Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-29

in the possession ofthe Committee, and he could
not therefore see any necessity for change in
its Chairman: more especially as he thought
that, on the particular subject alluded to, the gen
tleman from Massachusetts did concur in MS
sentiments with majority of the Committee.
The gentleman from Maine had made one re-
mark which the gentleman seemed TO consider
sarcastic, nay, perhaps witty; but wit was always
pointless, unless sharpened by truth. what
foundation had the gentleman for the gratuitous
and he would add the insolent insinuation-F
Here the Speaker called Mr.. Patton to order,
and said that no such language could be permit
ted.
Mr. Patton resumed-lor the insinuation that
his opinions could not be known before he had
voted? 1t could be only necessary to bring such
an assertion to the notice of the House, Tor them
to respond to its utter want of truth. The want
of frank disclosure of his opinions had never
been his fault; the very opposite had often been
his misfortune. He had been too frank to wait,
as some gentlemen were in the habit of doing, to
see which way the wind would blow. This he
repeated was his misfortune, it was not his fault;
and he was willing at all times to submit to the
penalties attached to it.
1t would be fortunate, however II gentlemen
could know the opinions OF some men, even al
ter they had voted. A laugh) For as they
had got to an exposure Of what passed In the
Committee, it might not be amiss for him to re-
mind the gentleman from Maine, that the gen
t!eman was one who at first had voted against
reprisals. and had then moved reconsidera-
ton of that vote; whether from change OF
opinion, Mr.. P. had no means Of knowing
The gentleman from New York, however, (Mr.
Cambreleng,) had just informed the House,
that at this time, the whole committee was unan-
mous in the opinion that there ought to be no
reprsals. Judging then from votes, the gentle
man from Maine left him perfectly at a loss
whether his opinion was the same as it had
been when he first voted not. Mr.. p said,
that he was sorry that any thing Of personal
character should have found its way into this
discussions he must discharge himself from all
imputatons of having given it that character.
He had explained himself in terms which
ought to have restrained the gentleman from
Maine from such course ofremark as he had
adopted. Mr.. P. had not reflected on the COM
mittee. He was fully aware that they posses
ed the same independent right of judgment as
he did and he claimed the same with them -
He had not censured the Committee, nor reflect
ed on their conduct. He had said and he still
thought, that the election of a Chairman was
measure uncalled for and unnecessary: that if
was calculated to infict wound upon the feel
ings Of the gentleman from Massachusetts
and implied an unmertcd reflection upon
him. The committee however, had not thought
The debate was continued by Messrs. Archer,
Adams and Lane Having at length obtained
the floor,
MIR. Jarvis then observed, that he had sought
the floor merely that he might have an under
standing Of what had fallen from the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Patton.) word had fall
len from that gentleman in the heat of debate,
which he trusted had been recalled and
which on a little cool reflection he had lit
tie doubt that that gentleman would qualify or
withdraw.
The Speaker here interposcd, and said the
gentleman could not proceed.
Mr.. Jarvis acqu losing,
The Speaker observed, that the gentleman
from Virginia had been called to order by the
Chair, as soon as e.had uttered the word in
question, and the gentleman from Virginia
had abstained from its repetiton; which the
Chair considered as tantamount to a retraction.
No farther notice of it could therefore be allow
ed
Mr.. Patton, with great promptitude declar-
ed that he had not retraCted the words, nor
would he retract them, until the gentleman from
Maine did the same.
MIR. Adams motion was laid on the table
Ayes 109-noes 81
Mr.. Mercer now obtained the floor, and OBJ
served, $50 far as he could be heard by the re-
porter in the confusion occasioned by an APP
preaching adjournment, and the excited state
Of the Housed that the remarks of the gentle
man from Maine (Mr. Jarvis) did not necessarily
require the CO n ,tructon which had been putupon
them by his honorable colleague lMr. Patton.)
Under this persuasion he had had a converse
ton with his colleague, who admitted that the
Speaker had given him an opportunity to make
a retrdrit, but that he could not consent to do
so, ulesss the gentleman from Maine first did the
same, in reference to what he had said. That
he had then recourse to the gentleman from
Maine who stated that in what he had said he
had had no intention of njuring the feelings of
the gentleman from Virginia. Under this state
of things the remarks deemed offensive by his
colleague Of course fell to the ground. Mr..
Mercer said, he shappy in being able to make
this communication to the House.