The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

| ... THURSDAY, Dec. l9.
The Journal having been read, and the Chair
having stated that the gentleman from North Caro-
| lima Mr. Stanlyl was entitled 10 the floor on a ques-
ton of order raised BY him Yesterday
MI. WISE said the gentleman from Tennessee
| [Mr Turney1 had consented, for the present, 10
Withdraw his resolution for reference TO the Com
mi,tee Of Elections, condition that Mr. W., when
he had concluded his remarks would consent TO re-
new IT, Ia which condition Mr.. w, cheertully assent
ing, he would now proceedt to offer some remarks.
Mr.. w. G. JOHNSON rose to order. His point
OF order this: that the resolution Of the gentle
man from Virginia Mr.. Wise was inadmiss bic
By all rules Of the Houses by the laws of the States,
and by the Constitution of the United States, the
Speaker, he insisted, was bound TO swear in all mem
bers who came TO him 10 be sworn bearing evidence
in conformity with the laws of their State thai
they had been duly elected her Representatives in
this House. The Speaker had no discretion in this
matter; under the high obligations he had assumed
10 the House, TO the Constitution, and to the country
the duty peremptory, and il the House would al
low him TO proceed he would, in few minutes, go
on to demonstrate that position.
After further conver sation between Messrs. John
son, Turney, Jameson, Thomas and the Chair Mr..
WISE said, believe, now, that at last on my own
proposition, am entitled TO the floor. The great
contest in which We have so long been engaged Is
now al length ended.
Mr.. BEATTY. rise 10 order-[ A laughl-and
refer The Chair TO the alst rule OF order.
Mr.. WISE. require that the e. ntleman's point
Of order shall be reduced to writing and that he
shall write 1t Aim@lL Much merrimenl
Mr.. BEATTY. That shall do. He then
pied and to the Chair the 3lst rule of order in
the words following: ...&.
mo member shall speak more than twice to the
same question, without leave Of the house, nor
than once until every member choosing TO speak shall
have spoken"
Mr.. WISE. deny that have spoken twice or
once or at ALL on this question:
Mr.. BEATTY. | appeal to the house whether
the gentleman has not spoken more than twenty
times. will leave il TO the decision of the house
whether he has not since the very commencement
of this session Of Congress, occupied than half
of the time. ILaugh'erl
The CHAIR The Chair would remind the gen
tleman from Pennsylvania that rules of order
have YET been adopted by this house.
Mr.. WISE. see the gentleman has got the be-
| neft Of clergy, 50 he will not be hung for making
his point OF order. fLaughterl Mr.. w. then pro-
ceeded 10 address the house, IN an argumentaiive
speech, directed chiefly in reply TO Mr.. khelt, which
he did not conclude until past o'clock, and OF
which report will be given as soon as II can be
prepared.
pledge he had heretofore given by moving The loI
lowing resolutions:
Resolved, That the committee Of elections. when ap-
pointed, inquire and report 10 this house who are the
members elected from the State Of New Jersey adj
ditlon to j. Randolph, whose seat is not disputed
and until the committee shall report herein required
Resolved further, That neither Of the other claim
ants seats in this house from New Jersey shall be
qualified take seats members from the STATE Of
New Jersey
These resolutions having been read
MIR. WISE said he fell also bound by his pledge,
10 move the yrep0as question on this Proposition
Mr. w. C. JOHNSON here raised point OF Of
der, which he reduced TO writing as follows
"A motion to take the previous question Is not IN
order unt rules for the government OF the house are
adopted nor while there members Of Congress Who
desire to be sworn III"