Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-27
.y.g.S'g.sSk 50, 1895.

But The governing consideration with was, that in
The ascertaned state of the opinions of the Committee
The consideration of convenience which, in a common
case might require Of the Chairman of the Committee of
Eoreign Ahrs to be the political friend of the Exccu
i've dld not apply On the great question, the only
before the Committee of confidential character, the
question paramount in importance all others il my
fortune TO BE- on the majority of The Committee NV be-
ing Chairman could. therefore, throw no obstacles in tile
way OF the action of that majority will 20 farther Mir
Speaker, and say that in the simplicity OF my heart,
thought that, IN the other House the gratifying exam
PIE had been set of unanmiiy this great question il
was IN my power TO present view of The subject the
Committee iii pursuance of their recorded voics which
the House
Under these views, believing that the place belonged
10 me- by parliamentary usage and fortified by the udg
ment OF the Speaker of the House but confess with
out some anxiety felt it my duty take the Chair of
the Committee, till removed in the manner sta ed
circumstance which could not possibly give legs dis.
content or dissatisfaction any body tan myself No
body dirs mere cheertully than myself the various
accomplishments OF the gentleman from New York and
no member of the Committee discharge his public
duty more willingly than myself under that gentleman
Chairman Nothing could have bcen more unex
eced to ne than to be called to make this statement
70 Inc House the necessity of which readily submit TO
their candor.
the Committees ofthe House has right to elect its own
chairman. He did know before that il had yer hccn
disputed As II was through his instance that the qucs-
ton was brought before the committee il proper for
him TO state the part which he had taken it. and which
hc was very willing to He acted without consult
alton with any member of the committee on the subject
though he could have wished that some other member
OF the committee had taken up the subject He was i'm
hopes that 1t would be done by the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, himself The question was brought
before the Committee under these circumstances: the
person irst named was considered chairman bv cour
tcsy but the committee had undoubted riqh to elect
IT'S own chairman TINS was never doubted For his
own part he had no idea Of giving the Speaker of this
House, or any other body the power debating to the
committee IN regard to the appointment of their chair
man. 1t was said that tie chairman was elected bv a
minority of the committee The gentleman abors under
mistake the fact On the first ballot ;,ur vo,cs
Upn W. H..
man, three votes 10 the gentleman fom Massachusetts
and one for another distinguished member of the Com
niIttec On the second ballot. votes only were
gwen OF which the gentleman from New York received
four and the gentleman from Mass three The
gentleman from New York was, of course declared TO
be elected.
What the usage of this House in Speak
or: DO we require majority of the whol1 number Of
members of the House elect a Speaker or a majority
of those present and voting? AS to the fact of the gcn
eman from Massachusetts being in the majority of the
committee 1t was news to him. lie had attended every
meeting OF The Committee, one, which there was
no BUSINESS OF importance transacted, and he did not
know that the gentleman from Massachusetts, was in the
majority lie was on the contrary, them in the minor
" and the wishes he expressed acccdcd to by
me committee lie knew nothing in the matter brought
before the House which required any consideration
Mr. Edward Everett but make word of ex-
PLANTATION. The gentleman from Maine mir Jarvis
conIovers statement of facts made by me- stated
hat On the great question before the committee relative
10 llc relations OF The country with France was i'm the
majority of the committee, and the accuracy of this
statement the gentleman denies; and he says in the
upr-
enan from Maine and myself cannot possibly differ on
matter of fact of this kind did not mean that had
voted with the majority Of the committee on every cues
uonj OF course not-but did mean, that the rreat
question: the main question; that Of reporting bill TO
authorize rcprsals had voted with majority of tho
committee against that measure when submitted bv ,be
late Chairman That vote taken before the gentle
man from New York came into the committee; but when
ON the day in which he Joined it, motion was made to
reconsider that vote again voted with the majority of
nc oi''tee against me reconsideration, and the gen
ticnan from New York voted in the minority. This
statement cannot be controyertcd.
Mr.. Cambrcleng said the gentleman from Mossn
ch"setts had mistaken the views of the committee and
also , was mistaken in supposng that the question of
rcprisals was voted in the committee As To ;hc
question Of reprisas there one member of tho
committee who was in favor of resortng this time to
the measure recommended by the President
MIR Polk here said that he felt constrained To move that
the House proceed to the orders of the day.
The motion was ncgativcd O6 to 10Y.
Mi Gillct akscd what the question before the
House ~
The Speaker said the Chair had distinctly stated that
te gentleman from Massachusetts could not submit his
motion without the the House and that ascent
was then ondbiy given. lie of opinion therefore.
that the debate was in order.
Mr.. Patton said. a member oftle Committee on Fo
reign Relations lie f it his duty to say word or two
on this subject. lie did complain Of the course ia
Ken ~ the majority oithe Committee, though he was in
inc minority III the choice of Chairman. He voted
against the election of the distinguished gentleman from
Massachusetts, from station which he filed by usage
and ne did not now any justice or propricy i'm tho
procedure. He felt called upon to say as il had heen in
tnaicd by the gentleman from New York that the zen
cnan from Massachusetts ought 10 have retired from
the station, that tis was reflection upon himsefas well
as upon the gentleman from Massachusetts
Mr. Canbrccng xpiaincd. lie referred to the Chair
man atone and not to the cfany other member Of
the Committee.
Mr. Patton had no idea, he said that the ren,cmon in
tended to reflect upon his but the nnatou that
dsicacy and rropricty required the gentleman from
Massachusetts To retire from the position Of Clairma
was indirect of his course nasmucb as Me
vote was given TO keep tse gentleman from Massachn.
setis m ti1 position. lie thought that there was no inst
ground On which the gentleman could leave the station
It's duties properly belonged to him. and he would have
been reccant to them had he slirunk from their per
iofmance ihe gentleman too had long been the Chair.
man of that Committee, and about TO retire from,
congress. 10 seemed 20 him. in every point Of view
that MS cJectiOn uncalcd for, unjust and therefore
improper At the commencement OF the session il was
true, that gentleman Chairman the Committee Of
forgn Ai;irs whose views accorded with those Of the
administration the ulcc ofou rclatons with France
But that time had passed. The whole matter had loup
bccn before the Committee and lis folelnn iudrn,e
had becn gwen on the questions involved in IT, and as
nc underst,od the complexion Of the opinions of The ma
l2rty OF the Committee 10 and is in acc tb
sachdsctts 10 entertain the SUBJECT There was N
reason therefore 20 be found in the vips Of that rorfe
man. which could Justify his removal to make room, Cor
one "ho was understood to be in the minority Of Tho
committee IL was news 10 him, to tie Ian graee of
Tie gentleman from Maine hut it was most gTaff linz
aud acceptable news that no member Of tie Conn{ttcc
saS IN favor OF recommending Rcprssls at this time
lie rloictd 60 hear t Ilc trusted that il vtulJ be
proclaimed throughout the land. great clap0c of
opinion must have taken place The part Of the 9ino
py o. the Committee for at certain Tine there was
minority and a growing minority, which at ofe the
he ictfcd would become the majority in favor Of an n
President