostile feel. States, that he could not remain silent and at his ease ings towards the West. when such a question was under discussion. The gen- Mr. LINCOLN said this bill had been introduced for teman wanted the company to be charged with the car- the purpose of getting a great public improvement comrying the United States mail, and other services to the pleted.' There was no pre-emption granted them, but Government; and for what? For the simple right of they were merely granted the privilege of locating their Far-say a few feet of land on each side of the railroad. roail on the public lands. The company had asked for This is the consideration on the part of the Government. one hundred and sixty feet in width, but the committee Is this a reasonable consideration? Is this such consid. had cut it down to one hundred feet, therefore, they eration as the gentleman would have exacted in a private thought it no more than reasonable to grant them this contract? Mr. R. hoped not.

right of location. In regard to the motion made by the Such great and national improvements were not only gentleman from Maine, (Mr. PARKS,) it seemed to him a great benefit to the United States in her commercial (Mr. L.) that it imposed an invidious distinction between transactions, but, in fact, enbanced the price of the pub. the rights of this corporation and those granted to other lic lands to a vast extent; the Government was making corporations. No longer ago than yesterday, there were Thore by this improvement than the company; thousands two bills ordered to be engrosseri, containing the same of dollars more would be realized to the Treasury of the provisions as this bill, without objection from the gentle. Cnited States, by the operation, than would be if the man from Maine, or any other gentleman). There had Cuntry were permitted to remain in its present unim. been many bills passed containing similar provisions, and proved state.

Yet, with all this aclvantage to the Gov. | he saw no reason why they should place restrictions on Anment, the genileman wanted to clog and encumber This corporation which they had not imposed upon other the improvement with more burdens. This seems like companies. He would call to the attention of the gentle. I seitled hostility to the growth and prosperity of the man the fact that there was a provision requiring these Western section of the Union.

corporations to transport Troops and munitions in time of Mr. R. observed that these great and laudable im. war; and not only that, but the Government had the right provements are not only a great advantage to the United to lake the road, the engines, and all the fixtures, and cun. Sules, but an honor to the country, and should receive vert them to its own use; and, in regard to the transport. trom ihe hands of Congress all the fostering care that is ation of the mails on these roads, le considered that in compatible with the rights and interests of other sections a short time they would find it to their interest to carry of the nation.

The railroad from Charleston, South them; and he had no doubt but that the transportaCarolina, is one of these stupendous works of improve- tion of the mail would be sought for by these corpora. ment, which we all ought to hail as an honor to our

tions. common country. No unnecessary impediment should Mr. PARKS remarked that he was not aware that any be placed in its march to completion and perfection. bills had been engrossed on yesterday of the nature of

Dir. R. said the same observations would apply to the the one now before the House. If it was so, and he had aprovement in the State of Illinois. A company had it in his power when they came up on their third stad.

count.

ing, he would have them amended as he proposed to Mr. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, also opposed the amend. amend this bill.

ment, on the same ground as his colleague. He descriMr. MERCER suggested that an arrangement might bed the character of the country through which the road be made with these companies by the Committee on the was designed to pass, which was overflown every spring; Post Office and Post Roads.

but it would pass a body of land, now inaccessible, tbat Mr. ANTHONY was favorable to the amendment pro. would bring millions into the Treasury. He expressed posed by the gentleman from Maine, (Mr. Parks,] but his surprise that there should be a solitary objection to he did not think it necessary to go into details at this the bill. stage of the bill.

He perfectly concurred in the views The motion of Mr. Panks was disagreed to without a of that gentleman, that it was proper to begin with some restrictions of this kind. In relation to the suggestion On motion of Mr. MERCER, the bill was so amended of the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. MERCER,] that the as to give the company "eighiy" instead of "one hunCommittee on the Post Office and Post Roads might dred" feet; and it was then ordered to be engrossed for make some general arrangement with these corporations, a third reading or Monday next. be considered it fallacious. When these corporations

THE MINT. once got privileges granted to them, it was impossible for committees of this House to mike any arrangement

On motion of Mr. OWENS, the Committee of the with them, unless it was made on their own terms. We Whole on the state of the Union was discharged from have seen already the evils arising from granting these the further consideration of the "bill to amend the act unlimited privileges; we can now scarcely get our mails establishing branches of the United States mint," and carried upon these roads, when, if we had taken them the same was brought into the flouse. in time, we might have brought them to our own terms. Mr. OWENS explained that the bill related to the esFrom day to day, in this House, we are pointed to prece- tablishment of branches of the mint at New Orleans, denis and examples; and it is said now, that because we Charlotte, in North Carolina, and Dahlonega, in Georgia. bave granted other railroads the privilege of locating on These several branches were now ready to go into opethe public lands without any restriction, that we should ration, and the director of the mint was anxious for it; do the same with this company. He would submit it to but, until the bill under consideration passed, the Presithe House, however, whether, because they had once (lent could not appoint the necessary oflicers. done wrong, they must continue to do wrong. They The bill was then read, and ordered to be engrossed now had the power of imposing a provision of this kind, for a third reading on Monday next. and now was the accepted time. Let these corporations The House took up the bill for the relief of carry the mail at the same rate they carried other pro

EBENEZER BREED. duce or property; or, if the risk was greater than on other property, pay them more; but let them be confined to This bill proposes to return to the memorialist the something like a reasonable price. It was necessary

amount of duties paid on a quantity of wine imported for something of this kind to be done, because experi

into the district of Boston, in August, 1829, which was ence had shown that these corporations would not carry placed in a storehouse, by order and under the directhe mail unl-ss they were paid a very extravagant price. tion of the collector, under bond, which was given in

Mr. GARLAND, of Louisiana, made a brief explana. the usual form in such cases, without surety for the dution in reference to the importance of the passage of ties; which wine, with other property of the memorialist, this bill to the United States, opening, as it would, a

was destroyed by fire, while in the possession and under vast body of the finest lands in the State of Louisiana. the key of the Government. He also adverted to the fact that, unless this bill were The question pending was on the engrossment of the speedily passed, it would be useless to pass it at all, and

bill. entail ruin upon the company. The charter was incor- After some remarks by Messrs. LAWRENCE, CAVE porated, and bears date the 10th of March, 1835, and it JOHNSON, INGERSOLL, PEARCE of Rhode Island, was made compulsory on the company to commence

CAMBRELENG, PARKER, CUSHING, GIDEON their work within two years from that date, or forfeit LEE, TIARPER, PHILLIPS, and ADAMS, their charter. Unless, then, this bill passed soon, it

Mr. DUNLAP moved the previous question; which would be inoperative. The company were ready to pro. was seconded by the House: Yeas 99, nays not counted. ceed, had gone on to make contracts and prepare ma

The main question was then ordered to be put, wben terials as they did last year.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON called for the yeas and nays At the last session of Congress it passed the Senate

on the main question, (which was on the engrossment without the slightest hesitation; but on referring it to the of the bill;) which were ordered, and were: Yeas 87, Committee on Public Lands, that committee, conceiving nays 65. the company justly merited some return for the advan- So the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a tages about to accrue to the United States in conse.

third time. quence of their labors, reported the bill back with an The remainder of the day was spent in the consideraamendment, giving them the right of pre-emption to al

lion of private bills. ternate sections along the line of the road. In consequence of that amendment the bill was then lost, and

MONDAY, JANUARY 23. the original bill was now revived, merely giving them the right of way to the extent of one hundred feet in

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. widih.

When the reading of the journal had been concluded, Mr. G. further explained, that under no circumstances The SPEAKER announced that the unfinished busidid the company anticipate a profitable return from the ness was the petition presented on Monday last, by the railroad, for its construction was imposed upon them as gentleman from Massachusetis, (Mr. Cusung,] from a bonus for their bank charler; and, so far from being a the merchants of B raying the interference of the benefit, would be a heavy charge. Under these circum- | Government of the United States in relation to unnestances, therefore, he did bope the gentleman from cessary quarantine imposed on American vessels by the Maine would not insist upon his motion to send the bill Danish Government ai Elsineur. to the Commillee on the lost Office, since it would lead Mr. ADAMS rose to point of order. A question to the inevitable loss of the bill.

was undecided on a petition presented by himself, this Jar. 23, 1837.]

Abolition of Slavery.

(H. OF R.

day fortnight, from certain inhabitants of Dover, in the be first taken up. It was a part of the general rule of county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, praying for the House to the same effect. The Speaker now, as it the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the Dis. appeared to him, (Mr. A.,) changed that rule by de.trict of Columbia. The subject came up last Monday, ciding that this suspended business should not be taken (a gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. BINUM] being up, because it bad, in the interval, been decided that entitled to the floor,) but was postponed until this day, the petition was thrown out of the House by a resolution At the time of its postponement the question on the re- adopted since that petition was offered-a resolution ception of the petition was undecided, and the gentle adopted without a day's notice, and without the votes of man from North Carolina was in the midst of an argu. a majority of two thirds of the members. If this did not ment in opposition to its reception. Mr. A. inquired change the order of business, he (Mr. A.) did not know whether this subject was not entitled to precedence. what did. So completely was this petition a part of the

The SPEAKER said that, strictly speaking, probably it unfinished business when the House adjourned on the was; but thal, by a subsequent order of the House, that previous Monday, that the gentleman from North Caro. petition had been disposed of. It had been laid on the lina (Mr. Bynum] was cut off in the very midst of his table by a resolution adopted since the petition was pre- argument against the reception of the petition; and now sented.

he (Mr. A.) was told that the unfinished business had Mr. ADAMS inquired whether the Speaker consider- been, in the interval, decided; not by itself, not by any ed that the question pending on the petition had been debate on its own merits, but by another resolution of a decided.

different character, introduced without notice, and car. The SPEAKER said he felt himself constrained by ried without a majority of two thirds. He wished that the terms of the resolution so to decide.

the decision of the Speaker might be made on this state. Mr. ADAMS asked that the resolution might be read. ment of facts, and on those objections made by him The resolution, which is in the following terms, was (Mr. A.) to it. He intended to appeal from the decision of accordingly read:

the Speaker, and to ask for the judgment of the House “ Resolved, That all petitions, memorials, resolutions, on that decision. propositions, or papers, relating in any way or to any The SPEAKER again stated the question, and the extent whatever to the subject of slavery, or the aboli- grounds of his decision. He decided, without any diftion of slavery, shall, without being either printed or re- ficulty, that the resolution adopted by the House dispoferred, be laid on the table, and that no further action sed of all propositions wbatsoever, having any reference whatever shall be had thereon."

to the subject of slavery, or the abolition of slavery, and The SPEAKER said it was bis opinion that this reso- that there was nothing the terms of that resolution, lotion embraced every possible case that could arise. taken in connexion with the construction given to a sim

Mr. ADAMS said he wished the decision of the Chair ilar order at the last session of Congress, that would to be entered on the journal. The question he made authorize bim to pronounce the present case to be an was, whether that resolution did, in fact, cut off, root and exception to the general rule. branch, debate on another subject which was under con- Mr. ADAMS said he wished the House to mark one sideration at the time the resolution was adopted. strong difference which existed between this and other

The SPEAKER said that, at the last session of Congress, a resolution of this character was adopted, antici- The resolution which had been read related to the pating the action of the House on this class of petitions. petitions and memorials to be presented, which, by the The Chair had given to that resolution the most liberal terms of that resolution, were to be “laid on the table, construction, and had been disposed to entertain the without being printed or referred.". The present was question of reception. An appeal was taken, and the a petition which had been presented prior to the adopHouse bad given a different construction from that of tion of that resolution; the question was raised on its the Speaker. In pursuance of this decision of the House, reception, and on that question of reception there was a the Speaker felt bimself compelled to make the decis. debate pending. This was neither " a paper,” nor "a ion he had now made. The decision now given, how-memorial,” nor “a resolution,” to be presented; it was Ever, could be entered on the journal.

a debate pending in the House. The decision of the Mr. ADAMS said that this decision changed the order House at the last session of Congress bad no application of tbe business of the House; it suspended and altered whatsoever to this principle. It was the crushing of a the rules of the House. The resolution was not intro- | debate pending in the House, by a resolution referring Cuced in the form required for all resolutions changing to petitions to be presented in future in relation to slao suspending the rules of the House. Every such reso very and the slave trade. So far as the principle was ketiga required one day's notice; but this resolution had concerned, it was perfectly immaterial whether this pebeca offered without notice. The rule also required tition related to slavery or any thing else. The debate the vote of a majority of two thirds to change the order was pending, and the question was an undecided ques. of business; this resolution had not been carried by a tion. This principle went to the suppression of all de. Yote of two thirds.

bate, after debate had once been commenced. He The SPEAKER said that, in both respects, the very hoped the House would consider this distinction as exsame thing had occurred at the last session of Congress; isting. There could be no inconvenience in taking the and the Cbair was of opinion that this was question on reception at this time. The question was change in the order of business. Petitions were pre- on reception. The petition was under the control of the mented in the same way, and at the same time, as though House on the question whether it should be received or the resolution had not passed. But the House, in adopt- not; and that question could not be decided by this reg. ing the resolution, had determined what disposition olution, which had been subsequently passed. would be made of a particular class of business. The wished, therefore, to have the judgment of the House; reder of the reception, or the time of presentation of and if the House thought that debate should be supPiste petitions, had not been changed.

pressed, so be it. Mr. ADAMS said that the question on the eption There was another observation Mr. A. would submit.

the petition was, on his coming to the House this The injustice of this decision was made apparent by a Zeraing, a part of the unfinished business of a former day. vote on another petition of a similar character, which he The rule of the House, as he understood it, was, thai, had presented on the same day as the present. from Monday to Monday, the unfinished business should I question of reception was then entertained, and the

VUL. XIII.-90

cases.

not a

He

The