Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-01-08
No. 14.--VOLUME XXXyII.

and Mat the question before the House.
In that view Of the case he doubted whether the
amendment OF the gentleman from Georgia (Nr. Aer-
; wHher) in order. These instructions proposed
liz another committee, such committee as had st
The last session for the purpose OF general revision of
the rules, should be raised The House, he should
think, would have had sufficient ntnaon Of the ad-
yantages of such committee, from the manner in
which that report had been treated this very session
OF Congress-rom the manner in which the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Johnson) had, in the first place,
TO make that report the speca order Of the day
FOR Thursday, and for every day until disposed Of and
then, when the day came, moving that /! bclad on the
table. daughter.
The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from Massa
chasetts make the point Of order that the Instructions
proposed BY the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Meri.
wether) are not III order?
Mr.. ADAMS said YES. lie objected 10 the nstruo.
tons not being order. lie objected two
grounds. III the first place, because the Speaker had
decided that his {Alr. AS instructions out Of
order; and IN the second place, because il appeared
to him (Mr. Az that proposition for general revl
sion of the rules was not prope. amendment to q
motion merely to refer petition IN relation TO single
rule.
The SPEAKER said it had escaped his memory il The
instructions offered by the gentleman from Massachu.
Sets (alr. Adams had been declared out Of order-
The only which the Speaker had in such ca,e
the journal of the House; and the journal, in this
instance, stated that the motion TO refer was with in
sructIons.
i
the journal not, lie had been told that the question
must be taken the reference, and that the question
the instructions must be separate thing afterwards,
and, in that view, he had withdrawn that portion Of the
motion which contained instruction. That, he repeated,
the fact whether entered the journal not. He
hoped that there other members Of the House who
remembered we'll as himself that such was the fact
that the question reduced 10 OF simple refer
ence, and that it upon that question that motion
had been made 10 lay on the table, which motion had
/ been re lie oil ref
ence simply. Then came the motion for 4 call Of the
House, and then the propensity TO debate Of the gentle
man from Georgia, (slr Meriwether) Laughter
To him (Nlr. A. il was matter of Indifference. fie
was wiling that the question should be taken either
with without Instructions he cared for nothing but
for the decision of the House whether the petition
should be referred TO select committee or not.
The SPEAKER considered that the issue the
point Of fact not very material. The gentleman
from Massachusetts (Mr. Adams might be correct,
tile Speaker might. III that said upon the floor
and could not be heard by The Speaker.
The question would be the amendment Of
the gentleman from Georgia
Mr. WISE said he had not yet understood that the
Speaker had decided the point Of order raised by the
gentleman from Massachusetts,.
| The SPEAKER. 1t is withdrawn.
Mr.. ADAMS said he had not withdrawn il; the
Speaker had misunderstood him.
Mr.. WISE said that If the gentleman from Massa.
chusets OR Adams had withdrawn tie point Of order
he (Mr W. would have renewed il.
lie had been listening for time 10 try and find
out what the facts Of the case, and what was the
rnc question before the House.
The SPEAKER said If the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Wsc,) would suspend LIS remarks for moment,
the Speaker would state the facts, promising that he
would only be governed in this by his own recol
lection, and the state Of facts as they appeared on the
journal.
The gentleman from Massachusetts,, former
day, had presented this petition, and moved, as the
journal would show that It b. referred to select
mlttee, with instructions. Upon this question OF re-
ference with instructions, debate demanded b. the
gentleman from Georgia, (Mr. Mcriwether,) which.
by the rule threw the question over and il had stood
over to this time. The gentleman from Georgia now
moved an amendment 10 those instructions thus moved
by the gentleman from Massachusetts, (lIr. Adlms;)
and the gentleman from Massachusetts, raised the
POINT of order whether this amendment could be re-.
ccived. The Speaker decided that it ought TO be
ceived.
Mr.. WISE said lie thought that the amendment Of
the gentleman from Georgia wholly out of order,
and ii the Speaker decided that i in order he Mr.
w J must vote against the decision. lie would sooner
vote for the original proposition Of the gentleman from
Georgia. In the first place, II was out Of order. II
upon subject wholly different from that embraced
i'll the proposition of the gentleman from Massachn
sets. The gentleman from Massachusetts aiming
at what, To repeal the 2ls rue-,o repeal restric-
ton particular subject, contained in the body Of
the rules; that the least, and he (Mr. W. was
about 10 say the last, Of the genemans propositions
slavery here and elsewhere. And what did the gen
tleman from Georgia propose committee 10 report
general system Of rules.
The SPEAKER. Dol understand the gentleman tc
appeal from the decision of the Chair:
Mr.. WISE sad no: he understood the gentleman
from Massachusetts, (Nlr ADAMS making point OF
order, and lie (Nr. W. was sustaining and second
ing it,
has not appealed from the decision of the Chair
Mr.. WISE have not understood the Speaker
having yet decided.
The SPEAKER. The Chair has decided tina, the
amendment Of the gentleman from Georgia (hlr. Mer
wether) should be received.
Mr.. WISE appealed then, from the decision. The
amendment in the first place out of order, because
not Of the propositions contained in II touched the
subcctmat,er Of the proposition Of the gentleman FROM
Massachusetts,
Mr.. ARNOLD inquired Of the Speaker what the
question was; Had appeal been iakens
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative
MIR. WISE proceeded. lie commended that the rev.-
sal of the general system of rules had nothing TO do
with the proposition OF the gentleman from Massachu
sets.
What was the second point Of the gentleman from
Georgia The abolition OF the previous question:
lie (Alr w had never been It's advocate-he had al
ways warred against il. But there thing which
than the previous question-and that EN-.
braced in the third point Of the gentleman from Geo.
gia-lt the abolition of the freedom Of debate, the
timing of men in the expression OF their sentiments
What had Mat 10 do with the subject embraced in The
proposition Of the gentleman from Massachusetts p
And the next point Of the gentleman from Georgia was
deprive the minority of the right Of speech-of the
propagation of opinionof the exposition OF opinion,
and Of the charges and abuses Of the Government, when
in Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the Union
If the Speaker could show that there was the least
conrruity between either Of these points and the
embraced in the proposition of the gentleman from
Massachusetts,, he mir. W. would agree that the
amendment in order. And, il 1t were in order SO
to do, lie would proceed nov TO discuss the merits OF
each Of these propositions
The SPEAKER said it would not be in order now
10 do
Mr.. WISE Al The suggestion Of friend, with
draw my appeal from the decision of the Char and
move 10 lay the whole subject on the table.
MIR. ARNOLD inquired of the Speaker if il was in
order 10 move modification Of the proposition.
The SPEAKER replied that it not now in Of
der.
Mr.. ARNOLD EXPRESSED the hole that the gentle