Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-24

the House. OF to The committee to ahy member OF II,
10 have it seen by The county, by the frame OF TINS com
mtee, Cooking only TO the putting Of 1t together ~ne
Their il better have somebody responsible or NOBODY
The world would have understood the committee. anu
the frame of it, in every respect, and would hsve corn
pared it with committees formed by the SPEAKERS OF
this and other bodies when the Speaker had Inc appoint
ment He wished principally, to say te his friends hat
although he might unSInd in refusing 10 EXCUSE
them from sitting this committee. yet they wouia hho
him exceedingly soft in excusing there ior not s""s'
should they think proper nct To. attend
The debate was further continued by Mr.. Moore LOT
excusinz, and Mr. Garland of la against il; when
Mr. Pe,tikin obtaining the floor, demanded the pre-
Viops Question, which seconded ana tie MAN q
ton ordered, nem diSS.
Mr. Grennel called for the yeas and nays, winch 'ee
ordered, were luz 10 l02-a tie; the Speaker Young "
the affirmative, the question was carried.
So the request Of MIR Taylor 10 be excused "'' e''
ed, and he excused accordingly. -, >,
MIR Wagner then preferred request 70 Inc mouse 10
excuse him from serving, stating his reasons 'neel'i
He regretted exceedingly that he had been placed IN
position that required hun 10 ask 'his nouse W ~
the situation conferred upon him. at the same lime ne
assured the House. that this determination had not arisen
from any desire in hun 10 emoatfass u. FROM e w
cumsta nces under which he had been elected he was
satisfied that he could have taken no other course a
that he had adopted for himself II would be recolieco
that after the three honorable gentlemen were eHcuSeo
on yesterday, ballot taken, and at when pa'o ne
was not a candidate. Three gentlemen Of hlgh tcgat
attachments generally supported by the TRENDS
the Administration, and three Others friends OF Inc au
mnissation and himself not of the number, were sup
ported by those opposed TO the Administrator oh 'e
second ballot, his SURPRISE new ticket was cohcoc.-
ed by the Opposition upon which his name was p'aceu
and he elected Had he been aware OF this arrange
before The ballot had proct eded he Should inosl
sssuredly, have promptly and publicly declined ne
asked why this change the part OF the OPPoSilon:-
Why adhere 10 their first ballot: Or why nor Wheh
they knew from he frs, ballot the inclination OF Inc al
innisralo party whom they desired, allow them
to fleet those individuals, al least majority OF them
Was magnanmous TO refuse US this much' Was ite1
actly fair to elect others Of the party! II the up
position suppurth men whom the Adminisra
ton party DESIRE let them then ecetose Of their oen par
y This would seem to him 10 have been the course mat
they should have pursued. He did not wish TO be un-
derstood debating any particular course TO those gen.
temen, further than stating wha! he should have sup
posed would have been their proper course AND again.
after they have upon that committee as now otgahiz
ed four Wings and two Conservatives, and alt OF linen,
LAWYERS too aud still refuse TO give The Administrator
party their cnice-under these circumstances he could
not do less than ask to be excused he would ask OF
them but to him the courtesy as TO Others
if the House should not presume, however reluctant
ly, must submit 10 its mandates Before he concluded,
he would say one word more.
He did not wish to be understood as fearing strict
and thorough and searching investigation No; he was
one of those who since charges had been alleged
against the Secretary OF the Treasury, had been anxious
meet hem and he trusted ard felt they would be met
in such manner would exonera,e the Secretary OF the
Treasury from any censure, misconduct, or
From his partial knowledge Of that gentleman he could
not believe that he corrupt. lie never however,
would shrink from any responsibility imposed upon him
by ths House, done in what he considered an unexcep
uonable manner, should he falter al any Tune IN
the PEI formance Of his duty, having single eye to his
countrys good and 10 protect the innocent and expose
the guilty.
Mr. Wise opposed the request, and was followed on
the side by Messrs Jener and Slan'y, who were
replied 10 by Mr. Bynum, in causlic speech OF some
b,cb pill ha river
Mr. Johnson Of Maryland having obtained the floor,
addressed the House in opposition 10 excusng Mr. Wa
gener, and concluded by moving the previous question
Mr.. Bynum earnestly requested Mr.. Johnson to with
draw the motion enable him 10 reply 10 some remarks
which fell from MIR S,anly; bu; he refused
MT Parker moved call Of the House, but the motion
nega,ived
The pre- vious question was seconded by the
House. put and carried, and the main question being
excusng MIR. Wagner from serving on The commit
tee,
Mr. Wise demanded the yeas and nays; which were
ordered, and Were-yeas l02 nays lG5 So the House
refused TO excuse Mr., Wagner.
Mr. Martin said he not compelled 10 ask OF The !
House be excused from serving upon this COMMITTEE
for he could avail himself of the rules Of the House 10
do so He had abundant reasons why he could not
serves but would content himself with stating that he
was already member Of two committees OF this House,
the duties upon which occupied considerable portion OF
his time; and that the great quantity OF business conhd
ed his charge by his constituents would preclude the
possibility of s leaving The city attend 10 the duties
of this investigating committee, without wholly neg
lecting that. He elt peculiarly his duty as this is
the last session he should be member OF this House, to
attend strictly the duties which his constituents
had assigned him. There nothing which had
bee dictated upon this floor charged in the pubic
prints that could deter him from assuming the respon
abilities that will be attendant upon member OF this
committee or that could him 10 shrink from any
other responsibility tina, might be assigned him. if he
thourht il his duty to do He did fear denuncia
ton from any quarter; and if Of justice to his
constituents did not require hun 10 devote all The time
that is left Of this session to thes business he would not
Law himself liable the charge of shrinking from any
dUt = however 1t might be TO his feelings
He was entitled by the rules to be excused and would
put il upon that ground, and excuse himself
The Chair then stated that there we're Two vacancies
10 be filled in the committee.
motion was made that the House do now proceed
10 ballot for the vacancies the commee; which was
agreed to.
was called 10 order the House having resolved noo 10
go into the ballot.
tive on the question Of cxcusng MIR WAGNER and moved
a reconsideration OF The vote
The Chair said II was not yet III ofae1 10 act OIL 'a'
motion.
bers 10 fill the remauing vacancies IN the committee
Mr. Garland reported the result; which was that the
total number OF votes cast au oeeh Evil necessary 70
choice lOl; Of which
Mr. Foster had received l0l votes,
g Ovens IN3
4" Ham.r 90 "
Thomas e" 81
and many other gentlemen SMALLER Numbers
He also stated that ballot there had been three
names As the trllers had no means of asceraining
which two Of the three count they had considered the
ballot as blank.
The Chair quoted the rule in relation to blank ballots
and their decision 10 be- IN the opnIon OF
the Chair, correct
No objecton was made 10 it in the Honse.
The Speaker thereupun declared MIR. Foster Of New
York and Mr. Owens OF Georgia to be duly elected
Mr. Hunter now renewed his motion TO reconsider The
vote bv which Mr. Wagen.r was not excused from serv
ing
Mr. Evans moved to lay upon the table the motion 10
reconsider the vote winch motion took precedence by
the rule.