Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-20

perform the duties OF the Chair &c.
The permission granted to the Speaker TO leave
the Chair and TO appoint substitute is also mo-
Germ innovation, unknown TO the usage of Para-
inent; anu until lately, unprecedented in Congress-
II must surely he work OF supererogaton in your
Committee to endeavor 10 impress upon the House
that hish sense which every member of it must
entertain of the dignity and Importance of the fInc-
tons oil the Speaker OF the House of Representa-
tives of the Congress of the United States. trust
second TO but one in the federatiye Government,
requiring for its proper and beneficial exercise
stainless purity and integrity of life; private
character without bleInish; rigid impartiality,
which, in the enforcement of rule and order knows
no respect OF persons; sacred regard 10 the free
dom Of speech and of debate, Indispensable to the
exercise OF the privileges OF member of a DELHI
erative body and TO the rights OF his constituents;
an intuitive readiness and quickness of perception
and combination; clear-sightedncss that looks
through all the plies of the most veSatiously COM
pGcated question Of order; and the power, "tho
Gordan knot Of it TO unloose familiar as his gar
ter;' temper, at the same time, to avoid all re-
fnemens that leads to distinctions without diff
ference; all cavailing and har-splitng; above ALI
oil hairs already split; manners atfabe, yet not ia
niliar; dignted, yet not overbearng supercilious,
or arrogant; realty and spontaneous sympathy
with the House, whose organ he is; high sense
OF the dignity and weight Of his station in this Co
vernment: sleepless jealousy OF the privileges OF
this Assembly of Deputies OF The American STATE;
and an unconquerahle courage TO maintain the,l,
in the name, and for the behoof of the American
People. Such are of the various and inl-
portart duties OF Speaker of this House, which
the Committee, with faint pencil, have endeavored
10 pourtray.
Your Committee have no hesitation in declaring
that no public services rendered during the past
century 10 England by any of her sons, have been
more deserving OF the reward bestowed upon them,
than the thirty years Speakcrship, in five success
sive Paramen.s of Arthur 0nslow,@ for which he
received, not merely peerage and Il pension, but
the thanks of the House OF Commons, who rever-
! ed him with piey more than fiiial, the appruba-
ton of his sovereign, and the applause OF his grIe
tul country.
But to leave the Chair of the House of Com
Inons am appoint substitute, practice unheard
OF III England as il was here, until tie Speaker
ishiP OF Mir Henry Clay.
Cases, indeed, have arisen in which the Speaker
has left the Chair, but for a few moments only ana
then i was supposed 10 pass unobserved by the
House One venerable presiding officer of this
House, Mr. Macon,) who filed the Chair with am
mpartiaty never surpassed, during the first six
years OF Mr. Jetierson's administration, was never
known to leave The Chair, except when the House
had resolved itself into Committee of the Whole:
and Chairman Of that Committee, John Cotton
Smith, Esq of Connecticut, sat for nineteen hours
without leaving his seat, the bill for repeating
what has been termed. the 8 Midnight Judiciary
law" Mr.. PikiD, from ihe same State, has also
! sat IN the Chair of The Committee Of the Whole
ttouse' until the san rose upon him, without quit
! ting his post.
| Your COMMITTEES as the House will have nor
ceyed, deem, this 10 be no light question: but one
| of vital importance TO the dignity and welfare ol
This body; and, by consequence, Of this confede-
rated association Of Republics. In further iilustra
ton OF This subject, your Committee will state some
cases, not merely possible but which have actually
occurred, within the personal knowledge of more
than one of their members
l. Speaker looking, as every qualified citizen
has rightto do, to the highest pinnacle of prcno
ton, becomes at once Umpire in The Chair and
+ q partisan on the floor He throws himself into
The scale OF the administration of the Executive
Government; or, as tle may be, into opposi-
ton 10 IT, He originates the most important mea-
sures OF the session; he arraigns, or chides the
| measures OF government; he denounces the most
iIlustrious and victorious of our captdins who had
| preserved TO the Western States the kew of tbc
/ Mississippi; wholiad thrown the lsgis of his vaor
fover the covering and heart-sinIDr matrons and
fnaidens OF Louisiana; preserving them from fate
more terrible than death, in aly shape the hands
Oh ruthless barbarians, whether African or coun-
try born. shielding, at the same time, the neigh
boring States from the horrors of servile war;
who had identified his maine with the great bene-
factors and patriots who live and shall forever live
III history and song; who had crowned himself
with aurcls that never fade, aud his country
with i'npcfishable glory. Speaker, transformed
into partisan, is Of all objects, except a partisan
Judge, the most oioIls and the most dam srous-
The power and patronage Of his office render him
formidable His talents for Intrigue and election
eering yet more dangerous Permit hin, 10 dut
the Chtir, I'D ii5itusa, aud you more than double
ms powers OF annoyance and righteousness He
mixes with the members the floor, he procureg
| fir. Onsow, who with the highest honor and
repntation bad occupied for more than thirty
years the Office Of Speaker in five successive Par
iiaments, now bending under the weight of in
creasitg years and inrntcs, declared his deter
mlnaon to retire from public business. Tho
House, sensibiy affected at the prospect Of this Sc
paration, Immediately AID unanimously voted
that the thanks OF the House sho,iIl be given 10
, Mr. Speaker, for his long and faithful seryiees-
Tor the uusbaken integrity OF bis eonduct-Ior bs
fsieady impartIalty IN the exercise of lis Office
and his tnwearied endeavors 10 promote the real
interests Of bis King and counfy--to maintain iie
! honor and dignity Of Paslia,nent and TO preserve
it,vioabie the rights and privileges OF the Commons
Of treat Bfifop.' This venerable patriot rose In
express his gratitude TO tie House for the d;stin
I giis'icd honor thus conferred upon hin,--but be
iolDd bis ssIssaors too powerful for uierancc and
after vain ctiolt TO speak he was relieved by a
GUST 81 Tears. AT length Ia broken sentences he
declared % The fiOuse, M inability 10 hear with.
out emo;Ioftsbv which nc entirely Overpoyered
these last expressions of their Kindness AMI GOOD
viii. Io had received tlc nObicst reward Which
couid possibly he bestowed upon the highest merit
the thanks and tie appfobal,on Of his country
lie acknowledged the mpcfls con Of his services
! but he protested that wherein lac had failed IL
was Involuntary; and ho hoped hc had obtained
! the pardon % 'aosr 20 whom any cause Of offence
'iad been iuadteiicnGy given. To give sadslac-
ton, 10 al bad been his constant attn his study and
liIs pride. In retirement all obscurity, said he
shall now spend the reinanlcr Of my days: and
| IN the bosom oil That retirement, my ardent and
| consiant prayer will he, that the Constitution of
ts country be preserved iDyioTite, and more par
ticularly tla the freedom te dignity and autlori-
| ~ Of tiis House may bc perpetual The flores
Jthcn unanimously resolved add fegs to ,;ie inc
Z ala 10 .frr In