Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-04-27


rules Of the senate which place the pow
er of appointing the committee, and the
subyersion of the Journal, with the
Presiding Officer.
A debate of two hours duration took
place on this motion, on which MIR ran
dolph spoke repeatedly in support OF the
expedienGy and constitutional necessity
of the proposed change IN the Rules-or
rather there restoration to what they
had been--and. in explanation of his
views in regard to parliamentary forms
of the rights and duties Of presiding
officers and members Of Legislative BIO
dies-especislly of those of the Senate
Of the United States--and contendlng.
amongst other positions, that il is not the
duty nor the right. of the President Of
the Senate to call member to order un
ill the call be made by member, and an
appeal be made to the Chair. sc
The resolution having been agreed to.
The Vice President rose and said, he
trusted that the Senate would indulge
him in making few observations be-
fore he resumed his seat, as the debate
on the subject just decided had reia-
tons necessarily to the duties OF the
Chair
No one, more than myself, said the
Vice President, can be more deeply i'm
pre- ssed with the great truth, that the
preservation of rights depends, mainly,
on their exercise. That nation deserved
to conquer the wosld, which called its
army srerc,tus; and so will the nation
deserve that its liberty shall be immpr-
tai. which lays the foundation of its syss
I'm of Government on the great prpci-
pies, that no power ought to be jeiegaf-
ed which can be fairly exercised BY the
constituent body, and that noae ought
ever to be delegated but to responsible
agent These have been my maxims
through the whole of my political life,
aad should be inconsistent with myself,
IL did not give my entire assent TO the
PRINCIPLES on which the rules in question
have been recinded. l trust. said he.
that il never will be the ambition OF him.
whose lot Il is now to occupy this Chair,
10 enlarge its powers My ambition, |
hone pursues different direction not
to eaiarge powers, but to discharge, III
'indostrg, fidelity. and frmness, the do
ties which may be imposed on me. Ibas
feeling, I shall witness with pleasure, the
resumption of all the powers which can
be properly exercised by the Senate. as
they will be then placed, where alone
| hey can by with perfect safety.
| From the direction. which the debates
ID some degree, took, as well as from
| what has been SAID without these walls, it
!, becomes, on this occasion, proper that |
/ should state, for be- information OF this
body, the construction the Chair has put
| OF the 9th and 18th rules of the senate
They are inthe following words:
l"Nhen member shall be called 70
order, he shall sit down, until the Presi-
dent shall have determined whether he
is in order or not; and every question
! OF order shall be decided by the Pfesi-
dent, without debate; but If there be q
doubt in his mind he may call for the
sense Of the Senate.
alf the member be called to order, for
words spoken, the exceptionable words
shall be immediately taken down, IN
writing, that the President may be better
able to Judge of the matter"
/ The Chair. said the Vice President,
has bestowed it's most deliberate atien'
ton by night and BY day, on the question
OF the extent Of its powers, under cor
rect construction Of these rules, and has
settled in the conviction, that the right
TO caA 10 order, on questions touching
the latitude or freedom of debate, belongs
exclusively TO the members Of this body,
and net to the Chair The power ofthe
presiding officer, on these great points
is an appellate power only, and conse-
Iquently, the duties of the Chair COM
mence when Senator is called to order
| by Senator Whenever such call
shall be made, the Chair will not be
found unprepared to discharge its only
; functions In such case--that of decid.
ing on the point Of order submitted.
What the opinion of the presiding officer
is, in relation to the freedom of debate
in this body, it will be time to declare,
when question may be presented; but,
such as IL IL, % will be firmly, and trust
! may add, iearlessly maintained But,
rejoice that the rules of the Senate on
point so important, gave to the Chair
no controul till called on by the Senate
itself. II was right in itself, he said, in
strict conformity to the principles which