The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
THURSDAY, January 25, 1884,

Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. IISsLEY.
The Clerk then read the Journal of yesterday,
Mr. ELMER, from the Committee of Elections,
made report on the memorial of William l.. Cog
gin, contesting the seat OF Thomas w. Gilmer, and
informed the House that the report would have
been made earlier, but that they had been waiting
for the minority also TO report, and moved that the
report be Printed and referred to Committee OF the
Whole House.
Mr.. NEWTON moved TO separate the motion to
refer and print that the vote might be taken sepa-
rately
The SPEAKER then stated the question Of refe-
renee, which was agreed to.
The question then REQUIRED on printing, when
Mr.. Ell MER stated that when the committee was
ready to report some days ago, on the memorial OF
Mr. Goggin, Mr. Gilmer claimed the time allowed
to reply, which granted. He made that reply
within the time allowed, which was now before the
House; also the argument OF MIR. Goggin.
Mr.. NEWTON rose and objected to the printing
Of the statement of Mr. Goggn, because that state
ment now d d not cover the ground as II did
at the time he submitted il. Mr. Goggn was
absent a, home from indisposition, and he pro-
tested against the prntin. OF his statement, which
calculated to place him falsely before the
try, because other evidence had been submitted TO
the committee which materially changed the issue at
the time he made his statement.
Mr.. DOUGLASS said that at the time the state
Inents were made, an agreement had been made be-
tain facts; but 10 others which might arise they
would be answered by submitting an argument in the
ease. He differed from the gentleman from Vir
GINA, MIR. Newton because he conceived that, al
though MIR. Goggin absent from ndisposition, it
would he uneoureous to that gentleman to withhold
his printed argument, which he conceived TO be a
part of the report itself.
Mr.. SCHENCk said he WAS opposed TO print
ing the Arguments, because the documen, was vo-
luminous, and nothing to he gained to the coun-
try md hiatt he MN and
tanned the same matters Of fact; and the only differ
snce that existed only TO the proprety of
printing the statements, and the certificates Of the
clerks Of elections. Nothing would be gained by
this course except by the public printer who had
the Job.
Mr.. HAMLlN said he anticipated the opposition
which had been made to the printing of the argu-
ments Of Messrs. Goggn and Gilmer, because he had
been told out Of doors, that such would be the
Mr. Goggin came here with a memorial which had
been presented and referred to the Committee on
Elections and printed, and il was but fair that the
statements made on both sides should be printed be-
they contained evidence not stated in the me-
mortal OF MIR. Goggia. 1t had been stated on the
other side that they contained additional evidence
and should not be printed but they do contain add
uonal evidence, and should be printed together. Let
the country have the issues made up by the parties
themselves, then there could be complaint
Mr.. GlLNER said that during the time he had
occupied his seat, doubt TO which he had en-
ject but in vindication of his honorable competitor
he thought his friends were dong him injustice by
opposing the p hitting of his statement His colleague
from the Northern Neck district, MIR. Newton,) had
presented the memorial OF his honorable competitor
which had been prepared at leisure, during which
time he had not been heard. But before the commit
tee they had both preferred arguments, which were
now before the House, and now the friends OF
his competitor opposed TO their being printed
with the report. They should have thought Of that
=. a. ku.a 4
been presented to the House, and he hoped they
would consent 10 the printing of his honorable com
petitors statement, aud do him justice. As party
to the contest he hoped they would do him the JUS
tics by printing his statement well that Of his
competitor His colleague had spoken Of economy
and asked the Clerk to no d up the document to the
gsrs Of membcrs to ntmidate them, and prevent the
statements from being printed. lie Mr.. g. was ar
economist, and sdmi,ed economy as virtue in boti
public and private e, and prizcd II virtue
As to economy his colleague speech would e1s
more than the printing his statement and that of bi
euiape,itor IL tina, was all they wished, be (Mr.G
would pay for The printing himself IL economy wa
their AIM that should not obsiruct them in the publ
ca,ion OF both statements. The objection, as to eco
nomy, should have been made IN Committee, and no
here II Is now too late to raise that objection Al
he wanted was, to pin down his competitor 10 hi
argument, prepared after due deliberaion, and #
enured To his beoe6t II was no fault of his.
Mr. DROMCOOLE said, he had Understood, al
though he was absent, that the Committee Of Elec
tons bad made report ~ the case OF Messrs Goggi
and G,imer.
Mr. sClIENCk said II was made by a majority o
the committee
Mr. DROMGOOLE said tbat he had stated tina
the Committee Of Elections had made a report
which was, parliamentary view, a fact, becaus
there is no such thing known as a minority report
except by the courtesy OF the House, which had be
come, by long course Of parliamentary hberalily
a custom not right and the correction Of the ger
teman sustained him in his statement. majorit
has always been considered the committee, and nc
tn. minority, which could not make report withou
the consent Of the House The only way, and tn
proper way Cor a minority 20 meet all issues, exceJ
where the consent Of the House Is given 10 make
written statement, Is by argument, and to ask tn
House 10 reverse the judgment of the committee
THIS was the only parliamentary right minority ha'
vet by the consent OF the House, they could make
written argument; therefore he should vote for IN
printing of both statements.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Kentucky, opposed the prntn
of the statement OF Mr.. GoggIn, because i
sues had been created by additional evidence, whic
had been furnished since Mr.. Soggin had made h
statement, and during bis absence. No objection ";
urged 10 the printing of Mr.. GIlmer's statcmen
but TO the printing of Mr.. Goggins The genilems
from Virginia Mr.. Dromgoole) had said that m
nonty could not make report. Has the mnori'
no righisl
Mr.. DRoMGooI.E said he had expressly state
tina, minority could not, according to the pariame
tary law make report except by the consent OF u
House, but that they could, by argument, ask u
House TO reverse the decision of the committee, ar
he asked the gentleman from Kentucky II such vi
not the fact
Mr. DAVIS nodded assent
But that gentleman had changed his phrsseology
little to suit his pufposc, to make appear III
he had said tina, the minority had no rights. lie "a
no such thin.
Mr. DAVIS continued In defence Of the rights
the minority, and commended that ths minort, cou
make report, because custom had made il r,gt
ana usssd strongly his objections against the Pr'n''