Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-01

Inc mouse agreed 20 cOnsier tile resolution
when
Mr. Tucker explained his views in relation
10 the subject. 1t was his object to coufer
upon the members of the legislatures of our
state so, creignties the same privileges and pre-
negatives that granted To the members of
toreigi legislatures. He thought it dcrogato-
ry 10 our national character-and Inconsistent
with that self-respect which tie functionaries
of free government should entertain, to com
mun;cate to the members of foreign legisa-
ture those privileges which we denied To our
own. BY the rules of the house, as they now
stand, more than one hundred individuals,
other than members, are privileged to come
within the bar: and yet it is found that there
are rarely more than live or six at "a time who
| avail themselves of the privilege.
The idea, therefore, of any Inconvenience
resulting from the proposed change of the
rule, was evidently fallacous. 1t was left sub
lect To the direction of the Speaker--and, if
| ut any time it should be found announcement in
its operations it was competent for the House
To restore the rule as it stands at present.
1t was notorious, Mr.. Il. remarked, that the
gallery did not answer the purpose that was
| expected from it. 1t was not Il place where
spectators could hear. Stcnographers We're
indeed admitted, hut their reports were often
incorrect, and frequently and often necessar-
~ so, from the relative situation of the speak
| or and the reporter, and the difficulty ofhear-
ing, even within the bar. Yet it was very de-
srabie that all practicable publicity should be
given TO the proceedings the Housc--and,
it might he done without Inconvenience,
he hoped the resolution would be adopted.
Mr.. Taylor thought that the manner pro-
| posed by the gentleman from Virginia, Mr..
| T.l was the tCorst manner of doing Il bad thing.
LII the selection permission was made To
GpVOtEls SnHllSnr y1S vary ayId liant
that it would never he practicable to refuse in
any case where application was made by
| member of the house. 1t would, in fact, be.
come Il matter of right to all those who were
| contemplated by the extension of the rule, To
come upon the floor. If il is to be thus ex-
| tended, where shall we stop? For the last
| ten years we have been continually extending
| the rule. Daring the late war the Governor
ofthe state of New York ATTENDED Congress,
with his aids but neither were introduced into
the Legislative hall. The rule was afterwards
SO far extended as TO admit all those to whom
| Congress should vote thanks for their services.
To preserve analogy and etiquette, it was then
deemed necessary still more to extend the per-
mission 10 The Commanders in Chief. After
this time we were visited by British Peer,
who had taken great interest in the concerns
Of thenolthern fur trade, the Earl of Selkir6 J
To accomplish his introduction, the rule of the
| House was altered as To- admit members of
a foreign legislature but he believed the rule
was made with special reference to that indi-
viduai, and had never been practically extend
ed TO any other.
But If the rule is enlarged, where will you
stop You now admit Judges, and why not
Chancellors and Judges of the Supreme
Courts in the respective states ? They were
| surely not less in dignity than those whom this
resolution proposes 10 admit. Nor is this all.
Members of this and the other House often
bring with them to the seat OF government
their wives and their daughters, and you send
these To the galleries, and at the same time
propose TO admit on the floor of the house all
those who at any time had obtained a seat in
either branch of the Legislative body of any
state. He believed the measure would impose
an mvidlous duty on the presiding officer
would be incorrect, unequal, and announcement
i'll its operation, and therefore hoped iiEwould
not prevail.
Mr.. Baidwrn made few remarks in sup
port of the resolution, but was not distinctly
heard by the reporter He was understood
generally, to observe, that he was aware the rule
of the House had been ofte. changed in rela-
ton to the subject but that he had never kno wn
any Inconvenience to result from the extension
He deemed it altogether improper that pri-
yilege fthis kind should be conferred on a
member of the provincial legislatures Of Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick, and at the same
time be denied to the Legislators of Pennsyl-
vana and Massachusetts. He was disposed to
extend the rule, especially as he SAW no posi-
bic evil or Inconvenience that could grow out
of it.
Mr.. Rich moved to amend the resolution by
striking out the words " or have been" SO as
to coniine the privilege to the benefit of mem
bers for the time being.
MIR OperSIrepE was opnospd fo the amend
ment. The legislatures of many of the states
meet during the session Of Congress, 50 that
the amendment would defeat the principal OBJ
ject of the resolution.
Mr.. Tucker made a few remarks in reply
to Mr.. Taylor-and particularly answered the
question, Where shall we stop? by saying ii
should be at the very moment that an incon-
venience should arise from an extension of the
privilege.
MIR. Randolph remarked, that, in respect to
the rights of individual states, and TO the atten
ton to be pad to state legislatures, he would
profess to yield TO no mau in that House, or
in any other. Ii had been cynced by every
act of his life. But he did not feel that that
respect called for an adoption, either of the
resolution, or Ofthe amendment for if the ex-
tension is once iuade, it will be difficult, not TO
say impossible, afterwards to alter it, When
those, for whose benefit the rule is enlarged
shall avail themselves OF it, where is the law
of courtesy that shall subsequently exclude
them IL had been correctly remarked, that
il would cast an inyidious responsibility on
the Chair 80 inyidlous that it would become.
Ito use the eXpression,l non-tser for the
Chair would never be disposed to assume the
unwclcome prerOgatiye. And when, said Mr..
X. we are called upon 10 admit the eX-ncm-
beers oil tie state legislatures upon the floor of
Al L. II