Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-14
e-Messrs.. Dawson, Howard, Briggs, Coffee,


Expenditures in he Department Of Itar.-hlessrs
Cowney, Fanderveer, Holt, Morris, aud Marvin.
Expenditures in the Department Of tie Macy -Messrs
Brodhead, Maxwell Goodt, Edwards, and Graham.
Expenditures in The Department Of the Post Office :
Messrs Chids Dennis Halves, Gallup, and Pfamrr
Expenditures on the Public Buildings -Messrs. Saw
yer, Cranston: Menefee, Dunn, and Ridgway. .' .
The following were the gentlemen appointed 10 com
pose the Select Committee upon the bill Vi Mr. Adams
proposing "to prohibit the giving or accepting, within
The District OF Columbia of challenge to fight duel
and for The punishment thereof, viz
Messrs. Elmore, Grantand, Coffin, Rariden, Clark
Grennell; and Henry.
MIR. Jones of Wisconsin, on leave, prcsenleda state
of his claims for the delegate from Wis
consn.
The following messages from The Presiden, of the U.
States also laid before the House:
WAsuINGToS, December 6, 1888.
To the House of Representatives. Of the United States
The act of the ls Of July, 1885, to enable the Execu.
tive TO assert and prosecute with effect the claim of
u S. to the legacy beqnealed to them by Jas. Smith
son, late Of London, having received its entire
tion and the amount recovered und paid into the Iea
sury, having agreeably of The last session,
been invested in State stocks, deem proper to invite
the attention Of Congress TO the obligation devolv
ing upon the u States 10 fulfil the object OF the bequest
In order 10 obtain such information might to
facilitate its attainment the Secretary OF State di.
reced in July last apply persons yersed in science,
and familiar with the subject of public education, for
their views 10 The mode Of disposng of the fund best
calculated 10 meet The Intentions OF The testavr, and
prove most beneficial mankind Copies of the circu.
lar letter. written in compliance with these directions,
and Of the 10 il received at the Department OF
State, herewith communicated for the consideration
of Congress. NJ. VAN BUREN,.
On motion of Mr.. Adams, referred TO select commit.
lee of nine. ''i.
To the House Of Representatives.:
herewith transmit TO the House Of Representatives
reports from the Secrearyo State and the Secretary Of
the Treasury, with accompanying documents in answer
TO the resolution of the House Of the 9TH of July last
NJ. VAN buren,.
Washington, December I, 1888.
THE reports above alluded 10 contain all the papers
and documents file in The Slate and Treasury Depart
menls relating to the Smithsonian beguest. ,
On motion Of Mr.. Adams, referred TO the select
committee as the foregoing
10 the Sc,iae ard House Of Representatives. Of The United
States:
herewith transmit special report, made 10 me by
the Secretary Of the Treasury for your consideration,
relation 10 the recently discovered default of Samuel
Swarlwout, late collector Of The customs at the port Of
New York.
would respectfully invite the early attention of Con
gress the adoption OF the legal provisions therein sug
gested or such other measures may appear
pedent for increasing the public security against similar
defalcs,ions hereafter Nj. VAN HUREN.
Washington, Dec :, 1898
Mr.. Cambreleng moved that so much Of this docu
related 10 The dealcallon of the late collector
New York be referred TO select committee, and so
much related to the revenue laws 10 that Ways
and Means.
Mr.. e. remarked, that in making the first notion
which he regarded demanding the exclusive con-
sderaton Of committee, il proper for him
that he did it with des On of acting upon the
miltee himself in any capacity. On the contrary,
charged he with the aborous duties on another
committee, he could scarcely denote the requisite lmc
and, independent Of that consideration, 1t would be
much more satisfactory 10 him that The members should
come from different quarter Of the Union than MIR. C.
did.
Mr. Mercer appauded the spirit and cnndor Of the gen
eman from New York, but he would sugges, To the gen
teman, as this an important matter, 10 postpone il
till 10 morrow, and order it to be printed.
MIR. T.. asserting, the subject took that temporary d.
recon.
On motion of Mr. Cambreeng, the annual report OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury the finances except
much related the delacaun Of The ale collector of
New York, referred 10 the Committee of Ways and
Means.
The Wisconsin election case being the next business
in order, motion Of Mr. Mercer referred TO The
Committee Elections.
VIVA voCE VOTING.
The next business The following amendment 10
the rules submitted days since by Mr.. Dromguole
Resoired That the following be added 10 the standing
rules of the House: Insert between the 10Th aud I'm
rules Gin all of election by the House the vote
shall be taken RIGA rOce'
MIR Wise had but a word TO say upon this resolution,
and it this: he considered direct attack upon the
independence Of the House; direct attack upon the
freedom of elections there. Had they To this that
members Of that House not TO he trusted with the
mode Of election by ballot: Were the to
he applied those who stood in doubtful posilon and
who might thereby be called upon TO vote in order 10
support particular party against their own predlec'
lions and princ pies Although MIR. w. believed the
mode Ut voting 10 be the best among the PEG.
pie and the freesl from fraud late had proven,
yet he could not tolerate 1t here engine OF oppres
sion and tyranny.
Mr. DromgooIe had no design in introducing the pro-
position Of operating ,yranncay upon the members Of
tile House He had offered ii because it was founded
correct principles and princ Piles which had recev
ed and bore the sanction Of his State, and which
he understood had also obtained sanction in several other
States His only object was the establishment OF ge
neral principle he believed 10 be correct in the abstract
and necessary and essential in carrying out the great
Democratic doctrine OF Accountability He would ask
if it the fair and proper mode that the conduct
of the Representative should be fully spread before
his constituents, and he die hope that Representative
would oppose because he wished vote in secret and
skuIk from accountability, because he desired TO
cea his conduct from his constituents; ii with
view 10 any present purpose that he had introduced IT.,
and he should have offered it before The election Of
Clerk but for the delay that would have occurred in The
organization of the House. Mr.. D. drew the attention
Of his colleague the fact that the viva system
prevailed in Virginia in all their elections, from that
of constable upwards.
Mr.. Br ygs moved 10 strike out the words ''vya voce,
and insert shy ballot"
He said he objected to the original resolution first be-
cause The viva voce mode was an announcement one and
took up considerably more time than that by ballot
cond, because il innovation upon The uniform
practice of the House for 80 years. and third it was not
so independent mode as that Of the ballot.
Mr. Pckens opposed the resolution though lie held
responsibility 10 the fullest extent, far the legs
latve duties were concerned. Butthere wide dis
iincton between the responsibility they owed TO their
constituents for the exercise Of the law making power
and that of choosing their ministerial octrs and
lie yet TO learn that he responsible to his
stuens for choosing this that doorkeeper this that
clerk. In such cases, Mr. p held that he himself
stiluted part of the constituent body. They were, in
part his officers accountable TO him for their conduct,
and not TO The people. The doctrine pushed
might be carried next into their boarding houses.
But Mr.. P. inclined doubt the policy of that
resolution upon other and higher grounds The expert.
of the last few months had taught him 10 dread
IL: