POLITICAL.

REMARKS OF MR.. ADAMS
THE RIGHT OF PETITION
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THE RIGHT OF PETITION.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Dec 22, lS43.


The question being on the reference Of the
following resolutions from the Legislature Of
Massachusetts:


Resolued, That the following amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States be, and hereby is
recommended to the consideration of Congress, TO be
acted on according to the fifth article. The third
clause Of the second section of the FIRST article shall
read in the words following Representatives and
direct taxes shall be apportoned among the several
States which are or may be included within this
Union according TO their respective number of free
persons, including Indians not taxed. The actual
enumeration shall be made within two years from the
date of the adoption Of this amendment in the
ner provided by the Constitution, and within every
subsequent term OF ten years. in such manner as the
Congress shall by law direct The number of Rep
resentatves shall not exceed one for every thirty
thousand but each State shall have at least one Rep
rcsentative 4tA


Resolved That his Excellency the Governor be re-
quested to transmit copy of the foregoing resolve,
and the proposed amendment to each Of the Senators
and members of the House of Representatives Of this
Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States


Resolred, That his Excellency the Governor be re-.
quested to transmit acopy Of the said resolve and
amendment to the Executives Of the United States
and of the several States. stt5St .8N
Mr.. ADAMS was proceeding TO make some
remarks, when he was called to order; but was
finally permitted to proceed, by order Of the
House. s-s
MIR. ADAMS said that it had not been his in
tention, nor was it now his DESIRE to trespass on
the time Of the House, nor would this be fit
return for the courtesy just extended to him. A
proposition had been made to refer the resolu-
lions of the Legislature Of Massachusetts, pre-
sented by him last evening, to the Committee
on the Judiciary; to such disposition of them
lhe should very willingly submit; and there had
ffbGen another to refer them to select commit
ftee, to consist Of one member from each State
nor had he any objections to that. He was viii
ling they should go to any appropriate commits
tee And if the House should send them TO a
select committee, he was willing that the Speak
er should omit his name, as being, under the
circumstances, scarce likely to act with perfect
impartiaity upon the subject; and, besides, he
had no desire whatever to act in any way on
these resolutions.


But the debate which had occupied SO much
Of the time of the House yesterday, had turned
on matter wholly different from these ques-
| tions of reference. A gentleman from Virginia
over the way, (Mr. Wise,) whom he did not
now see in his place, had risen and called the
attention of the House, and had particularly in
vited that of the Reporters especially to what
| he was about TO say, which was, that he re-
nounced, from this time forth, and for ever, the
WAR" which for seven OF eight years past had
been carried on in this House on the subject oi
abolition petitions, adding that he for one was
heartily sick and tired of the manner in which
| it had for some time been carried on; whereupon
another gentleman, from the very highest pitch
of Southern chivalry, had instantly sprung 10 his
| feet and declared that, however weary or dis
gusted the gentleman from Virginia might be
with the war and the way in which it had been
managed, he was not; SO far from it, that, on
the contrary, he was ready at once 10 rally all
his forces and to make battle.


Now the first observation Mr.. A. had to make
on this state of things was, that he regretted
exceedingly that this most martial, this most
belIigerent figure of speech should have been
used by either of the gentlemen. The gentle
man from Virginia, indeed, did say that this was
not the place for such a species of warfare:
which was perfectly true. This hall was not
fit place for battle Of any kind: this was place
for deliberation-for the deliberations Of friends
Of brothers all citizens alike Of one great nation,
met to consult on common interest-and where
all, as he hoped, had at heart most passionate
desire for the good of the country All battle.
all conflict and hostile opposition between differ
ent portions of our country represented in this
hall, ought to cease This, MIR. A. said, he al
ways had hoped, and he did still hope, notwith-
standing the martial attitude assumed by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Holmes),
and in part also by the gentleman from Virginia
mr. Wise); although the latter gentleman had
given notice that be would no longer hold the
military post he had once occupied and COM
manded, but would take another position. Ger
tainly the gentleman never did a wiser thing in
his life, a laugh] for the position was not ten
able. the people OF this Union never would sup
port those who should attempt to hold it The
gentleman had therefore done wisely in giving
in an unequivocal surrender. The position was
no longer tenable.: thank God Almighty The
position Of Representatives attempting to dictate
to their constituent sovereigns, and turning out
of doors all petitions and petitioners whose pray
ers they did not think proper to grant, was a po-
sition not tenable, and they who attempted to
hold it would not be sustained by the People Of
these United States. MIR. A. would take the
liberty to remind his good friend from South


