Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-14

would raise, not 1OT the purpose OF eHaUlibS tS
Speaker to control the references ofthe business OF the
House.
MIR. CLIFFORD objected to the decision OF the
Chair, on three grounds, and he would state them as
concisely as possible, in order TO avoid being mlsundef.
stood. His first objection was, that the appointment oil
select committee did not pertain to the organization OF
the House under the rules as decided by the Speaker.
The Speaker decided the other day that petitions were
the first business in order, and could not be set aside,
unless by a privileged one, which o.day he decided the
pending resolutions to be. Now he, Mr.. c., would put
il TO the House whether this motion was q privileged
one.
Let it be remembered, Mr.. c.. said, that the decision
of to-day is to last as a precedentfo for the whole session,
and not for the particular case under discussion. such
a decision, lie ventured to assert, was never heard OF
before, either in the British Parliament, in this Con-
gross, or in the Legislatures Of any of the States. In
deed, he had never heard Of such a one. lfthere ever
had been one similar 10 il, he should like to know
where it was to be found. Show me, said he, the pre-
cedent. MIR. G. objected, in the second place, because
the resolution substantially proposed TO refer The Ere
sident's message, which, by the order of the House,
was then lying on the table, and could not be taken from
thence but by q vote Of two-thirds Now he would
ask gentlemen if this proposition did not look 10 a
reference Of the Presidents message' His third obJec-
ton was, that the proposition, taken in any other way,
was equivalent to an addition to the rules; and it was
known that this would require q days notice. he ad-
vanced these opinions with great difference TO the judg-
ment of the Speaker, but he was SO convinced Of their
correctness, that he could not vote TO sustain the de-
cision of the Chair. According to his recollections OF
British Parliamentary practice, there was no standing
committees recognised by it. Whenever a subject
was introduced in either House, requiring q reference,
It was referred TO a select committee raised for the pur-
pose, and this gave the Speaker the dangerous power
of packing the committees. 1t was with a view to
avoid this arbitrary and partial course of procedure,
that the practice was adopted in this country of having
standing committees to which to refer appropriate sub.
jects of legislution-thus giving the Legislature, in
stead of its presiding officer, the power of directing the
reference Of its business.
Mr.. FILLMORE would like the gentleman TO say
what part of the resolution referred to the President
j, message.
Mr.. CLIFFORD. Let the resolution be read.
The Clerk here read the resolution, in which is con
tanned the following paragraph: "a select committee
on the plan Of Finance recommended in the Presidents
message"
Mr.. CLIFFORD said there was a direct reference to
the Presidents message: "a select committee on the
plan of Finance recommended in the Presidents mes.
sage
MIR. FILLMORE said, if the gentleman would say
how he would have the resolution worded, he would
modify it accordingly.
f Mr.. CLIFFORD had no desire TO modify the reso.
luton. He considered the decision Of the Chair incor-
rect, for the reasons he had stated, and he should vote