Delaware journal., 1828-02-26
From the N. Y. Amer,can.
TFRoM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
Uashinglon. Thursday, Feb. 14th


| have not found time hitherto TO notice the highly
interesting debate that occurred in the Senate during
Monday and Tuesday, the report OF Select
Committee appointed to revise the rules OF that
body. The great question which has produced all
tins scus-ion was alteration OF the 9th rule, SO
as to ALLOW the Vice President to call to order, for
offensive words uttered in debate; and this question,
although not as natural consequence brought un-
der consideration the conduct OI Mr.. Calhoun, IN
the winter OF '2627, in reirainlng from calling Mr.
Randolph TO order and afterwards justiiylng this
conduct, on the ground that the presiding officer had
nU right to call to order for words uttered IN debate
The constitutional question has been pretty tho
roughly ,anvassed. The friends Of MIR. Calhoun,
of course, went INTO some very abstruse arguments
| to sustain his dec,sion. The inherent po,Der OF
the Vice President act at all, in calling to order,
or, as IT was characterised, stopping debate, was
every way denied You can easily imagine, that
,hl, idea of inherent power, SO purely abstract in
lrsei susceptible Of being mystlfied by legal sub
tt,. and, in fact. so liable to be misunderstood,
was powerful, instrument in the hands of such cas-
u,sts as Iazewel, Van Buren,, Benton, White,
kowal and their companions But these sopbs-
tries were opposed by he common sense of Cham
oels, bell, smith, of South Carolina and Barton
and as believe, totally turned against them. One
ot The arguments Of MIR. Cahoun's friends was
anu il WAS also his own-that the presiding officer
had but ministerial power that his power was no,
judicial, and hence, that although he empower
ed to keep in every other respect, he was not
authorized 10 interfere in debate. To this it was
ably answered that if the Vice President had minis
E teral power, he must have derived it from sOmt
source, and it not given by the constitution
nor by the rules of the Senate it fair suppo
sitlnn that the power incidental to his station
nd extended to calls Of order of every description
answer to the idea that the presiding officer hat
II no inherent power. it was argued that the constitu
& non would not appoint officer. and designate
duty to be performed by him, without giving hin
K adequate power for its performance. The friend
4 Of the Vice President have abured hard under til
L burthen of his defence. But he is yet without vim
4, dcaton for has convenient construction of the rule
d to cover his neglect of duty, in permitting Joh
D. Randolph to abuse with impuny his brother Sena
t, tors
sl Mr.. Chambers has done himself honour by tn
h steaduess with which he has opposed the casuisr
Of of the other side and although the Jackson orga
n chose to proclaim that Mr. G.. had vindlcated tn
ne Vice President nothing further from the meaI
a ing of hls remarks
r- Mr.. Calhoun has throughout the discussion show
TO- symptoms Of the greatest uneasiness, evidently vii
its the anticipation of being handled more roughly tina
he his opponents thought necessary. When he ro
to during the speech Of MIR. Chambers on Wednesda
,rs he was under evident excitement and in making
,te explanation OF the grounds Of his construction OF
all duties, his lips trembed and his voice tatered. III
ire debate it goes on. be any thing but agreeab
nat to him. The majority Of the Senate seem to be
Of opposition to his opinion in relation to his duties. IT
ee, may be gathered from the course Of the debate, al
oil the vote upon the amendment offered by Mr.. B'
ng rien, to take away the power from the Vice Pre-
'es- dent of calling TO order for offensive words.
her Thursday evening.
ties The report upon the rules OF the Senate has pc
1r discussed during the whole of the day. and, at la
un the amendment offered by M. Foot has been ado
her ed. The inherent power has again been debated
t of full. Mr.. Johnston Of Louisiana opened the deba
lng and in speech Of great length, upheld most a
his the incidental power of the Vice President to
leu force order on all occasions. His remarks we're