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

'nguished member Of the COMMITTEE On the SC.
eond ballot, seven votes only were given, of which
The gentleman from New York received four. and
the gentleman from Massachusetts three The zen
t'eman from New York was, OF course, declared to
be elected
What was the usage Of this House in choosing
Speeker1 DO we require u majority of the
whole number Of members of the Honse TO cleo,
speaker, or a majority of those presen, Il voting
AS to the fact of the gentleman from Massachu-
sets being IN the ma orlty Of the committee, il
was news TO him. lie Ind attended every meet.
ing OF the Committee, save one, at which there
was no business OF importance transacted, and he
did no, know that the gentleman from Mnssachu.
sets was in the ejori,y. lie WINS on tho con.
trory, then, in the minority, and tho wishes he cx-
pressed were not nccoded to by ,hc.c committee lie
Knew noihlng in the matter brought before tho
House which required any considerations
Mr. EDWARD EVERETT rose bu, TO make
word OF explanation. The gentleman from
Mainc lMr. JARvts) coniroverts n statement Of
facts made 10y me-. stated, that on the etca, aucs.
ton before the Committee relative to the relations
OF the country with France, was in the minority
oi the Committee, and the accuracy of this state
menl tho gentleman denies and he snys | am in
The minority Of the Committee. Now, Mr. Snepk-
or, the gentleman from Maine and myself cannot
possibly differ on II matter Of fact Of this kind
d'h not mean that had voted with the majority of
INC COMMITTEE on every question; Of course rot /;
but did mean, that on the great question the
man question that of reporting bill TO authorize
rrprlsas, had vo'cd with majority of the Com
mlltee against that measure, when submitted by
the late Oh ''rmau. Thn vote was taken before the
gentleman from New York came into the Commit.
tee but when, on the day on which he Joined it. n
motion was made TO reconsider that vote, | ngain
voted with the ma jority Of the Committee against
me re-cons'dcrlion, AMI the gentleman from New
YORK voted m the minority. This statement can.
not be con,rovcrtcd
Mr.. CAMBRELENG snd the gentleman from
Massachusetts had mistaken tho views Of the com.
"''oee, anu also he was mistaken III supposDg TINT
the question OF rcprisols was voted in the commit-
milee. As to the question Of rcptisals, there was
ho one member of the committee who was in favor
ct resortIng.at this time the measure recommend
ed by the President
Mr. PATTON sold ns q member of the Com.
m'tee on Foreign Relations, he felt it his duty to
say word or two on the subject. Ho did not
Complain Of the course taken by the majority OF
the Committee, though he was in the minority in
the choice of n Chairman. He voted agans, the
eJec'ion OF the distinguished gentleman from Mas
sochiscus, h9m station which he filled by usage,
the pro cedurc. lie felt called upon to say, as IT
had been ln,'mated by the gentleman from New
70 X th1tthe gentleman from Mussnchus crs ought
10 have retired from the station, that this was re-
lection nron himself us we'll Us upon the gentleman
from NJ sach Isets.
Mr.. CAMBERLENG explained Ho referred ia
the Chairman alone. and not TO tho course of any
o'her member Of the COMMITTEE
Mr.. PATTON hrd no idea he said, that the
gentleman intended to reflect upon his course bu,
The 'ni'mat'on that de'eecy and propric,y rcquir.
ed the gentleman from Massach usctts 10 retire
ir N the position of Chairman was an indirect cen.
sure OF his course, 'nasmnch as his vote was given
20 keep the gentleman from Massachusetts in that
posl'iod. lie thought there was no just ground on
which the gentleman could leave the sianon Its
duties properly belonged TO him, and he would have
hecn recreanl TO them, had he shrunk from their
performance the gentleman, too, had long been
the Chairman Of tho Committee, and was about TO
retire from Congress. II seemed TO him, IN every
pom, Of view, that his election wa, uncalled FOR
unjust, and, therefore, improper. AT the com
mencemrnt Of the session, it was true, that gen
tlcman was Chairman oil the Committee Of Foreign
Affars whose views accorded with those OF the nd
m'nistratIon on the subject of our relations with
France But that time had passed The whole
matter had long been before the Committee, and its
solemn judy ment had been gwen on the question
involved III II and as he understood the complex
ION OF The opinions OF the majority Of the Commit
tee, II was in accordance with the views which he
understood tho gentleman from Massachusc tc
entertain on the subject. There was no reason
therefore, to be found in the views of that gentle
man, which could Justify his removal, TO mok
room for one who was understood TO be IN the mi
| nor'ty Of the Committee. 1t was news 10 him, I,
use the lnngu" &c of the genlcniun from Maine, bu
II was most gratifying and acceptable news, tina
no member of the Committee was in favor OF re-
commencing ReprsaIs at this time. lie rejoccd
To hear it. He trustedtna il would be proclaimed
throughout the und A great change OF opn ion
must have taken place on the part of the minority
OF the Committee for a certain time, thc,e was
minority, and growing minority, which at one
time, he feared would become tho majority, in "a
vor Of an immediate adoption OF the measure re.
commended by the President
He was Delighted to learn that those gentlemen
had changed their views and he trusted that ma
jcr!y of the House was ready sustnn the omm /.
tee IN what was now declared to be their vcws on
the subject lie should take early opportunity to
present proposition to the House, which would
enable them to express their opinion on the sub
jcc,. There had been, and was a proposition be-.
fore the Committee, presented by himself, three
weeks ago, whIch was once rejected and is now
postponed postponed he knew not for whit rea-
son, object or design. lie wished the House and
country 10 understand that he had had no porlic,ps-
ton in the delay which had occurred in presenting
TO the House question Of such great interest to
the country. There was no man on the Commit
tee, he would say in justice TO the administration
who was disposed to cast ccnsure on the admins.
tratIon Tor lis course on the subject but, the
contrary they responded to the general Of the
message AS for the appointment OF Cha irmnn Of