Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-07

|
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
several petitions OF a private nature were
presented and referred.
S7ENOGRdPHERS.
| Mr.. Grosvenor presented the petition of
| George Richards, tating that he had during the
last session reported the proce edings OF the
| House tor the Federal Republican newspaper;
and that on application at the present session
Tor the like privilege, he had been excludedbv
decision OF the hon. Speaker; and spraying TO
be admitted.a heretofore for Tue purpose Ore,
| porting debates. *:
Mr.. Grovesnor moved to refer the petition
| to select committee.
Mr.. Grundy remarked, that this was one Of
those questions which there was no occ aston TO
refer To committee, as the House were as we'll
quahhedt to decide on It a any committee could
be.
Mr. Grovesnor urged the reference OF this
memorial TO a committee, as the best mode OF
ascertaningiwhether other stenographers could
be admitted OH the floor consi cntly with tiis
convenience OF the House, and L cou-se which
would be, perhaps, more decorOus TO the chair
than any other.
Ar. Troup suggested the propriety Of refer.
ring the memorial to committee of the whole.
lie SAID the paper and the mode of its intro
ducuon into the House We're calculated directly
or indirectly TO convey to the House and TO
the public an intimation that the Speaker had
acted with injustice in relation TO the individu-
al petltIonng. 1t seemed proper, therefore,
that the Speaker should have an o pportuni-y
otexplaining the grounds on which he had act
ed.
Mr.. Wright was indisposed to refer the pc
tltlon to any committee, for reasons which he
stated.
very desultory debate ensued, which oc-
cuplcd, with little intermission, the remandc-
OF the days sitting; of which We can, for the
present at least, give little more than the names
OF the speakers and the general Course of pro-
ceeding.
Mr.. Grosvenor replied to Mr.. Wriehs,s OBJ.
jections 10 the character of the Federal Re.
publican, which lie conceived, had no bearing
| on the abstract question of the admission of "a
| mother stenographer.
Mr.. Hanson spoke at great length, with much
warmth and no little eloquence, in Ieprobation
| OF the opposition set up to the admission o. Mr.
| Richards which he viewed as an attempt to a.
bridge the liberty Of the press.
1 Mr.. Wright replied with equal warmth to
some remarks made by Mr.. IL. in allusion to
! Kim; and
| Mr.. Hanson rejoined.
| The question Their taken on referring
the petition to committee ofthe whole House,
and carried by considerable msiority.
1t was made the order for to day in prefer
ence to Tomorrow, the question on tomorrow,
~.
been negatived, 90 to ~
Several other petitions from individuals were
then presented and referred, among which,
were several petitions from the District of Co.
lumbia presented at the last session of Con-
gress, but not acted on.
Mr.. GFundy presented the petition of w m
Kelly, contesting the legality Of the election of
| Thomas X Harris, now sitting member from
the state OF Tennessee. Referred to the Com.
| mittee OF Elections
The Speaker laid before the House a letter
from the Commissioners of Public Land, trans
t hitting the report of the Commissioners ap-
1 pointed for the revision Of claims to lands in
the district of Kasksskia.
.. On motion OF Mr.. EPpes, leave was given TO
the Committee OF Ways cleans 10 sit dur
ing the sttings of the Hotsc.
On motion of Mr. Robertson,
{ ResoiUed, That the Committee Of Commerce
and manufactures he instructed TO enquire II,
TO the PrOpriety o. establishing port of entr,
in the town OF Mobile.
c The House then resumed the question res
!, pecting stenographers-and
= On motion OF Mr.. Grundy, resolved itself in
to committee OF the whole, Mr.. Nelson in TN
e chair, on the petition of George Richards mi
n day presented and referred
The petition having been again reod-
MIR. Grosvenor moved the following resoIuti
q on.
4" Re'olsed, That George Richards be admit
ted on the floor Of this House as q stenogrnphe
and that the Speaker be requested to assig
!, him place thereon
, Mr.. Clay (speaker) after observing that
5, his opinion, an importance had been given I
= this petition which did not we'll comport wit
= the dignity of the House, stated the ground O
which the decision had been made by him I
which the petitioner complained; which WIS
simply this: that in consequence of the reeer
n alterations in the House, seats had been arrar
ged for but four stenographers--and to tho.
in places he had assigned the applicants aasorc
eel ing to seniority all Of whom, bavii been
at, longer standing than Mr.. r. he had by this n
all rangement been excluded. If the House shou
DID deem II proper 20 admit others than hose no
on the floor, he hoped they would designa
the stations they should occupy, &c.
As much debate now took place ola natr.
uninteresting to the public, and prime ipaIly d
sarding the former practice and actual imp,