Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-10
No. 63.--voLUME xxx.
ResO,rtd, That the Doorkeeper Of this House be
thorized 10 appoint an additional messenger to the
number now in that service

Resojctd, That the Doorkeeper of this House be
thorized 10 appoint additional messenger to the
number in that service
THE TWENTY-FIRsT RIFLE.
I'm pursuance Of the notice yesterday given
Mr.. ADAMS and offered the following resolu.
ton
Resoired, That the 2st rule for conducting business
in this House. in The following words -"No petition.
memorial, resolution, other paper praying tie sbo
htion Of slavery in the District Of Columbia, any
State territory, the slave trade between the
States territories Of the United States ia which il
exists, shall be received by this House, enter
tanned in any way whatever" be, and the same is.
hereby rescnded.
Mr. WISE inquired Of the Speaker if the resolution
was in order:
The SPEAKER said, that the resolution was amongst
the orders OF the day, and there nothing before the
House. And the Speaker proceeding TO make
suggestion to Mr.. Adams-when
Mr.. WISE, pursuing his inquiry, desired to be in.
formed by the Speaker whether there not calen.
dar of unfinished business of the las, session which
would come up in its order, taking precedence of Other
business,
Mr.. BRIGGS suggested not until after the expra.
ton Of the first six days.
The SPEAKER, responding TO MIR. Vice, said that
there was limitation in the rule TO which the gentle.
man referred. The rule specified WHEN the unfinished
business should be taken up.
MIR. WISE Is il matter OF course that this re.
solution comes in if objection TO it is made'
The SPEAKER replied, No.
Mr. WISE Then | repeat the objection which
made yesterday.
rADAAlS said tina. there was general rule Of the
House by which the reception Of petitions made
the first business in order during the first thirty days
Of the session. This Government had been constituted
for the purpose Of receiving the petitions of the Peopr
aad of providing for their wants. and he repeated
Of the first rules was, that during the first thirty days
of the session the Speaker should call the States anc
Territories in their order for petitions. Now, there
rule in existence by which large class Of pe,;
tons was exclrGed-a class which came from one poT.
ton of the COUNTRY and not from another That rule,
continued Mr.. Al have always considered unconsti'
lulional--
Mr.. MALLORY here addressed to the srrAEER The
inquiry. IS the resolution debatabe do not SEQ
how it got before the House
But Mr.. ADAMS, not hearing the interruption, pro
ceeded | offer the resolution because this busi-
OF the reception Of the petitions Of the People Ia
the first business 10 be transacted, according 10 the
Constitution of this House and the Constitution of tho
United States; and think there is rule of order by
which the resolution can be intercepted. do not wish
to debate IL am willing TO take tie question by yeas
and nays this moment IL the House thinks propcrt"
retain rule (which, By the way, was rescinded by
the present Congress) SO be it ON prepared, say,
to take the question 1t is in behalf of my consl
tuens that have felt called upon to make this motion,
for the preservation Of their rights, and for the esora
ton of rights OF which they have been deprived tor
years past.
MIR. WISE said that hs point Of order was, that IN
der the rules of the House. admitted by the gentle
man from Massachusetts, (!Ir Adams) the first bus,
call the States for petitions Petitions had
priority and precedence other business They
were be called first, and they did not come within
the rule referred to by the other gentleman from Mas
sachuselts, (Alr. Briggs) The unfinished business
was lay for six days. II this House was now
ready 10 proceed business, he (Mr. w contcnded
that the Speaker could fnd much business requiring
the attention Of the House other than resolution =,
amend the rules and bring up his everlasting subject
of agitation, impeding the business of the House, and
preventing lis action; and that, too, at short session.
when Cougre5 ought at once 10 be entering upon the
despatch Gi public business II, therefore, petitions
had the priority, that fact aone if nothing else, would
ex clude this resoution IL would not in matter
Of right, but only BY consent Of the House. object
ed yesterday concluded Mr. W. 10 the reception Of
the resolution, and object to day. suppose, there
fore, the question is, "Shall the resolution be receis
ed:" and insist that vote of two thirds is required
Mr.. WELLER. move to lay the whole subject Oh
the table
The SPEAKER. Including the point of order,
Mr.. " ELLER asked if the Chair would decide it,
The SPEAKER said there could, in his judgment,
be no doubt that the resolution regularly before The
House The gentleman from Massachusetts (Alr. Ac-
ams had yesterday given the notice required by The
121th rule.
This rule provides that "no standing rule order
of the House shall be rescinded or changed without
one days notice being given of The motion therefor
The SPEAKER proceeded. The only point Of sub
stance raised by the gentleman from Virginia MIR,
Wise) was, whether petitions took precedence. In n.
to this, the Speaker would state, that as yet ma
committees had been appointed 10 which petitions
could be referred The Speaker, in consequence Of The
absence Of considerable number of members, and ia
pursuance of custom which had prevailed, at least
so long as lie had been member of this body-tkr
SPEAKER not having the power appoint members OF
committees in their absence-had suspended the ap-
poniment for the immediate time being. But for his
circumstance the committees would have been All
nonnced this morning.
Mr. WISE suggested that the fact that the
members Of the committees had not been appointed.
constituted why the States should not be call
ed for petitions The committees were IN existence
under the rules thou Oh the individual members Of hos.
committees had not been appointed; and the motion Of
member presenting petition was, not TO refer II
10 the individual MEMBERS as to or G d, but 10 re
fer il to such and such committee. The references
might be made and tie committee might take charge
OF the srhec, after its members had been appointed
Mr. WELLER, addressing The Speaker, said that al
no appeal appeared to have been taken from The decision
of the Chair he (hlr. W. supposed That the question:
would be on the adoption Of the resolution
The SPEAKER. Yes, if no appeal ID taken.
Mr. WELLER moved that the resolution be laid ou
the table.
Mr. MATHIOT asked the yeas and nays tho
motion, which were ordered.
But Mr.. WISE, not perceiving exactly what lad
become Of his question Of order, inquired of the Speak
er if that did not take precedence Of the motion TO
lay the resolution on the table!
The SPEAKER said that he had overrrled the point
Of ORDER and that appea! had been taken from las
decision.
MIR. WISE. Does the Speaker decide that this
luton has priority the call Of the States for pet'-
tons
The SPEAKER. The Chair decides that the scso
luton s now in order.
sIr WISE. And is now 10 be acted on
The SPEAKER. So the Chair decides.
Mr. WISE said he would not take up The time or
the House by appeal from the decision, though no
could not acquiesce in its correctness. Any other
gentleman could appeal il he was disposed
No appeal being taken
The question REQUIRED, and was taken the motion
Of Mr Weller that the resolution be laid the table.
and it decided in the negative, as follows:
Yeas Messrs. Arlington, Atherton, Barton, Bid
l. n. n.,lin