The Madisonian., 1840-02-22

In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, on Thursday,
the whole morning was consumed in discussing an
appeal from thedecison OF the Chair declaring that
| II was not in order for member from New York
| (Mr. FLLMoRE) 10 read 10 the House, resolution
| adopted by the Committee Of Elections which had
not been reported to the House. The main subject
pending, was the motion heretofore introduced by
Mr.. Campbell, of South Carolina from the Com
mitlee Of Elections to have such printing done as
might be deemed necessary to facilitate the nvesl-
| CATION OF the New Jersey contested election-to
which notion Mr.. Cave Johnson had offered an a,
mendment proposing The printing of all the papers
before the Committee. The appeal was debated at
| great length.
! Mr.. ADAMS had taken the appeal, he said, under
| an absolute necessity. His opinion was, that the
gentleman had right to read the paper and. further
that any member had right to call for the reading of it,
II absurd 10 call upon man to vote upon aques-
tion Of printing paper, when It denied him 10
| show what II contained He was not willing to grant
permission to gentleman to do that which he had
right TO do. Mr. A. dwelt at much length on the I'M
portance Of this right to the minory-whose rights, he
contended, already sufficiently pinchcd by means
Of the previous question. motions to lay the table,
and punctlllous and captious questions Of order He
quoted Jeferson's Manual, &c. in support of the ap-
peal
The appeal was debated by Mcssrs Pctrikn, Banks,
| and Pope; the two former gentlemen sustaining, and
the latter opposing the decision Of the Chair.
Mr. BANKS, at the conclusion Of his remarks, asked
Mr.. ADAMS to withdraw the appeal; and, before taking
his seat moved to lay the appeal on the table.
Mr. ADAMS said that the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr BANks) asked him to withdraw the appeal without
assigning any reason why it should be Withdrawn, and
then, iastanfer moved to lay the appeal the table
This fair example of all tho ecdinos of he
majority in this House.
! Mr. GRANGER rose TO make an INQUIRY of the
Chair. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr BANKs) had
made notion as Mr.. G. understood to Law the appeal
on the table II that motion prevailed, would il no.
carry the resolution with it /!
[Cres Of 4" Ctrtanly, cerlainly"1
The SPEAKER had no, responded to his INQUIRY
when
Mr. BANKS withdrew the motion.
And the question recurring the appeal,
Mr. BRIGGS addressed the House at some length
in opposition to the decision Of the Chair urging that
in order 10 know whether paper should be printed or
not member was entitled first to know its contents
or that no must otherwise vote in the dark.
MIR Is. had not concluded when, the morning hour
having elapsed. the House. motion Of Mr. JONES'
oil Virginia, passed TO the Orders of the Day.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Maine objected to the intro
duclion Of the resolution.
MIR. GRAVES moved a suspension OF the rules;
which was refused two-thirds not voting therefor)
Yeas 49, nays S2
The House then took up the bill making appro
priations for the payment Of the revolutionary and
other pensioners of the United States for The year
lS4U, winch had been returned from the Senate with
an amendment authorizing the several pension agents
to administer the oaihs required to be taken and to
charge the same lee as is allowed TO Stale officers
for administering similar oaths
On motion OF Mr.. JONES' Of Virginia, the
amendment was concurred in.
The business next in order was the bill on the.
Speakers table making appropriations for the remo-
val of the Red river ran
Mr.. BEATTY, of Pennsylvania was entitled TO
the f)or but, on the understanding that his title
would he un
over, he Welded 10
Mr.. SERGEANT, who moved that the House re-
solve itself into Committee of The Whole on the
state of the Union for The purpose Of taking up the
CENSUS RIIL.
Mr.. JONES, of Virginia, gave notice that if the
House went into Committee, he should ask that the
bill providing for the re.appontment of CommiS-
Sioner OF Pensions be taken up.
On motion Of Mr.. SERGEANT the House re-
solved itself into Committee OF the Whole on the
state of the Union, Mr.. Banks in The chair) on the
census bill.
Amer long discussion, in the course of which,
several amendments were successfully offered and
rejected
Mr.. PETRIKlN moved preamble strongly re-
1ccting on the conduct OF the last Congress in lis
hasty Legislation at the close, which had occsSioned
the imperfcctions OF the Census BILL and rendered
The present amendatory bill necessary.
Mr.. DAWSON demonstrated with warmth
The gross want OF decorum in thus attempting cast
reflections on The conduct OF another Congress and
animadveHed with much severity on the facl hat
such paper should be moved by one Of the senior
members Of the House.