Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-25
T. FILLMORE still insisted on his right to The

Mr.. FILLMORE still insisted on his right TO The
Mr. JOHNSON said Mr.. F. had been called to order,
and had taken his seat, an appeal from the decision OF
the Chair that he was out of order had not been sustain
ed. and therefore he could not, by the rules, proceed, II
any member objected.
Mr pETRIKlN objected to Mr.. Fillmore's proceed.
Mr. FILLMORE contended that the rule referred
10 appl;ed only to cases where 4 member had been cali
cd 70 order for words spoken; he had been guilty oil no
violation of order; he had begun to read a paper winch
he supposed he had a right to read; 1t had been decided
that he could not read the paper without leave; he had
abandoned the reading of the paper; and now was he TO
bc told that he had lost his right to address the House:
He trusted they had not yer reached quite sueh " 'ut
of dcspotism as that.
Mr., PETRIKiN insisted on his objection.
The Chair ordered the rule to be read, and It was
read accordingly.
MIR. FILLMORE had leave TO explain, and went m
IN \ warm remonstrance against having his own rights,
and those of his constituents, TO be heard on that toor,
arbitrarily taken away because a member had CHOSEN
ia call him TO order. In this way, every member OF
The House might be choked down at pleasure by a SIN
gle voice.
Mr.. RIVES, of Virginia, expressed his hope that Mr..
petrikin would withdraw his objection.
MIR. BELL asked if the Chair decided that MIR. Fill
more could not proceed without a vote OF the House
giving him leave:
The CHAIR 50 deciding, /,
MIR. BELL look an appear ITOm tnls ucSIsioh' ao
sustained / in some remarks going TO show the oppres-
sive nature and mischievous consequences OF establish
ing such q principle.
The yeas and nays were ordered on the appeal.
Mr.. HOLLEMAN moved that MIR. Fillmore have
leave to proceed.
Mr.. FILLMORE replied with much warmth that
neither he nor his constituents would ever consent
that he should speak on that floor only when the House
chose to give him leave. He should speak ofright, and
not by permission.
The morning hour having expired !,
MIR. RUSSELL called for the orders of the day; and
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON demanded on that question the
yeas and nays.
The question being taken, the yeas were 81, the nays
l02, so the House refused to pass to the orders OF the
MIR. TILLINGHAsT had risen and was about to
address the House, as the Reporter understood, on the
resolution to print, when
Mr.. RICE GARLAND rose TO order, and insisted
that as Friday and Saturday were set apart for the con-
sideration of private bills, and private business exclu-
sively, to go on with the debate on a resolution lnvolv-
cd a change of the order of business; and could not be
done but by a vote oftwo-thirds.
The CHAIR so deciding,
MIR. HOLLEMAN toook an appeal.
The question was debated for a long time by Messrs.
GARLAND, CUSHING, c. JOHNSON, MARVIN,
CLIFFORD, BRIGGS, DROMGoOLE, EVANS,
TURNER, HOLLEMAN, and TILLINGHAST;
when MI. TURNEY moved the previous question,
which being seconded, put, and carried, and the man
question being 'S!!all the decision of the Chair stand
as the Judgment of the House - it was decided by yeas
and nays as follows: Yeas ll3, nays 81.
SO the decision Of the Chair was sustained.
A number Of private bills on the Speakers table were
then taken up on their first and second reading, and
referred to the appropriate committees.
On motion of Mr.. GRAHAM, it was resolved that
when this House adjourn it adjourn to meet on Monday
next.
Some struggle then cnsued (there being no private
business yet on the calcndar) to proceed to the conside-
ration of various kinds ofbusiness.
After which, on motion of MIR. SERGEANT, the
rules were suspended for the purpose Of taking up the
act amending the acl in relation to the Census, which
had been reported Yesterday from The Committee OF the
Whole on the state of the Union, with certain amend
ments, which were concnrrcd in; and the bill, having
been ordered to a third reading at this time, was read a
third time, and passed.
The House then took up the bill providing for the re-
appointment of the Commissioner of Pensions, and
which said bill had been reported from the Committee
Of the Whole on the state tthc Union, with an amend
ment (offered by Mr.. Profit) reducing the salary ofthe
said Commissioner from $4,000 to $500 per annum.
And the question being on concurring with the Com
mittcc of the Whole in their amendment
Nj. ROFFIT said he believed the amendment
ought to have come from some other gentleman, pos
sessing more claims than himself to experience. Much
| had been said about retrenciment and reform. Let the
country know who were now ready to carry out these
professions. He now gave notice that he should pre-
sent a bill, ifno other gentleman did so, providing Tor
The reduction Of every u!iiccr oil Tie twenty per cent
including members OF Congress and all, II necessary.
We were now to have a specie currency, aud the
salaries Of Government officers ought {" be reduced
so as 10 correspond 10 that specie standard. If gen
tlemcn intended to carry out their professions, a COM
mencement must be made somewhere, and ii might as
well be made in this as in any other case. The mes
sage of the President recommended the strictest econo-
nv, and MIR. F. was for beginning at once; and he
would bring this House to 4 test, before the session
closed in relation 10 this economy.
After some further remarks from Mr.. F., the amend.
ment was debated by Messrs. GRAVES, GIDDlNGS,
and w. THOMPSON, at much length, and in favor
thereof.
Mr.. SMITH of Maine replied al some length to Mr..
Graves. When Mr.. S. was about concluding, several
gentlemen (solnc 20 or 30 rose and claimed the floor,
as having first addressed the Speaker.
The SPEAKER said that a number of gentlemen
had addressed the Chair at once, and before the gen
tlcman from Maine (Mr. Smith) had actually con-
cludcd his remarks; and that if gentlemen would be
seated, and take a fair start, he would decide who had
the floor.
The Speaker then gave the floor TO Mr., Davis OF
Kentucky, who spoke in favor of the amendment, and
had not concluded, when he gave way to a motion for
adjournment, which prevailed.
And the House adjourned until II O'Clock on Mon
day next.