The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


Al noon to-day, the Speaker Of the House Qhe
Hon r. M T.. HUsTER, took the chair and called
the House TO order; after which he rose and ad-
dressed the House as follows:
GEsrLEMEs OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The high and undeseryed honor which you have
conferred upon me has been SO unexpected that
even now l can scarcely find terms 10 which to ex-
press my grateful sense Of your kindness. trust,
however TO be able TO offer better evidence Of that
sentiment in the earnest efforts which slMll make
10 discharge my duties justly and imparially Call
ed as have been 10 this high station, not so much
from any merits of my own as from The independence
Of my position, shall feel il especially due from
me 10 you TO preside as the Speaker, not of party,
but OF the House. Whilst shall deem ii my duty
all proper occasions to sustain the principles upon
which l stand pledged before the country, shall
hold myself bound at the same time 10 afford every
facility within my power TO The full and free express
sion of the wishes and sentiments Of every section
Of this great Con federacy. You will doubtless deem
II your duty gentlemen, the grand inquest Of the
nation to investigate all matters of which the peo-
pie ought to be informed TO retrench expenditures
which are unnecessary and unconstitutional TO
maintain the just relations between all Of The great
interests Of the country; and to preserve inviolae
the Constitution which you will be sworn 10 support;
whilst il will be mine to aid you in such abors with
all the means within my power. And although
deeply impressed with painful sense Of my nex-
perience and Of the difficulties Of and untried
station, am yet cheered by the hope that you will
sustain me in my efforts 10 preserve the order of
business and the decorum Of debates am aware
that party lervor is occasionally impatient of the
restraint which 1t is the duty Of the Chair impose
upon the asperity Of debate but at the same time
know the just Of all parties will sustain the Speaker
who is honestly endeavoring to preserve the dignity
Of the House, and the harmony Of Its members.
Permit me, in conclusion, gentlemen, to tender
YOU the homage Of my heartfelt thanks for the honor
which you have conferred upon me, and 10 express
the hope that your councils may be so guided by wis
dom as TO rebound TO your own reputation and the
welfare Of our common country
The Journal OF yesterday having been read
Mr.. DROMGOOLE, of Virginia, moved reso-
luton providing that the Standing Rules of Order
OF the last House of Representatives be adopted to
govern the proceedings of this body.
Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS, of North Carolina.
moved TO lay the resolution on the table until the
members OF the house should have been sworn in
Would Be proper first 10 swear the MEM
bers before entertaining any other business
Mr.. DROMGOOLE thought it undoubtedly COM
peenl 10 The house now 10 adopt rules for its govern
ment.
The question being put from the Chair on LAYING
The resolution on the table
The yeas and nays were demanded, and then tel
lers were called Tor.
Mr.. w. COST JOHNSON rose to order ne
said ne held in his hand the law of 1889, and would
ask for the reading OF the first Two sections Of H.
from which It would appear that the resolution OF
me honorable gentleman from Virginia was mad
Missile at this time.
The first and second sections Of The law were read
accordingly, at the Clerks table, as follows
Sec. l. Be II enacted de-, That the oath or afirma-
lion required by the sixth article Of the Constitution Of
the United States shall be administered in the form fol-
lowing to wit IL A. b. do soienlniy s,osar or affirm,
Gas the case may be) that roH support The Consti-
hon Of the United States" The said oath or aHirma-
ton shall be administered within three days after the
passing Of this act, by any member of the Senate
10 the President Of the Senate and by him to all the
members, and to the Secretary and by the Speaker OF
the House OF Representatives, to all the members who
have not taken similar OATH by virtue Of particular
resolution of the said House, and the Clerk And in
case OF the absence Of any member, from the service
OF either House, at the time prescribed for taking the
said oath or affirmation, the shall be administered
to such member when he shall appear to take his seat
Sec. 2 And be II further enacted That, at the frs,
session Of Congress after every general election Of Re-
representatives., the oath affirmation aforesaid shall be
administered by any one member Of the House OF Re-
representatives. TO the Speaker, and by him TO oil the
members present. and to the Clerk previous entering
Ale
forwards appear, previous to taking their seats, &c
Mr.. W. c. JOHNSON went on to observe that. ever
since this law enacted, all officers, as welof the
National Of the State Governments, were bound TO
take oath before entering upon their official duties
No question could be raised as to the constitu,onsty
Of this law, for was the supreme law Of The land
binding Congress as all other persons concerned 4
Il could not be rescinded BY resolution Of either
or Of both Houses but only by the same authority
which had enacted it, viz by law, passed in both
Houses, and signed by the President. But lest some
gentlemen might cherish doubt he would ask the
Clerk TO read the opinion Of Judge Story, Of the Su
prcme Court Of the United States, the constitution
atty Of The law, and its binding validity now.
THE opinion was read accordingly
Mr. DROMGOOLE said, as his friend from Mary
land had raised the point Of ORDER and had been allow
ed to accompany it by some remarks he presumed he
should not be out Of order in offering few words in
reply He should not enter into argument as to the
Of the law Of 1852 but he might ask
where this law Of 80 when the first House of Re.
adopted rules for It's proceedings And
he might further ask where had been the oahs of the
gentlemen here present for this fortnight past during
the whole oil which time they had been sitting as a
House Of Representatives, and had adopted rules to
govern their proceedings But if the honorable gen.
lleman from Maryland would attend TO the meaning of
the word business" used in the statute read FROM
ne would discover that referred the ordinary bust
ness Of the house, and not to the organzaton The
adoption Of Jules constituted part Of the organization
Of the house Mr.. d. had not proposed that the house
should 90 into any business - and therefore the law Of
80 had nothing TO do with the matter. They sit
ling as members Of the house they bad elected their
presiding officer; and certainly they could adopt any
rules Of business they thought ftihe law Of SO
When he offered the resolution which
before the house, he bad done with candor and
sincerity, aud with view TO avoid any difficulties
which might arise Suppose when members came up
10 be sworn any Difficult, questions should be raised
where the rules by which they TO be de-
cided He had deemed il but an act Of courtesy to
young Speaker give him least rules for his guild
,nce; with these he would be less embarrassed in dis
charging the dutIes Of new situation and the mem.