The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-02

|
vor Of giving the country all the light that could be
given.
Mr.. GRANT demanded the previous question.
Mr.. MITCHELL called for the reading OF the
document
Objections having being made,
T. The SPEAKER stated the rule to be that, on the
first presentation of document was the rightpfa
member to call for its readings and that, at subse-
quenttimes il was competent for a member TO move
the reading and il the duty of the Chair to put
the question 10 the House.
And, the question having been taken, the House
decided that the document should not be read
The question recurring ON the demand Tor The
Mr.. POTTS moved call of the House; which
motion'was rejected.
The question again recurring on the demand for
the previous question,
Mr.. MENEFEE inquired Of the Chair what the
eject of il would be7
The SPEAKER replied that the main question
would be on the motion to print 10000 extra copies.
And the question on the motion for the previous
question then taken, (by tellers) and decided in
the negative: Ayes 70, noes 70.
So there was no second.
The question then recurring ON the motion to
, Mr. POPE was understood to say that that he un-
derstood the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
SergeanD had no objection 10 the motion TO print an
extra plumber; but that he was DESTROYS that his OBJ
jections to- his protest against the report, should go
out at the same time with 1t.
Mr.. NAYLOR said that, personally, he knew
nothing of the contents Of this report but that from
the little information he had gathered about them,
his present impression that he should vote for
the printing fan extra number. 1t was already, as
had been stated, in the of being printed in the
usual way and copies OF il would be received on
Monday. But his colleague, Mr.. Sargeant,) who
4 was now absent was exceedingly anxious as he
/ (Mr. N } knew, to make a Statement OF few facts
connected with this matter, before the question was
taken on the motion TO print an extra number. Mr..
~ hoped, therefore, that the motion TO postpone
1 would be agreed 10.
Mr.. McKENNAN said he had not contended, as
a matter Of right, that gentlemen should engage in
business out OF this house. and absent themselves for
that purpose. He did moi, therefore, expect to re-
ceive an answer Of the character given by the gen.
teman from Georgia. (Mr Haynes.) The gentle
man says (Mr. Mex. continuedD that my colleague
not right to absent himself from the service of
| the House. Well, sir, never said that he had
| right But throw myself on the courtesy of the
House, and ask whether under the circumstances of
the case, when gentleman who, when the state Of
his health permits is probably constantly in his
seat as any other member ask whether, under
such circumstances the majority Of the House will
be so uncourteous as 10 refuse this very brief post
3ponement2 hope that If the members do not
agree to the motion on the ground of right, Ito use
the term applied by the gentleman from Georgia,)
] they will nevertheless in their courtesy grant the
! request which have made on behalf Of my col
league.
" Mr. HAYNES said he was aware that il had been
the uniform practice of the House to receive coun-
erreporls and to print them to the same extent as
the original report; and he should have as lle OBJ
! lection 10 do this as any other member. He would
cheerfully listen to the gentleman from Pennsyl-
! vania Mr. Sergeant If he were in his seat but
he repeated that the public interests were paramount
| TO all private concerns
| Mr.. TILLINGHAST said it struck him the
| House was urged TO unusual haste upon this mea-
sure at this particular time. He was at loss 10
know, and had endeavored in vain 10 satisfy himself
what reason could exist TO press, with unusual haste
this morning. TO the great expense OF printing ten
thousand extra copies of large document, OF which
the number already ordered to be printed for the
use and information of the members, had not yet
been laid upon their tables. The reason was GER
tainy not in the fact that gentleman distinguished
as member OF this House, and a distinguished
member too, of the very committee from which this
report came had expressed his desire and intention
to submit statement to the House before this ques
ton should be taken, and was now absent from his
seat under an spgasemeni which he had no reason TO
Certainly, this was not reason for peculiar and UNI
usual haste in pressing the question this paricu
lar morning. And ask, sir, if this is not unusual
haste2 Is 1t usual 10 urge the expenditure OF so
large sum for extra copies, and to require the
votes of members upon the proposition, before the
members are allowed to inform themselves of the
contents Of the document they are to vote upon-be
fore they can read by themselves, or have il read
| 10 them wish, as one, to know something of the
matter upon which am to vote. do not know
what is contained in this document Other mem
bers say the same. have yet had no means of as
certain for myself before am called to vote upon
il. Otherwise i may, from ignorance, vote for an
| expenditure which shall afterwards discover TO
have bcen improper, or vote against one which will
| afterwards be found by me to have been proper.
think will say it is usual to require this If
the document had ever heen read in the House-if
it had even been read to us this morning. as Just now
| was moved for and refused by the House, we should
have been prepared 10 vote Understandings and to
give reason for votes 1t is not usual to vote
upon the printing of an extra number Of copies of
document until the usual number ordered for the
use OF the members has been laid on their tables so
that they may read 1t at their leisure before acting.
/ Now the House has ordered the usual number 10 be
printed for that purpose, and they printing
and viii be on our tables on Monday. Inthe mean
time, we are in the dark as to their contents. The
committee may explain them to us, but we have
| right to see for ourselves And as the printing Of
the usual number seems not yet to be completed be-
fore the extra copies can be begun upon there is
loss OF time by the poSponement. But if there were of
what consequence can it be TO the country whether
the information treaties goes into circulation two
or three days earlier or later Independently of the
absence, therefore, of the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania, the poStponemen seems to be necessary for
correct and proper legislation.
Mr. PICKENS said that, il he understood the nature
OF this document it was view of the state ofthe Trea-
suy of the finances Of the country which had been pre-
scented TO the House in order that the members might
vote underatandlngy on those bills ofappropraon which
were to be acted upon during the present session No
document could be Of Importance. He desired,
as soon possible to be put possession Of the
state Of the finances Of the country know whe-
her, in voting for appropriations he was indirectly
voting either to issue Treasury notes or borrow
money. He wished to vote Understandings And if
the substance Of this document be such as would give
the information requisite that end he was prepared to
vote ia favor Of printing 10000 extra copies, and he
was also prepared TO vote against the posponement
As to the which had been urged by the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. McKennan) in behalf Of
his colleague. (Mr Serpeantl he (Mr lcoud
TO set precedent that the business Of the House should
be stopped, because gentleman was in attendance on
the Supreme CouIt II absence occasoned by sick
ness accidental Circumstance Of any kind that was
different matter. There member to whom he
(Mr P) would more cheerfully extend this courtesy
than to the distinguished gentleman from