The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,

MONDAY, December &, is4l.
AT twelve o'clock precisely the Speaker took the
Chair.
The Clerk then proceeded to call the roll Of the
Honse, when hundred and sereniy-one members
answering to their names, quorum was declared,
and the House organized for the session.
Mr. FRANCIS GRANGER elected from the
twenty sixth congressional district of New York in
place of John Greig, resigned) was introduced by
Mr.. Fillmore, and was qualified by oath as a mem
Der of the twenty-seventh Congress.
Gen. DODGE. delegate elect from the Territory
of Wisconsin, was also introduced by Mr. Reynolds,
of Illinois, and was duly qualified
The Secretary of the Senate announced to the
House that the Senate were ready to proceed to bu-
siness.
Mr.. VIM COST JOHNSON requested the Speak
err to omit his name from the Select Committee, on
which he served last session He accompanied his
request with some remarks, mot distinctly heard,)
the present state of the subject which had occu-
pied that Committee, (the CURRENCY He expressed
his intention to hereafter for the appointment
of another Committee to consider the subject OF
National Currency. He now moved a resolution for
the adoption Of the rules of the twenty sixth Con-
gress until the House should otherwise provide. He
made some remaks urging the immediate organiza-
ton of the House, without opening the Abolition
question.
Mr.. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS said he had an
amendment 10 offer to that motion. He was perfectly
willing to adopt the rules of the Goth Congress, with
the exception of the fwenfy.frst rule. General
laughter) The motion rather indefinite, and
many of those rules were, IN his opinion, improper
but he willing 10 adopt them for the present.
The special committee appointed last session on the
rules had reported the last day of the session. and
that report was now before the House. He was will
ing to adopt for limited time the general rules of
last session
Mr. VIM. COST JOHNSON in reply, insisted
that there real difference between the practical
opel alton Of the rules of last session. and that of the
rules Of the twenty -sixth Congress Abolition petit
tions were efectually excluded by both.
Mr. ADAMS replied, there was no distinction
made last session against abolition petitions. AL pc
titions except those for Bankrupt law.
Mr.. FILLMORE deprecated the opening of the
discussion of the reception Of abolition petitions at
this time in House without rules. Scenes of disor
der might be anticipated it the debate should now
commence, and be prolonged for an indefinite time
The committee could not be appointed, and the bust
of the session would be indefinitely deferred He
hoped some gentleman would suggest some way OF
avoiding the difficulty, and would introduce
luton OF midding course, which should permit the
i'm ned ate organization of the House.
Mr. STANLY said that he would attempt TO pre-
sent resolution that would effect the purpose sug
yesed by the gentleman from New York He hoped
that the majority of the House, without reference to
party distinctions, would unite on this subject he
offered the following resolution as an amendment
And for the purpose OF testing the sense OF the House
he would move the previous question.
Mr. STANLY'S resolution was 10 this effect: -
that the rules of the last session should be adopted for
the next fifteen days; and that during that day abo
lilion petition or memorial should be received.
Mr.. ADAMS insisted that the previous question
was not in order without the rules.
Mr. PROFIT attempted TO address the Chair on
the main question: but called to order. de then
claimed the right TO argue the proprety OF the previous
question, which was permitted under the parliamena-
~ law He proceeded with his objections, but, max
ing some comments the present state of the Adolf
ton party in the country and in Congress- called
Ia order He appealed but after some explanations
between himself and the Chair, he withdrew his APP
peal.
Mr. ADAMS then appealed from the decision that
the previous question was in order. He asked the
yeas and nays, which ordered.
The SPEAKER showed that it was in order un-
der the parliamentary law, and read ron the Manua
in sur part of his decision.
Mr. ADAMS denied that the House was under
the parliamentary law. The law Of parliament was
not the law OF Congress.
Mr. CLIFFORD made some inquiries os To the
Mi. GILMER denied that the House was under
the parliamentary law.
MI G. BROWN addressed the House a, some
length the subject in general
Mr.. WISE urged the necessity OF summary ter
mnating thla debate. He asked for the general con-
sent Of the House to make motion that committee
be appointed TO inform the President that the House
was organized and ready to receive any communca-
ton from him.
Mr.. BRIGGS asked the gentleman from Virginia
To permit him to make the necessary preliminary mo-
tion that the Clerk inform the Senate that the House
was ready to proceed TO business
Mr. WISE assentcd.
LEWIS WILLIAMS asked il these motions
were in order when the House had no rules.
The SPEAKER stated that the motion might then
be received, and j, was then adopted. The Speaker
before putting the question: to the authority Of the
Parliamentary law referred the House to the fact recor
died. in the Journal ofthe first session ofthe last House
that while the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr.
Adams) occupied the Chair the previous question had
actually been put and carried the question of the
adoption of the rules of the House. And at the
commencement, of every Congress for twenty years
the parliamentary law had been Acknowledged as the
law of the House.
Mr.. ADAMS replied that il was not his action but
that Of the House that occasion.
The question of appeal was then taken. and tn,
decision Of the Chair was affirmed: Yeas l45
NAYS ~
The question then recurring on the adoption Of the
resolution,
Mr.. ATHERToN inquired whether the effect o