Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-28

kNcAtNSAy AlnlScU nGd always disagreed on
this head. he did lot believe it was necessary
that any ranking privilege should go beyond the
present Herc were some observations in con
ciusion OF Mr.. NJ. which the reporter could not
hear.l
The question being then taken on the amendment
offered by Mr. johnson Of Ky was decided In the
negative: % TO 10.
The question then recurring on ordering the re-
solution to third reading,
Mr.. Tyler said, that, in some remarks made by
him ON Friday, he had n;imated that the privilege
OF franking had been assumed heretofore by the
Speaker OF the House, of ranking throughout the
year. This he found was not the case, and he re-
retracted that superstition. He had found that it
had only been exercised during the sessions The
present Speaker, who, he believed, had no solicit
tude upon the matter, had refused to the pri-
viiege to the extent used by the former Speakers
from belief that the law did not authorize him TO
do so-and this having come to the knowledge Of
the Post Office Committee of the other House.
they had no difficulty in reporting the resolution
now under consideration. BY the law, the Vice
President was empowered to exercise the frank.
ing privilege, while his situation was perfectly
analogous to that of the Speaker ofthe other House
itwas true that the Vice President was elected to
provide TOR any contingency by which the Presi-
dent OF the u States should be taken away; but in
the absence Of such contingency, his duties we're
IN all respects similar othose OF the Speaker of the
House OF Representatives,. The principle on which
! the grant o. this privilege was maintained was
that when an individual was eleyatedto high sta
uon, his correspondence were consequently in
creased; and 1t became NECESSARY that he should
enjoy the right of franking SO fully had this sria-
| cipie been acknowledged, that the privilege of
Thanking was extended to the Ea- Presidents after
they T. al long ceased 10 ill any Office uuder the
Government. The gentleman who filed the stua-
ton OF Speaker 10 the other House. was 10 be con
sit rcd man Of high character, and worthy of be-
| ing entrusted with the privileges that had
formerly been enjoyed by those in the same station
One great reason why the right OF ranking ne
cessary TO him, was, that he the organ through
| which numerous petitions Were presented, which
| would otherwise be great burthcn He though {
that refusal on the part of the Senate TO extend
this privilege to the Speaker Of the House, would
| De breach OF etiquette, and destructive OF the
harmony which ought to exist between the two
| Houses
MIR. Webster said, he was willing to pass the re
solution in any shape that should extend the pri-
yiege oil iranking 70 the Speaker OF the House as
tar as II had been before enjoyed. Further he did
not wish 10 go. Ten twelve years since law
! was passed which allowed the Speaker to frank
packages, without regard to weght-which re.
manned until three Years since, when an act was
passed, which was now supposed to have repealed
The powers OF the Speaker IN this respect The re-
solution now under consideration proposes to re-
store that power But is this all which it proposes.
No. 1t is TO extend this privilege through the
whole year. he knew reason why the privilege
should be SO extended in the case Of the Speaker
more than in that OF any member OF CongI ess. And
IT appeared 10 him, that those members who had
been Tor years Chairmeu of some of the Standing
Committees, required that privilege equally with
the Speaker He was willing TO go so far to re-
store the act which was repealed, and no farther
he then moved 10 substitute the following for the
| original resolution:
That, during the present, AID every subsequent
session Of Congress, all letters 6. packets to & from
The President Of the Senate zyy fe7,D3,e and tl,.
Speaker Of the House OF Representatives for the
time being shall be receiYedan conveyed by mail
free ofpostage, under the restrictions as are
provided by law with respect to letters and pack
cts TO aud from tkc Wee President o: the United
States.'
Mr. Tazewell had 40 objection to the amend
! nent but was opposed TO the manner in which it
had been brought forward. BY the rcvisa OF an
old law, the Speaker Of the House had, by acct
dent been left out of its provisions ia relation 10
the franking privilege. Owing to this accident,
which was not discovered by the Post Office De-
partment, the Speaker had gone 10 frank as u
suai; but, as Il turned out, Illegally. The present
Speaker, on assuming his Office, turns to The law,
and hnds that he had power 10 follow the steps
oil his predecessors. 1t was well known, that,
where the Speaker franks for himself, he does
| II one hundred times for the members. The at
tention OF the House of Representatives was drawn
10 The subject, and they were willing place the
| Speaker OIL the same footing the Vice President
occupied in this respeci-not, as the gentleman
| from Massachusetts, propojes-to restrain him to
| the same power as is enjoyed by the lnenhers.-
The difference between the proposition of the
sets, did not seem to him of sufficient importance
to authorize the rejection of proposition for pac-
ing the presiding officer of the coordinate branch
on the same footing with the President of the Sen
ute Ii would be breach of courtesy TO refuse 10
acccde TO this proposition--a rude and undeserved
rebuff, which could not but have a tendency TO in
terrupt the harmony between the two Houses
On THESE grounds he opposed the amendment offer
cd by the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Mr. Webster said, it was extremely painful for
him TO be necessiated TO say another word. But
he thought it extremely unjust to consider the a.
| mendment as rebuff, Il want of courtesy TO.
wards the other House. He had no such mean
ing in Offering The amendment. They had been
told that the deprivation, by the last law passed up
on The subject ofthe Speaker, of the privilege oil
ranking, was mistake, ard that it was proposed
to re-eSablish the ancient provisions OF he law in
that respect But, by looking at this resolution s.
the old law II would be found that this bill did moi
re-eslabiiSh the ancient laW--on the Contrary il
proposed to do much more. He differed with the
gentleman from Virginia--and thought the amend
inent no way indicative Of want of courtesy to
the other House, as il merely sought 10 place Che
| power OF the Speaker OH its former footing lie
had not wished TO say another word Oh the subject
or oppose the wishes Of the other House No man
would do more than himself to contribute TO the IA
ciity OF any officer Of the Government, in the
| performance Of this duties
MIR. Van Buren, expressed himself briefly in op-
position 10 the amendment. lie spoke, generally,
IN % low atone, that the Reporter cannot undertake
to detail his remarks. lie was understood to say.
that he thought the object 20 be effected by the
amendment OF too little importance 70 authorize an
! opposition to he wishes of the other House.
Elr Johnston, OF Louisiana, observed that If this
resolution were 10 DO passed through courtesy 60
the other House, lac should not feel authorized 10
oppose u. But, II It were taken UP Oh the ground