Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-12-25

~. D1IoOdF, aSreeaDly To notice, having
rht,ined leave, inI oduced bill concerning
= lands and salt springs to be granted to the
.fdte OF Missouri, for the purposes of eil-
'ation, and for other public uses :" and the
i'.isl passed to the second reading
HOUSE OF REPRESENT WIVES
Alter the presentation and reference of petit
T;ons--
Mr.. Sloan, from the committee on Elections,
reported resolution unfavOrablc To- the petition
ot-Nlathew Lyon, contrasting the right of james
Woodson Bates To Il seat in the House of Re-
personalities as Delegate from the Territory
oi Arkansas.
The resolution was adopted, and leave
gwen to the petitioner To withdraw his petit
ton. ~
Mr.. Williams, of N. G.. from the committee
ot Cialms, made report upon the petition OF
Joseph Wheaton, that the prayer of the said
petition ought not To be granted.
On motion OF Mr.. * Nelson, the report
was ordered to lie Oh the table-ayes 81, nays
70.
Mr.. Bald,cin submitted the following joint
resolution:
Resotred 6y III Senate and House Of Representatives
~ The Cnitst Sines Of .lerica, ia Congress ssrn.bLed
That the President ofthe Senate and Speaker OF the
itousc ct Representatives b.. directed To adjourn thei
,sspectve Houses from Saturday the 22d inst. unit
On motion of Mr. H. Neison, the rule of
the House requiring the resolution to Ii. on
the table one day previous to il. being acted
upon, was dispensed with, and the resolution
was twice read anu on the question of en-
crossing the same Tor IA third reading
Mr.. Boidmin observed, that experience had
shewn, for the last four years, that very little
business was done in Congress during what
are termed, in common parance, the Christ
mas Holidays. Some members were absent
on business, and others availed themselves of
that opportunity To visit their families 80
that 1t had been uniformly found impractica-
Die to carry on, to any considerable extent,
the business Of legislation during that period.
lie was therefore, in favor of doing that IN
form which had been uniformly done in prac-
tee. In the MEAN time, the committees might
meet, and arrange and prepare the business
before them and hc believed that the resou-
ton would rather facilitate the public bust
uess than retard it.
NJ. Rhed opposed the resolution. He
Thought the proper course was, if gentlemen
wished to absent themselves, to ask leave of
the House. For his part, he came here to do
business, and there. Was much to do-and he
hoped the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.
baldwin, would not insist upon the committees
staying here To make up reports, while the
pleasure into the country. He should not go
into the country for he had no where to 20
To. The operation of the resolution, Mr.. r.
contcnded, would be unequal (; for, whilst those
whose Residence was near this city, would be
accommodated by il, others would not IT,
Indeed, he could go home, he should be in
.ay0r Oft too. But, as there was plenty of
business before The house, he thought the re-
solution ought not to be- adopted. He there
fore moved that it be indefinitely postponed,
aud that the question postponeinent be ia
ken by ayes and noes. The latter motion was
agreed to.
Dir Golden remarked that the resolution had
the operation to suspend the business of Con-
Sress for ten days. He had intended to in
quIre whether, during that recess, the paw of
tae members was To go on Ii il was. and
such he understood to be- the fact. he was
SATISFIED that the measure would not meet the
appreciation OF their constituents, for II would
oe manifcstly unjust. If it had been the prac-
ice, as was suggested, to do no business du-
Ti3o that period, 1T was certainly desirable that
flic practice should be abolished Our soye-
regns, thcpeoplc, would not willingly consent
to such a custom. Should the resolution he
adopted, and some gentlemen visit their wives
and families and enjoy the festivities of the So
cial fireslde, what shall those of us do, i'm the
meantime, who have the misfortune. 10 live
TOO remote to participate in these cnioynents2
Nor co:Ild nc comprehend why il should be
deemed impracticabIc for the House to do
business during the holidays, If they receiy.
ed the pay of the nation during that period,
It was certainly right and proper that they
should perform the business which the nation
had assigned them.
Mr. Sm.yh, of Va. had generally voted with
the gentleman from Tennessee. bnt nm tb;s o,
casion he was compelled to differ from him.
lie came here indeed To attend public business:
bit he had sceWthat it could not he well and
Ldrly done durin, the hoIydays. Many mem.
bers would utiquestiOnably be absent and
would II be proper, he would ask, that public
Business should go OH ADD be- decided in the
absence OF SO many members? He should
not avail himself off personally. but he thought
That public duty and public policy required
Inc adoption of the resolution.
Alr. Hordin had heard no sufficient reason
assigned for adiourning in the manner prOpos-
ed II had indeed been said that no business
was done during the Christmas HOLIDAYS, and
that il was not worth while 10 adjourn from
day Ia day. His experience had been other
wise. During that period, much Of the light
business IS got through with. Petitions are
received, aud reports and resolutions dispos-
ed OF, ard the house prepared for the more
important business that is from time to time
posironed to the early part of January. IT,
indeed, the pay Of the members was to cease
during the recess, that would be something.