Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-24
Twcnty-liflh Congress---:sd Sess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
S.t,.rLun -InuunrL Id ls.Hl


The first business in order being the request OF Mr..
TAYLOR 10 be excused rom serving on the select commit
tee TO which he had been elected last night and the al
tendance being very thin,
Mr. GRAY moved a cu of the House; which being or
dered was proceeded Tor some tne when II was dis.
pcnspd with, lGl members having answered to their
names.
MIR. Taylor then assigned his reasons at length why
he wished TO be excused from serving on the committee
The main was that oil the gentlemen oil The anu
Administration party distinguished lawyers, while
MIR. 7. not member Of that profession.
Mr. Gray sustained the motion, and insisted that 1t was
but fair and proper that three distinguished lawyers on
the other side should also be selected He submitted this
pos,on TO the Justice of the gentleman from Virginia
himself, MR. Wise,l and the Opposition generally
Mr. Sibey inquired Of his colleague, who was one OF
the must distinguished lawyers Of his State, WHETHER
elected he would consent to serve on The committee:
Mr. GRAY re piled that there twenty al least oil the
Administrator party either Of whom would be accepta-
be but he did choose respond to the nterTogatoy
| until the exigency should, 1t 1t ever do, nfise.
Mr. Wise said be was willing 10 take the most efl
Gent men of the party, whom he believed 10 be inde
pendent and gentlemen; but he wouio not
select to play The part Of special pleaders nno pet
tifoggers on that committee Mr. w. was "i'ii"s "
| take the gentleman himself
Mr. Grav did moi desire il, Mr.. G again appealed to
Mr. Wise that for his sake, he having condemned
the Secretary Of the Treasury in advance, 10 prevent
improper mpualIons he should consent 10 place three
strong men on the Administration SIDE Mr.. u denied
INV d7sno,on on The par, Of those with whom he acted
10 prorac, This discussion for if only twelve Wings had
voted for The three voted for by the friends Of the Adm
nisIra,ion The committee might have been at work two
DAVIS aro while il known that many Of The latter
had voted for The Wings.
Mr. Prenlss Of Miss quoted the article in The Globe
to prove al these but carrying out con-
certed scheme defeat the committee altogether, or
have il composed of all Wings.
ilr P. commended that Mr. Taylor, as member of The
medical profession, better qualified TO serve on the
committee than lawyer, because they were 10 examine
into the diseases Of the body polite, and apply the kniie
lis uptons He could not admit the genllemans
excuse.
Sir Thompson said no better selection of Opposition
men could have been made than they had done and,
having also a majority, it but common justice that
the Administration party should have their own avorte
men. They should have men accustomed to The examl'
nation Of witnesses accustomed 10 take part in the de-
bates in that House. men in whom the Administration
parly themselves had confidence This was nothing
more than what right and fair. .
Mr. Bnudin said h. wished he had voted and shonid
vote apparently rather unrernngly, in refusing 70 eA
cusc his friends from sitting this committee 70 give
his reasons for it, He said that had been urgeo very
contrarly his opinions and feelings that choose the
committee By ballot the best way MI b. thought
was The worst He wished it 10 be decided oy The