The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-11

from the Sranite mis- Oh New Hampshire 10 the
sunny climes Of Louisiana, that john TYLER is
the President of these United States; and that
to his elligent and virtuous countrymen, with
out distinction of party, he only look for appro-
baton and support.
TIE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES.
No one circumstance strikes more strongly
vsiter 70 the House OF Representatives, than
the immense quantity of time useessly squan-
dered in discussions on points of order. Instead
Of being uninterruptedly engaged in the dignfed
employment of leg stating for the important in
terests other constituents, nearly one half of the
time spent in the Representative Hall by the
Representatives of the people, is consumed in
frivolous debates, on the mere forms of BUSH
ness That blame is TO be attached 10 those
who so frequently mingle in these, at least APP
parently idle discussions, we have not the har-
dhood 10 assert While we have frequently been
disguised by their protraction of these debates,
we have felt them, in many cases, TO be una
voidable and we feel cony inced that, as long as
the present code of rules is retained for the go
vernment Of the House, The evil is rremediable
reception, we do not exactly know +; but long at
tention 10 its operation, has convinced US, that
If il was then simple in lis character, and easy
OF appllcation, il has LOST every feature that orr
gnally distinguished it.
Some small minds, we know, have for wears
cxerted all their hide ingenuity in connecting
amendments, until the first elements, which
composed it, are so altered, that like the stock
ngs so learnedly -dissertated on by the venerable
Martnus Scribberus, il must have lost, if ca
pable of the mental act, all consciousness Of its
identity.
True, committees have frequently been
raised to introduce such reforms in the rules,
as might render them more intelligihle, and
tend to expedite the discharge Of business. But
the labors Of these committees have generally
consisted IN conflict between members Of the
two political parties, for the time being, TO pro-
cure such temporary notifications a, would aid
their respective views Of policy, and have, there
fore, resulted III changing the meaning of the
rules in new perplexites and fresh contradc-
tons. Again when decisions have been pro-
nounced by the Speaker, the affirmation or con-
domination OF those decisions by the vote Of the
House, has given rise TO various and contradic.
tory laws of interpretation. After a long career
of change, modification, and amendment, the
| code of rules governing the House Of Represent
tatives, has been subjected 10 such untirng in
dustry of effort TO bring it gradually higher and
higher 10 perfection, that il has been improved
beyond the possibility of being understood, or
of having its Inconsistencies reconciled by
the oldest and most profound student OF
parliamentary law. The evil is palpable-its
existence is confessed on all sides. But few
seem TO care TO propose remedy. An attempt
to improve the present code is pleposterous il
has been already amended into complete
maze OF Inconsistencies. Ii ever the House OF
| Represe natives Is 10 be governed by system
OF rules at all ineligible, the desired OBJ ect can
be gained only by describing altogether the
rules now in force and commencing de moro
another code withoutany reference to the pre-
sent one. No frame work worth using can be
obtained from the patched and rketty fabric
now in existence. Instead OF having commit
tee empowered TO furnish a draft of the new
code, we should prefer, as the most expedient
course, that the duty should be intrusted to
a single individual, endued with requisite
qualifications for the performance Of the task
When single mind well stored with the pro
| per knowledge, is devoted to this duty, the out
line furnished will have more simplicity in the
general, and the details OF the design and work
will exhibit more uniformity OF execution. II
any defects are visible, they can be repaired BY
the industry, TO be subjected afterwards TO the
revision of the united wisdom of the House
/ That new set Of rules is wanted, each days
session of the House amply demonstrates
! Points of order are discussed by the hour--tc
the utter exclusion of other busness-whlle
such has become the intrcacy of the laws, that
the oldest and most experienced members
| of the House can scarcely ever give lucid and
inelligbe explanation Of the difficulty which
temporarily suspended the progress Of lcgisa-
ton. Under proper system, the movements
might be active and energetic but with the
weight Of the clogs which now impede the pro-
gress ofbusiness, it is no matter of surprise that
the onward motion Of the House is so slow,
SUPREME COURT.