Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-31
CoNGREss.--lst SESSION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
4, l.. n. % lSon -[(nnfinnkI !

Mr. PICKENS observed, that as he had been pariicu-
,rlv appealed to by the gentleman from tennessee
Mi Bell he desired to make very few remarks on
,bs .onics 10 which he had alluded He (Nlr. Belll
,n,a,ed 10 those gentlemen who announced the SEN
,.rant IN this floor that there had been, heretofore
,,o mpcb Executive action in this Government, and
b..ourht them 10 aid him in destroying one OF tue
uos, powerful engines Of Executive influence: ana
asked where that rule containing the r'ra rocs prn
c,ple Of voting had its orr GIN Mr. + took prde III an
sUa-inr the rentlemans question. he hrst time he
Mr. Pl recollec,cd that the rule was introduced, was
IN the session of 1884 and ISIS when it was cons-
dered BY the intelligent and patriotic men IN the
country. that there was too much Executive action
on the Government 1t was when the gentleman
h.msefwas in the Speaker chair, that the party OF
the Executive with which lie acted and of VIII oh
he was the acknowledged head, had that tremendous
majority here which seemed destined then to sweep
over all the dearest rights of the country The gen
crnan from Tennessee (Mr. Bel) then acted IN con-
cert with that great party whose strong organization
rampled without remorsc. over ranqushed minority
He rccocctcd those times WE'LL and felt the power OF
The organization which the Gentleman from tennessee
then supposed support He is the it man that
onch. ~~l i. .i,is etru core question: "a' intro
duced voted at that time, said Mr. r against tns
r;rG rOtt principle of voting preteFring the od-laso-
I'd Republican prime pie Of voting by ballot and WHEN
am called upon to vote this subject shall vot.
10, that principle again-but shall not do II for the
reasons the gentleman has offered Docs he suppose
that am to be overawed by Executive influence
Does he suppose that governed by any other Prn-
cipe than the interests of my constituents Was there
not an influence now much more to he dreaded than
that of the Executive on the members of this House,
We have had, said he convention lately, organ zed
combination of three powerful and dangerous nhu-
ences ono of which that of the banks interests
that bodied much danger to the people CT tins
country than any the gentleman had alluded 10. Sir
that party organization, produced By such conrention
he looked upon as more terrible in its sway, at this
juncure than any other. Mr.. T. said that he would
always for the ballot system, because he believed
II 10 be the most republican, but he thought it direct
insul: this House to suppose that there would be
members here who would be enough TO give their
votes one way under system of voting, and another
way under another tie remembered the scenes of the
last night OF the session of 5, when the three
million appropriation was under consideration, and the
conduct of the gentleman from Tennessee then the
head of the great Jackson party this House, that
occasion, and he thought that the gentleman the
las, man who oaeht ever to talk Of Executive nfu-
ence lie tFenbcd when he thought hat might arise
from eStraneous influences brought TO bear upon the in
dependence OF this House. As far the iron sway OF
Executive control Is concerned thank God. we have
the prospect of change We have principles avowed,
embracing the great doctrines of the Constitution We
have prospect of reform and 1t folly
and madness 10 attempt to reform this Government by
men. iou must have great measures. If you wish to
strike at the accumulation of power in this Govern
ient, or IN the Executive, strike at the fiscal action of
the Government: reform that, and you reform men.
Inc most We now have to dread is from those moneycd
combinations throughout the country, connected with
conventions for political purposes, calculated to bring
Gown the Independence Of individuals and Of this
Rouse At their mercy, and to absorb all society in
consolidated interest for the benefit Of the few, and at
a' expense Of the many.
AF EANDERPOEL said he, too, had the honor Of
oeing member of this House five yearsa when this
proposition, that all elections of officers by the House
should be made rocc, was introduced; and he had
asa'ther honor of participating in the debates that
suGec' Sn important did he deem this rule which his
''easne lM. Iotfman) proposed to exclude from the
''oc That liz would vote against the adoption OF the
e code unless this provision were reta n
ca N" would he consent to adopt the very LIBERAL and
hlh"lS suggestion of colleague, when he
'd Us titt We might adopt all but the eleventh
o, ahc thcn introduce the etea provision as an
Independent propns ton. He knew well what the
NHNence would be if this course adopted Days,
"ftks, and. peradventure, months would be wasted
ne IN The discussion Of this proposition, and no dec.
oh would be made till after the elections should have
9sen had, which gave the rule practical character
De meant the election of Clerk Printer, and all the
@a"s officers of the House 1t was, indeed, grca: ia
'o' on the part Of his colleague to give the priv.
se Of adopting rule after the mischief against which
was designed to provide was perpetrated.
Or, said Mr.. ", wiser than our fathers: Did
ability, to provide by sacred constitutional provision,
N the yeas and nays of the members of either
on any question, should, at the desire of
'h OF most present, be entered on the journal" Up
IN every question, then, that comes before in our
ssislatve capacity, matter how Insignificant, one
IA Of this House can hold up the other fourfhs to
.ae gaze Of their constituents Was it, then, in accord
ace with the spirit of the Constitution to skuk under
M ballot when we entered upon the great and respon-
oe work Of electng officers for this House, even 10
az once Of Speaker 1t had been said that the people
as country, constituents, voted by ballot, and
-: ey regarded this not only their privilege, but
wv, right, and that the Commoners of England were
Ts eontcndng for this great principle. All this
~ rue but did not gentlemen see, in reference to
-: question, manifest difference between voting in
e'so'e,aunt and in representative capacity When
undertook to exercise the great and invalua.
~, ehs OF suffrage they entered upon work of their
s.ney were then doing their own business and no
r aad right to inquire how they executed that bust
Dot every vote We gave here, gave in
c,.,aat've capacity. We the creatures of our
tot ; :; and who but constituents were our crea.
On, we were agents, and who but the people were
"'aclpsl'' Responsibility from tho agent to the