Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-17


and guided il IN all its movements. But,
Mr. +. said, he should be glad to find ont
how The gentleman discovered the great
name of Jefferson, 10 support him i'll his
doctrine: That great man was not then
a member oil congress; nor, MIR. +. said,
did he know that he had expressed any
opinion on the question. lie did not find
III the Manuel composed by hiIn any eX-
preston of an opinion that the cOnstitu-
ti9n had been violated by that decision.
There was statement OF the arguments
on both sides of That question; but SO far
from ex pressing the opinion that the con-
stitution had been violated, the Manuel
considered the question rs unsettled. Ii
was settled, then, Mr.. F. said, on the
ground that this body, aud all others, cor
porate as well as individual, had the right
10 protect themselves from insult and VI
ulcnce. How, Mr.. L. asked, would gen
tlesien proceed to punish an individual
in the gallery of this House, who should
consider II a great theatre, ana exercise
the privilege which iIsolent persons use
in the gallery of a theatre, OF disturbing
the audience and annoying the perform
ers! suppose some person who was I'M
friendly to member speaking, or who
did not like the monotOnoUs tone OF his
nuts or apples at his head by Kissing OH
the one hand, or applaading on The other
by what authority would the House ex-
srcise the power of driving him away, or
taking linn INTO custody! Could any one
doubt the power? Butwas il TO be found,
IN so many words, III the constitution E
Gentlemen might say, this would be with
IN our own walls, and therefore Il differ
eni case from that now under coHsidera-
ton. Mr.. L. regarded them as standing
on The same lpoiIug; within and without,
here or III any part of the city, if a mem
Der was iusiiiied In the discharge of his
duty, this House had, III his opinion, the
right and the power 10 punish the offen-
der. lie hoped, at all events, the House
would make The enquiry. and moi Stay It's
proceedings in this case, until something
stronger had been aliedged against them
than any thing he had heard.
Mr.. PIFKiN, of Cont. said he did not
rise 10 debate The power OF this House;
for, he said, unless the House had some
power 10 protect itself and lis members
ia tiieir persons and integrity, from vio-
lence or iusult they might as well adj
Journ and go home. But he rose to refer
10 one or tWo cases which had occurred
subsequently, to that which had been par
House had proceeded. A case had oc-
cured III 1910, Of an assault and battery
on member of this House, not within
the walls of the House, not during its
sitting, and originating IN circumstances
having no relation To his duty as d menu
Der ct the House; but, whilst here attend
ing his public duty, that gentleman had
been considered as under the protection
0i The authority of the House, and tile
House had accordingly taken cognizance
OF tie assault; and justly-for, if the
House had not power 10 protect lis men,
beers whilst going and coming tlierefrom,
II was III vain for them TO attend here.
In another case, "a committee had been
appointed 10 enquire into the promulga-
ton oi certain secret proceedings of the
House. The individual pronulgaling
them WAS brought Ia The bar OF the House,
and com pellet To answer tie questions
,tropoulted 10 him. II he had refused to
answcrthc questions put 10 him, uudoubt-
edig ne would have been committed to
prison for that contempt. Having no
doubt of lie power Of the House in this
respect, he hoped Ills House would act as
prVpuSed.
Mr.. LIyERNoRE again rose. He said
he should suppose that no one had UNI
were RIGHT 0rwruug, or that The Federal
isis were right or wrong, or 10 draw any
distinction between tie parties into which
the country had been divided. He re-
spectcd good men OF all parties, and none
other but good men of any party.
lie bad said That an oath was necessary
In support Il Narrdni, aud produced the
constitutional provision, " that no war
rants shall issue but upon probab caus-
IS, supported by oath or affirmation"
How arn answered said Mr. LiVermoYe.
Why, HAT every member of this House
$ entitled 40 such high credit that his
word is as good as any other mans oath.
The Chief Justice of the United States
is sworn 10 support the Constitution
and TO administer justice but he is not
therefore sworn to every thing, and
III. mere word would not be taken i'll
this mailer i'll controversy in any court.
Rui il seemed that The rights of indi, III
ais we're TO be upr0oted, and an express
provision OF lhe constitution dlsregarded,
on the word Ola membeT, because lie was
sworn 10 support tue constitution. Mr..
l.. said lie had as high an opinion of the
credit 10 which members Ot this House
we're entitled, as any man could have, but
he could not IN such a case DIS this be-
heVe them except on oath, considering
himself bound to protect the rights of eve
~ Individual ia the United States, &c
The gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA, Mr..
l.. continued, had found fault with some
oi his expressions. a man cannot take
his words out of his mouth, look al them,
put them in again, and speak as he could
Wish and MI l.. said, he might have
gone further than he intended. Whether
those who established tic precedent of
1895. were republicans, or be they whom
ihey might, they had acted OF precedents
,ra,.,, from the British Philharmonic bo-