Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-04
VOL. XXX.--.NO. 53.

his bo.
dy TO preserve the citizens OF this country from being
brought under Subsection any power or authority that
may use up and seek to domiDeer. Under conviction
'ns rum the petitioner here and asks us re-
u,sss And, live leave say that no oppre sson no
aouse Of power should be tolerated within these
Mr. Clay, oil Alabama, here called Mr. Davis TO ORDER
that he was violating the 45ih rule of the House.
which directs that when member presented a ne,ition
be should only briefly state what it contained The gen.
uean' ON The contrary, was going deliver his views
10 what were the liberties Of the People, and into an
argument on the merits OF the petitioner.
Inc Chair said, the gentleman from Massachusetts was
certainty out oil order, and coune his remarks to
| statement oil what the memorial contained.
Mr. Davis replied, that far from being his inten-
lon excite the feelings OF gentlemen far less OF the
gentle man from Alabama by any remarks he had
made lie thought that the ordinary inIuIge of the
Rouse would permit him explain the object of the me-
lar as his information extended the course which had he
pursued toward this individual was without a precedent
IL was so stated and it seemed to him proper that the
House should inquire into the case that the memorial
should be entertained and bat the House should inquire
OF power. The memorial stated that il had been done bv
an officer oil the House: by individual who but fe w
since had been elevated by the voice Of that body to
the place lie held. Mr.. d. held, that as such he was
accountable to The authority that had appointed him.
ihe Speaker here inerposed, and again reminded Mr..
ID. that he was not in order.
Mr. Davis said he should not proceed farther If that
was the opinion Of the Chair He had only been giving
why this me mortal should he en,e,a;nsJ 81
House. aud why the House should act upon the subject
10 which it referred and enquire what reason mower
mad been exercised The memoriaist, he said went
on TO state that he had been removed without cause IL
had not been said that he was unahfuI or uncourta.
Gus towards the House in the discharge his official du-
"; on the other hand was admitted that he had been
always respectful and modest in his behaviour He had
rarely been within tina, hall. He had been removed
II seemed manifest, by the exercise OF power alone
! aud therefore il became proper TO ask WIN This LaS
been done! to ask whether the spirit iavorsm had been
exercised within those walls! whether the sprt nj nro
scpon had entered there! whether the pot had come
INTO that House, which either crushed its victim or mould
ed him to its own viii! The memoalst was a man of
honor aud responsibility end he had right to be heard
Mr. d. regretted that he had been embarrassed by pid
application OF technical rule in a OF this kind; lie
had hoped the House would have nduged him in ponp
into somewhat more enlarged view of subject which
IN iseif was OF fearful moment, and intimately connect
ed with the freedom and safety of the Peope: bu, as
different course had been pursued he should resume his
seat after he had sent to the Chair resolution which he
wished TO offer In the MEANWHILE lie asked the read
ing OF the memorial !, wss read accordingly as follows:
| To the HOnOTGb the House of
| Representatives Of The United States:
The Memorial and Representa- of Noah Fletcher
late an Assistant Jerk in the Clerks Office said House.
| respectfully sheweth:
That in the year IsI9 your MemoraIst was appointed
oy Thomas Doughery, then Clerk Of the House. as an
Assistant pro iempore, and that afterwards he was re
nized by resolution OF said House. and directed TO be
continued in service since which time until Friday Last
your Memoriaist has continued TO discharge his duy
with assduy, and according the best OF his abilities
to The satisfaction late Clerk and so far as known
TO the satisfaction OF the Members Of The House
Iha, on Friday last your MemoraIst was dismissed
ron The services of the House by the present Clerk
"hout any reasons assigned, and he alleges without
any good cause, and another person in his place
That your Memoals considers this proceeding as op.
| Of
representatives and against the spirit of the Govern
| ment under which we live.
Your Memoralst therefore, feels it his duty 10 make
s communication TO the House, and claims its nterpo-
stion. NOAH RI ETCUEpF
Mr. Davis then sent 10 the Chair the following resolu-
ton: ID ~
Resored, That Noah Fletcher was removed from hi.
ounce OIL assistant Clerk III This House without any suGi-
Gent cause, aud ought 10 be Immediately reins,ated
Inc Chair said II was not in order for the gentleman TO
move resolution at this time, unless by the unanimous
consent OF the House
Mr. ID. enquired whether he could not offer il an mo-
ton, in connection with the memorial?
The Chair replied in the affirmative.
MIR. Clay insisted that any motion, accompanying The
petition must be of the ordinary character for the refer
ence OF the paper TO committee give some other
disposition
The Speaker consulted the rule and decided that Tho
motion OF Mr.. Davis was in order
Mr. Clay then enquired whether it must not be laid on
the table Tor day.
ueman desired it. e
Mr.. Patton of Virginia, enqured whether IL would M,
be in order to refer the Memorial 10 Select Committee
The Chair replied in the affirmative; but no motion to
Mar Tnect Dens made the motion resolution offered by
Mr.. DAVIS, was laid on The table until To- morrow
Mr. Baylies, OF Mass presented d memorial pravine f
e removal oil 'ne distractions in Great Taunton River
10 ta' a'e and moved It's reference to the COMMITTEES
on Commerce.
| Mr.. Mercer Chairman of the Committee on Roads
and Canas said that he should be fathless TO the duv
ne owed TO that Committee he did endeayor to s,op
The course OF referring petitions oil this nature TO the Com
muee on Commerce. He then referred to the effect
whch mad, I'D certain degree, and must in
evitaOIy proceed from such practice All
situated the seaboad thus aimed an easy and cor
passage through The House; while all those conneceJ
with the great interior resisted, and denounced az
unconst tutiona
On this question desultory debate occurred which oc
cupcd the House about hour, aud in which Messrs
Mercer, Bdylies, Sutherland, Whlesey of Ohio Reed
Wardwei, Foot, Hall OF North Carolina Wayne and Sell
den, took part The particulars Of this debate we NOT re-
port, being Of interest chiefly ,ohin The House Pre-
cedents ced and the practice of the House
largely referred But the only question of opy moment
was whether har5ors were not much within the pur
view Of The Committee OIL Roads and Canals rivers
The memorial was finally sent 10 the Committee n,
! Roads aud Canals by vote OF 70 TO Go.
MIR. Wardwell presented memorial praying for tbe
construction Of harbor and the erection OF light bouses
at the mouth Of Sandy Creek aud Salmon River on Lake
Ontario.
On this memorial The debate was revived with additional
split, being continued 10y Messrs Mercer, suberIsnd
Ward~el, Gorhatn, Stewart, Vnlon, Bouldin and Eve.
| reti, OF VI. 49,
Mr. Wardwel moved that the memorial 20 10 the Com.
niittee on Commerce.
Mr. Mercer moved that much only as related TO light
houses, go TO That Committee aud the residue The Com
mee Roads and Canals
IL was hnay decided IN favor Of the reference the
committee on Commerce, by yeas aud nays, al oowS-
Yeas 1916, Nays o..
After tie ordinary routine OF The reception Of memorials
and reports Committees te House adjourned, on motion
! OF Mr.. Thomas, Of Louisiana, to Thursday next
! WAsH1HGroN, Jan This being New Years DIV
both Houses Of Congress have adjourned over TO TO-
row. 10 allow Hose Members disposed to pay their re-
spects TO the Chief Magistrate and themselves receive
and return The compliments OF the Season. such as with
proper Acknowledgements, heartily tender rea-
ders.