The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-17
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ken; II and tis now the question beloie the House.
Mr. MASON Then y seems 70 assume that there
81 attempt TO DO one thing uadef the color or pretex
OF doing another II understand the import, plain
English thai 10 the construction be given the pa
per handed the Chair and which the point OF
der v raised question Of order Is made. according
which Incorporated into his paper. whether
pe,ent for member 70 do indirectly that which he
not do directly and that npuiaiion the genllsmsn has
chosen TO spread upon his paper
Mr. DROMGOOLE rising, as II 10 explanation,
MIR. PETRiKiN called both the gentlemen 10 or
DER ard inquired OF the Chair what had become Of
the motion he bad made an hour ago for the previous
question
Much Laughter, and cries Of ASK some one in
Mr.. PETRIKIN insisted thar he had moved the
previous question an hour ago on this very motion,
and that IL would be found entered on the Journal
The CHAIRMAN. The question now Is on The
motion OF The gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Drom-
goole.)
MIR. WISE Has the previous question been
called
The CHAIRMAN. Not upon that
Mr.. PETRIKIN. ! insist that il has. called IL
Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved to lay the whole sub.
ject ON the table.
Mr.. BRIGGS hoped IL would be asccrtained whe-
Their the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Petri.
kim had previously called for the previous ques-
Mr. PETRIKIN. The House knows that have,
and the country shall know il.
The CHAIRMAN said the motion to lay on the
table preceded the motion for The previous question.
Tellers were called for but the call not being sus-
tanned by The requisite number,
The question was taken and decided In the affirm
| alive-Ayes lis, noes 81.
| So The whole subject was laid on the table
The CHAIR then said that, at the adjournment
of the House yesterday, Two privileged questions
were pending, upon which II was now Incumbent on
the House Ia decide. The first was motion 10 re-
consider the vote On the second part OF the resolu.
4 inn cd mr. 9hu laSf an hA IN nf
| the gentleman from South Carolina, lMr Rhett.)
Mr.. ID. II. LEW Is said he had made that motion
yesterday, because the rule ot the House required
| TO be made within given time. He did not pro-
pose 10 call that motion up but would await The
action Of the House upon The proposition OF the gen.
tleman from South Carolina, Mr. Pickens.) There.
| fore, he would let il lie.
The CHAIR said ii might do SO by general con-
| sent.
! (Cries Of No! nor'I
Mr. BRIGGS submitted to the Chair whether ii
would not come up as matter Of course Z
Some conversation ensued, and the motion was
passed over by general consent
The CHAIR said the second proposition was that
of the gentleman from Alaban q, Mr.. Crabb,) sub
United yesterday, TO reconsider the vote on the reso-
luton Of the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Drom
goole)-(bei that providing for the appointment Of
commiitee.)
Mr. WISE moved that the question be now taken
/ Mr.. CRABB said he had not moved that it be
taken up, because he presumed il would come UP as
matter OF course. He was DESTROYS il should be
acted on
The motion he had made was TO reconsider the
vote by which the resolution providing for the APP
pointment OF committee to investigate the creden-
ias and other evidence upon the table In relation 10
the contested election had been adopted II was due
to himself TO say that he had not made this motion
because he had changed his opinions. He had voted
in favor Of the resolution OF the gentleman from Vi-
l gnia because he believed that, under the circum-
| stances in which the House was placed il was the
4 he He ed
for the resolution OF the gentleman from South Car
| DINA Mr.. Rhett) under the same circumstance
not because he believed it pointed out the proper
course, but because he considered that the House
had decided, by majority that il would not pursue
what he believed 10 be the proper course. Pursuing
then, the course which he believed 10 be marked
out and not placing himself in the attitude Of fac
tionst, he was willing TO yield TO majority, and to
pursue the next best course, which was, to inyes-
| gate before a full organization.
lie did not intend to into debate upon all the
questions which had been raised here Sufficient had
already been said. The view said Mr.. c.. with which
we came here that those who have the returns las
have from the third district Of the State OF Aabama)
are entitled equally with myself TO take their seats
So FAR as the question had up in relation to that
point he had voted In favor oft.
Mr.. Z. then alluded the resolution introduced yes
| terday by the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr.
Pickens, and to the remarks made by that gentleman
on Its introduction, which expressed views in which,
MI 4. said, he and the gentleman differed aud which
Mr. q. regarded inconsistent with the course taken
by that gentleman IN the earlier stages Of hs proceed
ings of the house this question Mr. c. did no, say
this Tor the purpose OF raising objections the gentle
mans course, for he was willing allow 10 others the
same privilege that he claimed for himself He had
moved this reconsideration that the house might retrace
Its steps He hoped both the motions to reconsider
would prevail, and that resolution would be introduce
ed permitting the State Of New Jersey speak through
her duly appointed agent-the Governor. These
his views upon the question Of return, and regard
| to The question Of election.
Aud here he must object to the argument Of the gen.
tleman from South Carolina, Mr. Pckens, when that
gentleman undertook to vary questions which had been
put by the constitution itself The gentleman's posi-
ton that the house should consider who ough, TO
have been returned What said the constitution That
this house should be the Judge Of the elections returns
and qualifications, and yet the gentleman said, it
not who was returned, but who ought to have been re-
turned To come TO the question Of election What
would be the inference, by parity Of reasoning! Why
that this house should consider not who was elected
but who ought TO have been elected. This was the
only conclusion that could be arrived at il the house
pursued the course OF reasoning Of the gentleman from
South Carolina. He, Mr.. c. said thus much because
he had not before had opportunity to present his
views IN explanation Of the he gave Without this
explanation, the votes he had given might appear be
with the views he entertained He had here
ofore considered the house as having determined
agains: his views, and he considered his duty to sub
mi, to the will Of the majority when clearly expressed
Mr.. WISE. The question, l believe, is now upon
the motion Of the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Crabb
! TO reconsider The vote the resolution Of my col
league, Mr.. Dromgoole.
| [Several VOICES 'Who has moved that the question
| be taken upi'J
/ Mr.. WISE have done so.
| After moments pause, Mr.. Wise continued III
could BIO assured by gentlemen both sides that we
could reconsider the vote by which this committee was
appointed, and TO direct question upon the re-
uiushe they are Submitted on one side or
the otheI-I the returns Of the Governor OF New