Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-10

be filled by ballot as above From the ~ members thus
chosen, the sitting and conesling member shall alter
nately strike off until the number is reduced 10 thirteen
The said thirteen, together with the two nominated bJ
the parties, shall be select committee TO try and de-
ermne the merits Of the return, according TO The evil
dence submitted 10 them, the constitution and The laws
Mr. TArLoE argued at length in favor Of his pro-
position. He said the present plan was admitted to be
highly objectionable The delay which took place in
deciding contested elections according 10 the existing
plan, the excitement, the party feelings which &c
ncraied by in House like this and the difficulty oi
deciding legal questions had induced HIM to Offer this
proposition for relief He illustrated its advantages by
the example of Great Britain where this plan was adopt
cd in oIder to control the influence of the Ministry Lord
Grenyil!e had brcushl forward his bill for the purpose
This bill when introduced into the House Of Commons,
resisted by the Ministry; but they were DEBATED
In the House of Lords, it supported by The Lord
Chancellor, very unusual thing-and 1t passed that
body The original bill limited to years only;
but subsequently was made perpetual-and In The pre-
amble to IT, it said TO be invaluable MI Barre,
man so well known aud dear 10 the American People,
besought the House retain il Of the Palladums
of British Lber,y-Olher members bore testimony to
lis merits. The only one who objected TO 1t is MT
. Council, an instance which he considered as no small
evidence in honor of the bill. He had gone into
these details show that introduced by The friends
Of liberty-by Wing, ind adopted in Wing House.
10 the rights Of the Peope.-He proceeded 10 an
swer The objection, that each House 10 decide on
the qualifications of ils members and that they could
not part with it-end that in Pennsy lvaniu, where such
regulation is adopted there is express reservation
|
its members according 10 law. He con,ended that The
House did part with their power, by his proposition
that the Committee mis- ht be considered as deciding
in the Of the House, Just verdict by jury VI
l2 men is considered the verdict OF the c0untry-tha
the House in the habit Of doing its business through
communicable wished to drive the demon of party dis
cord from the House-And shall it be said that he is
giving undue Importance to this measure Is II mol one
Of the important matters 10 decide who shall be
considered the Representatives OF the People: Are
safe, when it is left for Committee, appointed per-
hnps by party Speaker, 10 decide who shall constitute
the representatives Of the People: He was afraid he
should fail in mpressing this House with the Importance
of the questionable could not aler himself with sue
cess because he was yong member-and he must beg
older members to take il up lie considered that this
was favorable moment for adopting it-and tor this
House to the rights Of the People.
Mr.. STUART was not prepared to enter into The de-
tails-but would suggest this dItcuy-tha each party
would attempt 10 the first talents OF The House,
the abest lawyers of his own party, on his side
and thus they would become enlisted by the very ap.
pontmcnt 10 defend The member on his own sIde-and,
moreover, that the Chairmen OF other committees would
he put it, and thus their time taken up BESIDES,
after al must decide contested elections al last -
We cannot transfer our powers. In England, the Par.
lament is omnpo,ent and may assign their authority 10
their members-bul here The Constitution inertercs and
compels The House to decide for Itself.
Mr.. BAYLY opposed 10 the plan, but he did not
think il would operate as the gentleman from Augusta
supposes lie thought ii would be the very reverse
that it would place upon the committee oil the lncom
pe!cnt members. When the ballot Is made and they
proceed to strike OF from the iorynine, one party
will strike off the strongest man opposed to him-each
one would do the md thus you Irlter down TO
The weakes, members Of the House. You are The judge
Of the qualifications Of your own menbers-and the de.
fea,cd party will certainly appeal from the report OF the
committee the House-and thus the whole labor will
he done over again This plan will absolutely insure
committee whose recommendations will carry no sort OF
weight with them.
MIR RoRgRrsoS thought both the gentlemen, who had
preceded him, had taken an extreme view OF the sub
liz Ieh 1T tar Fr0r1t IpIr
strongest party in the House the Committee. or
of driving the ablest from il, the contesng mem
bers would gradually strike off the strongest purlizans
from each Others political friends and thus the residue
of The list would be composed of the coolest and most
moderate men in the House. This would secure good
committee. He couended that this would prove
strong recommendation TO the proposition OF the gentle
man from King George.-He illustrated his argument
by the example Of Pennsy vnna. He had recently wit
messed The proceedings Harrisburg and he commended
that but for the operation OF this rule, the State might
have been involved in violent connections. Had The
Committee in the Senate of Pennsy lvania been appoint
cd by the Speaker, they might have made report in
behalf Of those who had been returned by minority Of
the People, which would have led to great excitement
The rule for baoiing, however (simior 10 the one now
proposed by the gentleman from King George) had pro-
duced different report; calculated to alay excitement,
and produce adustm nj between The contending par
ties
Mr. STUART expressed hmself satisfied with the ex
plantations of Mr. Robertson and declared he would vote
for the proposition.
MIR. NlTCHER argued against inc proposiuon ne
commended, il might so happen that so many OF one
political party might be dropt in The process OF bnlong
that by the time the conesing members had done with
striking off the names, not man oil one party might be
left the Committee. He urged other objections to
the scheme-and in favor Of retaining the present
rule though he had doubt it susceptible of
amendment. For his part, he was willing alter
appointing q Committee under the present rule 10 lake
up the subject hereafter discuss all the propositions Of
fcred and devise better and permanent plan for the
Cover nment Of The House.
Mr. PESDLEroS moved for the present, 10 lay the
proposition on the table, and consider il hereafter in The
mean time 10 appoint committee and proceed with the
contested elections
Some other remarks made by Mr. WTcHER,
who said, that if such state of things should
arise in Virginia, as had lately displayed itself in
lvania lie would have fear of the resn that
the parlizun would be sunk in the patriot; and that
Justice would be done 10 all parties.
On taking the question: it carried Tor laying The
proposition OF Mr.. TAYLoE on the table.
Mr. MAY then moved 10 amend the 32l rule, which
is as follows: "The Committee of Privileges and Elec
tons shall report in all Of privilege or contested
cleo TONS the principles and which their
solutions found,d'-by adding 10 il the following
words " whenever the Committee shall have decided
any vote involving principle which will govern
the decision of others or whenever they shall have
decided upon the validity Of - contested votes, they
shall report their proceedings TO the House as report
in part
decided 10 The word upon in The amendment; which
motion carred-ayes GO, noes 50.
The amendment amended was then supported by
Mr. May, and opposed by MIR. CRurcHrIELp-and car
ried without count
Mr.. MAY then moved to fill the blank in the amend
ment with ten-ogreed 10.
On motion of Mr. May the 32d rule amended, to-
gether with the other rules relating to the Committee OF
| Privileges and Elections, were adopted.
| The SPEAKER then announced The following Commit.
| tee in obedience 10 the rule:
Committee Of Privileges and Elections Messrs. Pen
dleton Bolts, Caldwell, Davis, Corbin, Edmunds Of h.
Tayloe of King George, Hale Of F.. and Fitzgerald.
On motions severaly made, Mr.. Fabus Lawson was
Elections and Of the Committee Of CLAIMS Nh Philip S