Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-05-29

TO report iho iac's 'p Zoo House.. hul hgw Wrtn
lhe facts 10 bo rcpnt'rd' Nsmf..ily o., repor,.
'ng tic Testimony a- a4tcn by tho wiincsscs. Nr,
a summary ofH nai . gloss upon - no, a state
mcni made mp of extract tom d. tall which ito
COMMITTEE Laec soon 30 Go cmbody m rho,r rcroril
but the testimony. 'he whole Testimony. and moth.
ing bot the testimony. This vas obviously the
intention rft1c House. And bow has,t boeo cx.
ecu'ed , Why, SIR. besides the testimony. as CIV.
en- br the witnesses. wc hove o slmminr 90 az h.
By the committee, ju'cfsrerfrd with extracts nom
'b" testimony and thrown into an a-gnreuinilvc
form 60 sHsiain The Judgment which a maiorItv az
the committee took upon Themselves 10 pronounce
4 on tho merits of the csso, spd which they closed by
q tccu'uHlrndHiton ihot 10 te ,nttt,a ,,v,. .aa.ofiop
by tb" expulsion Of member Of this House.
Could o|nything be further from n ii-t compliance
with he intention of the ilonsc than rhis2 Why.
slr, the committee might as well have reported
'ba' o mombcr oftAis body bad not been duly 60
loc'cd 10 bis seat hero, ~ under snch t. resolution,
adopted for such a purpose, TO have reported that
hc should be expelled from H..
Such Is the report We are called On To make the
hosis Of our future action, and send forth 70 the
world under our sanction. Shall We DO this -
| Trust not.
Thus far | have considered the question simply
with o reference to the resolution under which Inc
committee hore acted aud cndcayored TO show
that neither l's terms, Dor spirit. nor the obvious
purpose Of The House in adopting j., Justify The re-
port Of the committee.
come now to the law Of this House to which |
have referred q law which m,sI govern not only
The action Of It's committees. bat its own action IN
investing them with authority.
The lis rule Of he House declares that
"The rules Of parliamentary practice comprised
in Jeaersou's Manual shall govern the House IN
all cases TO Which they are applicable, IN which
they are not inconsistent With the Standing Rules
aud Orders Of The House, and the Joint Rulee Of
the Senate md House Of Representatives"
Among the rules Of parliamentary practice which
1t is thus declared shall gorera is found the follow
ing
when a committee is charged with On inquiry
ia member prove to be involved, they caraot pro-
coed against him, but must make a spocioi report
to the House whcreupou, The member is heard r
his place, or al The bar. or a special authority l'
given 10 The committe to inquire concerning him.'
Now, sir, can any thing be more IuIcil'gI0Ir
than this rule? Aud could n rule be framed go aF
{" hovo a moro obvioun und ditrut bcutug pu th'
very case before Us! VIVA, IS thIs case A
committee is charged with an inqoir.' into 'he
causes and circumstances connected with the
death Of a member Of this House. IN the pro.c-
cu'i.n Of the inquiry, II is made TO appear by is--
tlmony taken before the committee HAT the mcm.
Der came to his death by the hands Of mother
member. That member is thus. IN tie language
# The rule, "rrovr1 TO be INVOKED And now.
what is 20 be donc1 The rule declares "tacy
cannot proceed against him Aod shall theg, ia
The face of Tins roe, not only "qrcccc1 against
him. bet, e- The committee have done 10 the pres
cut case, proceed 10 the extremity Of trying Tia,
question Of guilty or not guilty, prouovncing a
I Judgment thereon, and uctuhliy recommending tho