Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-03

Saturday, Jan 81, 1874.
The Senate did not SIT to-day.

| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| REPORTS AND REPORTERS.
Mr. CAVE JOHNSON rose to make the motion OF
which he yesterday notice. amend the rules OF
the House, in relation to the reporters OF the proceed
ngs of this House. He wished so amend the rules
to con6ue the admissions portes Of the city papers
alone lie did not see how the could be adjusted
otherwise
The SPEAKER said the subject could only be enter
tanned by general consent And he further stated, that
the business of the morning hour the oil The
! Committee on rules.
Mr. BLACK wished 10 offer paper for the conside-
ration Of the House in connection with the subject au
ded TO by the gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr. Cave
Johnson.)
Objection made.
$ Mr. WISE from the minority of The Committee
on Rules, made report which was ordered to be pr n
ted.
Mr.. BLACK again desired permission to offer The
paper which he held in his hand and he called upon
the Clerk read for the information of the House
Objections made to the reading.
After some irregular conversation, the House con
sented TO hear the paper read.
The Clerk read II accordingly, as follows
For disseminating correct information OF the proceed
iugs of this House among the peope-Be 1t
Resoired, That n committee of five be appointed
forthwith, to consider and report, soon practicable
Of the expectancy and practlcabty OF insti;utIng IN
lieu Of the present system OF reporting corps OF
portcrs be appointed and paid by The House. and To-
Gated therein, whose duty II shall be 10 attend the
House when session, and 10 report faithfully aud L.
teray every thing nat done attempted to he done
officially therein, whether the same be the a;frma-
tive or negative, truly and the letter 1t
and also all decisions motions, points OF order other
wise bills resolutions and every action OF the HOUSE;
of any member thereof, in his capacity as such; and
of the Committees of The Whole House; also all the
conversations, remarks, declarations, decisions and
speeches of the Speaker, the members officers of
the House, addressed 20 the House, to the Com
mttees Of the Whole House, exactly as they are made,
delivered, or spoken.
And that said committee enquire and report of the
expediency and praccability of publishing said re-
ports by the House, the authority hereof from day
to day, al longer periods OF tune, in newspaper.
pamphlet other iom to be mailed free OF postage,
to any person persons who may subscribe and pay
in advance therefor, the of - cents per session
And that the said committee inquire and report OF
the expedency of requiring said reporters, before they
enter upon the duties Of their Office TO take an oath
that they will we'll and truly perform the duties assign
ed them reporters of the House. to tho best Of their
knowledge and ability and that they VIII not, during
their continuance in Office report, write for any other
newspaper, pamphlet other publication; and that said
committee inquire and report how many reporters ought
be appointed what Of money ought To be paid
10 each compensation for his services how these
reports ough, to be publ shed-whether by means OF
Government printing press, or by contract with indvl.
duals, in what other way and also, as TO the proper
means Of distributing the 10 those v ho may sub
scribe therefor
, The SPEAKER said the sutjec, could oaly be en-
tertaned by general consent
Objections made, and II went over without any
notion thereon.
} REPORT on THE RULES
Il The SPEAKER announced the business oil the
morning hour TO be the report of the Committee on
Rules, on which the gentleman from Indiana Nh
Wright had the floor.
MI WRIGHT proceeded to address the House on
the subject of the 25lh (the old 2ls) rule, and the
rinbt Of petition but only an occasional word which
he uttered could for some time be heard lie was un
derstood say that he wished define his position on
subject before the House. and he proceeded TO state
that he could not vote for the retention of that rule
and then to reply to the remarks of gentlemen who had
preceded him in arguments against the reception OF
certain petitions. He quoted from the congressional
reports of proceedings at earlier period OF our hlsto-
ry, the language of MIR Madison and others, to show
wha, had been the taken by those who must r"
supposed to know what power the Constitution was de
signed to confer.
The Clerk Also at his request read the language Of
Mr. Grnndy the subject of the right Of petition.
Mr. WRIGHT then resumed his argument. Cen
tlemen talked about the right of petition being giant
He contended that 1t was right which belonged 10
man, 1t could be traced to no act OF Pata-
men,; it guarded by the Constitution, but not
granted by it ltex'sted in common with the freedom
of sDeech He believed the amendment O. The Con
stitution, in relation this right Introduced at
the instance of Virginia; ii came from The Ola DON'T
non tho it merely placed there, as he had sa'd oy
way of guard; for it not considered necessary to
be made grant, but believed 10 be primary righ
ances They felt that they had right to use their
own Ian guage participate in all the privileges belong
ing TO freemen. There not department OF the CO.
vernmen nj, through oil its different ramhcatons, win
the exception of this House, where rule IKE lhis
ever existed And if this House had the right TO say
what petition might or night not be introduced they
had assuredly the right dictate to the States OF
this Union He asked those gentlemen whose MOI
to was "he Union, how they would like TO see State
sovereignty dictated to in this manner! How many
I,j tboo hoon cd
sion hat should be done with these petitions: Ills
answer was that he would be governed by circumsin-
ces Though he regarded slavery as an evil, yet ne
looked upon the proceedings OF those miserable abolI-
tioniss as far worse. When he witnessed such scenes
of excite had been witnessed within that House,
he would be for taking the course best calculated 10
allay that excitement; he would allow the petitions 10
be received and disposed of in the most summary man
ner lie would not object to their reception, Tor that
would only increase the ardor Of the petitioners Had
there not been report upon the subject othe Sabbath
mails they would doubtless have had their table loaded
with petitions upon that subject. Where would they
have been able stop; His interests and his feelings
were with the South yet he would be willing to change
the rule which prohibits altogether the reception OF pc
ttions of this nature; and matter OF policy, permit;
them 10 be received, with a view TO being summary
disposed Of So intimate was the connexion between
the question of The abolition of slavery within the DIS
tric of Columbia and the abolition Of slavery through
out the States, that he would be disposed 10 give no
vote which would have tendency 10 interfere with
the subject all lie not to be led into the ques-
ton at this time, to whether slavery was rsht or
wrong great change in public sentiment had ta IKE
place upon this subject within the last fifty years ne
movement of the human mind was onward diher-
ent state of things existed in this hall fifty years ago;
and, if they disposed to be true to themselves,
true 10 their institutions, true TO those who should
come after hem and TO enable the Government 10 60
on prospeously, they would avoid the entertainments
which would necessarily follow from too severe res
trictions upon populir rights.
Mr. STILES said, of all the dangers which threat
ened the Union, not could be found more SPEEDY
in operation in its consequences o, iaai
in its results than foreign interference with Inc Demo
cratic institutions Of the South Other divisions De
tween citizens of this wide spread country, were Out
The honest differences of opinion, arising IRON aver
sy of interests education and habits; and II was
wholesome difference, because it was founded ID 'ea-
son. and had for its object the preservation oil me ofi
ties of the country. Very different were sucn dy'-
sons from those which created by the oeluneo Ia
Mates who acted upon the principle that The END lasu
hes the means, which end was the desoiat'on OF lle
airest region of The earh-he destruction OF Inc most
perfec, system of social and political happiness ms
danger was not only great but increasing. ne sp.s''
of abolition had advanced, and was advancing IL IN