Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-02-28

Who would be responsible, The committee
i'seh would be responsible, LET Who would APP
point them.
Now. with these recorded facts staring
him 10 the face. facts. " hich he knew.
100. were promptly reported 10 the very
paper ne presumes TO rspvsssaf 90 misrep-
resenting him. u certainly must have re-
CURED some little effort on the part Of the
Hon. Gentleman 10 have concocted the
ieter which We have quoted above.
3ut knowing the dilemma into which
ne would be thrown by being made to eat
ms own words. Mr.. Mason would fam
shuttle out Ut the officially bv saving,
mat while he VAS speaking. some persons
On the house. called out, ''let the commit
zee be sPpointed viva voce." and that
tn" gave him an opportunity FOR the first
time Of expressing his preference for the
v,va voce mode-that he did so expres,
ms preierenee Sc. sc. The Hon. Gen.
tieman was party in the proceedings.
be was apparently warmed in his feelings.
and not so capable as others were Of judx.
ing accurately Of what passed. But 10
the facts as reported. He had lust said
las one, he should vote for the appoint
ment Of committee by BALLOT''-,hat
''for one he was DESTROYS OF q committee
appointed by BALLOT"-and. when
some gentleman. Mr.. Dromeooie we be-
iiere Vas The chief one, aud the oniy one
We heard-called out. sIetthe committee
be appointed viva vocs''-did he recall
ms words. alter his expressions. or signify
the slightest change in bis deiermin alton.
What did he ssy'
Here some gentlemen. speaking across, said
Yet them be appointed viva voce"l
| Yes, SIR, SAID Mr.. NJ. let them b. appointed
viva voce, " you HiH am ready Tor such a
No'ci but however appointed, saw. the commit
Tee, when appointed, will be responsible Tor its
own acts"
Truly a most marked and emphatic
mode OF expressing . most decided pre-
ference = ready embrace" Of FIRST op-
portuni,y! Yes" said Mr.. Mason, "ief
them De appointed viva voce, If you riH!'
But we are not done yet. The Hon.
Genileman shall find that we can give
Rowland for an Oliver" any dsy that
he Pleases 70 try his hand at the game
We now not only assert that his vote on
the occasion referred TO gave grea, sur
Prise. as can be proved. by those who
were spectators at the time, and by the
known opinions Of many Of his consiitu.
enss who have spoken and written on the
subject since. but that IL was In reality
playing into the hands Of those against
whom he made las famous speech. In
TACT. that his speech and vote then, were
only equalled by those made on another
memorable occssion. when he edited the
House and the country by a conclusive
argument against the issue Of Treasury
notes and yet voted for the bill authoriz-
ing the issue
When Mr.. Cambrslsng modified his
resolution so as TO introduce the words
"nvs voce." MIR. Wise inquired II the
resolution IN this form providing for the
appointment Of the committee rira roce.
was in order.
The Speaker decided IL 10 order but
that, II the resolution, in its modified form
be agreed TO. II would operate as a sus-
| pension Of the rule. and would require "a
, vote OF al least two thirds Of the members
. present. to pass the same.
Here, then. was the slratagsm, which
the House wss instantly warned Of. and
which every man in the House saw. To
quote the words Of the intelligent editor
OF the Lynchburg Virginisn, when speak
ing on this very subject. now, supposing
I majority against appointing by ballot
, and in favor Of the appointment, by = rira
: rose vote, wha. would have peen the ef-
feeil Does any one believe that MIR.
Csmbreleng. Mr.. Thomas. Mr.. Duncan
and all the Simon Pures OF the party y no
had been so long and strenuousiy contend
. ing Tor The Speaker TO appoint the com
miitee, would have voted 10 take this sp-
pointment from him add give il 10 the
, House TO make q rira roee vote; Did
. Mr.. NJ. believe two-thifds Of the House
/, would have voted TO suspend the role for
. this purpose II not, what would be
. The effect: The motion 20 sppoin: by
: ballot being rejected. and the House re-
4 fusing 90 suspend the Rule, so ss TO elect
/, the COMMITTEES BY rIra rOes vote. tbs
4 only alternative then followed that MIR
/, Speaker Polk, Of course, would have q
A appoint The committee.
!. We were correct. then, 10 saying that
: this vote, between baiiof and rirs rooS. be.
came. on this occasion, the test question
=. and, IN reality, decisive Of the great point
whether the House or the Speaker should
sppoint the Committee. How Mr.. Masou
>. spoke on this question We have alread
!. ssso by his reported speech, add how b.
!. rofsd on the same question. We have alsc
seen by his recorded vote.
a With this exposition we are perfect,
Il satisfied, and. we have foil confidence
II ths, the constituents Of the HonorAbl,
a gentleman. who love Justice, will also b,
= satisfied. That IL will not be sailsfaetor,
TO the Representative 10 bis slisfoTione
not our fault.
, With = few more words ws close ID,
At subject
= Sir. Mason hss himself. ia his latter
y given the reason Why Ws occasiOnsll
r speak Of his course ~ = representative u
= Congress. This psper hiss = large sircu
n, lstion in the distTie, which hs represents
~ and. is subscribers there, Iook 10 iis 60
q Iumns for Information % al matters whic
!. concern than smoag these, surely, ih