Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-16

appropriations for the Army and Navy, and propose
estimates Tor these objects to the amount OF twenty
millions
For the Apporonment bill, as it passed, Mr. Adams
gave their share OF credit again to the Democrats. TX
many features of that bill he was opposed; but it
tanned one redeeming clanse-that which establishes
the distrct'ng system The establishment Of the sys
TEN was owing, no doubt, to gentleman from South
Carolina, who IS Democrat. IL is the most import
ant portion of the bll-it is supplement to the Con
stItution--in Tact the principle is contained in the
Constitution. But how was the bill treated by tn.
Executive: 1t was approved; but the approval was
masked veto.
The Tariff completes the system devised by the
Wing party for the relief Of the country. Two Tariff
bills have been vetoed by the President reasons
doubt, satisfactory TO himself He has now assumed
the power 10 levy ship money, and to fix the value o.
goods, when the law says the value must be fixed by
Congress. l( jurcs TO decide whether the Execu.
live has the power to collect the ship money Mr. Adaas
sai., he would feel no alarm; but if tho decision is
:" be left 70 the Supreme Court he would not i;
sourt in the case of Humpa den decision given ny
Mr. ADAMS then adver.ed briefly to the subject Of
Distributions; and in conclusion, predicted, that If The
next Congress should be, now anticipated by some,
Democratic, it would harmonic with the Executive no
better than the present one.
lie moved that The Message should be referred to
Select Committee Of Thirteen.
Mr. MORGAN obtained the floor; but
Mr.. FOSTER Of Georgia rose TO question of order
gentleman from Massachusetts Mr. Adamsl was in or
der The Constitution provided what should be done
on this OCCASION and he submitted that was not COM
pe,en. to make motion To refer.
The SPEAKER was understood TO overruie the OBJ
lection.
Mr.. j. INGERSOIL wished 10 know what quos.
ton was under cousderaon-ssh whether il question
Of reference.
Mr.. FOSTER said, if such was the decision of the
Speaker he should be under the necessity oil appealing
from it,
The SPEAKER (who was heard very distinctly
went into some explanations which were understood 10
be that the House alone had control Of the matter and
the House could lay il on the table, or send IT TO
either select committee or Committee OF the Whole
House.
Mr. FOSTER said, with great Difference to the Speak
err he should appeal from the decision.
Mr. WISE wished to know what the decision was,
before il was debatcd.
The SPEAKER was understood TO explain that the
question raised was not enc 10 be decided by the
Sneaker but by the House. and he had made dec-
SION.
hlr FOSTER wished to understand whether the
Sneaker had decided entertain the motion OF the gem
lleman from Massachusetts to refer:
The SPEAKER said the motion was entertained
Sir FOSTER said then he appealed from that dec-
sion and he relied this provision OF the Constu.
ton
Evey biz which shall have passed the House Of Representa-
and the Senate ha hr + bs aw Os he
Shall sipn H. but If NOT, he shall retu it, with his ohectons
that House in which ii shall have osnaea VINO s sh e.
consider H. H. reconsideration, two-thrds oi tna'
iise shall agree 10 pass the l together with
,r OBJECTIONS to the other House. which shall he likewise
rconscred and, i approved by twothfds oil that HOUSE,
Here then the Constitution plainly pointed out what
should be their proceedings the return OF the bill
with the Presidents veto; and the Chair could enter
tain no motion which gave II different direction tan
the Constitution prescribed The Constitution pre-
s GOOD Ieso f e e ep%
their provisions, anything to contravcne the Cohsun
lion He maintained therefore, that the Chair could
not entertain the motion Of the gentleman from Hiassa'
chsetts; but in the language OF the Constitution the
House must "proceed 10 reconsider and determine on
the passage of this bill
The SPEAKER, in further explanation, SAD, IL d
motion to arrest debate by the previous question were
made il would be in order. And again. was the House
bound to consider the bill, without an adjournment or
other notions which were always IN oroer under the
ordinary rules Of proceeding? And would not mo-
ton 10 refer TO select committee, or TO COMMITTEE
of the Whole be just as much The ac'ion o tna' oooy
upon it, as If they sat on it here:
Mr. CUSHING said when his colleague Mr.
Adamsl took the floor, the pending question was the
question made by the Constiuton-on the passage oil
the bill.
of Reconsideration. ,,,.,, ,
| Mr. CUSHING said the question was, Wiii the
House pass this BILL notwithstanding the objections Oh
the President? and that he understood H. was tue
issue But what had his colleague moved: The DIS
noson of thing not before the House-the message,
which The Constitution had disposed OF, by putting II
on the Journal and that was his objection 10 the uh
of the Chair. While the question on the passage VI
this bill was pending, il was out oil order 10 TAKE up '
message Which vas yesterday entered upon tue
and rrler j, TO committee. The question was, WIZ
the House pass this b and the message was not IN
the possession Of the House. except as matter OF his
tory, TO be commented upon. :,
| Mr UNDERWOOD thought if the House would
listen 10 little common sense, they would see 'hat Tue
reference of the message was coisuuuo"a a Wv. ~
rect proceeding lie then contended that, II the TX.
ecntiye should return BILL with The information that
certain facts had been discovered, OF which congress
had no knowledge when the Dill was passed. lne
House would appoint committee 10 ascertain une
ruth of the statement, and 10 examine the iacis Inc
certainly alleges no discovery of facts bnt 1t
contains reasons and matter Of opinion; and u they
could investigate matters of fact, they could assuredy
nqure into matters of opinion, and report on reasoning
rs well us OH facts , r
| MIR. CUSHING again appealed to Tue language o,
the Constitution, and contendeo mat Tue iiousc mus
proceed to 'rrconsider the bill.
Mr UNDERWOOD resumed, and illustrated his
position at some length.
AIR ADAMS modlfie d his motion, so as TO refer Inc
bill as we'll as the message, to select commi.'ee
Mr. WISE took the ZANE line OF argument as NE
Cshioo RELYING on the language OF the Constitution
le asked the Speaker, if to "feconsider was, IN
parliamentary sense with the verb Tet'
or to commit. The parliamentary law OF this House
was the Constitution, winch prescribed tNe n,"oe "
| ,roceed;nu: but by its reference 10 committee o.
thirteen, majority of seven could refuse to report
and thereby fn,ely postpone; which the House nae
no power to do. .,,o,,,,
Were gentlemen uneasy lest their weakness sh'nl'
be- Did they desire to drive US 10 Inc last cay
Of the Session. before the question of Reconsideration
could be taken tip, when most Of the members woul.
be retiring in the expectation that the sueJrc, was
buried What was the design what the ann T Th'
object of the motion He could not discover u. lh'
object of reference all cases, except such as 'hs wal
alteration or amendment Did tue gentleman propose
that this bill should be amended Was that ,ne ooes
Of his motion for commitment? No, srIhe''nei ~,
nor any in that House, would UNDERTAKES W - M
that the committee might report an amrhot,en. ~ ~"
hill What then: Would they refer The rtes'uenl
objections to the selec, committee, win view =, .s'l
advised by that committee whether the Dill shonu U
reconsideled That would not be Nc. ,.nrl,
| ,,J b,,t he (,onstItutIOn. NOE WOuIS