The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-14

talents, however much disapproved his
scntiments,) is Mr.. h. patiently and repeat
eddy heard to develope his views ON that so-
Tenn question. The period ut length ar
rives when by every previous indication, "a
declaration of war would seem to be abso-
lutely inevitable. OF that very committee
from which it was expected such deciara-
ton is to emanate, Mr.. Il. is member
1t Is admitted by himself OH the SOth May,
that OH the succeeding Monday it was be-
lieved 1t would be presented TO the House.
1t is admitted by himself that it was intend
ed to be discussed with closed doors. Yet
Oh that day (the S0th of Alay) what does he
attempt! Forestalling tine friends of the
measure, with open doors, without disclosing
his particular motion, he engages in an ar
gument which, after Consuming one hour, is
now denomnated u fragment only and,
when required by the House, Reluctantly
submits the negative proposition that it Is
not cXped!ent 1T this time. under existing
circumstances, to go to war with Great
Britain Can | be mistaken III believing
that the refusal OF the House TO Consider
such Il proposition, ST. brought forward, will
be approved by the good sense of AN incl
hyent public II is said that 4 precedent TO
such motion is to be found in the motion
OF Mr.. Sprigg, made III 1898. That gentle
man, when the House was in committee of
the whole the state # the Union, fer
ed three resolutions, of which one was ne
gative. and the other two affirmative. The
SUBJECT before the committee was the Pre-
sident's message of 18th March, 1898. At
that time the practice (now no longer eX
lsting) prevailed tn discuss such messages
IN full. That message was a war inessage.
Being under consideration, it. was the ha-
ture of an affirmative proposition for war,
to which Nv. Srrigg's motion, in the nature
tl,s.n -.
message was the text, the primary subj ect ;
ms motion was incidental and auxiliary
but Mr. k. motion was primitive, and not
appurtenaIS to any pending question. In
the instance of MIR. Sprigg, no point was
made whether the committee would consi
der the proposition. Perhaps, being d.
rect response to the message, they were
bound to consider it, or. not to act up n the
message. Out of Mr.. RS motion, suppos
ing 1t adopted, no positive act could grow -
1t would be as if the House should formally
adopt an original res luton that they would
nof pass particular law: The cases Of
Mr.. X. and MIR. >. are not analogous. Sup
posing, however that they were, III all their
material circumstances, what would be pro
ven ONLY that bod, having the power
to prescribe the time when il will Consider
the subjects brought before It, has seen fit "A
one time Ono reason Their existing against it
W HShoSid'e upon quesllon, which AT ano-
ther time (when there are cogent reasons
against it) it has not thought proper to consi
der.
The right of the House of Representatives
to regulate its own proceedings is quite ma
nifest, whether we advert TO the express
provision of the Constitution, or 10 the ma
ture and properties of u deliberative body.
1t is undoubtedly responsible for the abuse
OF that right no less than it is for the abuse
OF any other power with which il is invested
Whether, in the instance under considera-
ton, 1t has so abused its authority as to ex-
cite alarm or Justify ccnsurc, VIII be Justly
determined by the candor of the public. to
whom alone it is amenable.
II. CLAY.