Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-12-15
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
The Late Erpunge.
FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER rs. is.,

/
the late act OF the House of Representative, com.
manding their Clerk to obliterate from the Jour.
nal, part Of the proceedings OF the day. which
he had sworn TO spread upon record. That paper
says, "A paper is set forth as par, of the pro-
ceedings which was never read. An attempt was
made to read il, but il failed. To make the Jour.
nal therefore, true transcript OF the proceedings
1t is sufficient 10 state upon the face of the Jour.
mar that a certain paper was offered, and not read.
Now, this is any thing but justification of the
eNpungc. IL might serve IA a direction to the
Clerk in making up the Journal, but it is not say.
ing that the placing of the paper upon record, was
an improper act, that it was not true transcript
of the proceedings. IL leaves the matter precise
" thus: the Clerk might either enter it. or he
might not, rs he thought proper. He might either
say in his Journal, Mr.. Barnard offered paper
which was not read, or Mr. Barnard offered the
following paper, which refused 10 be rcad and
in either case, he would have given true account
of the matter. Having chosen the latter method
the question then is, how can public body Justify
itself in ordering IFS Clerk TO expunge that which
was in truth, portion of its proceedings, which
proceedings, he is bound by oath, TO rccordl
But this is not all. The Journal cannot be read,
without the appreciation OF the Speaker, and it
passes under his eye, before il reaches the ear OF
the House Mr.. Jones not only approved OF the
manner IN which the record had been made up
but he afterwards declared before the whole House.
that II ,cds made up IN the usual form. How can
the Enquirer get over that facu Let il not at.
tempt 10 shift the issue to an immaterial point
The true question is how could the House iusti-
~ Its conduct, TO itself, its constituents and the
world. in exPunging, what is declared by its Speak
er, and not denied by itself, 10 be true record,
merely because that record was fuller, than the
taste ofcertain gentlemen required 10 be- II the
question had been raised in the frs; instance If
custom had required of the Clerk to ask the opin.
ION Of the House upon the subject, before the re.
cord was made up, it might then have given direc-
lions TO that officer 10 omit il. But the facts were
not so. The question arose after the paper was on
the record. Is this proper transcript 1t is not
denied that is; and il it is even fuller than usual
Providedit contained the rhole truth how can it be
erased. without ayioation of truth
The Enquirer says, farther:
L" It surely will net be eontended that every msn has
night To spread upon the Journal paper which lac may
please TO submit. whether read RotfoT according
that argument, any silly knayish member may submit,
any Thing to lumber up the Journal Il it vo
luminous and Irrelevant a. the French Encyclopedia itself
To deny the House the power OF excluding such papers,
sbsuTd Such doctrine find any sancton the
Constitution"
Nobody contends for any such thing. The
Journal Is made up under the inspection of the .
Speaker. He is presumed to knOlc what passed 4
in the House, and 10 understand the method OF
transacting business we'll enough TO he able To
Judge whether the recorl is made up according to
precedent. If those foolish and knavsh' pa. /,
pers, spoken Of by the Enquirer having nothing
To do with the proceedings come under his eve, it
- his duty 10 have them stricken off. There is /
no doubt, land no man has ever limited doubt /
that the House has the power to correct It's pro- 4
ceedings. But il does hy directing the Clerk |
To amend them, where there is error IN Hr tacts
no, by eEPungng them, where the facts are only
set forth more fully than is absolutely necessary.
Here Is a plain statement OF facts. The Clerk .
Of the House is under oath to keep a Journal of
proceedings. In compliance with that oath. he
does so-he makes up such journal he thinks
correct, and the Speaker passes favorable judg.
ment upon it. The House, afterwards. requires
him To violate his oath. and to obliterale the re.
cord he is sworn to keep.
The Enquirer may attempt 10 mistify its read
ers upon this subject much as it pcases-ii .
may strive 10 shift tho true issue and present an
immaterial one. But We cannot he brought to
believe that the public be hoodwinked upon
50 plain question Of righ; and wrong. We hope
the constituents Of those gentlemen. who gave
their votes in favor OF this creed, vii! remember .
it III the DAYS Of trial. There i hat one prccc.
dent support them; nndihat J., the oonduc; Of the
Senate, in the OF the famous Expunging Re. .
solution. Are tn people Of Virginia prepared to .
see this act repeated hy their representatives at /
pleasure