The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. %, 1893.


As soon as The Journal Of the House was read,
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, of Maine, rose and asked
leave to offer the following resolutions, which was
received:
Resolved, That Select Committee of seven be
appointed to inquire into the causes which led to the
death Of the Hon. Jonathan Ciley, late member of
this House from the State Of Maine, and all the cir
cumstances connected with it and
Rssolued, That said Committee have power to send
for persons and papers, and leave to SIT during the
sittings ofthe House
Mr. BELL rose and objected to the introduction Of
the subject, until the House should be more calm.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD moved the suspension of the
rules, and the motion was agreed to--yeas lib,
nays 81:
and remarked that he considered their adoption as
due TO the memory of the deceased and 10 the char
acter ofthis House.
in opposition the resolution as being likely to pro-
duce much unpleasant excitement in the House and
in the country.
Mr.. DAWSON, of Georgia, asked the House to
pause and reflect upon what they were about to do.
No one regretted what had passed more than he
did, and he was of opinion that any agitation of the
subject would lead TO no good results.
Mr.. w. MORRIS m3ved TO amend the resolution
so as to instruct the Committee TO inquire into and
report, some means Of preventing duelling.
Mr.. VIM G JOHNSON moved to amend the
amendment so as TO provide means for preventing
personalities In debate.
After some debate in which MeSsrS. Parker, OF
New York, Bell, and Elmore, took part,
Mr.. TURNlY moved the previous question; lost
81 to &c.
The question being on Mr.. BELLS motion to
postpone the consideration, until "Wednesday next.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Evans, of
Maine, Boon, Patton, Fairfield, Grennell, and
Reed
Mr.. McKENNON said tina, the peculiar position
in which he stood towards his constituents demand
ed that he should say few words in explanation of
the vote he had given against the suspension of the
rule and state the reasons why he would vote in ia
vor of the motion TO postpone the further consdera
ton Of the subject for one week. His constituents,
he said condemned the practice of duelling in the
most unqualified terms and in that condemnation
he heartily agreed with them. lie abhorred The prae-
tice from he bottom Of his SOUL and tcoad go as far
as he fartheS THIS floor 10 suppress IT, He said,
further he would yield to gentleman in deporng
the traeica event which had cast melancholy
gloom over the city, and which we had all been
called upon 10 mourn. He Sympattized, dcepty sym
p0thieed with the relations of the deceased and II he
could nour the oil Of consolation into the bosom of
his mourning partner; nothing would afford him
more satisfaction. Here the Speaker interposed
and said the question was on posponemen,
Mr.. McKENNON said he would not transgress
the rules that he would heartily go for the amend
ment offered by his colleague Mr.. Morris,) which
looked to legislation, and which promised to do
something to put an end TO the practice which is
fraught with such amentable consequences, and in
the consideration OF which, in principle, all seem
willing to unite That the resolution Of the gentle
man from Maine proposed no legislalion-no sup
preston of the evil but an examination merely into
facts Of the late dreadful catastrophe. They we're