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


ed the election Shall such practices be connive
at Or endured: The very power OF appointing
substitute, (such is the weakness OF nature
an addition TO his already vast patronage and pow
axerted through the Committees otSerwse-
Such man, gifted for the Protean task OF partisan
and umpire, must possess an overA heming ililu-
encc in a body Ike this. In election of PreSi-
dent by this House, the Influence may be fatal.
:. Your Committee will state another case, and
Que OF actual occurrence. The Speaker leaves
the Chair, calling another member it, and quits
me House. question OF order arises. The de-
csloa oil the substitute is overrued. The Journal
states the fact. Dut the journal doe, not, and
cannot state the fact, that the Speaker not in
the Chair, in order them that it may no, appear
the journal that the Speakers decision was over
ruled, the whole fact is erased from the journal
under the Speakers dictuni and, the oath oil the
Clerk 10 the contrary notwithstanding, the recon!
ismade to conport, not with the fact, but with the
feelings and reputation oil the Speaker.
.. Another case, also, not suppositious. Speak
cs oil this House has eNten,ive practice III tn Su-
preme Court OF the United States; day after day
lac appears here, only to appoint his substitute, anu
To- retire to the labours Of the Bar in the Court be-
low stairs.
4. Your Committee must now suppose case,
but by no means, III their opinion, extreme one
IL Case which, Judging from ihe npciuous temper
ol the party referred 10, and the spirit OF cOnnaLd
iii some OF the abcs Judges that have ever graced
that bench.t is quite within the range OF probat-
~. The Speaker " The House If Representa-
ttucs as committed for contempt 0i Court
There is no power known 10 our law, TO the
forms and usage vi our Government, that re-
heve him. The President, almost absolute ia this
ten miles square, cannot pardon a contempt of
Court. BY possibility the Speaker may succeed
10 the chief executive authority whilst injured
between the four walls Of i common oa hsolne ili ,
with felons and runaways negroes. Who is 10 ign
our enrolled bills! Without which they cannot
become law. Is the Government TO stand still, N.
I'll the term OF his imprisonment shall expire? But
suppose that the case does not reach to this len th
that lie purges himself OF the contempt, or maxi ;
submissions 10 the offended iii Ny of some DuisRe
Judge: What is condition? Where is The dig
nifty, the responsibility i'll the eyes of the public,
or in our own, of this great and august assembly,
Kpeeiing, III the person OF its presiding officer, at
the lootstoo, moi oil coordinate, but of aubort.i-
nate branch of the Government; nay, of a single
Associate Judge OF the Supreme Court
Finally, your Committee take leave TO state tina,
the genius OF our Government and of all free in
stitutons, made for the benefit of the many and
not Tor the convenience and purposes of The few,
abhors s'nectue places The emounents and pat
roOage OF Office, imply faithful personal discharge
OF its duties by him who receives and enjoys them.
The laborer is indeed worthy of his hire, but that
iIfe - not less worthy Of the iaborer.
Your Committee seeing no reason whv the
election OF Speaker and other officers of the House
should be by ballot, unless one which they cannot
consent TO entertain, viz: the shielding the repre-
sentative from his responsibility 10 b- constituents
propose that such elections shall b. made UUa roce
our Committee propose the abrogatioIs of the
l9h rule, because ii Is also innovation; because
gives unreasonable portion of the time of thi
llousc To private business 10 the injury OF that OF
the public, and facilitates the passage of unjust
claims by giving notice of attendance on the par,
oil the friends OF such claims, and notice of absence
to nembers, who may take no particular interest
therein.
Your Committee, for the Simplifying of the blu
sihes5 oil the House, recommend the abolition oil
the Committee on Public Expenditures, from and
alter the end OF the present session of Congress
am VlItf h0xy f,rfo
mend g the propricty of establishing Standing
Committee, TO consist of seven members 10 be
called the Committee OF Retrenchment, who shall
he Charged with the investigation of the manner oil
discharging the public business in the different pub
lie oitices,~ neither do they deem it expedient 10
aevse 6 any further to facilitate the pul-
dc business, s. secure its economical perornance''
because they deem that such Committee should be
select one, and only raised aIleg alton of
or encouragement, in any given Public Office or
department Past experience induces your Com
'nlttee to believe that such Committee, armed
with general inquiSitorial powers the personal
conduct OF Heads -and Clerks of Departments
would at first excite odium, and soon fall into dis
Use or contempt.
The committee recommend change in so much
OF the seventeenth rule as requires that. q not
more than one hour in each day shall be devoted TO
the subject OF Reports from Committees aud Re-
solutions. In lieu Of this provision the Committee
respectfully recommend, that when the subject of
reports from Committees and Resolutions shall
NC o"uc, cohSiuerdioli, motion 10 proceed 10 the
orders OF the day shall have priority, and if carried
IN the affirmative, the subject under consideration
snail, for that day, be set aside. The adoption of
THIS rule implies the abrogaiion Of the eighteenth
rule.
In conformity with the opinions above mention
ed, your Committee respectfully recommend the
adoption of the following resoiutions
i. Resofred, That so much Of the sixth rule be
abolished as makes it the duty of the Speaker to
examine and correct the journal before il is read'
Id that the journal, as heretofore, be made I'M bv
the Clerk (ylio Is a sworn officerl subject to the
correction of the House.
:. ResofDed, That the sixth rule be further a.
ended, by inserting IN the third and last sentences
alter the words he shall" the following words
ia, case Of inability.
o. Resosrtd, That in all elections by the House
lother Than OF Committees) the members shall vote
rivd D0es, each member on his name being called.
designating the person for whom he votes to fiji the
Office under consideration; and in all cases. except
wherein IL shall be otherwise provided bv law
majority shall be necessary to choice. Strike out
IOf course) the Sth rule.
4. Resofvfd. That so much of the 18th rule be
abolished, as requires that - not more than one
hour i'll each day shall be devoted to the subject OF
Reports from Committees and Resolutions" and in
lieu thereof insert that (" whenever the subect o,
keports from Committees and Resolutions shall be
under consideration, motion TO proceed to the or
ders OF the day shall have priority, and if carried
IN The affirmative, the subject under consideration
shall, Tor that day, be set aside This i.ulle. Of
course, the abrogaton Of the 18th rule
D. ResoiDed, That the 10Th rule, setting apart
two days in the week for private business, be
abolished.
g. Resolved. That the COMMITTEES on the Public
Expenditure, be abolished, from and after the pre-
sent session Of Congress.
z. RESCUED, That no private petition memorial
hf reHonstrance, nor any other private document