The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.



for information providing for the appointment of the
usual committees at this session that necessary
and also for the appontm. Mt Of the Committee of Ac
counts and Elections, together with two Select Com
mttees of nine members EACH 10 one Of which should
be referred tina part Of the Message of the President
relating TO the currency OF the country and fiscal
agent Of the Government-and TO the other that part
relating to the disposition OF the public lands and the
sales thereof
Mr. B. modified his resolution providing for the APP
pointment Of all the regular committees and also the
remaining above mentioned.
Mr.. PICKENS said that there were the regular
committees to which those usually referred He
hoped they would not depart from the common custom
on this subject He saw no reason for ii.
Messrs. MCKAY and CLIFFORD briefly opposed
the resolutions
And after debate, in which other members partic-
patcd
Mr. BARNARD, as preparatory to a vote on the
question, moved call of the House. which was re-
fused
The main question then taken on considering
the resolutions; which the House refused
MIR. UNDERWOOD then moved that the House
take up and consider the resolution and amendments
heretofore offered in relation to the rules of the last
Congress, and which had been laid on tho table by
vote of the House on former day.
The motion having prevailed. the House proceeded
TO the consideration of the resolution offered by Mr.
Wise, which is in the following words
Reso'red That the standing rules and orders of the
last House OF Representatives be adopted the rules
and orders of this House for the ensuing ten
days, and that committee of nine members be APP
pointed TO revise said rules and ORDERS and to report
thereon within the said ten days.
Which resolution Mr.. UNDERWOOD had moved to
amend as follows
Strike out all after the word Resolved = and insert
"That committee of nine be appointed TO revise
amend, and report rules for the government of this
House; and that, until such committee make report
and the same be finally acted upon the rules and
ders of the last House of Representatives shall be
considered as the rules and orders of this House"
To which amendment Mr.. ADAMS had offered the
following amendment After the words blouse of
Representatives insert the words excepting the 2ls
rule which Is hereby rescinded" This rule excludes
the reception of abolition petitions &c1
The question being on the amendment to the amend
ment-
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said he Indifferent whe-
,her tue a.saa%en, Of the gentleman from Massa
gentlemen from the North and give his views on this
subject Ito meet the consequences of debate, well
now as at any time. He, for one afraid of il
He thought the House should treat petitions on this
subject with respect and assign the for their
lection. The standing rule of the House requ OF
member presenting petition TO give brief statement
OF i, and on this statement they acted. He wished
the People informed that instead of being treated dis
RESPECTFULLY their petitions acted on from prin
cipie. He did not wish to 60 into general debate
and would much rather TO the amendment and
the question for discussion future day
lie hoped that all members would restrain their inci
dation TO discuss this now, considering the pressing
business for which they had been assembled.
He then proceeded to speak of his amendment
which here
Mr.. WISE accepted as modification of his propo-
sition
After further remarks from Mr.. UNDERWOOD,
MIR. WISE addressed the House at some length, in
opposition to the amendment, and in reply to the re-
marks of Mr.. ADAMS on Tuesday last.
He referred 10 the charge of that gentleman of OPP |
preston Of the North, by the South. He would re-
verse this proposition, and say that it oppres
sion OF the South y the North
As to the right OF petition he granted all that Abo-
htionlss contend for-the full unqualified, unlimited,
right OF petition on any subject whatever This right
extended to the point where the right of the legislator
commenced. The first step of legislation with re-
gard to petitions, was to recere-the TO refer
the next to consider in Committee and in the whole |
House-and last TO comply with reject. If they
compelled take the first step TO receive they
might lie, 10 take all others
He then specified certain classes of petitions that
were not to be receved-among which were petitions
contra bonos mores-insntng to government Also, |
those which asked for papable violations OF the Con-
slitution; and those which had for many years re-
ceved the condemnation of government, after refer
ence, report and full deliberativn.
This Oater) the history of Abolition pcti |
tons. From 1887 to 1886, period Of fifty years,
more than a million of such petitions had been re-
cevcd, acted upon, and rejected and he conendcd
that their further reception the detrment Of weghty
was followed by
Mr.. WIN. COST JOHNSON, who spoke a, some
length in opposition the amendment advancing
similar views with Mr. w
MI. SLADE then addressed the House He was .
in opposition to this rule of the last House of Repre-
sentatlves, but preferred that should be merely
omitted in the adoption OF the rules He also desired
the adoption of resolution, similar to the resolution
of the House at the Extra Session of 1887 by which
all petitions excep, those referring directly the bu
sness for which they were assembled, laid the
table to the regular session. This would exclude ac
ton ON Abotfion well other petitions, for the
present session; and at the regular this sub
ect might be settled.
He, therefore, moved amen dment, to the amend |
men 10 strike out the words (which is hereby re
scinded."
Mr. SAMSON MASON opposed the agitation OF
this subject now-the time would when they
would have more leisure and greater GOODNESS to
slder il. They had assembled for special purpose,
and on extraordinary occasion. He desired, there
fore, that the action Of this House should be those
subjects for which il had been convened He desired
not time consumed here in discussion of amend
mcnts that might be offered. He apprehended that
the rules of last session might be found sufficient to
accomplish the great purposes OF that patriotism which
was consulted IN the convention OF Congress in an
extraordinary session and was willing 10 adopt them
although imperfect and defective, for their govern
nent during short session of about 90 30 DAYS,
rather than he involved in endless and hopeless dr.
bate this proposition. Ii was subject ever pain.
fu to him, here and elsewhere. He knew that il was
subject which concerns the destnies of this glorious
countryi but he was willing to postpone the consde
ration OF it. and suffer evils lohg ms he could.
The House of Representatives, assembled, |
could act under the rules and orders the last House
for the purpose OF transactng the limited business
which would attract lis attention. He intended to
send To the Chair proposition To adopt the rules and
orders of last House of Representatives during the |
present session as proposition of compromise, and
should not hold any member that floor who might |
vote for the proposition, committing himself with
regard to the 2lst rule but in that spirit in which all