Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-12

though the necessity Tor it might not be understood
without statement OF the grounds of il by the mo-
yer. Ohuer the rules which now exist, Mr. +.
saius IL had oeen considered incumbent on the per-
sons who occupied the Chair, 10 present to the
iiodse every paper adr essed To them in their Off
'ia capacity. Doring this session paper had been
iaid before the House, from some mailman, (for so
he must he) addressed 10 the Speaker from France:
during the last session, paner of a similar SORT.
was addressed 10 the House, from another mailman,
VINO lad claim to the throne of France 1t was
obvious, mat, under this construco of the Rules,
II was In the power OF any individual, influenced
ny madness or malice, to present to the House any
.niS ne pieaset, however groundess or improper.
Ihe public attention is always attracted by what
ever appears Ia the shape Of memorial addressed
TO Congress, and these H. emorals 90 forth to the
pnnc clothed with factitions consequence. The
speaker, as Member, ought TO have all the pri-
VheSes OF every other member Of the House. In
his capacity of Member, is that he presents pc
'i'ions; but he certainly ought not TO be permitted
"huer cover oil his official character, 10 pre- pa
pers offensive to the House, or preudicial to the
public interest, IF such papers ere laid upon the
table merely, there TO sleep, the evil of their pre-
sen'ation would be but small: but there was always
| some busy meddiing individual who would take
pleasure IN publishing papers thus presented; and
every thing OF the sort would be eagerly seized up
on and published to the world 10 crafty idle curl
osny. AS the adoption of the rule would relieve
The Speaker of the House from the discharge of
what must be considered a disagreeabe part of his
du'y, MIR. r. hoped il would be adopted
MIR Campbell OF Ohio, SAID, that he did not Mt
all dissent from the doctrine laid down by the gem
tieman from Georgia, but he felt bound 20 state what
he understood to be this fact in the case He be-
Ileved 1t not To be the practice OF the Speaker of
this House, to exhibit TO he House all such com
municatons may be direct ed 10 him in his official
| he Of hat. la H. Ii
be, IN this respect, like that of other members OF
the House. He must exercise sound discretion
with reference 10 papers transmitted him. in de-
termining what ought, and what ought not 10 be
presented TO it. If communication was greatly
deficient IN matter, or was wanting in decency OF
manner, and appeared to present nothing, either of
individual or general interest, il would of course
be disregarded by The Speaker: but if project were
presented, however apparently chmerical or how
ever eNravagant In Its ideas, though it might come
from foreign country, yet, If were respectful i'm
ITS manner, II was not either of these accounts
| to be withheld from the House. MANY such had
been received and presented-such, for example
as mat which, session or two ago, proposed the
construction of flying machine; another, which
advised the planting OF geographical garden; a
thId, which suggested plan OF musical education
Tor the Indians IN Florida, Sc The pa per 10 which
the gentleman from Georgia had alluded, was Mr.
u admitted, very extraordinary one, but he be-
lieved that, if that very paper, instead of having
been addressed to the Speaker, had been sent 10
the gentleman from Georgia, that gentleman would
have found himself good deal at a loss TO deter
mine whether he should submit it TO this House.
or commit it TO the flames. For the exercise Of
their discretion in such cases, members were of
course responsible; hut they certainly were not
bound TO present TO the House every thing which
might be sent to them. The views, loo. of differ
! ent members might be different as TO the same ne
| IL. l.. Il.
held, others might think 1T ought to be presented
A diversity OF opinion might be expected on this
rs on other matters. Upon the whole, he could
not but say, that, though the views of the gentle
ma-s In presenting the resolution, were no doubt
very good, yet the proposed addition to the Rules
| he considered as altogether unnecessary
| Mr. Forsyth said, he did not know what views
were at this day entertained, by the Speaker OF the
Rules OF the House; but, from the two gentlemen
who preceded him in the Chair, Mr.. f. lad un5er-
stood, distinctly, that they considered themselves
liged to present TO the House every thing DECENT
ly expressed, which came directly 10 them in their
+! official capacity. Each of them had considered
himself as the organ of the House, merely 10 omen
and present 10 the papers addressed 10 him. as its
presiding officer. But, if the rule was as tie GEN
| tleman from Ohio had said, then the proposed sd =
ditioD to the rules not necessary Mr. + said
he did not intend, by his motion any censure ON
any gentleman, Tor presenting any petition what
ever The one in question was yery extraordi-
nary one s he should himself, being in the place of
the Speaker, have had hesitation in rejecting IL
he would not have been, in any way, instruments
al in presenting such rawlings TO the public view
He could Iardly CINE, from the manner in which
he spoke OF it, that the gentleman from Ohio could
have read the paper. Mr.. +. said he had no wish
TO trench on the rights OF tho Speaker, or of any
Member OF the House: all lie asked was, that all
papers, other than those from other Departments IF
the Government, should be presented TO the House.
by the Speaker, under the same responsibility for
their contents, as rests every other member OF
the House.
| MIR. Little OF Maryland, observed, that he be-
leved II had always been the practice on the part
of those who occupied the Chair of the Speaker OF
this House, TO lay before il whatever communica-
tons might be addressed 10 them, provided they
were clothed in respectful language. He did moi,
think they had been in the habit of considering them
selves possessing any discretion at all in the
matter. Inconvenience had certainly resulted from
such course Of things, and he therefore thought
there would be much propriey in adopting tile rule
now proposed. it would place tie Speaker on
the same footing, in this respect, with other Mem
| bers OF the House. This, he thought, was proper
and he should therefore, under his present impress
sions vote in favor Of the resolution but TO afford
some further opportunity for reflection on the sub
ect, he thought it would be better for the present
to lay It the table
This motion of Mr.. Little was suspended at the
request Of the Speaker; when
! The Speaker observed, tina. il might perhaps be
expected that the views of the Chair should be
presented in respect to rule which had the Speak
er OF the House especially in view. He
said that, well at the present session, as when,
on former occasion, he had had the honor TO oc-
! cupy the same station, numerous communications
bad been sent 10 him, which he had not presented
! to the House. There were many on bis table
in that situation. They wee couchedin respect