Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-06
VOLUME XXXRV.---No. SO.

event was honest and autahle and if the object
were, in reality, TO benefit the country by the preyen.
lion Of future mischief he woud beg the House TO pause
AID TO Look seriously al the probable result No member
tina; floor deeply !anen,ed the late melancholy
event than he did, and no member could be better pleased
by Tie adoption of cny practicable mode of preventing
tie recurrence Of similar cases But looking al the
inevitable consequences las llcy presented themselves
t. his mnd,) OF present aclnn upon this subject, he
lnuSi enreat Tie House 10 consent to pnstpoEenent
Tor one week. lie made nIntion to this effect.
sir. EIu're Of South Carolina said he was very
willing 10 have participated in this discussion but line
remarks made by gentlemen who had preceded him
dered it necessary to say word 10 explain his course
aad pat this matter its right footing IT, had been
sild -'y OF the gentlemen who had addressed the
honsr, was intended only TO lay tie ground work for
law against dueiag, liz woud v",e against it totally
unnecessary, and under present circumstances, very
much TO be avoided. But if, the other hand it
intended 10 assert The rights privileges and project the
persons Of the members of this House, here in the dis
charge Of their constitutional duties, il becomes ques
ton loo high and solemn 10 allow hin 10 hesitate one
moment IN giving II his support He required lnior
nation As 10 the circumstances of this unhappy affair 10
direct his vne for law against dIcng; and if the
solution Of the gentleman from Maine shall 90 only
that end, he wou! vote agairst it, bat ii be nod
fled present distinctly the question, whe lher the
pririgtS Of tbs House knce Lcta rioated he should I'M
der solemn conviction OF his Judgment, feel ii his i'm
:,'rnus daily for The inquiry, with the sole view
project the members of this House from question, for
what it may he their duty, as it unGuesonae!y is Their
cuns;iiu'i1nal right. 10 say in debate.
Bot. Sir, is said this inquiry will produce i'll feeling
and excitement. lfr trusted not. Who, Sir when The
hi; q. and solemn duty OF guarding and projecting the
rights guaranteed By the Constitution To this body, and
through it 10 constituency, and The country will dare
throw his private feelings the proceeding, 10 swell
excitement sad an occasion; No member surely
: such wrong to justice and to the honor and Dig
my Of this House.
Entertaining The opinions he did upon this subject
under he convictions OF his Judgment, lie should ltet
constrained iut The inquiry, if the resolution be
- amended as make the OF asserting the pr
vices Of the House ard protecting the freedom OF !ts
u bates AID proceedings.
Ms Brhoprd that the discussion would be confined to
the ptcss question ( pustp ncmtnt) before the House
Tie Chair requested The House 81 tn contine itself
Mr. Turnry entertained tle opinion that all discussion
Of this subject, at This time, was highly improper No
member could possibly il undersancngiy until
I'll tn. facts ligat"d by the committee. lie
would therefore, move the Previous Question.
The question upon secondirg the Previous Question
was taken By yeas aud nays and decided as follows
'ras FL, nays 81.
$, there was second to the melon.
Mr. Slckennou said that the peculiar position IN which
he stood towards his constituents demanded that lie
should say few words in PLANTATION OF the vote he
nal given against the Suspension at the rule and slate
i why he would T"r IN favor oil the motion to-
postpone n" further considerations OF The .u6'ct Tor one
week His constituents he said, condemned the prac
tee of dueng the unqualified terms. and III ti,a:
cnnL,nnarinn H. heartily agreed with them lie abho:'
yrG the proc'ics ron tie bO"m u his Scul, and 'coud go
as far as lie jaihlSt this tUUr to supprcSSH. He said
further he would yield gentleman IN dep!orng the
irarca event wic had cast Iaclanch"Iy gloom over
.i.r city, and which we had ali been called upon 10
mourn He sympathi-d deeply syn'rhhi:rd, "ith the
lares of the deceased and II he could pour the oil OF
consolation nlo the bosom of his mourning partner,
i,ing would afford him more satisfaction. ilsIe the
Speaker n,rrp0sed and said the question was on post
pnn"meni
I,.i would heartily the amendment offered
by his colleague (lr 0ris) which looked 10 leglsl1.
.un and winch proposed TO do something 10 put an end
10 The practice which is Taught with such lainentaOie
consequences and n the condemnation OF which. IN prln
c,o, all 81 EN- wiling ,ounle That the resolution OF the
gentleman from Maine propose nc itgisati"n-no sup
u.psson by law n the evil but examination merely
:o In. facts v the late dreadful catastrophe They were
already before the public and ii could lead 10 useiui
rsu, to hasten the investigation If after paying the
I,un hunors Che memory of the teceased It was IN
;rndd To cast npuation apon the character or con-
Duet Of the survivor the passions oil the members ougn
Il, nave time to cool-the excitement which ell feel,
SolId be aavcd, and should approach the subJecs
with that GOODNESS aud deliberaon, which ale sn essen
aI to enable House 10 come 10 gust and tmPa'tt"
conclusion Justice 10 the characters OF all concerned
demanded Tia; the investigation should be ui and tar
without prejudice and without passion He therefore
ard tina, the motion Of the gentleman tto'n tennessee
Ia postpone for few days. would prevail
Sir Boon said he had voted for the suspension OF the
rnl Tor tie purpose Of bringing this subject belDre lie
House. lie was Un"lIHH8 W IHahe tHS i'o""S
Of honor for the settlement Of private qnarre!s O the
rusons Of honor in these ccscs lie pretended 10 know
nothing.
The Chair suggested that the question of postpone
nirnt was before the House.
Mr. Boon lad he should vote against the postpone
ra, and in vor Of the resolution, question affect
tng the privileges Of members Of that body. >, =,
Mr. Potter OF "a next addressed the House He sad
he understood the question before the House 10 Ge VIE
,er this resolution should lie acted upon at this time or
n werI, hence He could not, for moment, permit
hi,nse to think that any honorable member upon that
floor would let any personal or political considerations
minme with their action upon such question as was
then presented to them for consideration il conla
think with my colleague, (Mr. MckennanD that the re-
solution could reflect the memory OF the deGd, or up
on the character Of the living (said MI r. would he
in 1avnr of taking time, for Goodness aad rtiection 10"
the subject is one of the deepest Importance aud 10 10 b"
acted on carefully and deliberately while lis high lmpor-
lance impc ravey demands that thn acton should lake
place at the earliest possible time Farther delay "ou'o'
necessarily produce farther excitement
Mr. Fairfield in order To meet the views oil gentlemen,
,Ged his resolution so further instruct the pro-
pcs-d committee 10 inquire and report whether oredc
Of The privileges Of the House had been committed.
Mr. LOOMS said that this appeared to hun very PLAIN
question and he wondered that it dsd not strike every
member in that light. Tie simple matter 49, whether,
when one of the members of this House, of the as
socates of gentlemen there, is Withdrawn srddeay from
among Them and from the representation OF the coun-
Try
Here the Chair suggested that the gentleman re.
marks were quite irrelevant 10 the question Immediately
before the HnUse.
MIR. LOOMS would connect them with the question -
The House should act, under such c'rcnms'anc ne
lought at once. II demanded ny lie character i
the H,nse that this inquiry be made without delay. 1t
was one which could involve question of individual
character and which could result in the passage OF no
Judgment by the House upon the character OF any OF
the parties concerned. Upon that point, 1t called 'of no
expresson of opinion He was opposed TO the proposed
pos ponemcnt 49,. ,,. r ,.;,,
Mr. Grenne had listened TO the debate mus ta7 WIN.
GU, having been able 10 hear any good reasons 'r nasty
ans ih dl,v which, had baen proposed by The grn.
,is,u frnm Tennessee islr Belly Whether TO inquire
" s1 1"s p"sqn eta breach Of privilege or into the ss
nsdsncv of Iersaliou against the horrible custom of du.