A curious scene took place in the House of Representatives
at Washington, on the 0th ult. Mr. Adams, the Representative of Massachusetts, who has signalized his zeal in behalf of the abolition of slavery, presented a petition from thirty-two persons declaring them- selves to be slaves. Mr. Lewis said that it was in the power of the House to punish this atrocious attempt to present a petition from slaves. Several gentlemen upon this exclaimed, that the member from Massa- chusetts ought to be instantly expelled from the House. A long, ani- mated, and personal debate ensued. Mr. Adams defended himself, and justified the course he had deemed it his duty to adopt in reference to this petition. Mr. Thompson, of South Carolina, moved—" That the Honourable John Quincy Adams, by an effort to present petitions from slaves, has committed a gross outrage on this House. That the Honourable J. Q. Adams, by attempting to produce the impression on the part of the House that the petition which be had offered was one for the abolition of slavery, when it was not, has trifled with the House. Resolved, therefore, that he be brought to the bar of the House, and there examined for the above conduct." The curious part of the affair now took place. Mr. Cambreleng announced to the House, that the petitions which had caused so much excitement were hoaxes, got up by slaveholders in slaveholding states. It was contended, by the Southern members, that this was no excuse ; but the House adjourned without any decision. The subject was renewed on the two following days, and was under discussion at the latest date. It excited the liveliest interest, and was discussed as involving the right of petition.—Times. A daring act of villany was attempted, about six miles from Colum- bus, in Georgia, on the evening of January the 4th. by a negro belong- ing to Mr. John Matthews, planter. Mr. Matthews was from home, leaving his family, consisting of his wife, three small children, and the negro. In the evening, the negro made a large fire, and soon after a whistle was heard outside of the window. The negro pretended to be alarmed, and said he would go out and get the axe for defence ; he did so, and placed it against the wall. A tew minutes after, while Mrs. Matthews was stooping down, the black seized her by the neck, and attempted to kill her with the axe ; but, with a bold effort, she broke from his ferocious grasp, gained possession of the deadly weapon, and threw it from her. The daemon then tried to force her into the fire ; and, in the struggle, threw her on the hearth : but again she overcame him, ruse from the ground, and succeeded in throe, ing him on the door. A scuffle again ensued, and the negro getting the advantage, dragged her out of the house by the hair, intending (as he afterwards confessed) to drown her in the pond. Before they reached it, however, she once more made a desperate struggle ; when he drew a knife, and tried to stab her: she grasped it, and, after a violent effort, possessed herself of that also, and gave him a gash in the throat. He fell ; and the w•otnan with her children escaped, in a most exhausted state, to the house of a neighbour. A search was soon after made for tire baffled murderer ; and he was found in some under. bush, not quite dead. He admitted that he had made u large fire for the purpose of burning his mistress and her three children.—American Paper. [Be- hold the blessings of slavery ! This negro had probably been made a ruffian by cruel treatment.]
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