13 December 1838
adams-john10 Neal Millikan US Constitution Slave Trade Gag Rule Fugitive Slave Laws South, The Reform Movements
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13. V. Thursday

Fletcher Richard Adams of Calcutta.

Mr Fletcher called on me this morning with Mr Adams the gentleman from India whom I lately met at the Wednesday Evening club at Dr Francis Parkman’s in Boston. His stay in this City is to be only of one or two days— H.R.U.S. Kennedy’s motion to suspend the rules, to repass one of Atherton’s Resolutions by turning it into good Grammar, was after some desultory conversation withdrawn— I then offered mine— Resolved that the powers of Congress being conferred by the Constitution of the United States, no Resolution of this House can add to or deduct from them. Objection was made to its introduction. I moved a suspension of the rules, to introduce it, which was refused by yeas and Nays Wise then offered a string of what he called Southern Resolutions ultra-servile; but the suspension of the rules was again refused.

Slade offered a Resolution, declaring the infamous nature of the Slave trade, as carried on in the District of Columbia, and concluding that therefore, so much of Atherton’s Resolution as related to that subject be rescinded. Suspension of the rules refused John Calhoun of Kentucky, offered a Resolution, instructing the Committee on the judiciary to report Bills for enforcing in the non-slave holding States, the restitution of fugitive Slaves. Suspension again refused. The comparison of the yeas and nays upon these different questions might perhaps lead to some useful conclusions— They indicate the rallying of the whole South to the Van Buren Standard—the close adhesion to it of the Northern and Western Serviles, and the total want of settled principle in the Northern and Western opposition whigs— I doubt if there are five members in the House who would vote for a Bill to abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, at this time— The conflict between the principle of liberty, and the fact of Slavery is coming gradually to an issue— Slavery has now the power and falls into convulsions at the approach of Freedom— That the fall of Slavery, is predetermined in the counsels of omnipotence, I cannot doubt— It is a part of the great moral improvement in the condition of man, attested by all the records of History— But the conflict will be terrible, and the progress of improvement perhaps retrograde before its final progress to consummation. This business having been disposed of the House proceeded to the election viva voce of a Chaplain— Nine or ten persons were nominated—of whom I nominated the Revd. Philemon N. Fowler minister of the Presbyterian Church in this City in which I am a pew-holder— He had already been nominated by Mr Gallup of New-York— The number of votes given was 198. necessary for a choice 100. The Revd L. R. Reese, chaplain of the house at the last Session, had just the number of 100 votes and was chosen—and about 3. the house adjourned— At 7 in the evening I walked again to the Capitol and heard a Lecture delivered by professor J. Orville Taylor of the University of New-York, in behalf of the American Common School Society— Very dull flat 688flat, and common place— The house was crowded with an auditory, male and female— William Cost Johnson in the Chair. After the Professor had finished Mr James Barbour of Virginia, made a speech not ineloquent, and offered a Resolution— He is accidentally here, and suffered his good nature to enlist him in this service— He came to me, and proposed to me to take it in his place, but I declined— The professor himself also came to me with a Resolution ready prepared which he requested me to offer—but I declined to take any part in the proceedings whatever— Mr Orville Taylor then invited any person present who might be so disposed to address the Meeting, and Francis S. Key offered a Resolution, recommending the formation of a Common School Society in the District of Columbia, auxiliary to the American common School Society— Key’s Speech was a rigmarole about the wonderful exemplification of the use of common Schools, in the proficiency made by the deaf and dumb, when properly schooled— I was tempted to move an amendment to his Resolution for establishing a Common School in the District of Columbia, by adding “for the education of all the children in the District.” which would have fallen like a bomb shell in the meeting. Coll. W. J. Stone offered a Resolution and made a speech,—and to crown the whole the professor made another Speech and moved a Resolution recommending to the people of the United States the use of Town’s spelling book. Coll. Stone moved an amendment recommending Mr Gallaudet’s school books, for the excellency of which a Mr Orr rising among the auditory vouched. Obadiah Titus a member of the House from New-York, moved a vote of thanks to the professor for his lecture which was carried— The Meeting about half past 9. adjourned, and I walked home

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