The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, June 3.

Mr.. BARNARD moved that the House take up
for consideration the resolutions Of which he had pre-
yiousy given notice. and which at that time read
for information, providing for the appointment of the
usual committees at this session that necessary
and also for the appointm, Of the Committee Of Ac
counts and Elections together with two Select Com
mittees, of nine members EACH to Of which should
be referred that part of the Message Of the President
relating to the currency Of the country and fiscal
agent Of the Governmentand to the other that part
relating to the disposition of the public lands and the
sales thereof .,-..s.. u
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 were usually referred He
hoped they would not depart from the custom
on this subject. He saw reason for il. x
Messrs. MCKAY and CLIFFORD briefly opposed
And after debate, in which other members partic-
pated,
Mr.. BARNARD, as preparatory to vote on the
question, moved call of the House, which was re-
fused
The main question was then taken on considering
the resolutions; which the House refused
Mr.. 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 the 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:
Resolped, That the standing rules and orders of the
last House of Representatives be adopted as the rules
and orders of this House for the next ensuing ten
days, and that committee of nine members be ap-
pointed to revise said rules and orders and to report
thereon within the said ten days.
Which resolution Mr.. UNDEawoop had moved to
amend as follows:
Strike out all after the word ssResolyed 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 Or
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 "House of
Representatives insert the words excepng the 2lst
rule, which is hereby rescnded" This rule excludes
the reception Of abolition petitions, Sci
The question being on the amendment to the amend
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said he was Indifferent whe-
ther the amendment of the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts prevailed or not He willing to meet
gentlemen from the North, and give his views this
subject to meet the consequences of debate well
at any time. He, for one, not afraid of it
He thought the House should treat petitions on this
subject with respect and assign the for their
lection. The standing rule ofthe House required of
member presenting petition to give brief statement
Of it, and this statement they acted He wished
the People informed that instead of being treated dis
respectfully, their petitions acted on from prir,-
ciple. He did not wish to 60 into general debate
and would much rather consent to the amendment and
the question for discussion future day.
He hoped that all members would restrain their incIi
dation 10 discuss this now considering the pressing
business for which they had been assembled.
He then proceeded to speak of his own amendment
which here
Mr.. WISE accepted as modification of his propo-
sition. -.
After further remarks from Mr.. UNDERWOOD,
Mr.. WISE addressed the House at some length, in |
opposition to the amendment, and id reply to the re-
marks Of Mr. ADAMS, on Tuesday last.
He referred to the charge of that gentleman, of OPP
preston Of the North by the South. He would re- |
this proposition, and say that it was opprcs
sion of the South | y the North.
As to the right of petition he granted all that Abo
ltonists contend for-the full unqualified, unlimited
right Of petition, any subject whatever This right
extended to the point where the right of the legislator
gard to petitions, was to recere-the next to refer
the next to consider in Committee and in the whole
House-and last, to comply with reject. II they
were compelled to take the first step receive they
might he, TO take all others.
He then specified certain classes Of petitions that
were not to be received-among which were, petitions
contra bonos mores-insulting 10 government. Also
those which asked for papable violations Of the Con-
stitution; and those which had for many years re-
ceived the condemnation Of government after refer
ence, report and full deliberation.
This (latter) the history Of Abolition petit |
tons. From 1877 to 1886, period Of fifty years,
more than million of such petitions had been re-
ceiyed, acted upon, and rejected; and he contended
that their further reception the deriment weighty
and important business of the nation useless. He
was followed by
Mr.. WIN. COST JOHNSON, who spoke at some
length in opposition to the amendment, advancing |
similar views with Mr.. w.
4 MI. SLADE then addressed the House. He was
in opposition to this rule of the last House Of Repre-
sentatves but preferred that it should nov 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 1897 by which