The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-14

Mallory, Hunt, Keim, Parmenter, and Cave john
son.
! Committee on National Printing O1fce.-Messrs.
Wise, Everett, Samson Mason, Gentry, and Black
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House, this morning, after the reading OF
the Journal
Mr.. FILLMORE introduced resolution, to au-
thorize the Committee of Ways and Means to employ
clerk and il was adopted.
THE HON. J. c. sPENoER-AND HIS LETTER.
Mr. Bolts rose to a question of privilege. He
said that he held in his hand a copy of the Albany
Argus OF the 25th OF October last, which contained
letter written and signed by the Hon. j. c. Spen-
GER, officer of another branch Of the Government
and Secretary of War. This letter, it was OBJ
yious, was written for the purpose OF furnishing
general defence of the Administration, and particu-
lary to justify the somerset which he had recently
turned, and which brought him into envable dstinc-
ton with any harlequin upon the public stage----
Mr. WISE would inquire whether his colleague
rose to a privileged question:
MIR. BOLTS replied that he did.
Mr.. WISE requested that il be stated.
The SPEAKER also made a similar suggestion.
Mr.. WISE said that he should like to be heard on
this subject.
Mr.. BOLTS repeated what he had already said !;
and he was about to proceed with his remarks when
MIR. CUSHING called the gentleman to order,
The SPEAKER asked the gentleman from Vir-
ginia, (Mr Botts,) t, state his proposition.
MIR. WISE remarked that if his colleagues object
was to comment on the letter, he was certainly not
in order.
Mr.. Bolts observed that the letter. too, was
written for the purpose Of operating the elections
in New York He found in it two paragraphs--
MIR. WISE remarked that he would not now rise
to question of order, if he thought that there was
any thing like equality in the course of proceedings,
and that defence, as well as attack, would be
alike entertained. His point was that his colleague
was about to comment on the letter, which was not
connected with the business of the House. but was
merely letter addressed to the public at large.
Mr. Bolts advised his colleague to have little
patience. There paragraph in the letter
which related t. this body, and which contained
foul calumny on it; and he, as a member Of the
House, intended to prove the fact
MIR. WISE inquired whether he understood the
Speaker to entertain the proposition of his colleague
as question of privilege
The SPEAKER replied that he had not yet
heard it stated.
MIR. Bolts then read from the letter of the Sc
cretary that part which states that previously to re-
turning the second Bank bill to Congress, for the
purpose of removing all cause of objection to the
Withholding of his signature, the President submitted
to his Cabinet that he would announce in his
veto message, his resolution to retire from pub
lie life at the expiration of his present term,
and that the Cabinet protested against it. This
paragraph, Mr.. Bolts said he would leave 10
the members of the late Cabinet to answer for them
selves one of them Mr. Granger) mem
Der Of the House. He also read the second para
graph and it refers to the statement that majority of
the Whie members of Congress would consent to
postponement of the Bank question until the ensuing
session of Congress, if they could rest assured that
hostile would be made the part OF the
President to disturb the Cabinet in the possession of
their stations.
Mr. WISE renewed his question of order The
par agraphs Read by his colleague did involve any
question before the House and he submitted that
point to toe decision Of the Chair.
The SPEAKER suggested to the gentleman from
Virginia Mr. Botts,) that, unless he proposed
thing definite which could be submitted TO the House.
the Chair would not entertain the proposition it
now stood, as privileged question.
Mr. Bolts said that il was his intention to sub
NIT proposition as privileged question.
And he sat down to write t when
Mr. j. r. INGERSOLL submitted resolution,
which was adopted ins ructng the Committee on the
Judiciary inquire into the propriey of authorizing
the Clerk Of the House to purchase for the of the
members, limited number of copies of the new ed
son Of Iordon's Digest of the laws of the United
States and also the revenue laws.
Mr. Bolts then submitted resolution that
Committee be appointed to inquire into the truth of
the charge in the letter of the Secretary Of War so
far as i, relates to the Wing Members of Congress.
Mr.. WISE renewed his point of order.
A spirited conversation took place between Messrs.
Bolts and WISE, upon the subject-the former
contending that the question which he had presented
was one Of privilege, and the latter insisting upon
contrary opinion.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, moved to lay the
whole subject the table; but he waived his motion
at the request of
MIR. GRANGER, who desired to say few words
upon the subject alluded to by the gentleman from
Virginia, (Mr. Botts)
The SPEAKER said that the gentleman from New
York could proceed by general consent.
lCries of shear him ~ hear him ~
MIR. WISE said that he would have no objection to
the gentleman proceeding, provided an opportunity
should be afforded to reply He not only willing,
but ready for discussion.
Mr.. GRANGER inquired whether he understood
that objection was made
Some gentleman here objected and
Mr. JOHNSON withdrew his motion.
The SPEAKER repeated that the gentleman from
New York could proceed only by general consent.
Mr. WISE remarked, With the understanding that
others may be allowed to reply.
[Cries of "Noi" "No!"l
Mr. GRANGER said that, considering the posi-
ton in which the gentleman from Virginia, Mr..
Wise) stood towards the Executive, he would take
his seat under the circumstances.
| Mr.. WISE replied that the gentleman would have
an opportunity to speak the subject For his (Mr.
Wise's) own part, he courted it.
A motion was made to lay the whole subject upon
the table.
| And the yeas and nays having been taken, the
question was decided in the negative--yeas Sc, nays
| 80.
So the subject was laid upon the table.
| MIR. Bolts said that he wished to modify his re-
solution, by striking out 'members of the Wing par
tyn and inserting ''members of Congress-" so to
make the inquiry proposed by his proposition relate
to them.
| IA voice "The Wing members are already strck-
en- out'
The SPEAKER stated the question, will the House
receive the resolution privileged question: when
| Mr.. WISE called for the yeas and nays which
were ordered; and, being, taken, resuted-yeas IS,
nays LOG,
| So the House refused to receive the resolution
privileged question
Mr.. Bolts was understood to say that the charge
Of the Secretary of War stood it in the letter;
and that it should be investigated.
REPEAL OF THE BANKRUPT LAW.
| Mr.. EVERETT, agreeaby to notice, asked leave