Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-25
"a dollars per annuIn. !

else its power, viz the privilege of Offer.
ing his sentiments. and, if you viii, his griev-
ances, to the consideration of the House and
the people. The meanest beggar has right
to come here & state his grievances, and to
be heard; and yet, member of the House
has no such right, except at the absolute
will of the majority. 1.-THE decision be con-
irn;ed, we shall have entirely departed from
every principle heretofore respected in this
Assembly, and among those people FROM
whom we sprung. 1t appears to me, we
have not gotten the old-fashioned liberty;
When ! compare the liberty of speech in
the English Parliament, with late usages
here, | am struck with CONSERVATION, grief
and dismay. / once, sir. had the honor os be-
ing under the federal regime, i'll what was
called the reign ofterror---I then enjoyed the
liberty Of speech. Iha6 right to protest
against the acts o. the men in power. These
new discoveries in the construction of the,
rules OF the House were, happily for the
then minority, unknown and unheard Of
The present Secretary of the Treasury was
attempted to be stopped in debate on the
rule, which required tha6 no member should
speak more than once to any question. rhat
great mainland great let me cali lira--.
laughed III derision at the attempt 3ue
not even In the year '98, was an attempt
made to prevent man from speaking at al.
The doctrine IL new it has come in under
new reign and a new race. Has II cone
TO this, sir, that members of this House
shall grow grey in the service, and in pro-
portion 70 their experience become ignorant
OF the rules OF proceeding, and receive the,
construction of them from those who nave
never been familiar with them After ha-
wing been Ia years OH this hoor, is nan TO
be toid, he knows nothing of the rules of thiE
Hodse9
The SPEAKER requested the gentienan
to confine his remarks tn the question, wae-
Their or not the decision of the chair was
correct: Priority of seat on this foor. said
the Speaker, gives to the senior members Of
the House no right to which the junior are
not equally entitled.
Mr. Il. said, he only desired that the se4
Nor members should have equal rights witll
the junior. The decision OF the Char. said
he, i contend is incorrect in so far as this:
that there las heretofore existed what was
called the freedom of debate, which iates
| rules and late restrictions have taken away.
We are in danger of losing the iiJe,t IL OF
| speech entirely. If the decision of the hair
be. supported, it Will, indeed, be the asst
| dying speech ofthe liberty of speech This
was the only mode left 20 a membe;, in
which he could, without asking perm sion
to do it, present himself to the House and
to the nation. III this be taken away, SIR, a
seat ii this House is not worth the ha ,nfr--s<l
| at least TO those WHO do not find favor in is,
| sight.
Mr.. JOHNSON spoke in Ieply II Mr.. KAN
dOlph, and IN defence of the majority and of
| the House, which never ought 10 be subject
| ed to the caprice Of any Individual. as it,
would be, if the gentlemau's appeal was
sanctioned by the House
Mr.. MACON rose to speak 20 the questia
OIL of order. He said he mad no doubt, the.
present decision of the Speaker was corr
rect; but it was equally clear to him, that,
his first decision was wrong one.
Mr.. RANDOLPH said, out of respect To.
lis friends opinion, he would withdraw his.
appeal from the Speakers decision.
The SPEAKER said, that he would take
! the occasion to remark that, at the CONS
mencement of the session, he had doubted.
| the propriety of the rule requiring a previ-
Gus determination of the House to consider a.
| proposition, before it could be debated and
| decided. But he was then informed that it.
| had been the practice of the House, and to
that usage he had conformed. Whatever
doubts he had entertained originally of its
utility had been removed by subsequent el-s
perience.
In regard to the decision. requiring a Sc,
! cond to a motion before it was received, 81.
which there was some complaint, he UNDER
stood it to be the established practice Of the!
| British Parliament. As 20 tue aliedged vioA
lation of the freedom Of debate he remarked,
/ that he should be extremely sorry if any deA
1 cision which it became his duty 60 make
1 should produce unnecessarily its abridge-
ment. He was great friend to alegitimate
and decorus freedom Of debate. And ghe-,
| ther by the House, or any determination On
his, its liberty had been infringed in the IN
stance OF any member, and particularly liz
reference to the gentleman from Virginia,
the discussions and proceedings of the House
during the present session would illustrate
| and attest.
The right to regulate its proceedings.
he observed, was right inherent in every
public, deliberative body. 1t was a right nc
cessarily attaching to every body, composed
! of human beings, Independent OF positive
| prescription. 1t was a right, without the
! existence and exercise Of which it would
be impossible TO proceed in business at all,
| or TO arrive at any conclusion But strong as
was the natural basis upon which this right
stands, it did not depend upon that alone.
| The constitution had expressly secured to
| each branch of the national legislature the
| power to regulate its own proceedings,
| Whilst in the place with which he was no.
| nored, it was his pleasure no less than his
| duty TO enforce, as far as depended upon
| him, the rules which the House of Revre.
sentatives in the exercise Of this constituti.
onal power had thought proper TO prescribe
He could have no interest but to perform
with the utmost impartiaiity, this trust. and
in doing it should always consult ever,