Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-14


The Senate aLJoGrncd
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On motion Of MIR. Adams, several amendments were
made the journal of yesterday, the purport Of which
was give definite desert pllnn Of the sundry pc
ons presented by him in relation TO the abolition Vi
slavery in the District OF Columbia
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
Mr.. Davis moved suspension OF tie rule, 10 enable
him To offer the following resolution:
Re<oIred, That all pel!linns memorials resolutions,
propositions, papers, relating in any way, or to any
extent whatever TO the subject of saSery, or the abo-
,un Of slavery SHALL without being either printed
REFEREED be laid the table and that no further action
whatever shall be had thereon.
Mr. d. called for the yeas and nays on the motion to
suspend which ordered. and being teen, were
yeas l02, nays IS; mot twO.lhrds
So the House refused 10 pend tie rule.
FREEDOM OF ELECTION.
Several reports having been made from the Standing
Committees,
Mr. Bell rose and said that he did not wish to inter.
rtc with the regular reports committees but that he
would now for leave to bring in the bill, of which
he had given notice the other day. the freedom
Of election
The Speaker said the motion was not now in order;
but that it would be in order for the gentleman from
Tennessee 10 submit the motion at any time when, un-
der the rule regulating the proceedings Of the House. it
would be in order for him to submit motion on any
other subject.
MIR Bell said he under the necessity Of making
question on this point. He had given notice OF this
ton the other day, Because he could procure oppou
nifty TO bring III resolution WhIch might accomplish Tie
Opct lie lhOug LIT that he entitled 10 make the mo-
ton at this time. lie did propose to offer resou
lol hut substitute for report, and It the Chair was
not satisfied that he had right to do at the present
time, lie must beg TO submit few remarks
The Speaker said he had looked carefully into tie
orlr son and it was his decision that the motion was
M, in order at this time
Mr. Bell appealed from this decision and entered, at
length into his reasons for so doing. The Rule I'M
der which ile had given notice of his motion the
Rule. following
Every bill shall be nliodmced by motion for leave, or
By an order of the House, the report Of the conf
ml.ee; and in either case, committee 10 prepare the
same shall! be appointed. In of general NATURE
one days notice. at least shall be ven of the motion
To bring in bill; and every such motion may be COM
matted
There we're two NODES ('lr b. said) under this Rule,
Of getting bill before the House, and: in either cnse,
must be done BY the order OF the House, and even bills
reported in the morning were received under the order OF
the House. The same law tic same reason, and the
same Ruiz, almost literally, governed both cases. Both
bulls embraced under The same Rule and the CO.
,pIrncc the pom what principle was 1t that
The Chair had decided that motion tor leave to bring
in Il bill should not be assigned The same hour as other
reppls: BY what means could distinction lie made IN
the two cases: The decision rot only postponed the
time for day. but might postpone it to the end Of the
session. lie appealed to the magnanmity and sense OF
Justice Of the House, and if that was not sufficient, he
appealed to the right OF debeation IN this House lie
hoped that his character there was too well known 10
?dnil OF The suppOsition that he would bring forward
frivolous measure, the object Of which was only
10 give him un opportunity OF making haranguc Tor
rpleneial effect here or elsewhere.
The Speaker stated the grounds OF his decision The
case was novel one: from the organization of the Go
vcrnmcnt, U7coD down to the present period, tar al
the precetens which he had been able TO discover would
TO- there had been only two or three cases vi bills INTRO
uced leave and those. 50 far appeared, had been
brought without debate and Snb Scntio. Beyond this
the Chair had looked III VAN for Precedenls aud he
had tlrrrlufe been thrown back TO the construction vi
i,l,t l,o, alt.t.ru
principle that you to fix upon each portion Of the
statute that construction which would give effect 10 the
whole OF 1t.
The 9Th rule required that zone days notice at least
shall be given Of the motion TO bring i'll bill" The
I7ih rule provided that reports should be called for
first from The standing and then from the select cor-
nllccs." The Speaker was calling for reports they
had been made in part, and Il member rose TO make
mo ion Of which lie had given previous notice. The
question arose, could he. by the rule, make the mo.
llon at that time The 10th rule provided that these
reports should be made at other part OF the day eX-
ccpt that laid down III the rule except by PERMISSION
OF the House. IL said that, technically, the eth
rule applied TO resolutions, and not TO motions t" bring
III 4 bill If the motion were now IN order, what must
the inevitable consequence be: II the motion was ad'
mttcd the mover would have rig 10 discuss the me.
s of the BILL and also every other member would
have. member would only have TO rise and proceed
TO debate the motion during the whole OF that and the
succeeding days. and thus change the whole order OF bu
snrss in The House. and utterly subvert the established
proceedings Of the other brunch Of the Legislature, in
whose proceedings, he said he could find no analogy to
the pIese. case because there were III that body no al
oiments Of time for particular business.
The Chair finally decided that The motion tor leave 10
bring in 4 bill could not now be received
Al the suggestion of Mr. Mercer, Mr.. Bell withdrew
his motion l all the committees should have made their
reports. -.
MIR. W. B. Shepard, from the Committee for the DIS.
tcl of Columbia, reported bill giving the assent OF
Congress 10 all Of the General Assembly Of the State
of Virginia. entitled Gan act 10 amend an act ihcorPo-
ratiuu the Falmouth and Alexandra Railroad copa-
NV which twice read and ordered to 0e engrossed
and read third time Tomorrow
Mr. MORAN, from the COMMITTEE on heVoutlohary
Pensions made report accompanied oy Dill Tor the
relief of Amos Thompson; which Oils we're twice Eead
and committed.
from te Secretary Of War; transmitting report, in obe
.nca In he resolution OF the House of Represe natives
Of the 3D. ns accompanying the survey, plan, and
innate for Improvement OF the mouth Of Black river
in The State Of New York; which report referred to
the Committee Of Ways and Means.
4 message received from the President Of the U.
S transmitting report Of The Secretary of State, with
the accompanying letters addressed to him by the com.
nssion appointed under the act Of Congress of the last
session. for caryn into effect the convention between
the U. s. aud Spain.
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIONS.
The ouse resumed the consideration OF the resoIu'
ton of Mr.. Wise, providing for the appointment OF
Select Committee inquire into the admInstfauo %
the Executive Departments; together with me Pehuns
amendment of Mr. d. j. Pearce to conhne inc lh'esu
c,tinn IA specifc charges Of mal-admnistration
MIR IIamer who held the floor when the suoJect was
Inst before the House, rose TO concuue his
rirded the floor for moment 10 enable MI rehch Z"
Kentucky, to present. with view 70 nave tea.l so