The Madisonian., 1840-02-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WkpNespAY, Fybruary 5-Ia Part.

MI. IL u hlhl.Ni % IehhsyNaha, ioac W present
petition.
When Mr.. RANDOLPH OF New Jersey, rose and
begged remind me gentleman from Pennsy vana that
the State Of New Jersey was here yet
Loud aud general laughter
Mr.. RASDoLrH then begged leave 10 inquire Of the
Char. whether the Speaker had received certain oln
resolutions from the Legislature Of the State OF New
Jersey, and, II 50, whether IL his intention pre-
them the House And, If not, whether the
Speaker desired to state his for declining TO
do so
The SPEAKER said that he had received certain
resolutions Of the Council and General Assembly Of the
State Of New Jersey, directed 10 him Robert M 4.
Hunter, Representative from the State OF Virginia -
These he had dccned 10 present, for stated IN
letter to Governor Pennington.
Mr.. PlCKENS said that II II in order he should
like to hear the Speakers answer read
MIR LEWIS WILLIAMS suggested that the letter
Of Governor Pennington the Speaker and the answer
thereto, should both be read.
Mr. WISE understood 10 say, he presumed 1t
not official letter he presumed the Speaker
would not have written It without the basement oil the
House. MIR w believed it personal letter, IN
answer communication addressed TO the Speaker IN
his private capacity. Sil, was an ntercomnuni-
between sovereign State and the hghes. organ
OF this House, lie desired land hoped all would unite
with him the desire that the letter aud answer should
both be read.
Mr. PETRIKIN objected.
The SPEAKER Ii vas a letter addressed to the
Speaker IN his individual capacity aud therefore, can
not be read
Mr. RANDOLPH said he felt bound to avail himself
OF The first opportunity present the JOINT resolutions
referred aud that he moved that they be spread
upon the Journal and be printed (Iranscnpts OF the
resolutions addressed TO the Speaker but not presented
by hin.)
Mr.. I.EADBETTER submitted TO the Chair that
this being petition day, resolutions in order
Mr. CUSHING submitted that resolutions from
had hpep nd out he
day with petitions.
Mr. RANDOLPH. move, Mr. Speaker, that the
jont resolutions be spread upon the journals and be
printed
Mr. CRAIG called for division OF the question.
Tine SPEAKER, 10 Mr.. Randolph) Docs the gen.
lleman ask for the reading Of The resolutions!
Mr. RANDOLPH replied stfiimatively.
Mr.. HAND inquired OF the Chair whether resolu
tons were IN order when petitions in the Of
presentation
The SPEAKER said the uniform practice Of the
House had been to receive resolutions Of States pc
lton day 4...
Mr. HAND here raised as point Of order the inter
rogaory put by him to the Chair and read the rule Of
the House applicable to the presentation Of resolutions
&c
Mr. JAMESON inquired Of the Chair whether the
report and resolutions of the minority of the Legisla
ture Of New Jersey had been sent TO the Speaker
The SPEAKER said they had been to him, and
would be presented TO the House when the State of
Virginia called in its order for petitions and me-
MORALS
Mr. JAMESON said if they were presented, he was
willing iha, all the others should be.
Mr. PlCKENS suggested TO the gentleman from
New York (Mr, Hand) that he was under suppre-
hcnsion to the spirit and meaning OF the rule he had
read That rule applied TO individual resolutions, not
10 resolutions from State Legislatures, which had al
ways been considered in order petition day
Mr. - MASON submitted. also, that the gentle
mans question: Of order settled by the uniform prac
ce OF this House, which had been to allow the presen
a,ion Of resolutions from the States petition day.
Ihercupoh Mr. HAND withdrew his point Of order
Mr., RICE GARLAND said that as numerous ques-
tons had been put to the Chair, there point
which he'aso was desirous Of information. He had un
aerslood me Speaker to in reply nterrogatory
rom the gentleman from Missouri (Mr JamesonD that
the Speaker had received the report and resolutions of
the minority OF the New jersey Legislature, which he
intended to present and he (Mr G) had understood
the Speaker to say IN reply the question Of the gen.
teman from New Jersey [Mr ltandoph,) that he had
received the JOINT resolutions from the Legislature OF
that State, and had declined to present them
/ The SPEAKER SAID he had stated that he had re-
ceyed the latter but had declined to present them and
had also stated IN reply the uterrogatory Of the gen
lleman from Missouri. (Mr. Jameson) that he had re-
ceived the former, and would present them when the
State OF Virginia should be called in its order
/ MIR. WISE was understood to say that if the House
would permit the correspondence between the Speaker
and the Governor Of New Jersey to be read the House
would understand the position ,akenby the Speaker and
as Mr. Wise thought, would approve OF it. One Of the
communications referred to had been presented to the
Speaker IN his private capacity, recognising him as
regularly constituted officer of this House and the
Speaker could not present it without giving counte
nance to the idea that he The other recog
nIsed his existence such Mr. w. hoped The cores
pondencc would be read Ii was due 10 all oar,es ,h,
it should be read He pu. it on personal grounds-t
was due to the Speaker
/ Mr. CRAIG said he should object to the introduc-
tion Of this any other collateral issue,
Mr. BELL suggested that the proper method would
be to leave the Speaker his reasons for declining
TO present the Joint resolutions referred to when he bro.
sented those from the minority of the Legislature
| Mr.. WISE said he should move to suspend the rule
Mr.. CRAIG SAID he should withdraw his objection
Mr., HOFFMAN understood to saw suppose
the correspondence wss read, aud that it gave rise to
discussion the House TO take the question whe-
/ hcr the Speaker had acted right or wrong! Had the
| conduct OF the Speaker been impeached The only
question was should these resolutions be rec eived -
Why was The House TO into the question whether
the Speaker had acted rghhor wrong in refusing to
present them
| Mr.. WISE said he would tell the gentleman II was
to raise no issue--no debate but to avoid either 1t
was to raise difficulty the conduct Of the Speak.
er, bu to vindcae him from misunderstanding pro.
badly as to his conduct. 1t for this reason that
Mr.. w asked the reading OF the correspondence
Mr. REED (whJ could be heard with any dis
tnctness the rlgh, Of the Cham understood TO
suggest that the majority and minority resolutions
should first be presented after which, the Speaker if
he chose TO assign his for refusing to present
the former, should be heard.
Mr. WISE sand he. cared not whether the explana.
non OF the Speaker made before or after He (Mr
W could see no reason why, when gentleman had
announced that he could present communicate
ne shondno at The same time he permitted TO assign
MS reasons H. however. the House preferred that the
communication from the State Of New Jersey should be
hrst presented, he would not object All he wished
was that The reasons which had governed the Speaker
might be known and understood
Mf. DNOMGOOLE said the fact was notorious, and
.ne gentleman himself (Mr Randolph had proclaimed
" 'at tnese were transcript OF the resolutions sen, to