Congressional

proposcdas amenamente to tho Constitution: 1 K full and explicit confession of sin against the God ot' the whole earth, in not having acknowledged Bw name and authority in the Constitution of the United States, and in securing, by constitutional guaranties, the African and American sllve trade, and slavery m the States and territories. . - 2. An acknowledgmentof JesusUhnst as Prince of the kingdoms of ihe earth: and national subjugation to him as Lord of all, to theglory of God the Father. ■ 3. An acknowledgment oi the laws of God as the supreme law of the land, and the reviving ofevery law, local or general, inconsistent with the high mandates oí Heaven. . ■ _ . 4 Such an alteration of the federal Constitution as shall secure and protect person in the nation in the enjoyment and exercise of the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuits of happiness." The memorial concluded thus: 'Be wise, now,therefore, oh! ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.- Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, andye perish by the way, when his wrath is kindled but alittle." Mr. Adams said he was afraid the Speaker would declare that the tourth object prayed for, would cause the petition tobe excluded under the 21st Rule. The Speaker decided that this was not excluded by the rule. Mr. Adams. Can that be received? Mr. Wise. Certainly not - it is shameful! Haralsok. It is insulting to the House, and ought not - A Member. It is blasphemous! Mr. Adams. What part of it? (sarcas#ally.) Cries of 'Lay it on table'- 'Burn jt'- 'He'll get us into a snarl and corner us' - 'Let's adjourn.' So, in order to get rid of this curious affair, the House adjourned at half past two! The next day the question of the reception of this petition was debated at considerable length, Mr. Adams spoke to it amid much opposition. He contended the petitions were from sober, religious people, who merely expressed their wishes to the national Legislature, as they had a right to do. To refuse to receive this, would be a bad pecedent Memorials against Sunday mails would be presented to this House. Would they refuse them? He did not coincide with the Sunday mail petitioners, anddoubted whether he should vote for their prayer. Yet he should be far from saying that the presentation of such memorials was an insult to the House. Yet that ground would doubtless be taken. Mr. Wise moved to lay the question of reception on the table. After reading the petition, the question of reception was Iaid on the iable, - yeas 98, nays 80. Friday, Dec. 22. In the House, the unfinished business of yesterday was the consideration of the following joint resolutions of the last Legislature of Massachuselts, presented by Mr. Adams, viz: Resolved, 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 apportioned among the several States, which are or may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers of free persons, includinglndiansnot taxed. The actual enumeration shall be made witbin two years from the date of the adoption of this amendmenf, in the "manner providedby the Constitution, and within everysubsequentterm of ten years, in such manner as the Congress shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for everythirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requestedto transmit a copy of the foregoing resolve, and the amendment, to each of the Senators and membersofthe House of Representatives of this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of the said resolve and arnendment to the Executive of the United States and of the several States.Mr. A. moved that thcse resolutions be referred to a select committee. Belser, of Alabama, moved to lay the resolution on the table, and demanded the ayes and noes--but the motion was vithdrawn, and Mr. Hudson moved that Mr. Adams have leave to proceed. The vote was taken, by ayes and noes, and decidec in the affirmative, by the following vote, ayes 123, noes 46. Two thirds having voted in the afiirmative, Mr. A. was declared by the Speaker to beán possession of the floor. He began by allusion to the declaration of Holmes, that he stood ready to do battlein the cause. He lold him this Hall was not intended for a battle field. It was intended for deliberation. He counselled him to cast off his armor, and lay aside his sword, although it might be pos#esed o f even more magical power than that of Orlando Furioso. Mr. Adams saidthat be was not here the organ of Abolition, or as an Abolitionist. In one sense he was an Abolitionist - in the same sense that Thomas Jefferson was an Abolitionist. He believed the time would come, although he should not live to see it,when slavery would no longer have a meaning - when there would be no slave on the face of God's earth. That would in his estimation, be the consummation of the Christian religión. Bttt in the general sense of the term,he was nol an Abolition ist.He believed that class contained many men unsurpassed for their patriotism or virtue - but he believed that in many of their views, they were greatly in error. He disclaimed all intention, purposc, or desire to interfere, in any manoer, with the institutions of the South. He disclaimed all intention to do anything, that would endanger the safety of the Union. He was most ardently attached to that Union - and all he had ever done was with a view to promote its seeurity. He referred to the course of those who had kept the excluding rules among the rules of the House - and showod that they, by their course, had greatly endangered the safety of tho Union. Mr. A. then analysedthe votes of the membersof the State of Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania, upon the 21st rule - 13 out of 20, of the Ohio members, 27 out of 32 of New York, 13 out of 24 of Pennsylvania. had voted with him. Mr. A. referred to his recent visit to New York State, and the unexpected and overpowering kindness with which he had been every where received - and on what ground had he received this kindness'? For his defence of the right of petition. On that ground he still stood - and, before the throne of Almighty,where he should soon stand, upon that ground he would base all his hopes for mercy. - Mr. Adams spoke about two hours. Another reporter makes Mr. Adams to speak thus: "In that sense, then, that Thos. Jefferson was an abolitionist, and was so all his life, I am onc. I hope with all my soul that the day will come when 'slavery' shall be a word without a meaning in the English language and in all other languages - when there shall not be found a slave upon all the earth. This, in my judgment, will be the consummation of the Christian religión; that will be the long hoped-for day when the lion shall lie down with the lamb, and when all the glorious promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, promisesand predictionsconfirmed by Jesus Christ, shall receive their complete fulfilment. In that day I believe that man will be a nobler, a purer, a more elevated being by far than we see him now; when he will approach much nearer to the angels. In that sense I am an abolitionist: in the se7ise advocated and avowed by any abolitionist society that I am now acquainted icith, I am not, and never have been. I believe, howe ver, that in these societies, and in many of the anti-slavery associations of this day, (and many of them have published most severe animadversions and denunciations directed against me,) there are men of as much intelligence, as much virtue, as high rectitude. and as ardent patriotism as is possessed by any man upon this floor: still. as to the measures they pursue and advocate, I think they are of ten and greatly mistaken. The tendency of their course is to retar d tlie coming of that blessed day for which they all sigh. They no doubt fhmk just the same thing of me as I think of them. I have had little intercourse with these societies generally, and I hold communion with very few of them." Mr. Garrison of the Libera tor gives his opinión of this speech as follows: "The speech of Mr. Adams is exceedingly defective in several particulars, and far for being creditable to his heart. It corroboratesthe opinión that we have long been constrained to entertain of him, by a careful observance of his words and actions on the subject, that his opposition to s'avery is only a fitful explosión of northern sentimentalism - a mockery - aiming at nothing, and doing nothing, except to let the infernal system alone, and to oppose the efforts of those who would effect its speedy overthrow! He is no modern abolitionist - not he - but only such a one .as was Thomas JefFerson, who lived and died a slaveholder."Mr. Belsar of Ala. regarding the Massachusetts resolutions as a movement to dissolve thc Union, moved that they do lie on the table, and thereupon askedthe yeas and nays, which were ordercd: Yeas six hj-fotir; Nays one hundred andfour. It was then by a decidcd vote, referrec toa select committee of nine, consisting ofJohnQ. Adams, of Mass. T. W. Gil mer. of Va. (Democrat,) Garrett Davis Ky. (VV.) Joshua R. Giddings, O. [W R. Barnwell Rhett, S. C. [D.] J. R. lngersoll, Pa. [W.] Edmund Burke, N. H. [D.] Samuel C. Sample, Ia. [W.] Free man H. Morse, Me. [W ] The whole aíFair seems to have arousec the South to the hopelessness of their warfare. They were not prepared, evidently, for the change of public opinión that has been steadily going on. The Calhoun paper at Washington - the Spectator, says: "The Democrats of New England anc of New York with the exception of those from the city of New York, vote with theNorthern and Western Whigs in support of Mr. Adams. In consequence of the change of positionof the New York Democrats, who have hitherto generaüy voted with the South, the large Democratie majority in the House has brought no peace at it was hoped to this qustion." The Madisonian comments upon the proceedings in this manner. ';Let the South be aroused, or she will be sacrificed to appease the Abolitionists of the North. "The proceedings in the House, on Thursday, should startle every southern man from his slumber!" The Whig Standard gives the fwllowing on the same subject, showing that there is but little diflerence in the feelings of the porties as regards the matter. :'The South lept in the Hands of Providence! Weep friends of the South, weepi Your rights, your principles,your feeling - all, all are gone - alas! gone forever. Your foremost champion has deserted, in this your hour of 'trial andtribulation!' Henry A. Wise yesterday formally announced to the House of Representatives that HE should hereafter offer no opposition to any attack that might be made on the privileges of the South, 'committed them to the guardián care of an all-wise Provideneeü' We would thank some mathematician to favor us with an estímate of how much Mr. Wise's 'guardián care of the South has already cost the people." Friday, Dec. 29. The first business before the House was he consideration of the motion made yeserday by Mr. Giddings, in reference to he imprisonment of a free negro, in danger of being sold into slavery. Mr. Saunders, of North Carolina, made a speech n opposition to the motion. He contened that if he was a free man, he could easily prove it, and would at once be set free. Mr. Giddings replied with great force and eloquence. He insisted that he law, as it now e.isted,was an outrage upon human rights and human liberties. Ie insisted that it was the duty of Congress to repeal such laws,as, having been enacted more than a hundred years ago, ressed most unequally and unjustly upon the citizens of the district. Mr. Campbell, of South Carolina, conended that the motion involved a quesion of judicial investigation, with which be House had nothing to do. He conended that no on e, not a runaway, had he slighest difficulty in identifying himelfasa free man. He hoped it would not be referred, or if it was, it would be o the Committee on the Judiciary. R. D. Davis, of New York, was in favor of referring it to a select committee. ïe took high and noble grounds, Loco hough he was, in defence of right and 'reedom. He believed that there were nore abolitionists among the slave States han in the free. He excited the indignaion of Mr. Saunders, who interrupted him vith an angry denial. He was not in "avor of immediate abolition. He was glad to see the good temper, the forbearance and the considérate liberality with which the present House had considered these exciting topics. He hoped the subect would be referred to a select committee, who would report a repeal of this law. [t was against the public sentiment of the day. It might not be repealed now, but it could not stand. Mr. Haralson, of Georgia, replied to Mr. Davis. He spoke with considerable indignation,of the manner in which slavery had been interweaved into every subject that had come before the House. Mr. Beardsley,of New York, (Perith Credit.) remonstrnted ngamst the warmth whicb a simple quevStion of reference, lilee this, had broujrht out. He wondered what it would be wlien tliey came to the sober business of the eessón. He was in favor of a reference to n select committee, and hoped the law would be revised. Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, was in favor of its reference to the Committee on the Judiciary. He regrelted to see so much over-zea] in a matter of mere reference. He did no belitve that the rights of the South wcre in mnch (langer, lel thts reference go as it might If he undcretood the law rightly, he was in (avor of its repcnl. Mr. King, of Massachusetts, said he agTeec with his friend from Georgia tbat there vras no occasion forthc warmth manifested on this reference to the Committee on the Judiciarywho had so much iipon their hands already that they could not investígale the subject. He was in favor of reference to a select com mitte. Mr. King quoted the opinión of Chie Jnstiee Gront, and others, urging changos in the lawö of the District. Mr. Cobb of Georgia, was opposed to the rererence of ihis memorial, and said nothing nrorth attempting t.o sketch. Mr. Stetson of New ersey look the same grounds. IIcreA. V. Brown, of Tennessee, moved the previous qnestion, but it was not stistained. Mr. Adams next obtained the floor, and urged the reference. He referrcd to a similar incident which took place in the second session of the last Congress, where Mr. White of Louisiuna, introduced into the House and passed, a law regulating arreéis in this District - and Mr. A. read from the Journal the action of the House in this case. What was theaction of the House then? Pid wehear any thing of nterference with the action of the judicial inquiry? No! not half an hour was allowed to elapse before the House,with. out a reference to committee, without any inquiry, paesed a law to release the man and re peal the lawHe cloied by expressing a hopo that this subject would be referred to a select committee, witli power to have, not only the law repenled, but also to have ibis man releaeed. Mr. Payne, of Alaboma, followed Mr. Adams, when a cali was made for the previous question which was snstained, and on putting the question the whole subject was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, when the Honse ndjourned to Tuesday. In the: Sonate, Dec. 2, there was a bil! introduced by Mr. Atchison to facilítate anc) encourage the settlement of the Territory of Oregon. Mr. A. desired to have it referred to a select committee of five, and that parliamentary law justified a mnjority of friends of a mensure on a The following was a committee announced by the Chnir, and certninly isa very fair one, viz: Messrs. Atchison, Walker, Sevier, Merrick and Plielps. The bilí provides that a line of stockades and block houses, (not exceeding five,) to run from some point en the Missouri river jnto the west pass for entering the Territory of Oregon. Fortificdtions are to be erected at or near the mouth of Columbia river. Gives 640 acres of Innd to any white male who shall cultívate the some for five consecu'ive years, to g.) to hit heirs in case of demise; alsogive 160 acres towife, and like quantities to the father for each child under 18 years taken with him; and also like quantity to those bom within the five yeare. No sale or contract tobo valid before a patent issues; noria it li able to be taken in execution, or bound by any udgment or lien before the patent issues. - Comprises all territory west of the Rocky Vlountaina to the Pacific, and between parallels of 42 and 54 degrees of nnrth latitude, and nppropriates $100,000 to carry the provisons into effect. In the House, a resolulion of Mr. Hale, of Vew Hampshire, calling for information about he Home squadron, led to an animated debate, but no action. Mr. Hale advocated its reduction. Mr. C. J. Ingersoli., replied and seemed toprefer a retrenchment in Congressonal expenditnres. Mr. J. Q. Adams suponed Mr. Hale's views, which led to a spicy colloquy between him and Mr. Ingersoll. - tfr. Adams was very earnest for a reduction if Naval expenditnres, and intimnted that the iome Squadron meant war, foi Cuba, Toxs, &.c. Fridat, Jan. 5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT1VES. The States and Territories having been called through for resolulions, Mr. C. J. ïngersoll moved a suspension of the rules to go into Committee of the Whole. Mr. Adams declared this motion a breach af faith, inasmuch as he had given way yeserdoy to allow the cali of the States to be continued, with a general understanding on he part of the House that the question upon be report, revising the rules and orders of the iouse, would be taken up immcdiately thereifter; Mr. A. therefore with much earneslness of monner stigmatised this movement of Mr. ngersoll as a "breach of faith." Mr. Ingersol! replied, with equal asperity, hat he was far Iess capable of breach of faith han the gentleman from Massachusetts. Mr. Adams said he should not cali the gentleman to order, for he cared very liittlefor anything he might say. Mr logersoll. 'ril make him care!" Mr. Adams. "I defy him." Mr. White, ofKy. then rose and made a clear statement of the condition of the business of Üie House yesterday, when Mr. Adoms had courteously yielded his right to priority upon a privileged motion, and remarked that it would be flagrant injastice to the gentleman from Massachusetts to deny him his deferred rights. Mr. Ingersoll asked the Spenker, if his view of the case coincided with that of the last Speaker. The Speaker replied affirmatively. Mr. Tngersoll said, if it was so. he ehouk not set up bis view, though entirely opposite against the nnderstanding'of the House, he therefore withdrew his motion. The motion to reconsider the vote by whicl the house refused to set apart a doy for considering the Report of the Select Committee on the Rules and Orders, was then taken by yeas and nays, and it was carried by a vote o 1C2 to 73. Mr. Adams then moved to et apart Tues day next as the duy for considering this report. ïlr. Cave Johnson asked if this would no require a vote of two thirds? The Speaker saidit would. Mr. Adams questioned the correctness of ths decisión. Mr. White went into an argument to prove that the Speaker was wrong, anc that it was entirely a negativo of a privileged question to trammei it with the re quisition of a two thirds vote. Mr. Dromgoole then rose, and after some remarks upon the ground taken by Mr. White, moved a recommitment o the report to the same committee. Mr. Black, of Ga., moved to amend thi motion by instructing the committee to re ínstate the 25th rule, formerly the 21st which included abolition petitions. Mr. Gilmer rose to a point of order and insisted that the two last motions were made under a misapprehension, and tha the report of the select committee was not before the House tbr action now, but was in the same position with all other reports, and must wait its turn to be taken up in order. Mr. G. deprecated the excitement which had been exhibited in the "House this morning, and hoped the gentlemen would "keep cool." Mr. Black, with much warmth, replied that he, for one, should not keep cool. [Here Mr. Gilmer rose and said that he did not allude to him.] Mr. Black went on to say that his contituents would not expect him to keep cool - cool! never, sir, until the torch ol the incendiary shall cool me.Here carne up a multitude of points of order which it is idle for us to attempt to follow. We might as well undertake to chase zero through the frozen regions of infinity, as to keep the record of these hair-splitting abstractions. The whole question of Slavery and Anti-slavery was finally opened up for debate. Mr. HamIin, of Maine, and Mr. Beardsley of New York made speeches in favor of the right of petition. Mr. Clingman, of N. C, then obtained the fioor, and made an argument replete with sound, practical good sense He was the only member south of the Poto mac, as he stated, who had voted to rescind the 21st rule. He had been assailed in various papers for his vote,but with a slang denunciation which he entirely disregarded, We have not room to follow Mr. Clingman in his remarks. Among other things ie states that the right of petition ought to be as full and free in this country, as the right to pray to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Mr. Duncan next obtained the iloor,and moved the adjournment of the House. Slavery in the District. - On the question of the reference of the petition of the colored man, Jones, Mr. Davis, a democratie member from N. Y. made the bllowing remarks: Mr. D.'s own individual opinión was, hat slavery could notexist in this district: hat the moment this District came withn the jurisdiction of this Government, hat instant, by the operation of law. slavery was at an end here; for he held hat there were limitations to the Constiution of the country, and that while Congress could not make a king, it could not malee a slave. His opinión was also, that slavery could not extst in the territories under the government of this countryj no matter whence or how they were acquired, that the instant the territory became the territory of the United States, that moment slavery ceased therein. SaultjSte Marie Canal. - In the U. S. Senate, on the 8th inst., the President aid before it a communication from the War Department, transmitting a renort from the Topographical Bureau, in com)liance with a resolution of the Senate of the 27lh uit., of the probable cost of connecting Lake Huron with Lake Superior )y means of a canal around the falls of St. Mary's. Church and State. - The Honorable and Rev. Mr. Colquitt, Senator in Congress, from Georgia, was announced to reached at the Washington Methodist Church, on Sunday last. The Express says: At home, he has been known to preach a sermón, try a case in a court, as advocate, sit on a reference, marry a couple, christen a child, and make a stump speech - all between sunrise and bed time, in one day! - N. Y. Sun. The National Intelligencer of the 9th says: It is understood that the President yesterday sent to the Senate the nomination of Mr. John C. Spencer, to supply the vacancy on the bench of the Supreme Court, occasionedbythedeceaseof JudgeThomp son. Mr. Giddings gave notice that he would introduce a bilí to prohibit officers of the United States from arresting slaves, fleeing from justice. Mr. Rhett declined serving on the committee appointed to take into consideration the resolutions of the Legislature of Massachusetts, proposing the abolition ol' the slave representation of the Southern States. This was one of the compromises of the constitution on which he would not delibérate. Others might consider it, leaving it for his constituents to act. The U. S. Senate, confirmedthe nominations previously made by the President, of Mr. Upshur as Secretary of State, and Mr. Nelson as Attorney General.