Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
Faidoy. ,Janvn,,y ts.

| F'7day, January 10.
Mr.. BARsfow having called for the considera-
ton OF his resolution, declaring the right OF
members of the house to attend the meetings of
| select committees, except when they may be
ordered by the house to hold their meetings in
secret,
MIR. RUGER, of Oneida, moved that the house
adjourn; but the yeas and nays being called
| thereon, he withdrew his motion.
Mr.. RUGER then remarked that the position
| of the gentleman from Tioga (Mr. Barstowl was
certainly ne9 and a nOuet proposition. He
had taken pains to ascertain the practice in
Congress, and he had learned that none attend
ed there unless at the request of the committee
Ii this resolution passed, committees could not
command their own rooms where committees
often met. There could be no tfne or opportu-
NIFTY ior deliberatIon, If intrudeTs had right to
come in. They will disturb the committee;
and if SPIES were allowed TO be about the COM
| mittee, and to carry all the crude remarks they
hear to newspaperS-[Here Mr.. r. was inter-
rupted by MIR. Gardiner, who requested an ex-
planatIon--for If the gentleman intended to i'm
pute the terms spies to members of the house,
he called him to order. 1t was neither correct
Tor gontlemany.l Mr.. r. said he did not in
| tend to apply his observations to any particular
case. There would be, he said, crude ideas ex-
pressed In committee, which they would not
want to have go before the world. He was sd
tsfied this was an innovation. And what calls
for 1t, said he, at this particular time? If this
rule is adopted members would have no place
for retirement! we cannot shut the doors of ouI
rooms.
Mr.. sTrLLwELL, oflAlbany, moved to adj
Journ, but Mr. Barstow having previously the
floor, the motion decided to be out of order
MIR. BARsTow said that members of the legis
laftt lssl 4.
to be present at the meeting of committees, no
had he ever heard it disputed until very lately
There were certain privileges and imnunitie
guaranteed to us by the laws ofthe laDd-other
were secured and enjoyed by invariable usage
Ofthe latter kind, was that which was declared
, by the resolution he had submitted. He. bac
been member of the Legislature many years
and had never heard it questioned until the pre-
sent session. And he would ask whether it wa
!. proper for a chairman of committee, when
member approached the committee room, t.
say to him-Depart, sir, you are Spyl The
gentleman who introduced the motion for th,
! appointment of the Committee of Nine (DTr
! Fiagg) Hcn professcd to be anxious to colleC
: information from all parts of the State, and said
: that before such committee the question woulc
be discussed. But did that gentleman fneai
that it was 20 be discussed with closed doors
Was their any thing unreasonable TO the propo
sition1 Did il give occasion for any one to b,
afraid? Mr.. b. then read from jefferson
Manuel, p, in which it is explicitly laid dow
to be the right of members to attend such com
, mlttees, though not to vote. Mr.. 3. expresse.
! his opinion emphatically, that the people of TIM
2 State were not prepared to authorize score
J chamber.
Mr.. STfLLwELL renewed his motion to nd
journ. Mr.. TALLNADGE called for the yea
and nays on the question of Adjournment
whereupon MIR. Stillweil withdrew his motion
Mr.. CRARY,'of Washington, asked whethe
! he was standing among the REPRESENTATIVES {
freemen or of slaves2 If Of the former. W
were bound - let those who sent us here kr1o,
n what was going on in all cases where their in
4 terests were concerned. What was the obier
d of appointing a select committee5 To repo
r facts and their opinions thereon, And was
. necessary fer stalking out ssch report that