icon for Home page
icon for Kid's Home page
icon for Digital Collection
icon for Activities
icon for Turns Exhibit
icon for In the Classroom
icon for Chronologies
icon for My Collection

Online Collection

Congress Jan. 9.- The House were engaged the whole day on the questions connected with the presentation of Abolition Petitions by Mr. Adams. The first petition was from 150 women and children, praying for the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. Glascock of Geo. objected to the reception of the petition, with a few remarks. Mr. Parks moved to lay the question of reception on the table- which was agreed to by the House- Mr. Adams remarking that he should call up the petition every morning during the session until it was properly disposed of. Mr. A. then presented a memorial of 200 other females, citizens of South Weymouth, praying for the same object. Mr. A. proceeded to read this petition, after stating that is was very brief. Several members called Mr. A. to order. Mr. Chambers, of Ky. made a point of order. The Chair decided that Mr. A. could not read the memorial and must confine himself to a brief statement of the contents of the paper. Mr. A. said he intended to appeal from the decision of the chair if he understood it. "If it was intended to suppress the liberty of speech and the right to discussion in the House, so help him GOD, he would resist it." Some discussion took place on the question of order.

Mr. Adams said the rule read by the Chair was obsolete. He hoped the gentleman from Ky. would withdraw his objection, and permit him to finish reading the memorial. There were but two lines more of it, and those it was important for the House to hear. He would compromise the matter and withdraw his appeal, if the House would suffer him to complete his really "brief statement." Mr. A. proceeded. The memorialists conclude by stating that they renew their memorial every year, during their lives, &c.

Loud cries of "order," "order," from every part of the House.

The Speaker said, the gentleman from Mass. must come to order.

Mr. Adams proceeded, raising his voice, which was, however, completely drowned by tremendous cries of "order," "order."

The Speaker rose, and under great excitement, peremptorily ordered the member from Mass. to take his seat.

Mr. Adams having concluded his remarks, sat down: at the same time saying, - "I withdraw my appeal."

Mr. Glascock objected to the reception of the petition.

After some more uproar the main question,- "shall the petition be received," was taken and decided in the affirmative, yeas 137, nays 75, accordingly the petition was received, and laid on the table on motion of Mr. Haynes. Mr. Adams then rose and presented another petition of the same character, from sundry citizens of his District. Another uproarious debate on the reception of this memorial appeared to be in progress, when the House thought fit to adjourn.

By the rules as construed by Mr. Speaker Polk, the resolution of the last session, disposing of these memorials without debate, is considered as having expired with the last session, so the field is open for a repetition of the angry debate of last winter on the topic.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.



label levels:

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), President of the United States from 1825-1829, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1830. In January, 1837, he presented petitions for the abolition of slavery to the House, which caused quite a debate and uproar. This article from the Greenfield, Massachusetts, newspaper describes the proceedings. The Greenfield Gazette and Franklin Herald was the newspaper in Greenfield, Massachusetts, from June 26, 1827 to June 27, 1837. It changed its name to the Gazette & Mercury.

 

top of page

"Congress Jan. 9" article from Greenfield Gazette and Franklin Herald newspaper

publisher   Greenfield Gazette and Franklin Herald
date   Jan 17, 1837
location   Greenfield, Massachusetts
height   8.5"
width   2.25"
process/materials   printed paper, ink
item type   Periodicals/Newspaper
accession #   #L05.040


Look Closer icon My Collection icon Document Image icon Detailed info icon


ecard icon Send an e-Postcard of this object



See Also...

"Negro Slavery in Massachusetts"

"Exhibition of the Young Men's Lyceum"

"Mass Convention at Old Deerfield"


button for Side by Side Viewingbutton for Glossarybutton for Printing Helpbutton for How to Read Old Documents

 

Home | Online Collection | Things To Do | Turns Exhibit | Classroom | Chronologies | My Collection
About This Site | Site Index | Site Search | Feedback