The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-27

to which objection should be made, and then act
ing on such as should give rise to debate.
Mr.. BARNARD objected The bill providing for
remedial justice, he said, of primary impor-
lance, had its place in the regular order of business
and resolution had been passed to terminate all de-
bate il in one hour.
Mr. FILLMORE said he would not now press his
motion He would speak to privileged question.
Some time since the bill making appropriations for
Notifications had on his notion been laid on the ta-
bic On the same day, in order to keep the bill UNI
der the control OF the majority, he had moved
consideration OF the vote by which the bill had been
laid the table. That disposition of the bill had
been made because no revenue act had then passed.
Circumstances now different. Under the impress
sion that the Senate would pursue the course
and pass the Revenue bill first he wished the FORTH
cation bill to pass the House as possible. He,
therefore, called up the motion to reconsider.
MIR. STUART, of Illinois, said he was not opposed
to fortihcations but he unwilling that more APP
preparation acts should be passed. till the Revenue
bill should be definitely disposed of. He, therefore,
moved to lay the motion to reconsider the table.
I On this motion the yeas and nays were ordered.
The result was yeas 60, nays "a.
The motion to reconsider was carried without
count.
The bill was read third time, and on motion of
Mr. ARNOLD, the yeas and nays ordered
its passage.
The vote stood, yeas 81, nays 70.
So the bill was passed.
Mr. W WI Elm called up the motion to reconsider
the vote by which the resolutions authorizing expert
menls with Colts marine battery were laid the la
bic. The motion carried and
i Mr.. ARNOLD withdrew his melton to lay on the
table.
Mr.. WISE said that, by letter which he had re-
ceived from the Secretary Of the Navy, the opinions
expressed by him yesterday were confirmed. The
Department has money sufficient and power sufficient
10 make the projected expeIiments-but the Secretary
says, having authorized. one experiment, which was
satisfactory, he desled expression of the OF
Congress on the propriety Of making more.
The question then taken on concurlng with
the Committee Naval Affairs in it's amendments TO
the resolutions referred to- They concurred in
On adopting the resolutions, Mr.. ADAMS called
for the yeas and nays He thought that all the money
that had been or would be expended these expert
ments was much money thrown into the sea- All
such plans of warfare perfectly useless-or, if
they should he found effective they could be employed
against us as well as by Ii we went to war; he
hoped we would fight enemies in more manly
way than by submarine batteries He was opposed TO
the passage of the resolutions.
After some remarks in reply, by Mr.. STANLY,
who showed that the plan of Mr.. Colt had received
the appreciation off the most eminent in science,
and said 1t had been recommended on good grounds
by Mr.. Badger and Mr. Upshur, the yeas and nays
were ordered. The vote was yeas no. nays 81 80
the resolutions were adopted.
After some discussion about the right to the floor
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON submitted the following
resolution
Resolred, That the Secretary of the Navy be di-
rected to report to this House, on the LIST Monday in
January, the amount of expenditure account OF the
Exploring Expedition, including the expense of fitting
out; also showing,
|. The expense of each vessel. a
2. The amount expended in all purchases, specify
ing the articles purchased and the price.
3. The of the officers ho left the expedition
on leave sent home charges before its return
showing also the amount of money paid each Off
Ger beyond his regular pay, either for extra duties
for services in grade higher then his lineal rank
4. The names, size and pnce of the vessels hat
were lost, when and where lost with such crcum-
stances attending the loss may be in possession of
the Department. with the names of the officers if any
lost in said vessels also the Of the officers who
died were killed.
Objection was made to its reception andth motion
Mr.. HOPKINS asked that the Post Road bill
should be taken up. Objection was made, but on his
motion, the rules were suspended without count. The
amendments of the Committee were concurred in
without count. On the passage of the bill, MI.
FILM ORE called the previous question, but with
drew it at the request of Nj. SMITH, Of Virginia.
1t was renewed by Mr.. YORKE. After snme con-
versational discussion
Mr.. SMITH and Mr.. POWELL addressed the
House, and then the bill was passed without count
Mr.. ATHERTON submitted the following reso-
luton
Resoloed, That the Committee of Ways and Means
be instructed to report bill limiting the rate of dis
count at which the loan authorized by law shall
be negotiated and authorizing the issue of Treasury
to supply the wants of the Government in lieu
of SO much of said loan cannot be thus nego-
tiaed.
Objection being made, Mr.. ATHERTON moved
suspension of the rules. On his motion he called
for the ayes and noes which ordered The vote
stood, ayes 70, noes II. So the rules not sus
pended.
Mr.. GENTRY, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill repeating the proviso to the
sixth section of the Distribution act.
Mr.. WISE inquired whether there was quorum
present the Committee when it had been resolved to
report the bill
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, and Mr..
GENTRY explained the circumstances connected
with the action of the Committee on the bill. The
former stated that he had been xpectedIy summon
ed to meeting of the Committee that morning. with
out having received any previous notification of the
subject to be considered He attended, and found but
four others present. This bill presented for con-
sideraton he begged that the subject might be laid
til tomorrow, in order that he might ascertain
whether other members of the Committee were in the
city, who might be summoned This request was re-
fused, and he rose to quit the room-on retiring he
was informed that 1t was resolved to report the BILL
He replied, you may do you please, but will not
now participate in the act. 1t must be noted also
that the House in session when this took place
| and he had adverted to the fact.
Mr.. GENTRY said that the statement of Mr.
| Thompson was correct, but that quorum with him
present, and before he left the room the decision
the majority present known, and had been told
to him. If the action of the committee could be multi
fed by the secession of single individual or of mi
nority, there would be end, in many cases, of Ie
gislaton. The fact be noticed that there are
but five members of the Committee now in Washing
ton
Mr.. WISE rose to question of order. He based
his point of order on two facts. The first is that
there was no quorum present when the vote was ia
ken. 1t is not necessary that quorum should be
present during the discussion but there must be one
at the voting. In the second place, no committee
can sit during the session of the House without an
order from the House. No matter, therefore, what
might be the motives of the gentleman from Missis
sipp he justified by the rule of the House in the