Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-23

a
dignity of this House.
The Senate have not only adhered to their amend
ment, without asking conference OF tbs House;
but when we have invited one, they have thought
proper to reject the invitation Sir, when this bill
in the extraordinary condition in which 1t was last
returned to US, from the Senate. was fecommiited
to the Judiciary Commute, considered the dignity
OF the House in safe keeping; and the report OF inc
| committee justified the confidence had reposed IN
| them. They do not, in express terms, affirm, tina,
the pursued, by the Senate, is disFespec'iui
OF the House of Representatives; but such rs the
unav oi1able Inference, deGucble from the second
paragraph OF their report
" Although it is still in the power OF the House,
say the Committee, " TO agree TO the amendments
OF the Senate, yet, if there be substantial objections
to those amendments, the House ought MOTTO assent
10 them, merely because the other House has not
only adhered TO its amendments, without having
asked the usual conference, but has also declined the
conference, when asked by the House OF Represen-
| tatives."
| The Committee truly say, az that no such case
has occurred before, in the history OF the Govern
nent, in which conference requested by one
| House has been declined by the other go Tar
| ther, sir. deny that such refusal can be found
in the Legislation of any State OF this Union not
certainly In the Oldest of them all, nor in the Lee
sis!stive annals of that country from which we de-
| rive our Parliamentary usage.
|
Committee of the Senate, which they have vouch-
sailed to Cause 10 be transmitted this House, along
with the bill returned to Us? The Committee OF
| the Senate disclaim any intentional disrespect OF
this House. This might qualify equlvocal act,
but cannot alter the obvious character Of the return
! 10 this House OF its dishonored draft upon their
| courtesy. How are to understand the applica-
ton of the terms moderation and forbearance," 10
the past conduct OF the Senate towards this body
| Moderation tempers the exercise OF power tor
bearance abstans from the retort OF injury or nJus-
| tice. Are these terns meri,ed by TIE relation or
the conduct of this House the Senate, calcula
tel to soothe the feelings which the report Itself
dsavows the intention 10 wound!
| MIR. NJ. said, that while he held seat on tha,
floor, he should deem himself an unworthy repre-
sentative of the State he had in part the honor to
represent If he did not maintain, on all proper oc-
casions, the rights and dignity OF the House. lie
freely confessed that he had been able to acquiesce
in those rules OF etiquette, without this House. by
which more elevated rank allotted in certain
places, on certain occasions, 10 those representa-
lives WHO held stations indirectly, than To those
who were tenants, in capic, OF the People-the
common and sole sovereign in America.
And when this House shall proceed step far
ther, and allow parliamentary usage to give force
to such social institutions, the expense OF the
ordinate rank Of this House, with the Senate in
the Federal Legislature when it shall fail to sustain
its own seli-respect, it will shortly become unwor-
thy OF that OF its constituents.
! Mr.. Brent OF Lou. called the gentlemen 10 or
der. The Chair decided that the gentleman was
not out of order, and Mr.. Mercer proceeded
& Sir, will not believe that the call to order is dc
signed to dsconcer; me, or to hreak the force oil
my argument.
For myself, cheri-h no less respect for the Sen
ate, individually and collectively, than will re-
quire OF that body in behalf of this House and OF
members carry this sentiment far hold this
House to be responsible to the Senate for the lan-
guage of lis members, il ever directed, when ap-
piled TO the character or the individual Senator q.
well 10 the conduct of the collective Senate
Except when required by the discharge of his pub
< lie duty, member on the floor of either House
hiss right 10 assail the character of a member o.
the other. To make such attack would be breach
OF order and decorun, which the Chair, Of its owr
accord, should enforce. If the vilest calum.
MES, prompted by the grossest malignity and de
pravity OF heart were vented this floor against
member of the Senate
Mr.. Brent again called the gentleman TO order
He appealed to the Chair if it in order for til,
gentleman TO aIlude in this House 10 language
which had been used oil the floor of the Senate?
The Chair decided, that it was not in order &c
allude to language used in the Senate, but said
that he had understood the gentleman from VIr.
sinia merely advancing hypothetical PROPOSE
, ton
If such an attack were made by a member of this
House, impernently and irreverently, upon a
Senator, would unkc-italingly call him 10 order
1t the Chair did not anticipate me, and ] should
expect the support OF the House: for If such ca
umny be directed by one member OF eithe,
House against a member of the other, it may be
extended to all and by all; and the two bodies be
, maTshaed against each other by hostile feelings
instead OF CO. operating for the public good, accord
, ing settled rules of legislation founded in mutual
respect, Sir, have done with thi, subject,
trust, forever We called on by the report
Of the Judiciary Committee, who unanimous
, ~ supported this bill in is original shane. &c
reject the Senaes amendment. We are about
, TO decide question involving the dignity o.
this House and the welfare of this nation, al til,
| close of protraced session, with House whose
ranks have been thinned by the departure of some
of It's members, and by the oppressive heat of the
season. AS my friend from North Carolina. who
will vote 10 recedc would vote for an indefinite
postponomcnt Of the bill, as | may infer from lis
recent remarks, l beg leave to vary the question
before the House, and submit TO you that propC-
sition.
MIR. Polk, Of Tenn. to reply to the obiec.
: ton urged by the gentleman from Ohio to The
Senate's amendment. That gentleman had put his
objection entirely the unconstutionality of the
amendment; but he recoileced that, when that gen
> tleman had, on former occasion, addressed the
: House in opposition to this same amendment he
urged no constitutional objection, but insisted onIy
on the announcement allotment of the districts Mr.
G L. said he had the act of 1907 now before him
and, by that act, it required that the judge
should reside within the seventh circuit yhich cir
cult was created By that act. The gentleman from,
Ohio might, perhaps, say that the phraseology
was not the same as tina, employed in the Senate