Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-17
HOUSE OF Preventative
lie journal of yesterdays proceedings having beer

HOUSE Or MEL ~ ~ ~
The journal of yesterdays proceedings having been
Mr. Wise remarked that the entry in the journal re-
spec,ing the appearance Of witness (Mr. NJ l. Davis
al the bar Of the House. simply stated tha, The witness
was sworn without stating the form of the oath admin
ist.red. Now, the witness sworn by the Speaker
TO tell the TRUTH The whole TRUTH and nothing but the
truth; and after having been so sworn lie was not allow
ed though protesting willingness 10 do SO, TO tet The
whole truth Mr.. W. moved to have the journal so
amended as the facts precisely they occurred
Mr. Alheron said that he had understood the witness
10 decline to answer the first question put him. how
could he then be understood have offered 10 tell The
whole ruth, II the oath which the witness had taken
required him to tell the whole TRUTH in the sense supPos-
eG bv The gentleman from Virginia, ne knew not why he
should have declined 10 answer the very first question
put TO him. ;,
Mr. Wise said he had no. made the motion on behalf
o this witness nor of any other body but in behalf oil
the cause of truth
The Speaker here explained that he had pursued the
precedent in such cases. in administering the oath and
that the oath administered, though an oath IN chief,
was an oath based upon the proceedings OF the House
which had taken place. and had direct reference and re-
lation thereto.
MIR Wise eaid he presumed TINT one here would
deny that the oath administered TO the witness was TO
tell The truth the ,rhue truth and nothing but the TRUTH
in the matter then depending All that Mr. W. wanted
was tina. The Journal which purpors to be record OF
fac,s shall STATE the facts truly What Objection any
gentleman could have TELL before God and the coun'
try the truth Of what passed yesterday, he could not
conceive. He wished TO know whether answers OF the
witness TO the nerngaores were stated on the lace Of
the journal.
The Speaker stated that the to the intcroga
tories pronounced were not recorded the Journal and
in this respect the Clerk had acted according TO Prece
dents in this House. and according to the parliamentary
law, which he referred to in Jefferson manual (unuet
the section Determination Of Witnesses, as follows: -
"The questions asked must be entered on The journals
But the testimony given in answer before the House Is
written down but, before COMMITTEE IL must
be- for the information Of the House, who are not pre-
sent to hear it,.
alr Wise moved 70 amend the journal, further, as
tn include the The nertogatoFles, as well To
make the record conform the fact preparatory TO
further motion which he proposed to submit, understood
10 refer proposition 10 transmit to the Senate trans
script Of that part nf The journal0 and at the desire OF
the Speaker, lie committed 10 writing his motion for
amendment.
After same remarks from Mr.. Toucey, deprecatng fur
tF.r consumption of time this subject and from Mr.
Wise in reply
MIR Wh,esey expressed his concurrence in the OPT.
Mon tina, no injustice had been done TO the witness in
the matter referred to- and that the journal confirmed as
il sond to the Parliamentary law, which, until IL was
altered by the House ITSELF the law by which The
Speaker and the Clerk must both be governed He in.
lna!ed his wish alsr that this question might be promptly
disposed Of that the House might proceed IN the trans.
action Of the public business.
Mr. Cushman moved that the motion 10 amend The
journal do lie on the table; and
The motion agreed 10. So Mr.. Wlses motion
was ordered TO lie upon the table.
MIR Boon then moved 10 amend the journal by strk
ing out thereof the entry of Mr. Davss denial Of the
authority Of the House TO require OF him whether or not
he the aubr of the letter. which reply he believed
had been inadvertently permitted by the House 10 be re-
ceived for entry on the journal.
Mr. Dromgoole expressed his unwillingness that the
referred 10 should, at the request OF the witness
whether that request prompted by arrogance or by
caution, be made and suffered 10 remain part Of the
journal Of the House.
r,o otaIo n nd nj heen ,pithnut
sderatinn and examination that this entry had been
made upon the Journal The Speaker considering it to be
justified and required by the general consent no ohec
lion having been heard) when The request was made
Mr. Drongoole protested, for one against silence, on
his part being considered assent TO any such pro-
position:
MIR Wise inquired of gentlemen whether they pro-
posed that this House should eSpunge its journal, By
dfawinr black marks around across IT, He hoped he
said we should not have another expunging here
The country hos had enough Of expnnging Already
the journal did tell all the TRUTH but in The name of
truth hoped the House would not expunge SO much
OF it as it did contain.
Mr. Boon said that it must be admitted that it would
be quite as proper amend the journal By striking out
part of it. as to do BY adding, had been proposed
By the gentleman himself, what was not now contained
in it,
Mr. Rves supported the amendment; Mr.. Wise re-
Joined; and Mr.. Turney spoke in support of it, when
Mr. Griffin. desiring to put an end to discussion which
he considered Improbable, moved TO lay this motion Tor
amendment also upon the table.
This motion was determined in the affirmative by yeas
and nays-lC4 to 70. So Mr. Boons motion was order.
ed to lie on the table.
On motion of MIR. Henry, the House then determined,
by vote Of more than two thirds of the members pre-
sent to suspend all other business 10 allow of the pre-
senlation Of petitions;
And in the presentation of petitions and questions
concerning the reference Of ihem the whole Of the re-
mainder Of this days sitting spent.
The House adjourned a. + o'clock.
The following petitions were presented some days ago.
by Mr. Reed Of Massachusetts,:
OF William Mayhew and 80 Others of Edgartown
for the repeal of the resolution Of Dec. 81, 1897
Of William Ro,ch and $40 citizens Of New Bedford,
Mass for the same.