Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-08
Mr Bonn said. when The member from Masslchnsetts,

and this. SAID MI. Boon, threw tnht DPNlUe NV" " - y.
frenzy, and has drawn from him n train ol III natuteu
personal illusions towards myself. The mcmocE from
Massachusetts, has, in his gtra, zeal TO promote parry
purposes, declared, without qualification, that this IS an
Administration measure and for this, ST., caIIed 'ne
gentleman to order; whereupon lie was most graci'uSy
pleased 10 except myself from The application Of ms ori
Iaraiinn, ard, by way of rc,ort, said that my rD'ts "ou'"
show that | was not Influenced by party Considerations,
Sir. continued MIR. B. it is a difficult question 10 se,'e
ga 10 what party the gentleman from Massachusetts oe'
lonrs; for il is, believe. generally admitted That III Po'
liics he is a perfect nondeEerIPt.
The Chair reminded Mr.. Boon that it was not IN
order TO make any personal illusions 10 a iAehhoe' J."
debate.
that gentleman in order, who was nororinrsiy Known 10
BIZ onl of order whenever he addressed The House: :,
Nnw, MIR. Speaker, if my votes are to he considered
as an unerring test Of my iealty 10 The ADMINISTRATOR,
il will be seen that the gentleman from MaSsachuseusIs
sometimes found voting as do and am tree 10 de-
clare, that whenever such happens to be The case, nave,
ON all occasions Of the kind, seriously doubted Inc COT
rectness Of my vote. Sir, on a former occasion. ! ae.
clared as now do, that | was i party man Tor pTinftPie,
and that | would sustain the Administration 10 all It's
rjrhlful measures; but when any measure shall be pro-
posed by the administration Of which | may disaPprove,
i will exercise my own judgment, independent OF the
Administration. 1t has been my fortune TO diiler on
some points with some of my political friends, and for
which feel exceedingly sorry. But SO 1t is, and so II
mus, be. Why, Sir, il so happened that The memner
from Massachusetts and myself voted In lavor OF 'he
anDOlntmpnt oil lie select committee, III lIIluiiS ""N
report upon the sub ccts referred 10 them but now that
The committee have labored full two months III the ialth'
full discharge Of their duty TO their God. 10 his House,
and 10 The country, the member from Massachusetts, Is
for kicking the repor; Of the committee out OF the House,
as all Administration pleasure Sit. allow me 10 say
that none other III an one possessing 4 heart oveIil0wing
with the most malignant party feelings could be capa'
bic 0i making the unfuundeG charge made by the mem
Der from Observation-Disclosures this is an Administration
measure. The gentleman would, II he could, create Tue
bPlpf that Ll is quite anxious 10 save The Time OF lniS
House, and to prevent discussion on this subject. HOW
far the genlleman's professions accord with his acts,
in reference 10 this matter, may be seen by turning
YOU. ewes 10 the clock, and oj:e:vng how much OF the
time Of the House that member has consumed from The
reading of the Journal till the few minutes which were
occupied in o brief reply by the gentleman from Mary
land, MIR. Thomas who has just taken his seat. Sir,
If the gentleman be really sincere in his professions
about the saving of time, let him give the proof thereof,
by m~,rching up 10 the question Al once, aud voting d.
reclly upon the resolutions reported by the committee.
|, for one, said Nr. B., am ready and willing 10 meet the
question now or al any time; and ifthc gentleman from
Massachusetts,, and those who act with him, will but
meet the question at once, there will be an end OF the
matter. am for no staving off To use the language
Of he gentleman from Massachusetts some two or three
years since, let there be no lodging The question, as he
then charged upon another body, in another quarter OF
this Capitol, when the war question with France was
under consideration, and when that gentleman made q
speech on both sides of the question.
Mr.. Murray then moved to lay the whole subject on
the table.
Mr.. Potts asked for the yeas and nays, which were or
dered, and were-yeas AZ, nays III.
So the House refused 10 lay it on The table.
Mr.. Elmore had hoped that what lie had said in ex'
PLANTATION OF his views Of duty, and in expressing his de-
sire to have explicit instructions given 10 the committee,
had been understood by the House, but it appeared TO
him to have been otherwise; and he went on al large 10
urge the House 10 say distinctly, what was desired by the
House in The recuInmiiment.
He cnutended that the House had. by its original rcso.
luton instructed him TO perform q duty which was most
painful, and he called upon The House, if they did not de.
sire the performance OF that duty, 10 discharge the com.
mittce from the order, in direct terms. There were
doubts existing 10 relation to the condition in which the
committee would be found under the instructions as now
proposed 10 the House. He was pleased with the resolu.
ton of the gentleman from Massachusetts,, (Mr.A damsD
because it proposed TO discharge the committee from a
most p%ainful and delicate duty; and he had expressed his
satisfaction, when The gentleman from Maryland, (Mr.
Thomas) moved 10 strike out that clause; not because
he wished the duty left upon the committee, but because
he should obtain the clear expression OF the views OF the
House. He would shrink from no duty the House might
impose upon him; but if they intended 10 relieve the
committee from the responsibility Of reporting upon the
question oil a breach of privilege, he wished that it
might be so done that there could be no nlisundersiand'
ing on The part Of the committee or any member OF The
Uouse.
The question was then taken on he motion to recon.
slider, and decided in the negative yeas S2, nays SO.
The question then REQUIRED on the motion of Mr..
Thomas, 10 strike out that clause oil the instructions OF
Mr. Adams, which directed the committee TO arrange the
testimony, and snch parts OF The journal ns would show
what testimony had been offered and rejected by the
committee without any comment thereon.
The question being taken by yeas and nays, was de-
clded in the nPgative-ycas So, nays %.
Mr.. LOOMS moved 10 strike out Il part of the clause
just decided 10 be retained, but it was voted by The Speak
er 10 be out Of order.
Mr.. Fletcher of Vernon. then moved 10 amend the
resolution by adding thereto, shat The petitions and me.
MORALS heretofore presented 10 the House upon the sub.
ject Of duel!ing, be 10 the committee, and
That they be required to report upon the same.
MIR. F. remarked that he wished the whole subject 10
20 together, and 10 have a report upon The whole, with
out having reports in detail. lie did not wish the House
10 lose sight OF the petitions and memorials.
MIR. Mercer suggested That the memorials had been re-
ported on, by the report already made.
Mr.. Fletcher said he knew they had reported, but that
report would not be sent back, and he wished it sent
back with Tie petitions and memorials, that the whole
matter might be acted on together.
MIR. Adams said, he should vote against the motion 10
amend, for the reasons that he considered the Senate
bill, reported by The committee, as 4 report upon the
memorials; and because, if the committee were to exn.
mine the memorials and the various prayers contained
in them, it would occupy many months, and would re.
open all The ground already gone over.
Mr.. Fletcher commended that The right Of petition in.
volved the right 10 have the memorials examined by The
committee. and he was DESTROYS that the various prayers
contained therein should be reported upon.
Mr.. Slade said, he was in favor of the amendment Of
his colleague, and should be glad TO vote for it but he
could not do So without n further amendment. He sug.
gested TO amend the amendment, BY adding, "that the
committee report any testimony they may take in rela.
ton 10 the memorials, without comment
MIR. Fletcher declined to accept the modification
He said he had not known any parliamentary usage in
accordance with it. Petitions were referred to commit.
tees generally, and he could not consent that this com.
mitiee should be restricted.
Mr.. Slade remarked, that he wished 10 have the com.
mi,tee restricted in their investigation of the motion, as
they were in relation 10 other parts Of the investigation,
and he moved 10 amend the amendment as he had sug-
gested. He did not wish the committee to go over the
whole ground, and again 10 comment and argue upon
the merits of the testimony brought before them.
The Speaker, in answer TO an inquiry Of a member,
stated that the effect of the previous question would
be upon The passage of the resolutions reported by The
committee.
The question being taken on the amendment 10 The
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