Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-02

-, ""' ne rule IS, thpt the person first man,
'"',' "c' as Chairman, and the others follow in
VIC ''oer IN which they were named. III, was no,
so nc would be corrected by the Speaker. Here
"e", T" a manifest departure from the usage A
chairman il elected and elected bv n mino,itv nj
me Committee. He found in Jeffcrson's Manual M
case parallel TO this; did he sec i, in the Manu-
~ PonI'shedb by his friend, member Of this House
rom pennsylvania. II required a majority of ali
INC votes TO elect Chairman that was laid down
as u rule.
MI ADAMS concluded by saying that his object
was to make the name of tho Chairman Of the
COMMITTEE of Foreign Relations a matter of re
cord leaving II for the Speaker To determine wbetb
CT Inc person named second was not and i, not
.ne actual Chairman of the Committee accord
ing 10 the rule of the House. He moved that 1.-THE
name OF the present Chairman If the Committee on
Foreign Relations be entered on the Journals of the
House"
Mr. EDWARD EVERETT said he did no,
rise 10 discuss the motion of his COLLEAGUE fMr An
ANS, } but to claim the indulgence Of the House
~h''e ne made personal explanation, which, afcr
wna' hnd 'allec from the gentleman from New
iork' Mt CAMDRELtNo) was manifrstly due to
himself and his friends. The gentleman from New
iorK'--who had just alluded to the friendly init.
macy which had ever subsised between HIM and
nyseif-has remarked, (said Mr. E) that my re-
sPec'ed collcaee (Mr ADAMs) has placed me IN an
awkward predlcomesrt before the House If The
situation IN wi lch stand can properly be called
an awkward one owe u 10 myself 10 state 10 the
gentleman from New York, that am placed in it
without any concurrence ofmy own make this
suggestion, as the reverse ,nigh, naturally eoouyh
be inferred from my well known relations with nv
respected colleague But nv COLLEAGUE has nade
ms motion, without any cooperation or prompting
ofm'nc. not only did no hing to Cause the sub.
Ject to be brought before the House but | believe
may say that my respected colleague wesnware
when nc made his motion. that, as far as my per
sonai feelings were concerned, ] had rather il
should not be made. But ano,her remark of the
gentleman from New Yotk still more impe,,ou,lv
| requires an expanstion of The motives from winch
have sc'ed IN reference 10 a matter of some deli
cncy. The gentleman from New York. if cor.
reclly caught his remark sail that so for from do
ing my thing in al unfrirndIy spir,, to me-
which certainly ] have never charged HIM
with, nnh no one on my account, that know of J
he thought ne did me kindness in placing me III
that situation in which The delicacy of an honora
BILE member from Virginia (Mr. ARCHERY had led
him voluntarily, at the beginning OF the session 10
place HIMSELF tina, is by no, appearing in his seat
I'LL the Committees were nppoinled The nat
urdl inference from this rem,,k is thai n like
lcl,cncy should have led me- wh,n the chair of the
Committee was vacated, to decline acting as Its
Chairman.
In reply TO this suggestion, 1t is my duty to
remark, that, when the chair of the Committee WINS
vacated by the resignation Of my friend, The late
Chairman, (whor call So not from paramenla.
nv courtesy alone, but with sinceri,y) 1t was my
personal wish and feeling 10 decline acting as
Chairman. This feeling arose from circumstances
that the House can appreciate. | was aware that
the recent usage Of the House, (,hough Ivy no
means hout excopuon) was understood TO re-
qnre that the Chairman Of the Committee on Fo-
reign Affairs should be political friend 10 he Ex-
ecu'ivc, which is not my case communicated
nv feelings 10 my friends, of the Committee & 9th
| ers, and for reasons which | thought possessed
weight, they expressed The opinion, that ought
not to act in matter Of public duty on merely per
sona feelings | then sought the opinion of the
Chair, and this Statement, make with regret and
trusting the Char will perceive the necessity Of
my making II, IN my own yindicaton,) and On
ders'ood decidedly, from the honorable Speaker Of
the House, that he considered me the Chairman of
the COMMITTEE, IN the place OF Judge Wayne, on1
that 1t was, IN his judgment. proper tina, should
act as suci without .crupie.
But the governing consideration with me was
that in the nscertained .tate of the opinions of The
Committee, the considerations OF convenience
which, IN common case, might require OF the
Chairman OF the Committee of Foreign Affairs to
be the political friend OF the Executive did not ap-
ply On the grca, question, the only one before Inc
Committee of a confidential character the question
Paramount in importance TO all others, it is my for.
tune to be on the majoriIy of The Committee. My
being Chairman could, therefore, throw no obsta-
| cles IN the way of the uction Of that majority. |
" III 60 farther Mr. Speaker, and say, that, in tn e
| simplicity Of my heart, | thought, that in the
other House the gratifying example had been set Of
unsninity on this great question, II was in my
power present view of the suit ct to the Com
mtee, in pursuance Of their recorded votes which
would be unanimously sustained by the Committee
and the House.
Under these views, believing TINT the place be-
longedt To me, by parliamentary usage, and forlf-
ed by the judgment Of the Speaker Of the House,
but not | confess without some anxiety, ftlt II my
duty to take the chair of the Committee. till was
removed in the manner stated Circumstance
which could not possibly give less discomfort or
dissatisfaction to any body han myself Nobody
defers more cheerfuy than myself, TO the various
accomplishments Of the gentleman from New
York and no member of the Committee can dis
charge his public duty more willingly than my
SELF under that gen leman as Chairman. Moth
ing could have been more unexpected to me than
to be called on 10 make this statement 10 the
House, the necessity of which | readily submit 10
their candor
Mr. JARVIS said this was a question whether
ono Of the Committees OF the House has right to
elect its own chairman He did not know befrc
tina, it had ever been disputed. As i, through
his instance that the question was brought before
the committee, il was proper for him TO state the
part which he had token in it, and which he
very willing 10 avow. Hc acted without consulta-