Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-20

true, and whether the House ought exercise its power
Under the views which he held respecting powers Of
the House he resist the motion OF the gentleman from
Ohio.
Mr.. Jenfcr rose, but gave way the instance of Mr.
Vance.
Mr. Vance said, that eases were TO be found in which
order made that "a committee OF privileges should
be appointed. Such had taken place by an unanimous
vote OF the House, and he believed that this was the first
time the proposition had been denied IL had always
been occorded committee had invariably been appoint
Cd and the party charged had been examined before that
committees. The gentleman from Tennessee, (Ar. polk
he said, had expressed, in the OF his
marks, intention not to argue the matter in question
but he (Nlr W must that he appeared take his
Wow of it in light which very favorable certain
eide of the question lie would not, however, discuss
present, any subject which might have tendency TO
tard the action OF the House he would merely make one
suggestion, TO which he begged call the attention of the
House and OF the gentleman from Tennessee If that gen
ueman should happen TO be waya assaulted and knock
ed down in the public street; and, in putting this case
he said, there was no gentleman in that House towards
whom such an outrage Gould be practsed, with greater
pain TO him, (r. v y but putting this case he would in
qure whether the effect OF such outrage would not be
TO destroy the deberaon OF that gentleman in the House
and TO leave his constituents unrepresened. He (NIr "
was no lawyer and would not, therefore, pretend TO ar
que this question legal but his conviction was
mat the privileges granted 20 the members of that House.
were intended Tor the benefit of teir constituents and not
SIMPLY Tor their personal accommodation. He would
however, put one more question, which, he thought
ought TO set TO rest the point of this attack iniyd
member OF that House. being attack the proper
elaboration OF the whole body. lie would suppose that
upon question OF great national Importance question
OF paramount interest and urgencyin which the votes
shoud be equal or nearly equal suppose i'm this case
Certain decision wanted by the Executive or by anv
OF the contcnlng parties of the country; would not tho
way-laying and assaung by the myrmidons of party or
OIL power one, or three four, other number of
their members, and the of them thereby from
participating in the deliberations OF the House would not
that he asked be deemed an interference and an ourage
Gus one too with their prvileges' Certainly would and
1t was no less so in the present instance.
AT the request OF Mr. Jcniter the letter Of Mr. Sanberry
was again'read.
Mr.. Jcniier said, he could not have supposed that
voice would have heen raised in that House i'm opposition
70 the resolution which had been submitted bv his friend
from ONO, MT Nancc) He in the highest degree
Asonshed that could consider the facts OF this case
as not amounting to palPabe and garipg violation OF the
privileges oil this House He quoted from the sixth Sec
ton Of the first article of the Constitution that provision
which exempts members rom during their attend
Ancc at the session OF their respective Houses and going
TO and returning from the same and for anu speech or
debate M either House, they shall not be Questioned in
any other place
Mr. Jcner proceededin his argument 10 show that the
privileges the House had been grossly outraged but in
go low tone OF voice that his remarks partially in
audible TO the reporter He understood 10 ask whe.
ther in the case Of the gentleman from Ohio (NIr STAN
bery) not only the right OF member of this House to
freedom speech and debate had been quesioned but al
So mat that member had been deprived of the privilege
oiaendng the House for the purpose of dschagine his
Puonc uanes' lie would not comment the facts
ia'ed oy That gentleman He had stated that he had been
wayald and aSsaulted that in he was una
bic 10 attend IN his places and under these circumstances
he could scarcely conceive possible that the House
should be called upon for deliberations instead of action
Another point required their attention. IL had been said
that the should be left TO the courts of the D;s
oil columbia, which, it contendcd, had Jurisdiction
over IT. as case of assault and battery Certainly some
weight might be attached TO this if the individual were
now In custody; but he wished the House consider that
speedy action should not be taken, their power might
be exercised on Monday in vain
The respect which the House owed 10 itself and 10 the
people oil whom its members the representatives
rendered the preservation of its dignity and the protec
on OIL nose VINO composed its body, an imperative duty.
ey should refuse TO vindicate those privileges which
,hcy enloyed as fheeAeqso ID y;' tat hsy" would be
Justly deemed, in future, unworthy of their PRIVILEGES
ana oil the confidence of that people.
bepn do in A..
., VI .e Rouse on former occasions he observe
' appeared to him 10 be immatera, in reference TO
TINS matter, what preceding Congresses might have done
on subjects OF similar br0ug be fore them We
sau r. ~ are here representing the American people
us ueiF rights, their privileges that we are conendino
Tor We ourselves but individuals among the peonle
ou we are here the representatives the guardians of
heir rights and interests. 1t privilege TO act in mis-
nun mi'ioul interruption from external volence-to deli
oerate upon public questions involving their interests and
give to our views, and their wishes fully and
Freely and that without the intervention of anv thine which
gould question check the freedom of speech and debate
MT Jenic repeated that he had scarcely supposed il pos
sloe that debate could arise this biect. he trsd
however, that it would not be much further proiracteJ
In me result he would express hope that some mistake
may have occurred in this maer-it wouId he n source
pressure 10 MN, to find that the was not of so az
grava'ed nature, there present he feared TOO
'nnch reason TO suppose But, at all events whatever
might De inc greater or lesser degree offence still il
behoyed the House to vindcate violated rights The
adoption oil the resolution OF the gentleman from Ohio
would place the party accused the power of the House
~ on an investigations he should be exonerated from the
charge, ii would be well, and his character would stand
upeached III, on the the facts should prove
e violation oil the privileges of the House. the DUTY which
hey all owed to the people whom they represented
would require That 1t should be followed by proper re.
prehension But the House postponed its action upon
the resolution, in what way, he inquired could the alice
ed oehder be arrived at? He concluded by saving that
on the decision OF question of such importance he felt il
ms duty to ask for the ayes and noes.
ne call being sustained by the requisite number the
ayes and noes ordered
Mr. Spcght adveited TO the mproprictv of the alluson
made as TO the employment of nyrndons bv or the
ercise oil violence at the nsigaion of the Executive
WIN view oil controlling votes in any possible CASE and
alter lew brief remarks, submitted the following amend
tnent to the resolution offered by Mr. Vance:
strike out all after the word ReSOIped and insert
"lhat select comeee be appointed TO whom shall he
referred the communication of the Hon. VIM St,nberrv
amember OF this House, from the State of Ohio in reIo
uon 70 an assault and battery committed on him by Samuel
iiouston with power TO take such steps as will insure
thorough investigation OF the Transaction
7 MI. Doddndge called for the reading of the entry in
he Journal oil the House, in the of Mr. Anderson
ne resolution adopted that occasion was read bv the
ctk together with the statement the course of action
which had been taken upon it, precisely similar IN
me action proposed by the resolution submitted bv Mr.
Vance. y Ni''
Mr. Dodddgo then said that the resolution proposed bv
MT ahce followed up strictly the former precedents
ne House, IN his opinion, deliberate whether
elr debates should be allowed to be Instructed with inn
Pum'y, Oy band oil assassins; whether they should be
conUoed IN the Tree expression of their opinions by the
exercise or the anticipation of brute force The very de-
bate Itself on this subject might TO give the Marty Of
tending timely notice to escape. Conceivng its connu