Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-31

| first resolution was modhedby Mr. Dawson the mover
to postpone to HE lGh Of January instead of the
lst OF February The second resolution was adopted
with slight modification; and the consideration the
third was postponed to the lcet Of January.
| The following the resolutions:
Resored, That the order Of this House in relation TO
the election of Printer be postponed until the tenth
day of January next.
Resoired further That the Clerk of this House be
authorized in the mean time to employ some suitable
person persons to execute the necessary printing OF
this House in the manner prescribed BY the Joint rcso
luton of 1870 until said tenth day of January next
Rcs0lrtd, further, That a select committee be APP
pointed inquire whether the public printing of this
House cannot be better and cheaper done by contract
than by the existing mode.
Mr. CRABB renewed the motion of MIR. Lewis for n
reconsideration of the vote appointing Chapains he
did SO, he said, the request of his colleague, (lr
Lcws;) and he had voted in the affirmative, the
lion, coming from him, in order and on this mo-
ton debate forthwith arose, in which the motion was
advocated by Mr. Cooper, not on the ground OF any
disbelief in the truth of religion the proprety and
necessity of of public devotion, but because the
CONNIE of the daily sttings of the House was
not proper time, the Hall where it met proper
place, for such observances; because they were nly
and irreveently attended, and productive of no
good but only evil, and that continually and because
the spectacle of ministers eectonecrng for the ap-
pointment disgusting to every well-constitutcd
|
pecially when the political opinions of candidate were
openly urged by his friends las had more than once been
the case) the chief for his appointment And,
finally, because there was authority in the Constitn
| ton for such application of the public money; and
the danger, from such practice, that there should
creep in hereafter the principle of the union of Church
and State.
Mr.. RICE GARLAND supported the motion on the
same general grounds of objection.
Mr.. WISE, in very solemn MANNER protested against
hall
nexon between the fates of nations and the will of
overung Providence, and earnestly contended for the
proprety of open official act of national acknowledge
ment Of the being and providence Of the Ruler of the
World In support of which view, he reverted to the
example set by the first Congress, in the earliest and
purest days of the Republic. lie denied that such an
observance involved, in any degree, union Of Church
and State but only the union of religion with free 60
vernaRt. He differed in opinion as to the be. efcia
effec II morning prayers upon such members did
attend, and alluded to their influence in assuaging the
bitterness of party feeling, and calming the heats of po
tca contest He avowed his belief that hypocrte
at least had occupied the station, but passed warm
eulogy on the humility and pey of several of the former
| Chaplans of the House.
Il MIR. NISBET of Georgia, took the same side in an
eloquent Speech which, with the residue of this debate
ii is not now in power to lay before our readers
i The debate was continued by Messrs. Slade, Crabb
i Cooper, Craig, and Rice Garland, when
4 MIR. HOPKINS rose, he said, for the purpose OF
putting end to debate which seemed to him quite
unnecessary. And he moved the previous question;
which seconded and the main question was ordered
TO be taken.
i Mr. J. DAVIS, of PENNSYLVANIA, asked the yeas
and NAYS the main question: which were ordered.
/ And the main question being on the motion to re-
consider, then taken, and decided in the negative
| Yeas l2, nays los.
So the House refused to reconsider the vote by which
the resolution adopted.
| Mr.. ADAMS understood TO give notice of his
intention to ask leave to introduce bill providing for
carrying into effect the objects Of the Smithsonian be-
quest which motion ordered to be entered the
Journal.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON moved the adoption of the
resolution providing for the printing of 10000 copies OF
the Presidents Message, viz $4,000 without the &C
companying documents, and 5000 with them
| MIR. STANLI moved an adjournment, which motion
(by vote of 63 ayes TO - noes, taken By tellers,
Messrs Cabb and johnson acting in that capacity,)
was rejected
So the House refused to adjourn.
Some desultory conversation ensued as to the mode
in which Mr.. Johnson's motion should, according TO
| the rules, be put.
When Mr. ]. modified it so as to take from the table
the Message and the resolution above referred TO,
where they had been laid by the vote Of the House
a former day.
An intermediate motion for adjournment having
1 been made and withdrawn
! The question on Mr.. Johnsons motion taken,
and carried.
So the Message and resolution were again before the
House.
Mr. CAVE JOHNSON then demanded the previous
question tho adoption of the resolution.
cssrs Crabb and Carr were appointed teiiers, ana,
By ayes l0i noes no, counted the demand for the pre-
vious question was seconded.
Mr. STANLY inquired OF the Chair whether the eff
feet of the previous question would not be to cut off the
amendment offered by himself, reducing the number Of
copies to 5000
i The SPEAKER replied afhrmatively.
MIR. LEWIS WILLIAMS demanded the yeas and
nays on taking the main question
/ Mr.. STANLY was understood To give notice that he
would the suggestion Of several Of his friends, modify
his amendment to read 10000 instead Of 900
copies.
Mr. UNDERWOOD said his vote would depend on
information to the number which it was usual TO
Mr.. HUBBARD, of Alabama, said the usual number
was that designated in the resolution.
And the question: Shall the main question be now
taken; then put and decided in the Affirmative
Yeas 100, Nays %.
So the main question ordered now to be put
And the main question being the adoption of the
motion for printing, as above stated,
/ Mr.. STANLY asked for the yeas and nays; which
being ordered and taken were-Yeas 100, Nays54 So
the motion agreed to-
| MIR. THOMPSON, of South Carolina, rose and mo.
we'd reconsideration of the which had just been
taken. He proceeding to make some remarks in
relation to the Presidents Message, when
/ Mr.. JAMESON rose to a question of order.
! Mr. THOMPSON said he also rose to question of
order Let the gentleman reduce his question of order
to writing.
| Mr. JAMESON observed that he had moved and
sent resolution the table WHEN the gentleman from
South Carolina rose to make motion. Now, he (Mr.
J) would ask of the Chair whether the gentleman $
motion took precedence of his own
Mr.. THOMPSON said he believed that they had no
right to argue the question of order until the Chair had
given its decision.
The SPEAKER stated that the gentleman from Mis-
souri, (Mr Jameson) being first IN possession OF the
floor had a right to make the motion he had done after
which it was competent for the gentleman from South
Carolina to make his motion. The Chair had let the
gentleman from South Carolina have the floor, because
he supposed the gentleman from Missouri had given
way to him.
Sir. sHERROD WILLIAMS moved that the House
do now adjourn.
And the yeas and nays were demanded, but not
ordered.