Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-03
CotsnrG88.
no USE or REPRESENTATIVE
WEDNESDAY,, Oct. 2S.


mitteeS was taken up; and the amend
ment OF Mr. Blnunt, tirectisg their election
20 be BY ballot, being under Consideration.
Mr. Blount said he did rot think it neccs-
s1ry tr use any arguments in support of
his Tnt'oi, but. as I've considered it as en-
bracimg All Important principle, he would
take the lihcrly Of calling for the yeas and
Ravs upon it.
The yeas and nays were agreed to be
taken;
Mr. Sloan observed rs the yeas and navs
were to he taken on this question, he
Thought il necessary to state the reasons
which would govern his vote. The did
members of the House would recoiIect
that at \ former session he had brought
forward a resolution similar to the yrescnt,
which was lost. But he considered tie
present case to be some what different
There are many new members in the
House at the present time, not qualified. to
vote by ballot, heGausc unacGuainted witt,
the members An additional reason for
mis- voting Ill trrcnt'V at present, was. that
the nguib"r Of the committees WAS cans-
derably extended, and he did not think it
necessary TO take up the time of the House
in b1lloting for so m1nv. His opinion was,
that the three most important committees
ought to he appointed by ballot, to witt
The committee of claims, the committee
of commerce and manufactures, and the
committee OF ways and means. He should
therefore vote in the negative.
The question being called for, the Speak
er stated TO the House, that the Clerk had
not yet prepared an alphabetical list ofthe
members, so that he could not proceed to
call the names of members in tile manner
prescribed by the rules of the House.
Mr. Bloun: supposed it would make M
difference IF the names OF the members
should I've called bv states lie ONLY wish
ed tn see how gentlemen who had so siren
rously advocated the bsllo,ing for these
committees heretofore would now vote.-
He hoped the House would unanimously
agree to dispense with the rule OF the
House on this occasion.
The question was put, but there being a
few negatives the rule co3ld not be dispene.
ed with.
Mr. Blount declined Withdrawing the
motion for taking the yeas and nays, AID
an alphabetical list was dirccted TO DC
prepared. -
MIR Thomas was informed that IL would
take half an honr TO make ont tie prop0s-
cd list, and as there was other business on
the table, he moved that the present aoti-
on should lie on the table for one hour.
MIR Van Cortiandt -hcusht this noycl
procedure. He believed it would not Sc
IN order to postpone he business, except
TO day certain.
The Speaker said, that a motion miglt
be made at any time for resolution To lie
on the table without specifying any time.
The motion for lying on lie table was
carried, there being rs votes IL favor OF
it.
On motion, the House took up for consi-
Iteration the resolution Yesterday received
from the Senate. for the appointment of
two Cbaplains, to Interchange betwixt tue
two Houses weekly, which WAS concVrred
with, there being 81 votes in favor oft.
The Speaker laid before the House a
communication from Mr. Latfobe, the ar
chitect Of the Capitol, giving an account of
the design of the building, and the use for
which the several parts GIFT are intended {;
which was ordered die on the table.
MIR y. x. Williams said that the order
passed yes:e rday respecting newspapers.
was an exac; copy at the resolution on that
suhject which had been entered into for Sc
Veral years past, and upon which a differ
eat cons truction had been put by the two
Houses. One part Of the members took
papers for their own information, and ano-
Their tool, them e. the information Of their
commitments. Those ofus said Mr. w. who
arc solicitors m send Information to our
friends abroad, agreeably to our ccnstruc-
tinn of the resolution, have received only
half the advantage from it, which had
been received by others. Mr. w. here
read the resolution which provides that
each member shall be served with three
dailry apcrs, or as many fsuch other nc ".
papers as they may direct.] Under thi.
Tesoli, OH the members of this House sup
posed n ev could only take three papers
whether daily or not: whereas the mem
bers of fhe Senate understood that thcy
might take to the value Of three daily pa.
pers in az many others as they thought
proper. That fair construction of thi!
order might be had, he moved that it be re
considered.
Alter few unimportant remarks on this
subject,
Mr. Randolph said, that the House wa,
abou, to establish dangerous precedent IL
very unimportant case. 1t was in case
of this description that dangerous prece
dents crept in. ], is proposed 10 rcconsi
der deliberate act Of this House. Passed
lust now! No; passed Yesterday. Il,
what may this lead This House may "a
some future time, do a deliberate act, anc
the succeeding day, in a thin House, tha
act may be rescindcd; may, on another
dav. be again reconsidered, and again rem
stated. And If q precedent Of this kind BIZ
established, it will be impossible 90 come
20 deGnitive conclusion ON any question