The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-29

In
he resorted to for the PRONUNCIATION oil its con-
l y, The House act ordngly. He was ~ IA
ten ~ giving the country all the light that could be
given. NJ demanded the preyious question.
NJ MITCHELL called for the reading OF the
document. n,d.
TSs SPEAKER stated the rule to De that on me
first presentation OF Document and hat al subse
i,,;,,ss 4 was competent for member 10 move
dading. and il was the duty OF the Chair to put
the question 10 the HouSe. ,a,,.n IN. uouSs
Ana, me au Ne Snenmsnt should not be read
1e1saea ,nsS,ion recurring the demand Tor The
P'eN,oTPsS TTs moved call of the House, which
motion was rejected. ~ a.u,.na for
Inc P.eM,EEpN EFEE inquired Of the Chair what the
s1sot az il would bel
en Ths - SPEAKER replied that the main question
would be The motion to print loooo extra coples.
And tbe question on the motion for the previous
Question was then taken, (by teers,) and decided in
he negative: Ayes 70, noes 7S. "
&, there was no second.
The question then recurring on the motion 10
MT. POPE was understood to say that that he un-
derstood the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr..
SergeanD had objection TO the motion TO PRINT an
extra numbers but that be was desirous that ms op-
ections TO, his protest against the report shoua 20
out at the same time with II.
Mr.. NAYLOR said that, personally he knew
nothing of the contents OF this report but that from
the little information he had gathered about then,
his present impression was that ne should yo'e LOT
the printing of an extra number II was already, as
had been stated in the OF being printed in the
usual way, and copies of IL would be received on
Moldav But his colleague, Mr.. Sargeant,) who
was now absent, was exceedingly anxious as ne
(Mr ny knew, to make statement OF few facts
connected with this matter before the question was
taken on the motion TO print an extra number. Mr.
n hoped, therefore, that the motion to postpone
would be agreed to-
MIR. McKENNAN said he had not commended, as
matter of right, that gentlemen should engage in
business out Of this house. and absent themselves for
that purpose. He did not therefore, expect to re-
ceive an answer Of the character given by the gen
tleman from Georgia (Mr Haynes) The gentle
man SAYS, (Mr Mex continued) that my colleague
was not right to absent himself from the service Of
the House. Well sir, never said that he had
right. But throw myself on the courtesy Of the
House and ask whether, under the circumstances Of
the case, when gentleman who, when the state of
his health permits, is probably as constantly in his
seat as any other member-l ask whether, under
such circumstances the majority of the House will
be SO uncoureouS as TO refuse this very brief post
ponement hope that, if the members do not
agree TO the motion on the ground Of right TO use
the term applied BY the gentleman from Georgia,)
they will nevertheless in their courtesy grant the
request which ! have made on behalf Of my col
league.
Mr. HAYNES said he was aware that it had been
the uniform practice OF the House to receive coun
er-repors, and to print them TO the same extent as
the original report; and he should have as little OBJ
lection TO do this as any other member He would
cheerfully listen to the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. Sergeant If he were in his seat; but
he repeated that the public interests were paramount
TO all private concerns. ..
Mr.. TILLINGHAST said it struck him the
House was urged TO unusual haste upon this mea-
sure at this particular time He was at loss to
know, and had endeavored in vain TO satisfy himself,
what could exist 10 press, with unusual haste
this morning, 10 the great expense of printing ten
thousand extra copies Of large document OF which
the number already ordered to be printed for the
use and inform nation of the members, had not yet
been laid upon their tables. The reason was GER
tainy not in the fact that gentleman, distinguished
as a member of this House, and distinguished
member, too, Of the very committee from which this
report came, had expressed his desire and intention
TO submit statement to the House before this ques
tea should be taken, and was now absent from his
seat under an engagement which he had no reason TO
suppose would have interfered with that intention.
Certainly, this not reason for peculiar and I'M
usual haste in pressing the question on this particu
lar morning. And ask, sir, if this is not unusual
haste Is it usual TO urge the expenditure Of SO
large sum for extra copies, and 10 require the
votes of members upon the proposition, before the
members are allowed to inform themselves of the
contents OF the document they are to vote upon-be-
fore they can read by themselves have it read
10 them} wish, as one, to know something Of the
matter upon which am to vote. do not know
what is contained in this document. Other men,
beers say the same. | have yet had no means of as
cerainng what is in it which have right to as
certain for myself before am called on to vote upon
1t. Otherwise may, from ignorance, vote for an
expenditure which shall afterwards discover to
have been improper or vote against one which will
afterwards be found by me TO have been proper. /
mink no one will say it is usual to require this. If
the document had ever heen read in the Honse-if
it had even been read to us this morning, Just
was moved for and refused by the House, we should
have been prepared 10 vote Understandings and TO
give reason for our votes. 1t is not usual to vote
upon the printing of an extra number Of copies of
document until the usual number ordered for the
use OF the members has been laid on their tables SO
that they may read it at their leisure before acting
Now the House has ordered the usual number 10 be
printed for that purpose, and they are now printing
and will be on our tables on Monday. In the mean
time, we are in the dark to their contents. The
committee may explain them to us, but We have
right to see for ourselves. And as the printing Of
the usual number seems not yet 70 be completed be-
fore the extra copies can be begun upon there is
loss oftme by The posponement. But if there were of
what consequence can it be TO the country whether
The information or treaties goes into circulation
or three days earlier or later Independently Of the
absence therefore, of the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania the postponement seems 10 be necessary for
correct and proper legislation.
Mr.. PICKENS said that, il he understood the nature
OF this document il view of the state Of the Trea-
sury OF the finances OF the country, which had been pre-
scented to the House in order that the members might
vote uhdeIaandingy on those bills oappropriaton which
were to be acted upon during the present session. No
aocuheht could be OF more importance. He desired,
as soon as possible TO be put possession of the true
state OF the finances of the country so as to know whe
'her, IN voting for appropriations he was indirectly
voting either to issue Treasury notes or to borrow
money lie wished to vote Understandings And if
the substance of this document be such would give
the information requisite to that end he was prepared to
vote IN favor Of printing 10000 extra copies and he
was also prepared to vote against the postponement
As to the which had been urged BY the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. McKennan) in behalf of
his colleague fMr Serpeant) he (Mr could M, ,o,o