Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-18

remained but Single hour for business; and G.
very gentleman would acknowledge that little
could be done IN the examination OF a contested
aud title IN the course of that timo lie was fully
convinced that the alteration of the hour from 10
10 O'Clock had very materially retarded the pros
ecntion of the business of the House.
MIR. Moore, OF Alabama, said, that he had VOC d
Tor that changc-1nd had seen reason, since
which Induced him to change his opinion. He ask
ed whether il was not proper for gentlemen to con
sider at what stlgc of the session they had now
arrived Ought they not TO ask what day in the
month of March this was! Had they not already
trausccnded the limits Of the short session of Con-
gress? Surely the time had arrived, when the mem
bcrs ought 10 be industrious, and apply
IN earnest 10 the business before them. He would
ask OF hc older members of the House-those who
had had most experience of the course of business
here--and more particularly of the venerable gen
ieman from Virginia, Mr. NEwToNl whom he
saw opposite, and who was 50 strcnuously opposed
70 changing the hour 20 IL O'Clock whether il hal
mol been the usual practice of the House to pass a
resolution for that change about this period Of the
session? lie sure the gentleman woull renjv
IN the affirmative, and that it had often been
done at an earlier period. Grant that some MEM
bcrs might be detained in the Committee rooms
std enough would meet 10 form quorum and
the business of The House would proceed And
ne thought that the proceedings of this morning
were calculated 20 give gentlemen very sufficient
warming that the Honsc would not dispense with
their attendance, but would enforce the rules Mr.
NJ said he was waiting with iInpatience 10 reach
some bills in hich his constituents had deep in
tefest--and he was confident that enough was on
the calendar already to occupy the House for the
residue Of the session.
Mr. Mccoy said, that he had been aware at the
time the change of the hour had been pro-
posed, that this would be the result. He was con-
WINGED oil II, from experience. The gentleman
from Alabama had inquired of the older members
ot the House, whether this had not been the prac-
tics, heretofore, on this subject? II would answer
10 that inquiry, that it had not. Gentlemen who
AVN h..pn
seem 10 think that we do business very fast;
but have known them, after very few days TO
change their minds, and come to an opposite con-
clusion have known the hour to be changed at
Their instance, from II TO IL oclock-and in days
tmc, TO be put back again TO u. But | appeal
70 that gentleman himself, TO say, what has been
the result of the change during the present session
The very day after the hour was fixed at III o.
clocks that gentleman, himself, was absent when
ms name was called; and, from that time to this
we have bad call OF the House, l believe every
day 1 have, myself, sometimes moved it. but
my object has not been to harrass gentlemen. /
advocated the call only that might get quo
rum, and was always in favor of dispensing with
Vt, SO soon as quorum had been obtained Sir,
my experience tells me that more business will be
done and will be better done, too, by having our
Hour liked at IL, than at ii o'clock. AS has with
great truth been observed, by the gentleman from
South Carolina, it only takes away an hour from
the morning to put it to the evening. Mr. Nice
concluded with expressing his hope that the for
mer hour OF meeting would be restored. Was it
not far better that the Committee should have
time to mature the business, than that the House
Should have long si;tings?
Mr. Moore replied, that, although he might not
nave been present in the House, at the moment
MS name was called, (haying probably been in the
ionoy or IN the post oihce) yet, that he took his
seat while the roll calling, and before the pro-
ceedlngs in the call had been dispensed with As
10 the difficulty of finding the Heads of Depart-
ments in their Offices before O'Clock twas an ar
airhn 1 httfl it
ing upon hours for this House If the fact ;vas as
II mad been stated, it was proper that the House
should take steps to redress such state of things
ana not that two hundred and thirteen Representa-
tIVcs OF the People should be obliged to sacrifice an
Hour OF the public business of the nation in yyaitino
upon the convenience of one Of the Heads Of Dc.
partments
Mr.. Marvin said, that he had been in favor OF
changing the hour to eleven, but that the expert
ence o. the consequences had induced him &c
chanSe his opinion. lie was convinced, from the
result, that such change only operated TO retard
the public business. II cut off tic :;,,,-i valuable
our ''fe wiiciv gay, & instead of adding an hour
10 compensate it, 20 the convenience or comfort Of
the members, it only added to their burden, with
out accomplishing the end designed.
MIR. Tucker Of 5. c. spoke in reply. If there was
any rue which limited the sitting OF the House tc
four hours, there might be some force in the ar.
gument OF the gentleman from New York; but
surely the House could sit as late now as when il
met Mt IL O'Clock, and then a whole hour would
be added to the despatch Of public business He be
Neved The House, since the change of the hour
hSd sometimes continued TO sit till five aud near
~ to six o'clock. There no necessity of allow
ing more time 10 The committees, for they had al
Isady Teportcdmore business than would be reach
cd before the adjournment of Congress; and giving
them farther time, only tended to useless accu-
mutation OF bills reports which could not be act
ed upon. He concluded with moving to lay the re-
solution OF Mr.. Everctte on the table.
The motion was negaiived, without division
Mr.. Polk quoted the journals to shew that the
hour had been changed TO eleven at the first ses-
sfon OF the last Congress. the 18th of arch and
at a subsequent period Of the session. to 10 in the
morning He presumed the same reasons operated
Tins year as did the last. IL had bes urged that by
changing the hour TO lathe Committees would be
enabled to get through more business In reply to
'his 1t was sufficient TO say, ulat all the most i'm
pprtant business had already been attended TO- and
reported to the House, and, to the difficulty of
doing business at the Departments, even admitting
all that has been cOntended for on that subject, il
did not p,ove that the personal attendance of mem
oers was thereby Withdrawn from the House. be-
cause most OF the business with the Departments
could be, and actually was conducted by cores
pondencc. The present motion seemed to have been
made because, since the change OF the hour, mem
bers had been tardy in their attendance but il did
not follow, that they were to continue 10 be so.
The call Of this morning had been pushed so far
as to give very ineligible information Of what
was the determination Of the House on that sub
ject and he would venture 10 predict, that should
the hour OF meeting be suffered 10 remain as it now
was, there would be quorum in the House when
ever that hour arrived.
Elr. Wilde, after word or two in favor Of the
change, and against continuing the debate, moved
Tire previous question; but his motion was NOT sus-
tanned by the House.
Mr. Miner GOD 70 tJ,c rroffor