Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-10
Missoa,i-- VIM. u. Ashley. Alder, G. Harrison.

uat the hrSt business in order the cleo
MIR Patton said he did not know by what authority i,
was mat tue election of Speaker take place
" DC uohei as announced by the Clerk, by baot-ne
cessariy by ballot If il was competent for Mr. r. To do
So ne should moye without desiring any discussion on
cue question, that the election be made riua rocc.
Nj Mercer doubted whether that body, unorcanized
as 1t was competent to such question; and
besides lac hunbly conceived that il, woul ne unyv 10
entertain ~ rs II would necessarily give rise TO lone
press his motion
cd, he had no doubt it would be altered and believing
So he desired 1t might be altered at once He thought
that House II 1t was competent elect il was certainly
Competent 10 prescribe the mode OF election if they
thought Propef For himself h. felt very little concerned
mow was aooutto be decided believing the rica
iode 10 be the one in which all elections in rcpresena
's popular bodies ought to be made. lie must persist
IN this motion. F
The Clerk ORR Frankln) read the rule of the las,
'use OF Congress, prescribing The mode TO be by bull
MIR. Wardwcll said there was no rule exs,;,, I'm,
couiu ond the present. House, and the Clerk nigh, as
wen read out OF any other book as that
nr. alton The rales of the last House of Repre-
e",'es were not The rules OF the present House; in
act iere was rules i'm force until rules were adont,d
by the existing House.
Mr. Williams of Nort. Carolina said they were now
au, 70 au'Pt very Important change the usages Of
'at iiouse-a usage that had existed he believed with
49,, ~ '.,uPsion' nom the organization of the Govern
20 t'e present tune. What reason could have sur
ges'en itscli 80 produce this change he was utterly una
Ee 20 perceive II might be for the reasons they
huu .earu suggested las; session; this was ney
0ouy, assembled for the first time in this city and in This
Iouse, he should not advert them Wishing H. how
ever 10 be known how Ills own vote wond s,,1d az, ,h
question, lac hoped they would be induced with Inc
pN,sse % ,ne yeas and nays, and he would move the
! question be taken.
Mr. Beasdsley said that body was no, tho rIo,e &C p
PR nor were they at That assembled
There as House They nothing more than the eie-
rents out OF which The House was IN
be composed individuals came there but il was only All
aNing The oath OF Office that they became members of
at House. 1t was true ALSO that were no rules to
organize that body; for il was as vet am ncomnet mi
imperfect body, unorganized, and without any other
tuies than custom, and custom alone had sanctioned
.ue Practice mat the Clerk of the House should on
me hfst day OF the session, IL o'clock call over The
names OF the members; and custom also had sanctioned
e practice OF the Clerk calling for the members to vote
ana putting the question for Speaker Itwas a custom
ana nothing more than custom; and he had no doubt
Whatever, that that body authorised under the Con
stituton TO proceed the choice of a Sneaker either
e!r4 e0ce 10y rcsolutiOn by ballot There was no ,i
tation, and left to the discretion of that bJ ia
Complete and imperfect as il was to take its ov,n
course 1t would perhaps be better 10 proceed accord
ing TO the established usage of the House lie said that
curing lhe last session, motion made and debated
10 pass similar rule in relation the election OF
ana some other officers he did ecoect whether hai
OF speaker was included For himself he prefer
eu @ MODE oil voting 1ira roce upon this question; but
he wen saw, that If the question was then
anu 1etea upon IN all human probability the discussion
would be spun out TO late hour of the day the Clerk OF
tne house presiding perhaps spun out for weeks for
an OF them knew well, that question OF that Character
ouiu not be decided without long discussion He Ioned
therefore that the honorable gentleman from, V;r;,
(SlF fattonO would Withdraw the motion lei the 9ouss
proceed IN ITS customary mode and lest The nrucI m
proceeding To the choice of clerks rra roce and Mr Il
would most cheeruy vote that they proceed TO the
oi CLERKS either viva voce, by resolution and
take the question by yeas and nays.
Mr. Patton said, he did feel the embarrassment al
iuoed TO, aud he must persist in his motion
MT. Williams, of North Carolina denied that tho
House was without rules; for they had and wore onnd
! by the rules of the Constitution ~
mr., WISE would ask by what authority the members
|" 'aI tiouse had right at present to Was any
man in that assembly qualified: Non constaf at nresen,
they were all members there Were they not TO exhbii
their qualification before they undertook 10 exercise The
duties OF Representatives in Congress, They mgbt 40
wen else submit the question to the gallery as TO thai
Mr. Vandcrpoel remarked that it must he well rocoI
lected by all the gentlemen with whom he had The bonnr
TO be associated IN the last Congress- what course he tcn
LOOK upon tins question, whether the officers Of ~
House should be chosen RIGA coce by ballot lie md
the honor OF submitting at that time some reasons in IA
Tor OF the plan OF the gentleman from Virginia mir Pat
.ohJ ana II they were to come to vote upon the qnes
ion nov before them he should in ia vor of H. i'm,
II was very doubtful to MIR whether it expedient
ut inns time 10 agitate the subject The House was
not yet organized, the debate the same question last
session occupied more than week, and there were
many gentlemen who entertained different views who
would claim the right submit their views bccrre
The question was taken. The subject was an
enc, coeval with the existence of the C,over,r,i,
though he decidedly 10 favor OF the cI,ngo ~ H.
was IN favor OF having that change delberatei1 md
ana 1at ater the organization OF the House; and he
should therefore be extremely glad if the honorable mo-
| yer would withdraw his motion Besides Inc did nv,
know what right they had to take the yeas and navs If
he House went uto the question then seemed to him
u'ey woG'u nave 70 appoint an extra Speaker, Mode
rator to preside; bat lac hoped they would not be- snb
J0te" 10 te Necessity oI entertaining the question and
ie wouId again most respectfully repeat the request TO
The gentleman to withdraw his motion.
Mr Evans said, both then and thereafter he storIJ
strenuonsiy contend against the change whenever if
was brought Forward. lie was nnwilling In orr intn %
discussion then, aud without any disrespec io tbe ,sn
lcnan from Virginia be moved 10 lay the motion TO nro
ceea 10 he election oil Speaker rOce on the table
M ration asked Tor the yeas and nays.
MI Mercer had some doubts whether the Clerk could
present the questions and whether one-hnh had the r
| 10 call for the yeas and nays.
MI Parker sad, il appeared him the niles ,gcrc
clear ana ne would ask 10y what right il was that the
Clerk called That ,uso 10 order but by The laws
W adopted by what right did he call them AT ~ o. clock
There law for l2 o'clock more Than one o,c,cL
III members met there at II o'clock they would net
contrary to law and contrary Tie rules governing ,f
house There was set of n gulatons in usare which
1 IKE the common law, binding and they ,yere
these that they should ~ o'clock on tho lei
monday IN December, that the Clerk Of the last Ionsc
snouid call the members and ascertain If quorum yee
present, aud that those present should proceed bv ballot
mat and not I'LL then were they competent TO make any
regulations On that ground he considered every inno
Vaton al The established usage of fifty odd years sandn,
as mex Pedent AID one they had right TO adopt
MI ttccd concurred with The gentleman from New
Jersey Ibey must proceed 10 act, to cerain extent
nom nccessty and ne did not consider the Clerk 10 be
an incompetent olhcer 10 manage this debate and control
III but he did hope the motion would be Withdrawn liz
considered The present mode Of voting the true ono. f
usage oil MY years from the foundation of The Cavern
ihcnt, was Sufficient and ought be their rule of nro
cecang before the House organized and he conceiv
~ 'ey were acuhg very singular part in their present
unorganized state f
Nc Mann Of New York, said it not his puroose 10 on
Ter into the debate; but he would renlsrk thst the con
uem1n from ~ ssachnsetls (Sir Rced gc,o,cd ., -