Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-06-12

MONDAY, May . Isl, ISL.
When closed my report yesterday, the Clerk
had jlst been elected. After this dune
On motion OF Mr. Adams, The usual message
to The Senate inioruing that body that the House
had organized by the election OF Speaker: was a
dopted
Mr.. Wise offered the usual resolution, for the
appointment of a committee the part of this
House to Din such committee might be mp
pointed by the Senate, TO wait on the President
Of the United States ana inform hIm that quo
rum of the two Houses had assembled. and that
Congress was ready to proceed to business, Nc
MIR. Mckecn moved to amend the resolution by
striking out the word '.PresIdcnt'' OF the United
States, and inserting the words Vice President"
now occupy ing the Office as reporter understood
Of President of the United States.
Mr.. Mckeon supported this motion IN constI-
iuti7na argument. He did not know, he said,
whether The House was disposed 10 entertain any
discussion on the question. For the first time,
IN the History al the country the question arose
whether the Vice President became President; by
tie death Of that officer He (Air Mck) be
heved that the individual at the head of the Go
vernment Was not Presldont Of the United States.
He spoke from InvIdIous feeling. No man
had higher. re gard Ter that gentlemen han htn-
self. but he believed he whs only Wee President
exercising the Office OF President of the United
States
Mr. Mex. thea read the two following p'sea-
ges from the Constitution of the United States:
the Senate shall choose their other officers,
aud also President pro femfore, IN the absence
OF the Wee President, or when he shall exercise
the office ot President of the United States"
..ln case Of the removal of the President from
office Of his death, resignation, or inability 10
discharge the powers and duties OF the SAID Of
| fee the sane shall devoivo on the Ftrc Pre-,
dent. and the Congress may by law nrut tde Tor
the case of removal, death, resignation, ma
bility, both Of the President and Wee President
! declaring what officer shall then net as ProsItcu'
and such OH ,or shall act accnrdng,F, until ;src
Idisatilltv be removed, IA President he elected
Nh Nick enforced his position by eXam-
nation of the latent and meaning Of these passa-
ges. and BY reference to the debates IN the Con
ven:ion that framed the Constitution. lie con
ten ed from these au horitics that Mr. TYLER was
no, President Of The United States, bat merelv
Wee President executing the powers and duties
OF the former Office. He expressed his Intention,
however. TO vote for the regular salary II So
900 atitche 10 the Presidential Office: an1 con
cllded by urging the House not To tnjngo this
matter wt:h the political discussions ot the day
but to regard II grave constitutional question.
which should set the point at rest tor all Tart are
Time.
! Mr.. Wise was glad the point had been raised.
because the vote on the amendment you'd settle
the relation IN which we stood to the Presidcu, of
/ the United States. Aud he must be permitted t.
say, that he know the fac; thu: the present incun:-
bent would ciaiu the position that he bv the
!
President OF the United States That gentle
man had with sentiments of deep sorrow regret
ted that the office had devoived upon hIm. Bat
So 1t The Constitution of the United States
held this language:
"In case Of the removal Of the Pres dent from
office, Of his death, resignation, inability to
discharge the powers and duties Of the sid Office,
the shall dcvOlve the Wee President ;
and Congress may. by law, provide for the rennn-
val, death, resignation, or fnabtltt', bOh Of the
President and Wee President, declaring what Of
fccr s:a then act 5 President e..
The Office of President devoIved the Vice
President. aud the House had 40 rules rs yet,
aud therefore no previous question, he hoped they
would at once vote TO recognise JcHN TYLER Pres
ldent of the United States.
Mr.. Mckeon asked the yeas AID nays on hs
amendment; which were refused.
Mr.. Ingersoil moved an adjournment
Mr.. Fillmore inquired If the Senate had nd
journed? The answer from several quarters was,
Yes.
And the question being taken. The House (hy
ayes So noes not connted,) refused to ADJOURN.
The question was then taken on Mr.. lickeon' :
amendment, and rejected
/ And the resolution was adopted.
/ On motion Of Mr. King, it was resolved that
when the House od )urn II adjourn 10 meet at / /
o'clock to morrow.
/ Mr.. WISE moved that the standing rules and
orders Of The last Congress be adopted for ten
DAYS, and that committee be appointed to revise
them and report &c.
Mr.. Underwood insisted on the necessity of a
radical change OF the rues--and suggested to
Mr.. Wise 10 modify his motion so as to make The
rules Of the last Congress the rules of this, until
a committee should have reported and their re-
port should have been disposed Of. And Mr.. L.
submitted a motion 10 that effect.
Mr. Adams moved to amend tho amendment
BY inserting the words ''excePt the 2lst rule,
which is hereby repealed Pending these me
tons
The House, at half pas, FIVE O'Clock, mo-
ton o: Mr. Briggs, adjourned.
Senatn Of he nifed states.