Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-16
Twesaty-ao.rtEl CoHssress--ast scss.
IN SENATE Hcdntsday JaHuury g, 1886.


Twesaty-fos,reEl Cosssress--Hss scss.
IN sENATE.-Uc Wednesday, Ja"uuryG, 1886.
Mr. Preston moved the consdc of the resolution
offered by him some days and which, IN his absence,
had on motion of Mr.. Upton, been laid on the table.
The resolution reads thus:
Resored That the regulations in relation to the Senate
chamber and galleries. adopted ut the present SESSION. be
rescndcd except so much relates TO the Reporters
Mr. Preston said the object Of the resolution 10
establish things exactly they before the adoption
Of the resolution in force i'll the Senate except
regarded the reporters, who excepted in the reSou
ton he had oered-seas having been provided for them
by the existing resolution, the floor OF the Senate. II
was privilege, which, like Others ng ht be abused; but
Inconvenience might by proper cIFcuWspection IN iu-
lure be avoided 1t was very desirable have persons
in the lobby who had business without going out during
the session to speak with them. The lobby might,
extraordinary occasions, be crowded 10 extent but
he though might be restricted on any occasion within
proper bounds He thought grave, so dignihcd and
80 aged body, g ht safely be trusted with the priv
lcee of Keeping open doors The supposed necessity Of
such provision would induce circumsprct!on That
would guard against Tic coH"ch.emcrs heretofore ex-
perienccd.
Mr. Porter understood the Senator from South Caro-
lima Ar Preston 10 regard the rule adopted as an limo.
vatou upon the rules OF the Senate Unit! within
nv few years back, the regulation precisely the
as ia now The resolution adopted for the regulation
of the Senate chamber, and in force, the
rcrbatin ri Htcran puactnatum IS the one adopted 10y
the House of Representatives.. Until the adoption OF the
pIesen. regulation the Senate had experienced great in
convenience He would like the honorable Senator from
South Carolina, (NIr. PreslonD to point out
of prevention against the intrusion OF 1 crowd Would
the inducements to the collection of crowd be less
than heretofore? Would any Senator refuse the adms
sion of any who would ask him: On one occasion
honorable gentleman had had his pocket picked in
crowd in the gallery. The attraction Of audience
was great. There occasions which gentlemen
would withdraw their attention from the business before
the Senate and turn round to attractive objects
the gallery. lie willing to afford further facilities
TO spectators by making additional exceptions 10 the
rule prohibiting them, but he was opposed 10 amy mea-
sure calculated to disturb the public business.
Mir Preston said that under the late rule as far as his
experence went and he believed his and the gentle
mans (Alr Porter was about the same, he thought the
business Of the Senate had been as we'll conducted as at
apy time The presence Of audience evidently excl
ted them a faithful discharge Of their duty 1t
was privilege incident to all delberative bodies and
one that ought to be withheld lie fat,ered him.
self that he susceptible of those attractions
alluded to by the gentleman iNlr pcrter than the gen.
teman himself; and he very certain they had never
hindcred him Mr. Prcson in the discharge Of his du
ties He had experienced much Inconvenience under the
present rule He had ut times, in the press y! import
ant business been called trre four times al the door
to persons who wished to him The resembling Of
the rule would not be attended with much inconve
nience the Senate in the House Of Representatives,
where the throng more general. 1t seemed to him
that the whole organization Of the Senate had fallen
upon a very limited number Of members.
1t did to him that there would be any diff
Guilty vestng the Senate with the power to say what
number of spectators should be admitted lie did rot
believe it would BE- indscri,nnatey exercised. He had
himself reused admission persons applying TO him
certain OCCASIONS and he believed other Senators would
exercise u reasonable discretion also. The gentleman,
iMr Portcr) had alluded 10 The circumstance OF gen
tleman having his pockets picked. tie trusted the
pocket that picked belonged to the honorable gen
tlcman who had introduced ,Ac person who did it. The
privilege Of witnessing the proceedings of the British
Parliament was denied the public. has been stated
that the presence Of an asdlenc" was apt TO divert the
nth
rnes He was not aversc to the Senate exercising
proper influence upon popular opinion" and he could see
no reassn why the Senate Should not have the same
liberty in that respect that other bodies had. They had
all mness enough TO secure the Senate from The ncDn-
vcniences growing out ofte extension OF the privilege
He would be glad 10 the resolution pass, or modified
30 as to suit the gentleman
Mr. Porter wished 10 exclude the idea that he OPP
posed to the proceedings ofhc Senate being made public
There professional persons here, said he whose bu-
sness is TO take account OF the proceedings OF the
Senate-and others who are connected with newspaper
establishments, have access to US. lie would be sorry
if any Senator should be unfortunate to have his
pockets picked The gentleman who had had his pocket
picked doubt, deceived in the character Of the
person whom he had introduced
j. He thought the gentleman, (Nlr PresonO was not so
old 10 be mpevious to the attractions OF The Ladies
No doubt the anmang motive was The country gnod;
but he would ask the gentleman the splendid hgures
fspeech the Senate had witnessed On certain occasions
not stimulated in some degree, by the smiles OF the
LADIES' Some part Of the gallery had been appropriated
70 the members Of the other branch and the adoption OF
this rule would tend to exclude them.
Mr. Calhoun disposed TO put this question upon
different Grounds from what either Of the gentlemen
who had spoken upon it had. Our government
popular government and he was disposed 10 accommo-
date as much possible the people that belonged to it.
Those galleries made for the accommodation Of the
public and the public had right to the Of them
The smaller gallery had been thrown open, but thc more
commodious had been closed against aged persons
and Others unless they had females under their CHARGE
and shall! we {sad Mr. c. keep that gallery Cunning
to the circular gallery continually shut against the
people of this Union: Ee had higher objects in view
than some of the gentlemen who advocated the pas
sage of the resolution. He looked TO the great s;rug
gle they were going to have in that body the Senate
with one branch Of the government. And it was
plainly TO be seen by the course pursued in rela
ton TO this resolution, who were the advocates Of
power, and by whom secresy desired. In strug-
gle between power aud the Peop!e--between power
and liberty, an audience materially necessary. In
the great struggle Tor liberty the galleries were thrown
open. Tie reports thrown .coldly on the world
md could not be relied He would suggest that a
certain number of tickets should be given out in order
to prevent the gallery from being crowded excess He
would hold that the generous mnded ladies' themselves
would fully accord with his views. MIR. c. concluded
his remarks by demanding the yeas and nays.
Mr. CLAYTON moved to amend the resolution by strik-
;oc ONT ali after the world resolved, end inserting
That the circular gallery of the Senate chamber be
omen for the admission Of Spectators and that each Sc
major be allowed to admit any number not exceeding
three, into the lobby Of the Senate, IN front OF the