Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-10
SATtJtSAl, ptlRrP ARK


consideration OF a resolution moved by Mr. Cushing
respecting The purchase Of Stuurs portraits Of the first
five Presidents on the ground that the subject OF the
Resolution did not come within The purVew OF The
Po&ees and duties OF that committee.
Hr Gushing said that he awore, when he offered
The resoluton that it did mol strictly pertain to the u
rsdclion nj any of the stnnding committees OF the
House. He had objection to have The COMMITTEE on
the Library discharged fr it's consideration OUT h"peu
Il would be referred to select committee was con-
trary 10 his acual course in the House to make such
REQUEST bat he was induced to do 1t IN this instance
from conviction that on investigation II wouu DC iouno
that no appropriate ornament could be placed IN the
executive these admirable portraits OF our
early Presidents, from the pencil OF so eminent an
American artist
The question being put the Committee the Library
was discharged and the subject referred 10 select
committee.
Mr. Bell asked leave to offer resolution which pro.
posed 10 add to the standing rules of the House another
providing that the States should be called in order for
resolutions once month.
Leave having been given,
After desultory conversation, in which Messrs Bell,
Mercer, Williams, of ~ Haynes. and Bronson LOOK
part, the resolution, was amended motion OF Mr.
Haynes, so as TO read as follows: .
Rcsotosd, That the following be added to the standing
rules and orders Of the House:
All the States and Territories shall be called on each
alternate Mondays for resolutions during each session
of Congress- and if necessary to secure this o)ct on
said days. all resolutions which shall give rise TO oeoa,e
SHALL lie owe! f., discussion under the RUE; ." se We
appropriated resolutions until III! the States and Ter
sitores called through
In which form j! was agreed to- 1t is therefore nov
a standing rule of the House. and the States will be
called over for resolutions Monday next
TIE MISSISSIPPI ELECTION.
The rHes being suspe ndod for the pu rpose
Mr.. Rhett moved The following resolution
Re,olusd That the Clerk Of this House ssr diem sns
Prentss and Word the per u,e' ano
mileage .nst Is allowed T.. me- day Of presenting their
claim to their Bens '"iS itoS9e
Mr. Drorngoos >njecting,
He moved 70 suspend the rules TO allow him 10 move it
which mo,ic.i prevailed-Ayes 100, noes no. counted
Mr. O,4gson, of Georgia, said that no gentleman in
that I,use could be willing than he that the gen.
tep.en named in the resolution should, II 1t were pro-
er be allowed their expenses, proposed for he was
one Of those who believed that they justly enti
tied to the which they had been denied ON this
Aoor having been legally and cons,tuonaliy elected
But he also held tina, this House had an indsputable
right to decide the election and qualification OF lis
own MEMBERS and the House had decided mat
Messrs Prentss and Word were not members OF TINS
body Representatives from the State OF MsslssP'
pi If not what right could the Huuse possess to al.
low them their per diem and travelling expenses: tie
could not that such measure was justified by the
Constitution. The Constitution not mere perInis.
sive instrument; spoke that mi mt cumnand, anu
commanded thut it might be obeyed Mr.. d here read
from the 9th section OF The first article OF the Consttn-
ton: The Senators nnd Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services 10 be ascertained ny
"law and paid of the Treasury Of the U. States
What was Representative, in the sense OF this pas.
sage: o ne who he'd been recognised such by the |
House Of Representatives, But these gen, lemen had
not been recognised, not therefore Representa-.
tiyes, and could not rghtfulIy receive pay Us such
MIR. Wise observed tina, this was the resolution which
the gentleman from South Carolina had attempted 10
offer Yesterday aud which he had given notice that he
should ask leave 10 offer this day. MIR. W. proud
and happy in being authorised by Mr. Psentss To say
in behalf Of himself and his colleague to this House
and the People of Mississippi that the cuims Of the
People Of Mississippi having been refused by that
nd her lustnn
denied 10 her, he could not consent to have his own
personal claims either recognised refused distinct
from hers and he therefore declared, proudly that he
would not touch dollar Of his pay until the rights
of the State of Mississippi should be recognised. Mr.
Wise said however, that, notwithstanding this honora
BILE disclaimer the part Of that gentleman ne should
still vote to allow the pay And why Because, &C
cordng TO MIR. WIS view of the case that gentleman
was according both the Constitution Of the U. States
and the laws Of Mississippi at that moment, in every
thing the oath Of Office. much member of that
House Mr.. w. If he believed otherwise, he
would vote for this resolution On that point he
entirely agreed with the gentleman from Georgia, Alr
Dawsoo0 but, under his own views Of the case, he
should vote the pay. The gentleman from Mississippi
might accept Of IT, not he peased. fie repeated
however, that gentlemans open drcaraen, that he
too proud to touch the pay without dschargng the du
ties Of member.
Mr. Adams wished to understand from The gentleman
from Georgia how it that he considered the princ
ples be had laid down applicable to Messrs Ghoson
and Claiborne, and not Messrs Prentiss and Word'
Mr.. Dawson explained. (hough in so low a voice as
to be heard by The Rsporler He vas understood
to say that Messrs. Gholson and Claiborne had been
sworn and had been pronounced by Of the House
duly elected; and he held the House have the sole
right Of judging respecting the election and qualification
OF it's members he felt bound To submit to It's deci.
sion, and therefore TO recognise Messrs Ghnlson and
Claiborne entitled to their pay, while the other gentle
mt, being, in both respects, in precisely oppo
site circumstances.
Mr. Adams / do not understand the force Of this |
distinction. Messrs Ghoson and Claiborne sworn,
undera decision Of the House, declaring them duly elect
ed which decision has since been pronounced uncons
iutiona null and void and has been rescinded such
On what ground, then is it, that they be consid
cred entitled 10 their compensation and indemnify
while the same is 10 be Withheld from those who
here with real credentials nhich they oduc and which
duly authenticated by the Governor aud the broad
seal of the State but who denied their in the
House by majority of one! On what principle this
distinction can be made confess am not able to COM
prehend. The substance OF the argument sets q drc
sion Of this House both the Constitution and laws
OF the land; and that is precisely the ground which
hold, and always have held, the resolution OF this
House of the Sd Of October, null and Void, and in
which hold the resolution adupled last night 10 be
equally They are both utterly uuconslii null
and void, and in wise binding the People Of
Mississippi Of any other portion OF the United States
1t is not by virtue of any express law that gentlemen
taking their seats here entitled to compensation und
indemnity. The gentleman from Georgia does not
tend that there any necessity under law, to pay them
they had been duly elected and yet, though there
law for that, he thinks il is propVr 10 allow those
who, he admits, not duly elected, their pay and
neage while he holds not proper 10 allow it to those
who duly elected; and why' Because the set
Of gentlemen were recognised by vote afterwards
scinded and the other rejected by majority of
one vote.
Mr. Wise OF half a vote. "a laugh)
Mr.. A. 1 have disposition to contest the right Of
Messrs Ghoson and Claiborne 10 represent the people
of Mississippi for The whole of the 25h Congress- when
not Of the people Of Mississippi voted for them with
any such intention Nor do object to their receiving
their pay desire not 10 be understood as ohsctng'
the slightest MANNER their receiving their full pay to
the last cent. But call upon this House {if to
call in vain upon the gentleman from Georgia) point
out the distinction which these individuals Shall re-
..al tha tharc uni .,Ian lGni larall