Giving his chair one of those hitches which ever denoted his excitement, he said that a petition from slaves was a novelty, and involved a question that he did not feel called upon to decide.

He would like to take time to consider it; and, in the meantime, would refer it to the House.
The House was very thin at the time, and little attention was paid to what was going on, till the excitement of the Speaker attracted the attention of Mr.Dixon H.Lewis, of Alabama, who impatiently, and under great excitement, rose and inquired what the petition was.
Mr.Speaker afforded the required information.

Mr.Lewis, forgetting all discretion, whilst he frothed at the mouth, turned towards Mr.Adams, and ejaculated at the top of his voice, "By G-d, sir, this is not to be endured any longer!" "Treason! treason!" screamed a half dozen other members.

"Expel the old scoundrel; put him out; do not let him disgrace the House any longer!" "Get up a resolution to meet the case," exclaimed a member from North Carolina.
Mr.George C.Dromgoole, who had acquired a very favorable reputation as a parliamentarian, was selected as the very man who, of all others, was most capable of drawing up a resolution that would meet and cover the emergency.

He produced a resolution with a preamble, in which it was stated, substantially, that, whereas the Hon.