Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-14
TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FNIDAI, December 10, Is4l

Mr. IN Z JOt1ENCoEN oultCNeut on tnc ErOun
that the Committee was rot yet constituted. A NOR
proper course would be 10 lay it on the table 70
the present.
Mr. WISE moved that the communication be la
on the table and printed
Mr. HOPKINS observed that the resolution
now pending would decide this point. He therefor
moved to take up those resolutions.
The SPEAKER mentioned that the resolution
relating to the election OF Chaplans, was in order
MIR HOPKI Us would move then to proceed with
that business.
Mr. RHETT nominated the Rev. Dr. B. NJ
Palmer for Chaplain.
MIR BRIGGS observed that this was out Of order
The ioInt reso utiou for the election OF Chaplain,
passed joint resolution on this slbject-nether o
which had been concurred iu. lie moved, therefore
that the House concur IN the joint resolution OF the
Senate.
Mr. WOOD asked if petitions were no, in order
MIR FILLMORE said he understood that peIl.
tons were passed over by general consent.
Mr. w. c. JOHNSON said that as 1t was the de
sire OF many gentlemen around him, he would move
the postponement OF the spscal order, (Ihe subect
of the rules Of the House.)
MIR FILLMORE inquired what would be the
effect oil this disposition VI the subJect7 Would II
require a vote Of two thirds TO take Il up
The SPEAKER said that if it passed over by
general consent 1t would not. II laid on the table
as postponed, by vote, 1t could not be taken up
out OF order, without a vote Of two thirds.
Mr. w. COST JOHNSON moved TO lay the
table. He was requested by many members to
withdraw his motion, but insisted upon it.
The motion to lay on the table was carried. Yeas
96-NaysSS.
Mr. CAVE JOHNSON moved an adjournment.
MIR FILLMORE called for the yeas and nays.
He wished the country to know who were disposed
to do the regular business of the session.
The yeas and nays ordered.
MIR CAVE JOHNSON withdrew his motion.
Mr. CALHOUN moved an adjournment.
MIR LEWIS WILLIAMS ca led for the yeas and
nays which were ordered, and being taken resulted
thus: YEAST nays us.
Mr. CUSHING asked whether the subject of the
election Of Chapains was not now in order. Il must
have precedence, relating TO the organization OF
the House. He moved therefore 10 proceed with
the election 81 Chaplain. ICries of "No! No ~
MIR BRIGGS expressed his opinion that tins
question, as pertaining to the organization Of the
House, must take precedence OF all other business
He suggested, also, that the call for petitions was
now the regular order.
The SPEAKER SAID that any motion pertaining
to the organization Of the House 10 order. THE
Clerk, on referring to the journals, found prece-
dent by which the election of Chaplain was so con.
sidered
MIR LEWIS WILLIAMS said he would then
move to postpone the election Of Chaplain.
MIR CUSHING asked for the yeas and nays;
which were ordered
The House voted TO postpone. Yeas 1OS-nays
IS.
MIR FILLMORE observed that he understood it
that pertained to the organization of the House
he had yesterday moved a series OF resolutions for
the reference Of portions of the Message TO some
OF the Standing Committees, and TO certain propos.
ed select commiltees-a motion which would not
now be entitled TO precedence He now would
change his ground, and substitute a proposition
which would be in order he offered resolution
TO refer 20 three separate select committees of nine
members each, the following subjects. l. The plan
OF finance referred TO IN The Presidents message.
I. The subject Of the apportonment OF Representa-
uves among the States under the late census g.
The subject OF the Smithsonian legacy. His orr.
glnal object would thus be attained, which was 10
decide upon the number Of select committees before
the members OF the Standing Committees were APP
pointed.
MIR ATHERTON objected 10 the reception.
be had been willing TO hear il read for information
The SPEAKER said II was in order, as relating
TO organization.
Mr. CAVE JOHNSON objected to the reception.
and eoniended against the decision Of the Speaker.
Mr. PROFFlT asked II petitions were not the
regular order.
MIR CAVE JOHNSON said the rule was eYnress
Petitions were in order.
The SPEAKER said that petitions were certain
ly in order under the rule, by general consent
MIR CAVE JOHNSON said that the effect Of the
adoption OF The resolution would be 10 enable the
Speaker TO constitute all his committees TO please his
own views, and TO adapt his appointments the sub
lects referred
MIR ARNOLD said the gentleman was not in Or |
der. he had not appealed from the decision Of the
Speaker.
Mr. JOHNSON. I do appeal and on the ap.
pea ask the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
MIR PROFFIT expressed his surprise, together !
with the gentleman from Tennessee, at the course
OF proceeding. Yesterday the gentleman from ~ |
Y. gets up with well dgested plan for the aproint
ment Of committees to meet the views Of the Speak
err. To-day, this is modified TO suit the same pur |
pose. BY the plan proposed the tariff was 10 he |
referred TO the Committee on Manufactures. Now I
oil knew that the committees would be mainly con-
Sututed as that they were last session. The Com |
mittee on Manufactures was constituted with three
Or four members from the North, and two or three
from the West-Ths South should be more fully
IN the Committee which was 10 have .
charsr Of this subjec'. So it would be with the .
Committee on Finance. He considered this pro-
position ten thousand times more tyranncal IN It's
operation than even the Infamous "gag law" OF
last session.
MIR FILLMORE said that les, he should have .
been misunderstood by other gentlemen in the way .
IN which he appeared TO have been 10y the gentle /
man from Indiana, ne would explain tho resou- /
ton and us object The proposition effects pre- |
clsey what the gentleman fom lncilna asks for /
IL avoids the very objections made. IL leaves the .
whole question Of the reference Of the Presidents |
message still IN the power OF the House.
Mr. CLIFFORD objected with great reluctance .
10 the decision Of the Chair. This he did on three .
grounds J. j, did not pertain 10 organic iton under
The rules Of the House. The Speaker decides pct- /
tons to be m order, but allows this TO take prece-
dence on this ground. II thus decision is affirmed,
It establishes precedent-a new one. No such de /
csIon can be found in the records Of the BRUSH |
Parliament the American Congress. 2 The /
proposition Of itself proposes TO refer the Presidents
Message, which was not now before the House. On
its reception, the Message laid on the table;
and II was now fastened to the table. 3. Il isa pro
position to amend the rules and such, under the
rules, requires two days notice. IL must lie over
one day
Besides these three there were equity reasons why
the decision shOuId not be gfi med lie referred
to the object Of standing committees. 10 the Brit.
Ish Parliament, there were no Standing committees,
Every subject there when REFERRED went 70 a select
committee, appointed by the Speaker. The Speaker
there can pack committees as he p.eases. In the
organization of our Government, to guard against
this, standing com mittees were ordered,
Mr. FILLMORE asked what part Of the rssoIu-
ton referred any portion Of the Presidents Mes
sage 70 cummitter.
The reading was called for. The resolution be-
ing read, was found 10 refer the subject oi plan Of
finance mentioned 10 the Presidents Message 10 a
select committee.
Mr. CLIFFORD said-Let there DO no subter-
fugs here, What / slfd overwhelmingly re.
ferrng the Presidents Message to a select commit
tee.n
The question then being "shaIl the decision NJ
the Chair stand os the judgment Of this House
the decision Of the Speaker was sfirmcd.-Yeu
lO4-Nays 90.
Mr. STANLEY said IL vas With great rsIuc
tance that he rose this lime 10 move the previou
question, having moved II 90 often last session Blu
the House was not organized; and after the expert.
encs Of tho last session when, by the conduct % TN
minority, the organ cation was so disgracefulIy de
layed for fifteen days. his sense Of duty compeIle
him 10 insist upon this motion. ~ had wished him
sell, 10 say something IN reply 20 some Of the 70