Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

ilOOSb OF REPRESENTATTVE
DECEMBER 10.
After the usual custom of receiving pe-
tltlons and dispOsing of them,
MIR. Merton, OF Va. from The committee
of commerce and manufactures, reported
abilito remit Tie duties on painting pre-
scented TO the Pennsylvania hospital, which
was twice read.
REPRESENTATIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Mr.. Forsyth, of Georgia, offered for
consideration the following resolution, 10
obtain decision on question raised by
memorial yesterday presented, contest
ing the election of member from Ohio,
and which Mr.. /. considered of great
importance
Resoired, That the committee of elections be
instructed 10 inquire aud report what persons,
elected to serve in the House Representatives.
nave accepted or held Offices under the govern
ment of the u States since the 18th day of March,
1917, and how far their right TO a seat in this
House is affected byit.
The adoption of this resolution was
warmly opposed by MIR. Taylor, of N.
and Mr.. johnson, OF Ky. and was also OPP
posed by Mr.. .SeyJert, of Penn. MIR. Lin
ern.ore, of n. H. and Mr.. w. p. MaclGy,
of Penn. and was supported by Mr.. For
syth.
1t was opposed as novel proceeding,
duties on the committee of elections, by
requiring them To go through the alpha
bet from A TO Z, and inquire into the quail
itlcatlons of every indn itual member of
The House. II Was also opposed as i'm
putting impurity TO the House not Justly
attributable 10 II: since the fact of taking
The oath to support the constitution, was
pTInaa .fGCie evidence that the member TAX
ing II was conscious of having violated no
provision OF that instrument. !fenuuiTe
INTO Tins qualification of members, WHY
not also mic others, equally prescribed
by the constitution 1t was time enough
10 inquire into the rights of members 10
their seats, when any specific allegation
was made as TO the want of qualification
OF any one or more of them.
10 which the mOverreplled, by express
Ing his surprise at the opposition TO his
motion. There was nothing i'm il. he said.
which accused any part of this House. or
any member 1t, of improper conduct.
ii neither charged the House with suffer
ing members 10 remain who ought not.
nor any member Of the House with re-
naming when he ought not. The object
was to enquire whether persons in certain
SITUATIONS had night 10 seat or not. 1t
was presumed that those gentlemen so
and were convinced of their title TO seats
here. But as he very much doubted the
right OF any person so situated TO a seat
III this House, he wished TO have the oues-
ton settled. II the House should be af
his opinion, he should see with great
regret any gentleman SO situated return
even tie mpOrarlly to his cOnsttuents-for
temporarily he was sure if would be. and
mat the Housc would at the next session.
u not at the close of this, have the aid of
thelr Judgments aud abilities. As TO spp
cIfylng the Members who would fall un-
der this rule, Mr.. L. said, lie did not know
all there were he had been informed
that NeTe were ten or eleven members
whose right toa seat depended on the de-
cislon OF this question he did not know
them II he did, he should have no Obiec-
ten TO comprehend their names in his
motion. He concluded his observations
by dlsclalming the intention TO impute
iihe least blame to gentlemen who had ia
Ken Their seats under these circumstan-
ces; Tor they had no doubt satisfied them
selves on the question, &c.
The question on the resolution was ia
ken when there appeared
u favor OF tie resolution. ...S5
AgdlDSt W.. 0..........S5
- AnC iiouet DtihB equally divided, The
Speaker, assigning as his reason his de-
sire to have The constitutional question
fully investigated, voted. in favor of tbe
motion which was therefore adop,ed.
The Speaker laid before the House a
letter from Richard Bland Lee, esq. Com
missioner of Claims, &c. transmitting
statement OF facts, as directed by the ACT
OF last session, in several cases Of claims.
Tor indemnity for losses of property dur
ing the war, from the state of MARYLAND;
which were referred TO the committee OF
claims.
REPEAL OF INTERNAL DUTIES.
The House resolved itself into q com
mite Of the whole on the bill to abolish
the Internal Duties, Mr.. Dcsha being cal
led to the chair.
The report OF the committee Of Wavs
and Means, wliich accompanied the bill