The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-30
CONGRESS-.
fRoM THE NATIONAL INrELLIGENcER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY. Nav IS.

TUESDAY, May 2S.
| The journal of yesterdays proceedings
having been read
Mr.. Randokfh moved to amend it so as to
record the precise state of the two ballots
for Speaker; with a view to correct un-
Iderstanding OF the case, if it should ever be
drawn into precedent hereafter.
After discussion of nearly two hours on
the subject Of the decision of yesterday. and
| the analogy betwiXt it and the case of the
Presidential election of 1901, Mr. Ran
dolph's motion was agreed to, ayes 70.
| PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
| The message of the President of the u.
States was received, as given in our paper,
by Mr.. Graham, agreeably to the intimation
given by the President yesterday to the COM
| mittee appointed to wait on him. The mes
| sage, having been read, was referred to a
committee of the whole House on the state
| OF the Union; and 5000 copies ordered to
be printed of the message, with the docu-
ments accompanying it.
message was received from the Senate
proposing the appointment of two chaplains
OF different denominations, 20 interchange
weekly between the two Houses. The pro.
position was concurred in, ayes81.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Mr.. w. .dlston moved, that the standing
committees of the House, viz: the commit
tee of Ways and Means, Commerce and
Manufactures, Public Lands, Claims, Elec
tons, Revisal and Unfinished business, and
of the District of Columbia, be now appoint
ed.
MIR. Lyon moved to amend the motion by
inserting, at the end of it, the words 'sby
ballot" The reasons which he assigned for
this motion were, that the course proposed
by it would be more respectful to the nation :;
and that the persons SO appointed would feel
a greater responsibility to the House. He
declared, that he should have made the same
motion, had the person for whom he had vo
ted been elected to the chair; having no
personal views in proposing it.
Mr.. GARDENER supported the motion. He
was in favor of it OH the principle of this go
vernment, that the many ruled, i'm contra
dlction to that of monarchical or aristocra-
teal governments where one or a few bore
sway. He thought it consistent with the re-
publican mode of proceeding and thinking
proper Tor this country, that on all practical
occasions this rule should be regarded where
the many were as competent as the few or
the one; and without meaning the least dis
respect to the present Speaker, he conceiv-
ed that the members of this House were as
competent to choose their own organs, as the
Speaker, whoever might fill the chair.
Mr. Lyons motion for amendment was
negatiyedb by yeas and nays, 67to Ill.
Mr.. Macon, in the course of some obser-
Vations on the motion for appointing the
standing committees, declared, that he
should vote for it under the impression, that
the House would at this time proceed on ge-
neral business, and thus avoid a meeting i'm
the winter, except the public service should
particularly call for il. Such a course would
be saving Of the public money, and also
convenience to the members Of Congress. IF
1t were intended merely to take up those
subjects expressly recommended he could
not see the propriety ofappointng the stand
ing committees. He made number of OBJ
servations, going to shew, that frequent and
long sessions not only INCREASED the public
expence, but would prevent those who were
best fitted for the public service, particular
ly in the Southern and western states, from
to serve as Representatives. The
he said, had wisely provided.
that on any emergency Congress might be
convened by Proclamation. Without bring
ing into question the subject of confidence,
every man must have sufficient confidence in |
the Executive to believe that he would con- |
vene Congress together il the public service |
required it. He, therefore, was in favor of |
going through the unfinished business at this |
time, and intermitting the usual winter ses-
SION, unless some extraordinary occasion |
should require the aid of Congress.
Mr.. w. diston said, that for himself he |
vas opposed to having Long session at this