Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/539

affirmative; and Benton, Clay, Crittenden, Goldsborough and Kent, of Maryland, Leigh, Naudain, of Delaware, in all seven, from slave states, in the negative.

On the 11th of December, 1838, Mr. Artherton, of New Hampshire, offered a series ot resolutions, denouncing petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District ot Columbia, and again>t the slave-trade between the states, as a plan indirectly to destroy that institution within the several states; declaring that congress has no right to do that indirectly which it can not do directly; that the agitation of this question for the above purpose, is against the true spirit and meaning of the constitution, and an infringement of the rights of the states affected, and a breach of the public faith on which they entered into the confederacy; and that every petition, memorial, or paper relating in any way to slavery as aforesaid, should, on presentation, without further action thereon, be laid on the table without being debated, printed or referred.

After the close of a speech in support of these resolutions, Mr. Atherton moved the previous question, which was seconded, 103 to 102. A motion to adjourn, that the resolutions might be printed, so that the house might vote understandingly, was objected to by Mr. Cushman, of New Hampshire; and the main question was ordered, 114 to 101. The resolutions were subsequently all adopted by different votes. That which related to the reception of petitions was adopted by a vote of 12? to 78. These resolutions, as well as their author, obtained considerable notoriety, being generally referred to by the friends of the right of petition, as "Atherton's gag resolutions." Although the fifth resolution, like one adopted at a former session, prevented a formal reception of petitions, it did not apparently affect their presentation. They were daily offered as usual; indeed, an additional object of petition was furnished; numerous petitions being presented for the abolition of the gag resolutions.^[1]

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Period from 1835 to 1842. — Political History.

Free territory annexed to Missouri, 1836. — Texas applies for annexation. — Remonstrances — Preston's resolution in 1838, in favor of it, debated by Preston, John Quincy Adams and Henry A. Wise. — The Amistad — Captives liberated. — Census of 1840. — Session of 1841-2. — Mr. Adams presents petition for dissolution of the Union. — Excitement in the house. — Resolutions of censure, advocated by Marshall. — Remarks of Mr. Wise and Mr. Adams. — Resolutions opposed by Underwood, of Kentucky, Botts, of Virginia, Arnold, of Tennessee, and others. — Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, presents petition for amicable division of the Union — resolution of censure not received. — Case of the Creole. — Censure of Mr. Giddings; he resigns, is re-elected.

The state of Missouri, as originally organized, was bounded on the west by a line which excluded a triangle west of said line, and between it and the Missouri, which was found, in time, to be exceedingly fertile and desirable. It

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1. Young's Political History.