Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-29
Twenty-fourtgn Consress--a<a sess:
OUSE OF NEFRESEN q nv ES.
Friday, December lS, 1875.


10 provide Tor the immediate Abolition Of Slavery with
III Tue District of Colunbia which lie moved refer t:
Select Committee
Mr. HamnGnd moved that tie petition he not received
De large majority by which the House had rejected
similar petition few days ago. had been very gratifying
10 HIM. and doubt would be very gratifying to the
whole South. lie had hoped it would satisfy gentlemen
charged with such petitions Of the improperly of init
ducng them here Since however it had not had tina,
eec', and they persisted still in urging them upon the
House and upon the country he thought il was not
curing too much of,he House, to ask it to put moro
decided senl of reprobation them by pcrcmptoy
jecting this.
The Speaker said lie was not aware that suc, motion
had been sustained by the former practice of the
House; and in addition to that by standing rule Of the
House, he 45t petitions and memorials could not be
debated decided the day of their presentation, but
must lie over one day. unless the House should direct
otherwise.
Mr. Garland of Virginia, then moved 10 lay the pc,i-
ton on the table
MIR. Hammond said as he aware of rnle Of the
House restricting he rejection Of petitions, he would
modify his motion accordingly, by moving that the
House re- cct the petition
The Speaker remarked that the motion of Mr. Garland
would take precedence.
Mr. Hammond begged the gentleman from Virginia
(Alr GaIlund to withdraw his motion 10 lay the Ia.
BILE, that might have direct vote upon this matter.
He not disposed to 90 into discussion Of the qurs-
ton involved IN the petition; though should it be urged,
lie would not shrink from it hair S breadth but he did
think it due to the House and the country give at
the most decisive evidence Of the sentiments enter
tanned here upon this subject He wished 10 put an end
TO these petitions He could not sit there and submit
their being brought forward until the House had become
calluus to their consequences He could not sit there
and the rights Of the Southern People assaulted day
after day, by the ignorant fanatics from whom these
MORALS proceed.
The Speaker requested the gentleman suspend his
remarks, until he read the 18th rule Of the House. Which
follows: Petitions, memorials, and other papers,
addressed 10 the House. shall be presented by the SpPa
kerr or by member in his place brief statement of the
contents thereof shall verbally be made by the inlrodu
ccr and shall not be debated decided the day Of
their being first read, unless where the House shall d.
rect otherwise but shall lie the table, TO be taken up
in the order they read" Unless, therefore, the
House should direct otherwise the Chair would be
PEELED, under The rule, to arrest any discussion. and d.
rect the prton to lie till tomorrow; besides tho
question TO lie the table having precedence, MT
dchutablr
MIR. Eammonds object, lie said. not to debate the
merits of the question: but TO move, iii! in order 10
do so, the rejection of The petition.
The Speaker replied that the rule imperative on
himself to arrest debate decision the petition,
less the House directed otherwise and il must lie
day
Mr. Mercer remarked that the motion to reject brought
up the whole merits Of the question: and would ncccssa
rly bring on the very debate the gentleman said he de-
sired TO avoid and he maintained that the motion 10 lie
the table was in order
Mr.. Garland, Of Va, said he felt compelled 10 insist
present.
Mr. Williams, of n c., snid That he did not like to
Ike an appeal from the decision Of the Chair but it
of some importance that the rights members should lie
clearly asreralncd. He sure that il was perfectly
in order for any gentleman to make the point whether
or not paper should be received, and to move it's re-
lection.
The Speaker said as the question was new to him. he
had doubts for moment; he now entertained the motion
o. the gentleman from S. Carolina, (Mr Hammond hut
the motion to lay the petition On the table inicrpoSlng
took precedence
MIR. Williams con.cnicd that the latter motion would
apply only after Tic petition had been received, and
in possession Of the House.
Mr.. Halves rose to question oil order. Unless the
gentleman took an appeal from the decision Of tic Chur,
he was out Of order IN addressing the House.
Mr.. Williams intended 10 appeal. lie was in favor of
the motion Of the gentleman from Virginia. that the
petition should be laid upon the table, but he could not
consent that that motion should ride that
prior 10 it. lie begged to refer the Hon. Speaker to
example set by OF his predecessors. 1t that Of
memorial sent to that House few years ago. from
representative Of one OF the South American
evolutionary governments That representative Of this
South American government took upon himself 10 APP
peal from the decision of the President Of the United
States to tic nation through the House Of Representa-
tves and his memorial was presented by the presiding
officer Of that House. question was raised BY dis
,iuguishrd member from Pennsy lvania and motion
was made that the petition should not be received and
The House decided that it should not he received Now
that was altogether preliminary to the question Of laying
on the table, and had precedence Of it, motion to lay
on the table could only be maintained when the subject
was before the House, and after the question: whether it
should be received or not whether it should be laid
before the House had been decided 1t was with view
of escerlanng that question: that Mr. W. appealed from
the decision Of The Chair, for he in favor of tic
ton of the gentleman from Virginia, 10 lay the petition
on the table but he also favor of first receiving IT,
Mr. Mercer well remembered he said, the case cited
by the gentleman from North Carolinu, and if he
not mistaken, the question that occasion was not IN
relation to the constitutional power of that House to r..
fuse 10 receive petitions from citizens OF the United
States for the right petition reserved 10 ct
zens 10y the Constitution, but it as To whether an i'll
divdua not n citizen Of the United Stars could
there and petition the petitioner in that case being
commander in Of the South American Governments.
The Speaker stated the question before the House.
it then stood and said he should be glad have the
Judgment of the House upon it. After reading the 43ih
rule and also the 2d rule laying down the order Of pri-
vcged motions, OF which that TO lie on the table stands
srcoud lie remarked that the Chair considered the petit
ton having been received by the House. and had en-.
teItaned the moonO for t;."-, i"' TaT' ''c lonef
rule the petition ought to lie m nySr I'VE , e
having iic difference the question .-I he debated
On lis eriis If in error the Chair would be very hap
py to BE- corrected The question then before the House.
was-Shal the decision Of the Chair be sustained
Mr. Bell Of Tennessee, thought it would be better
that the petition lie over for day, without being de-
dated at that time AS the question was new one or
about 10 be decided for the first TING, 1t would be safest
for the House al least 10 let the petition lie over oc
and he would therefore suggest to the gentleman from
South Carolina that this had better be adopted,
and at the mex, day Of lrcng, the House could then
either reject it lay on The table Mr. D. 'hansht Tue
decision of the Chair that the petition should lie over,
in substance right, and he thought certainly the safest
course to pursue. 80
MIR. Glascock said he should have supported the views
of the last gentle man. if different course had not been
taken the other day. He could see no reason Why The
course pursued in enon 10 the petition presented by an
honorable member from Maine (Ar. Farfeld) should
be departed from now; why, after The decisive vote
that went forth the country, expressive OF the views
and feelings Of large and respectable maturity on
thar occasion tl;cy should now different
shape Had the question itself undergone any change
If what then done was WRONG, let ttm say say
so, and let those who unacquuInted with ,'e