Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-10-25

tr%aordinary delays and failures, and the
expenditures which have attended the
prosecution of the same, and all facts
connected with its history generally;
and that said committee have power TO
send for persons and papers,"
MIR. HowARp had Submitted a motion
10 strike out "a select committee" and
insert !" the committee on Military Ac
fairs"
The question pending was the mo-
ton OF Mr.. MCKAY to postpone the fur
Their consideration of the resolution un.
Ill the first Monday in December.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD briefly addressed
the Elous1.
Mr.. WISE made a few remarks in
explanation when,
On motion of MIR. CAMBRELENG, the
House proceeded to the orders Of tho
day.
The first business in order was the
" bill imposing additional duties as de-
positories, in certain cases, upon public
officers.
The bill had been reported from the
Committee d the Whole about halfpast
IL O'Clock, last night without amend
ment, and the question was on concur
ring therein by the House.
Mr.. Williams, of KY, obtained the
floor and, intimating that he did not
wish to make a speech, he moved to
lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. CLARK, of New York, asked the
gentleman to withdraw the motion, to
allow him to make a brief explanation.
Mr.. WILLIAMS inquired II the gen.
tleman wished TO make a speech.
MIR. CLARK replied in the negative.
MIR. WILLIAMS would Withdraw the
motion, if the gentleman would renew
II.
Mr.. CLARK pledged himself 10 do so,
and went on to say thar he did not rise
TO discuss the merits of this bill, but TO
give, very briefly, the reasons that
would induce him 10 vote 10 lay 1t on
the table. He said he should have pre-
lerred n motion to postpone the further
consideration ofthe bill till next ses@
sion, and his reasons were these This
measure, as a democratic measures, as
an administration measure, was \ novel
one for 10 1884 and 1895, It was dis
tinctly a f~avorite Measure with the
Wings. Now as 10 the leading party
presa III New Aofk, which give tone
and vigor TO public opinion, they had
the subject under discussion but there
had been as yet no general expression
Of opinion by either the press or the
people in their primary assemblies
In a word, public attention had not
been directed to il. To be sure there
were some county conventions, which
had given expressions of opinions in
favor ofIi-and no one paid more de-
ference to such an expression when
properly designated, than hmsell-but
coming before the public as they have
done, they are not entitled to any great
weight, mol do they give any evidence
%ofpublic opinion, and Mr.. G. was there
fore acting in the dark OF this subject.
Whatever might be his individual views
in relation to this bill, ever if he were
opposed to it, yet if a majority of bis
constituents were in favor Of il, lie
should, with the utmost pleasure, as IN
duty bound, resign his seat or carry
their views into execution. But he bad
no evidence that a majority of his con-
stituents were in favor of it, for he had
| been unfortunately in a situation not 10
ascertain their views, having been se-
parated from them for some time.
Mr.. C.. should therefore vote to lay
this bill on the table, on the same
grounds as he would TO postpone it till
the next session, and in the mean Tins
he would return TO his constituents, and
If they were in favor of il, he should
then certainly vote for it.
Mr.. C.. must say that he saw no me-
cessity for pressing this bill at this par
ticular time, for it was only six weeks
before they would be in session again.
Besides, the Government was now go.
ing on under this system, and II this
bill should pass, all the Government
would obtain by it would be the ap-
pointment ola few officers. There was
no necessity, therefore, Tor pressing
this bill at this time, and, for one, no
should be very happy TO return hrst'
and ascertain the views oil ms constilu.
| ents. For these reasons, Mr.. Z. SAID
| he should vote to lay on the table, aud
according to his promise, renewed the
| motion 10 that effect.
Mr.. CONNER then moved a call OF
| the Honse, and upon the motion asked
the yeas and nays, which were order
cd. and werc--Yeas 166, Nays b.
The call being ordered, was p@rocee.
ded in. through several stages, till 222
members had responded to their rames
when on motion of Mr.. CHAMBERS,
of Kentucky, it was supended Yeas
I'll, Nays 80.
Tic nlestinn then recurring to lay