Delaware journal., 1828-01-01
/" "THE USUAL COURSE"

"THE USUAL COURSE.'
The Washington Correspondent Of the Boston
Courier, represents the following the usual course
of business of Congress.
At twelve O'Clock, few minutes in anticipa-
tlon of that precise point of time, the Speaker goes
behind the clerks desk and lives Slight rap on the
desk, AT which all persons then present in the hail.
uncocer their heads, The chaplain then ascends to
ne Speakers chair aud repeal, his daily prayer,
which service rdl.arily occupies about two minutes.
The Speaker then takes the Chair, and the mrmIers
return to ne employment when had been interrupt
ed by the recurrence Of the morning devotion. This
empoymentis the writing of letters. each member
at his own desk, OF directing, per mail, to whomso-
ever he peases distinguish wlih hi, mark Of his
respect, packages, previously sealed up by the pages
Of the House, containing public documents, and
iaid upon the members desks respectively. The
journal OF the preceding da, /, read the Speaker
ANNOUNCES that petitions or memorials " order.
and calls over the states beginning at Maine, the
members from each rising in ther respective places
as the states called, ii hey have an, paper, ii
offer. Tnese petition, and memorials are seldom
rcad.-Ihr members presenting them IN win. thai
the reading be dispensed w,rh and The paper, what
ever 1T be, referred to the proper standing commit
tee. The motion is immediately announced bv tht
Speaker, who also, without asklng fora oe declares
the paper to be referred. When these docunent.
are all thus disposed of, the Speaker that
reports Ot standing committees in order Ii
any ready, they are then presentpd.--it bills are
reported, they are ready by the Clerk, then ul mo
ton read a second time by their title. aud zen re
terred, usually to the committee OF the wHaie House
and made the order of the day for assignee
,day. The Speaker then announces that reports o
select committees in order. and, il any are made
they take similar course. Lastly. the Speake
announces that resolutions are in order, and thei
are offered the variety of resolutions for diver
purposes which make up so large portion of th
daily journals of the House, as published in th
newspapers of the city of Washington 1t is rar
that any discussion takes place upon petitions
solutions when they are first offered it being con
sldered that common courtesy and common usage re
quire that they should be referred to committees,
; requested by the members presenting. The reso
luton presented IA few days since by Mr.. p. p. Bar
bour, instructng the Committee of Ways and Mean
Ito inquire into the expedienty of selling the stoc
owned by the governmental in the United States Banl
I. was, we believe, the first exception to the usui
r daily reference of resolutions which the session h;
furnished. When this routine is completed, tn
House adjourns. Its settings, hitherto have rarel
If occupied more than an hour each day-sometim6
f less, and, in one or two Instances. about double h
time. During the transaction ofthe business as W
have stated 1t, no one seems TO pay the slightest a
tenon to what Is passing, but the Speaker, tt
Z, clerks, and the member Immediately concerned
,c the presentation of petition or report The re
are busy in sealing up and directing their iivors
aioresaid. or in reading newsp ipers. The immen
number ofthese packages, the display Of latiers N
. newspapers which each members desk affords, M
~ the constant moving and removing of them by II
boys in attendance give TO this superb hall an a
y pearance not altogether unlike the packing room
~ IN extensive npUsnaner pst;hshmn or the fol
St ing and stitching apartment OF bookbndcr. Th
description twill be perceived that of the Hou
n of Representatives. The hall ofthe Senate presen
II scene not exactly the same, extensive, b
is not dissimilar as to require separate notice.
r.-.--A A4r-~--.