Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-16
Mr. Maugrm thought TO he very desirable that ,he

| ,iur, he Chg cf the fuiP, III
u'-,, ;.,rn vet be slond be willing to agree 10 aiy
.,,;1ns Of the resolution the gentlemen hight
c,.osr to propuse, provided Inc S"IIios W..
.,t.c.aI.rs Under the old rQlc, spectators were
open " i,,I ,n co,,c within the bar Of the Senate, nor
mo- ;,I ,n. pillars therefore very great incnn
whence VAS occas onrd by their admlsson. re, nm
zig limit oh Occupying seat OF the outer range, had eX-
,r:,ncrd 10 Inconvenience from the spectators. lie |
wnd agree The resolution, if the restrictions were
confined 10 the floor OF the Senate but he would never
asscc that the galleries should be closed There would
be one Inconvenience. hoWeVe III the restrictions as 10
the ,or Of The Senate We have, said he, strangers
here from all parts Of the Unon and have in our IN
tcrcourse with them 10 go out oil the chamber mus
curGing the risk Of being absent, when vote is
taken; while under the old rule we conld SUI nave
the necessary Intercourse with friends and coaSsu
ents without losing any part Of the business gong en-
He felt that there srch force in the remarks Of the
| renlIeman from South Carolina, that the public eye
should not be Shut i'll the proceedings ri that O"oy ne
wished for himself and for those with whom he acted to
have fair chance that tiour for he believed that II
fair chance to lie had II would cny be had on that
.d. of the capitol. Again; he not willing 10 incur
The risk of the npuatOu that might he cast on them, IN
consequence of restricting the admissions into tie cham
Der that the Senate did not wish TO give The utmost pub
cy to proceedings As to the galleries, they should
be thrown freely open I" ALL was what the PaOG had
riplt to expect, and he hoped the Senator from Della
ware would modify his resolution as to meet their just
expectations: ,e,rscv wi,nr 70 ,,ke IN. surms
tons Of the gentleman from North Carolina His only
gallery without excluding The ludies He thought The
Restrictions as to the floor Of the Senate should still be
continued.
Mr. Preston regretted that lis friend from Delaware
should persist in giving the effect to his amend
i.ent He was inclined to think that The inconvenlcn-
cps under the cid r;e had Lecn much exaggerated No
debrra,ive body had ever conducted lis business in
orderly manner than the Senate, and III none had
herc been less interruption 10 the proceedings. AS for
accidents such had been alluded by the Senator from
Louisiana they unavoidable, and might occur any
where for r had heard that gentleman had been robbed
at private party in Washington. But he put 10 gentle
mem if the business OF the Senate had not always been
conducted in the most orderly manner, and whether they
would continue these restrictions account OF tie slight
ncon Ye,cncrs that had the operations OF the old
rule On what occasions, he asked, had such great
crowds been collected there? Why, occasions Of great
excitement when subjects Of deep and absorbing interest
were DEBATED and he very willing such occasions
to submit to slight INCONVENIENCE rather than exclude
any who could by possibility be admitted He had wit
messed for many years past the occasional t!rongs
which debates great interest and Importance had col
lrctrd there, and although almost suocated by the
crowds vet r:c had been interruption to their pro-
ceedinrs Ii any were excluded he did hesitate to
say that it should be the ladies' rather than those who
came from different parts Of the Union, TO hear and
report what passed III that body lie was not disposed
to rive the ladies' than their sex deserved il
was not desirable that they should be there at all. II
was man. thinking man, for whom they acted, who
should upentcnG their proceedings lie again repeat
ed Tic belief, that the incon under the old rule
had been greatly exa@geratrd-he had never the
business in manner interrupted. He laid down this
general proposition it the bounden duty Of that
body give to the public to the utmost extent the pro-
ucr acci:.Inod lie objected 20 the limitation pro-
posed By the Senator from Delaware. They had AREA
dy closed more than half Of the house to Spectators the
small gallery was daily crowded almost to su!ioclon,
while circular gallery seldom contained more than
do2c ladies'. lie believed that inconvenience
ha! resulted from the old rule, and he hoped that his
resolution would DC permitted to pass without limitation.
Alr. Calhoun said he should vote for the Resolution
o! his colleague, with the amendment OF the Senator
from Delaware because he wished 10 take III" question
rs to opening Tie galleries. IT. hereafter, ii should be
found at the Lobby could contain more than Tie amend
n,enl proposed, admit, without incnn it iei
DC further opened; but he was Of opinion tina! The gal
lcries ought to be opened 1t the nature Of power
to shut lis DOORS and hide It's proceedings from the pub
lie eye; bot those who resisted power had interest in
giving TO their efforts the utniost publicity lie wished
The whole people Of The Unied States to have oppor
tunty of witnessing wha. passed in that Chamber. AS
he desired 10 have the question essentially the open
Ing Of the galleries. he should vote for tie amendment
Mr. Benton had but one word to say, and that was
drawn from him by what he had heard OF the iardshps
of those who almost suucatcd in the crowds al
tending the little gallery while So few occupied The large
one Whoever encountered that hardship, he would IN
crlakc say, had brought it himself. because he
could easily he relieved Of it, by taking lady under his
arm, and going into The other gallery; and if he had
SUCH anipatly 10 the ladies', as TO prefer the crowds
of lie little gallery TO their society. he, Mr.. H., had
sympathy for him The circular gallery freely open
to all under The rule, it then Stood Every gentlemen
could go there if he pleased; and i! he did not know
how, lie, Mr.. g., would tell him He had simply to gel
young lady, or an old one, or any lady he pleased, 70
20 with him, and he would find the doors open.
MIR. Talnadge said he should vote against Tie amend
ment of the gentleman ro;i Delaware, (Ar. Claytou)
and ii the amendment Of that gntienan did not succeed
he would then offer amendment To admit certain
number in the circular gallery. lie willing to give
to each Senator the privilege Of admitting certain
number Of persons in that gallery He had objection
uDrdmg every facility to "Pcctato but owing to the
growing cut of unlimited privilege, hr would prefer
extending the convenience 10 the circular gallery.
sir. SirIcy suggested to the gentleman from New
York; (Alr. ranadge to slbinit his views in the form
ui' mi amendment 10 The amendment The resolution
thus amended. would accomplish the OBJ cct the gen.
t!rE.an from South Carolina, (Nlr. CalhnunD had i'll
NJ. Taln.adgc then submitted the following amenL-
mCnt tn the amendment:
''iat each Senator have the privilege Of admitting
into TIE circular gallery number Of gentlemen.
MIR. Webster said the public had right themselves 10
the Of the galleries until they were filled. lie was
opposed granting tickets and for opening the
galleries 10 all, wltlut distinction Of persons. II
preferable that fathers and brothers should meet and sit
tor;rr in the gallery 10 having them forced into
separate galleries. merely because OF them happen
ed not To have ladies il! their charge.
Mr.. Calhoun said that The amendment to the amend
Of The Senator from New York, did not his
purpose at all He did not wish to be troubled with APP
pcauns for admission there did he wish to put Tie
people to the trouble O! asking Tor admission They had
right 10 be lhrrein there and stay there when
tie senae was in session. 1t was impossible to
look liza, debate, without seeing the of il and
from what quarter the opposition 10 the resolution
Those who had got power, were not willing that the
truth should 1T heard boldly and openly. We, Said he
who the opposite side, and who oppose power
ought desire give the utmost publicity 10 pro-
ceed:ues No. sir, said he modification oF the amend
mcnl will answer my purpnsc-not!ng which will *.
cludc a single individual will ever meet my consent
Mr.. Buchanan said lie had not expected this debate
cOnL uOSSIbly the character which had
taken The change of the rules Of the Senate, in
gard 10 the OF the Lobby and Galleries. had br"n