Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-10
A1hsr, q Harrison.

ton of Speaker. , . :.
Mr. Patton said he did not know by what authority it
was tina, he election of Speaker about to take place. was
to be done us announced by the Clerk by balot-ne
cessarily by ballot. fit competent for Mr. r to do
So he should move, without desnin any discussion on
the question that the election be made rru
Mr.. Mercer doubted whether that body, unorganlzed
as it was, competent to act such question; and
besides he humbly conceived that would lie unwse to
entertain it, il would necessarily give rise to long
discussion llehopcd his honorable colleague would mol
press his motion.
Mr.. Patton said he thought the law ought to be alter
ed, he had no doubt it. would be- altered ana oe,tNs
So, he desired it night be altered at once he lnoE
that House: if it competent TO elect, IT was
competent 10 prescribe the mode OF ctcuoh, u NV
thought proper For himself he felt very ht.e "es
how il was ubou to be drcidrd believing the ecu ~
mour TO be the one in which all elections I'LL
tive popular bodies ought - be made tie lus'
| in this motion. II, A., ,,
Tie Clerk (slr FrauSln) read the rule OF the last
House Ct Congress, prescribing Tile ii'oe 10 u y
Mr. War,lwr said there was no rule existing INT
could bind the present House, and the Clerk might as
well read Of any other book as lhat; r. ,o
Mr. Putoi, The rules ut the last House Oh l!ePie
scuiu,veI ,crre moi the rules Of the present HOUSE, III
fac, there was no rules i'll force, until rules were adopted
| by the existing Housc "
| Mr. Wiililns of North Carolina sad they we're now
about 10 adD;, very important change in the usagcs n
that HOUSE usrge that had existed he believed WIN
| out interruption, from the organization OF inc u"'el"
meut TO . present time. What reason could nave sus
prsted selfto produce this cunge, he was utterly una
Die to perceive. 1t mgt BIZ for the same reasons ey
had heard suggested last SESSION; but as TINS was ne"
body assemblies for the FIRST time in this city aud III ls
House he should not advert them. Wishing IT, how
ever to be known how his vote would stand on t!e
| question he hrred they would BE- indmiged win lhe
privilege of the yeas and nays, and he would move tile
question he s, taken. 90"
Mr. Eeards!ey said that body was not the House of Re
pre- srnlativ.s they at that moment assenloed
there as Huusr. They nothing more than the e'e
uents Of which the House OF Representatives vas 10
l t,pra hiit
,akiuo the cath OF office that they became members oil
la. House 1t true Also that there werc no rules 10
oruauze that body; for it yet an incomplete ana
imperfect body, unorganized and without any olhcr
rules than CUSTOM aud custom alone had sanctioned
the practice that the Clerk of the House should, on
the first day OF the session, at II clock call over the
names of the members; and custom also had sanctioned
the practice of the Clerk calling for the members to vote
and putting the question for peakcr. 1t was custom,
and nothing than l custom; and he had no doubt
whatever, that that body authorised under the Com
stutlon to proceed To the choice Of Speaker either
cru yvcc. y resolution. or by ballot. There limi
talon, and 1t lett to the discretion Of that body r-
Complete and imperfect as 1t was, to take ITS own
1t would perhaps be better to proceed accord
iuL t. the established uSage Of the House He said, that
during the last SESSION, melton made and debated,
pass similar rule in relation to the election of printer:
ami ohc. officers he DID recollect whether thai
OF Speaker included not For himself, he prefer
red the mode OF voting riCa upon this question: bat
lie well saw that il the question then entertained
and acted upon, in al human probability, the discussion
would be spun to late hour Of the day. the Clerk ut
the House presiding, perhaps spun out for weeks for
all ut them knew WELL that question OF that character
could be decided without long discussion lie hoped
therefore That the honorable gentleman from Virginia.
(Alr Pa:tun would Withdraw the motion let the House
proceed lis Customary mode, and tcs the principle By
proceeding u tn" choice q" clerks rrn and Mr. D.
would ilust cicrr;uy vote that they proceed to the
choice u clerks, either viva vocc. or by resouton and
take the question by yeas and nays
Mr. Patton sad, he did feel the embarrassment al
iDi!p al IN md lao Il IN his motto
Mr. Williams, OF North Carolina, denied that the
House without rules; i"T they had, aud bound
by the rules Of tie Constitution.
Mr. Wise would ask Gy what authority the members
Of that House had right at present to vote: Was any
III that assembly qualified: Non constat at present
they all members there. We're they not 10 exhibit
their qualification before they undertook to exercise the
duties OF Representatives III Congress: They might
well else submit the question 10 the gallery 10 that
body.
Mr. Vanderpoe remarked that it must be we'll rccrl
rctrd by all the gentlemen with whom he mad thu honor
to be associated Ill the lSl Congress, what course liz then
took upon this question, whether the officers Of the
House should be chosen or by baot lie had
lie honor OF submitting 1T that time some raspnS IN Ia.
of the plan Of tao gentleman from Virginia. Alr Pat
ton) and II they were 10 come to vote upon THE qeS'
ton nov before trn he should vote III favor OF ii; but
it was very doubtful TO Mr.. V whether IT WAS cxpcdlrnt
at this time To agilae the subr The House was
not vet organized, the debate The question last
session occupied than week, aud there were
many gentlemen who entertained different views, who
the question taken The subject Important
one coc ra with the existence oi the Government and
though he decidedly IN favor ri the CHANGE yet lie
favor of having that change deliberately made.
and that after the organization oil the House and he
should therefore l extremely glad if the honorable
would withdraw his mo;iun Besides, he dad not
know what right they had 10 take the yeas ANA nays If
the House io the question them it seemed to him
they would have H. appoint al extra Speaker, Mode
ratOr preside but liz hoped they would not be sub
jrcted tr necessity Of entertaining the question, and
he would again most respectfully repeat the request
the gentleman to whLri his motion.
Dir. Exams said both tncn and thereafter, he should
s.IcnouS!g contend against The change, whenever it
was brought forward. lie unwilling TO 90 INFO the
DISCUSSION :n and w!t!'nt any dsIesprct to the gen
l!rllan from Virginia. he nuved to lay the motion 10 pro-
coed the election Of Speaker, cirn roce the table.
Mr.. Patton asked for the Yeas and nays.
MIR. Mercer had doubts whether the Clerk could
present the question:. anal whether unch had the right
| 10 call Tor the yeas and NAYS.
AIR Parker said il appeared him the rules were
clear and he would ask By what righ, it that the
Clerk called that II Use I" order butLy the laws
Is adopted By what RIGHT did he call them al II clock
There no law for II clock than o'clock,
and yet every gentleman would, and must admit that if
I'll members met there at II o'clock, they would act
contrary law, and contrary to the rules governing that
House. There set Of regulations III usag" which,
like the cUnii!I1n law, were binding, and they
these that they should meet at II O'clock the list
Monday in Drccm5cr that The Crik Of the last House
should call tie members, and ascertain il quorum were
present. and that iH"se present should proceed by ballot
/" organize themselves body. When tn; have done
iIt and not till then, they competent make any
regulations On that round he considered every iuno-
vatiDn OF The established usage Of lily odd years standing
XTedicnt. anal one they had no right to adopt.
MIR. Reed concurrrd with The gentleman from New
Jersey They must Pcucced TO act, TO certain rxieni
from necessity; and hr did not consider the Clerk 10 he
incompetent officer - manage this debate and control
IT. but he did i"rc iIa a"Son ould be withdrawn. lie
considered he present mode Of voting the one; the
usage Of fifty years. from the foundation of the Govern
and l,f
crrdng before the House organize ~ and he conccv
ed they aciing ve!y singular part their present