of the Capitol it had been threatened that if a
Northern abolitionist should go to North Carolina, and utter a
principle of the Declaration of Independence'--Here a loud cry of
'order! order!' burst forth, in which the Speaker yelled the
loudest. I waited till it subsided, and then resumed, 'that if
they could catch him they would hang him!' I said this so as to
be distinctly heard throughout the hall, the renewed deafening
shout of 'order! order!' notwithstanding. The Speaker then said,
'The gentleman from Massachusetts will take his seat;' which I
did and immediately rose again and presented another petition. He
did not dare tell me that I could not proceed without (p. 258)
permission of the House, and I proceeded. The threat to hang
Northern abolitionists was uttered by Preston of the Senate
within the last fortnight."

On March 12, of the same year, he presented ninety-six petitions,
nearly all of an anti-slavery character, one of them for "expunging
the Declaration of Independence from the Journals."

On December 14, 1838, Mr. Wise, of Virginia, objected to the reception
of certain anti-slavery petitions. The Speaker ruled his objection out
of order, and from this ruling Wise appealed. The question on the
appeal was taken by yeas and nays. When Mr. Adams's name was called,
he relates:--

"I rose and said, 'Mr. Speaker, considering all the resolutions
introduced by the gentleman from New Hampshire as'--The Speaker
roared out, 'The gentleman from Massachusetts must answer Aye or
No, and nothing else. Order!' With a reinforced voice--'I refuse
to answer, because I consider all the proceedings of the House as
unconstitutional'--While in a firm and swelling voice I pronounced
distinctly these words, the Speaker and about two thirds of the
House cried, 'order! order! order!' till it became a perfect
yell. I paused a moment for it to cease and then said, 'a direct
violation of the Constitution of the United States.' While
speaking these words with loud, distinct, and slow (p. 259)
articulation, the bawl of 'order! order!' resounded again from
two thirds of the House. The Speaker, with agonizing lungs,
screamed, 'I call upon the House to support me in the execution
of my duty!' I then coolly resumed my seat. Waddy Thompson, of
South Carolina, advancing into o