The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, July ~ Isl

/
PROCEEDINGS on THE CASE or LIEUT. noor
Mr.. CHAPMAN, of Ala asked leave 10 offer
resolution instructng the Committee the Judiciary
to report forthwith bill prohibiting the enlistment OF
negroes or coored persons in the Navy or Army OF
the United States
Objection having been made, Mr. c. moved a sus
pension of the rule, and asked The yeas and nays
which Were ordered
Mr. Bolts moved call of the House
Mr. TALIAFERRO asked the yeas and nays on
the motion; which Were ordered.
Mr.. STANI.Y asked if it was in order now Is
move to be excused from voting and to give his rca
sons.
The SPEAKER said it in order to make III,
notion and that it would admit of limited debate
Mr. STANI.Y said he would keep within the limit.
and that if he felt himself going beyond it, he would
endcavor to stop
He (Mr So would vote against call of the Hous,
because 1t was physically impossible for the Commit.
tee the Judiciary TO take up this business and d,
port on IT this session and, also, because the Prt+i
dent of the United States and Il Secretary Of thp
Navy had full power to remedy these abuses if tho,
pleased
And the question on the motion for a call of the
House being then taken, the vote stood Yeas -
nays liz.
So the call was not ordered
And the question recurring on the motion TO sus
end the rule
Mr.. BRIGGS moved to lay that nation on the
table.
Mr.. RIvEs asked the yeas and nays; which were
ordered
Mr., STANLY asked TO be excused from voting
because the Judiciary Committee had time at this
period OF the session to examine and prepare any law
on any subject; because the President and tho Sc
cretary Of the Navy had already full power and au-
thorty 10 exclude negroes from the seryice-and to
exclude them from giving testimony against viii c
men, and to set aside the proceedings OF courts
tial If they thing requiring their interference
and because he (Mr. 81 could consent that the
Navy should be deprived of the services Of negroes n
cooks stewards, and servants for there is neccs
sity they should be witnesses and because to
su h S law as the gentleman from Alabama proposes
would in effect make white negroes by i'm.
posing on them the necessity Of dscharging dutee
heretofore discharged by negroes
Mr. DROMGOOLE asked the yeas and nays on
the question of excusng Mr.. Stanly which were Of.
dcred, and, being taken, We're Yeas Is nays 1872
So Mr.. Stanly was not excused.
Mr. s. then said he hoped his reasons might he en
tered on the Journal He should vote he said against
the suspension, and hoped that no Southern man
would vote for such proposition.
Some objection to the entry made bv MI
DROMGOOLE, and Mr.. S. was understood 10 gtc
notice that he would make motion in relation e
to morning.
Mr. Bolts asked to be excused from voting -
the proposition of the gentleman from Alabama ami
assigned as reasons therefor
LIST. That bill to prevent tho enlistment of negfoc
in the Navy of the United States did not remedy hr
evil complained Of nor had il any reference To the
question of the admissbility of negroes wtncs-e
upon the trial of officers of the navy; and
20 ne ODlecteu IN the nrSt instance 10 the r.
ference of this subject to the Judiciary Committee and
did not now desire report from them upon this ques
ton-hc wished il to 90 to select committee AMI
gentlemen would perceive his reason for that ohic,
ton 10 be well founded when he communicated the
fact that every member of the committee, with
ception either belonged to the Administration party
or was the Representative of free State What
could be expected from them He wanted no report
from committee thus constituted that would operate
wh,cwashing report. The conduct of the Pres
dent could not be eNtenuatcd excused and lie
wanted the South fairly represented by any committee
TO whom the subject might be given in charge.
After assigning these reasons, Mr. Bolts withdrew
his proposition TO be excused, he only wanted 10
place his reasons before the House for thus resisting
the efforts that were made to procure report
Mr.. PROFIT asked TO he excused from voting
and gave that the resolution for the ii.
PRODUCTION Of which motion is made To suspend the
rule, was in his opinion, an evasion a palpahc and
shutting evasion, of the true question at issue be
tween the people of the United States and tho Press
dent the fact of the President the United States
having in his official capacity, sanctioned and approx
ed Of the admission of the testimony OF negroes in the
trial of Lieut., Hooc Of the United States Navy. Mr.
p said he was opposed, unqualicdIy opposed 70 the
admission Of the testimony of colored persons against
white men. He approved fully of the laws Of the
State Of Indiana which provided that negro, o.
mulatto or Indian of even quartcr-bood should b.
admitted as evidence against white persons He
sidcrcd the conduct of the President in the Of
Lieut.. Hooc an insult no, to be pardoncd by any
Southern man, and direct attack upon the ins,itu
tons Of the South. He considered the resolution =
quring the committee to report bill 10 prevent III
enlistment Of colored people into the service Of the
Army and Navy Of the United States as ovasiyc II
the question of cridence and only calculated 10 place
irhite in the situations occupied hy cooroi
persons AZ cooks, stewards servants, Sc Mr. p sgd
that the President of the United States had disrractd
-(hcre some person called to order.) Mi -na
he would not transgrcss the rule, but he wished tint
an opportunity would occur in which he could {,
press his deestation of the Presidents approval pht
proceedings Of the trial alluded TO-
And the question being taken, the House rcuscl q
excuse Mr. Profit.
And the motion TO lay the table the motion
suspend the rule having been Withdrawn, the que
ton REQUIRED, and was taken, on the motion 20
pend the rule and was decided IN the ncgaii'c
Yeas l0T, nays -
So (twothrds not voting in the Affirmative ~
rules were not suspended
r Avs OF THE UNITED STATES. com