Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-07
TTEGIy-Ij LEGISL.iIIRE.

House Dt DHrg0tcs, DecfmDtr D., lS4l.
This day, both Houses OF the General Assembly as
.embird IN their respective chambers in the Capitol.
Mi. DoRm,S OF Rockbridgr called the House to or
der, about u oclock-a and then rose 10 state, that al
The reques, of his venerable friend (Mr. Payne OF Fin
wanna who was the Father ofthr House, he would no
inmate rs Clerk of the House, the former Incumbent
GRO w. MuSroRD, ESQ. lie sald it was needless 10
say ANYTHING to a Virginia House Of Delegates of thr
qualifications OF Mr.. Munford; for he was well know
In every one.--iie trusted il would be the pleasure Of
the House 10 elect hIm unanimously.
Mr.. ". was accordingly elected, mem. CON, and was
then introduced By Two at The members.
Mr. DoRMAs then said: MIR. Clrik-We have thus far
progressed III the organization OF TINS HOUSE. "ith"",
suffering the spirit ri party 10 disturb The harmony 81
our procecdings. In the rl"ctinn Of you, Sir, 10 the
ulace which You have 50 long and SO merilor'ously
filled, the inquiry has not been made, us he Jew, or
Gentlle;' The next step which il becomes us to take,
is the election of Speaker, and take great pleasure
in prese ming 10 tins House Of Delegates the late IN
%cun,bpnt, v. W. Sou'ball, one nj the delegates from
The county Of Albemarle. Amid all the v'cissitudes and
changes of party, Virginia has been so Tar fortunate IN
The selection of her sons To the office Of Speaker, that
M case is To be found in her whole history IN winch
I,is officer has been cashiercd. OF Mr.. SIS qnnlifca-
lions, and those 90 necessary 10 be possessed oya speak
err intelligence, rrompsindf, iaHiii'ar'iy WIN parma.
mcn,nry law, manner, ard impar,ialIiy-l need not
here speak. THIS much may say with undenIahle
truth, that if in the many who have hlled That eha'I
SINCE the formation Of cur government, any have ex-
cellcd Mr. Souihal! in these combined qualities, q much
larger number have fallen below his standard
MIR. Sou,hall, in addition TO his other qualifications,
has one of peculiar and great Importance to the DIS
match of business-l mean, SIR, the experience OF one
wear in The discharge Of lis duties.
+ hope it will be the pleasure OF the House to re-eiecs
him.
uonse for the Office OF Speaker. The gentleman TO
HON / a,,uJe, said he, is JOEL HoLLEMaS, of the coun-
- of isle of Wight. am not much gwen 10 euiogies,
which are often unnecessary, and when 80, often u pnu
taste. Although customary on such occasions, | shaii
not indulge in one on 'hIs-Suihcc u 10 soy, mat 1ohL
UotLrsas possesses, in an eminent degree, all the
oroI,,es which ri hin for the Chair. Although as de-
c.;ded a. any man in his political opinions, he IS never
,he,.ss. in 4 remarkable degree, free from those deep
rooted prcindices which would render him incompes-
tent 10 discharge the duties OF the CHAR, where Poi''-
al questions are more or less introduced. But he pos
oesses the onaIities of promptltude, frmness OF pur-
nose. and vigor Of mind. which are so useful to the
presiding officer Of the House. lie has also had am
nile opportunities Of improving these natural gits'-
For a long time, he served on this floor as Inc deiegate
from Isle of Wight. He was thence removed oy ms
constituents to a higher department Of the government,
the Senate Of Virginia. After ne had served IN ina
bodv for several years, he was transferred TO that Inca
ire Of confusion and discord here all the various phases
Of legislative proceedings are exhibited. WIN all tne
necessary onalities Of the head and heart, he had the
best opportunities Of improving them-opportun'''es mol
enjoyed By Others on this foor.
The gentleman from Rockbridge informed the House
that in the selection Of you, Mr.. Clerk, the quesuoi
yas not asked whether You were Jew or Gentle.
~ade "us to say, from NY knowledge Of the men wh'
Iii .,nnort AR Hnlleman, that had The late incum
ben, Of The Chair discharged its duties in the same
satisfactory manner in which you have DISCHARGE
yours, not = whisper would have been neI'c o,o 's sov
for myself, that nothing should have induced me !
think Of opposing the late speaker-no persona
considers,ions could have induced me to vote for ano
tber man, if that satisfaction had Been given OF who
we ore told. There is no analogy between the cases
Sneaker and Clerk. The Clerks business is to kee
,ha hoot. of the House, and has no more to do with pol
tic. than the Office of poorkeeper' The Speaker certain