The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-19
p,RLIAMENTARY PRACTICES.

PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICES.
We prolest against the growing habit Of reading
itical homilies in the Senate of the United States,
instead of speaking or debating We insist that il
i ont of order, as well as out of character The
ruIes every where have reference only to speaking
In debate" The Journals are read, public docu-
ments are read, and other papers are read upon the
call of the members, AID read by the reading Of
fcer of the body But the rules prescribe that
"eyery member when he speaks shall address The
chair, standing in his place." &C.. there is no per-
mission direct or implied, TO read an essay on sub
iects under deat be found In the rules or in JEFF
ferson's Manual II mast be therefore out of order.
:. Mr.. RoANE OF Va, and Mr.. NoRvELL OF Michi-
gan, have both read to he Senate long essays The
subject before the Senate al the time, was Mr.. Crit
tendens Bill Nov, We contend, that they sinned
against the rulS Ia three-fold manner. In the
first place in >eading their speeches in the second
place in treating beside the question:" and in the
third place, Z" in DEPRESSING from the matter to fall
upon the person"
l. The privilege of reading speech is not given
nor contemplated BY the rules.
2 The Manual says "No one is 10 speak i'm
pertinenty or beside the question, superauously
tcdionsly" Mr.. Roane frankly avowed that he did
he and Mr.. Norvell read "superauousy and tedi-
ousy." .~
g. Both Mr.. Roane and MIR Norvell essayed "be-
side the question:" and SO did Mr.. Miles, to attack
Mr.. Rives. Some also have attacked the motives of
Mr.. Crittenden, and Mr.. Clay is daily the object Of
such attacks under every question.
Now the order is :" the consequence of mea-
sure may be reprobated in strong terms; but to ar
raign the motives of those who propose to advoc ate
it, is personality, and against order" This rule is
broken in every Loco-foco speech.
This reading of speeches is out of character, be-
1t is derogaory to the dignity Of the office of
Senator, and of the Senate II is turning that Hall
into lecture room, or public lyceum, where essays
and treatises read, and curiostes exhibited
The Constitution certainly never intended the Sen
ate Chamber to be deacons chapel for the reading
of lectures. 1t was intended to be Legislative Hall,
where the political affairs of the Republic are to be
canvassed and debated by the first orators Of the land
and to be regulated and provided for by their action
II not intended 10 be an arena for the sopho-
morcal and juvenile essays of unhedged and would
be orators, And we are surprised that the people
should send to this important field of debate, men
who are incompetent to express their views extern
porally when necessary, Those who are obliged to
Improbable representatives; be frequently /" i'm
pertinent" d" superhuous or tedious digress from
the matter to the person." and be guilty of other
breaches Of order, and waste of time. =.
One of the Senators above alluded to, seemed
quite indignant and determined because, when he
rose to read, there was considerable noise in the
Hall. BY observing the following extract from the
Manual, twill be how directly contrary to Par
liamentary prudence, such conduct Isl H.
off member finds that it is not the inclination of
the House to hear him, and that by conversation
any other noise they endeavor TO drown his voice. ii
is his most prudent way to submit to the pleasure OF
the House, and sit down; for it scarcely ever hap
pens that they guilty of this piece of i'll manners
without sufficient reason, inattentiye to member
who says any thing worth their hearing"
1t is often a wonder to US that the philosophy and
policy Of order are not more observed by the mem
bers and that their letter and spirit are not ofener
enforced by the presiding officers.
We will notice another indecency and violation Of
order as well as courtesy, which struck us as pecu-
liarly disgusting. We notice these matters in dis
charge of our duty censors, for the information
Of the people, and the correction of the public con-
science.
While Senator PRESTON answering Senator
WALLS report, the author of the report turned his
e,
sat with his "6ack 'front.'" reading loco-foco news
paper, thereby affecting supreme contempt for the
speaker and his listeners We have sometimes seen
MI WRldHr L. l.. D.. do the same thing, and per-
haps other Senators, and we always considered il
'ndecorous. The law is expressly against it, to wit:
Kn,e 2 No member shall speak to another, or
o'J' WIZ" @f'frapt the business of the Senate, or
1e" any "E Epo1"r while the journals or public pa
debak.' " T'N''"e ~
iRes% circumstances will serve 10 show to our
fsa&er' Al 4 distance VOW r.zardess and indeed
ean@npn'nus he iora.to-os AZ, Of lar. oyder and
cur Republican farms or Government
ME on thts snh,eri yfrun feel that we had
not quite discharged t,,tP were We not to notice
another circumstance Whtch We regard as more dis
graceful than the others. We have an undvipp
horror of drunkenness 1t is vulgar bcastliuess in
violation of the laws Of nature and the ordinances
Of Heaven. We regard It as as in agains, oneself
against society, and against decency 1t is disgust
ing aud affecting enough in the utmost retirement of
private life, but when it invades the National Legis-
ia'ure, and reels, and fumes, and slobbers, in tha
once high place before the gaze Of the world we re
gafa II really and sincerely, in a moral point of
DIS a public crime, and one which derives addi-
p''uoe from the fact Of its imposing its re-
d,nrar;,Y !" some sort upon the public, OF its en-
So,"s we public trusts, and of its setting an
OIL debauchcry TO the millions Of
he 'ooH % the Legislature for the dignties
'euTS' IN word, for the department of citi-
~e"'hiP' we loro2ar to dcyeop further tho scene
yet vivid in our mind WIG 'e'"'
VIRGINIA" on the Navy is received with tho A.
'cles accompanying it. A few words will ern,,ir
fuIy TO Virginia, that which he seems 10 be in error
ABOUT mere was no Inconsistency in the article
on The Navy. In The Madisnnian nE IL. IL