Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-10
rHxRNTY.EIGHTH CoNcREss--First Session
January p, lS4l.
REPORT

Januaru y, lS4l.
REPORT
OF the minority Of the Select COMMITTEE on revising
the rules and orders of the House OF Representatives
coNcLcpEp.t
Again. the precedens all IN favor OF the Po@sl
of CONGRESS- TO refuse 10 receive any peulioh' ne
Eoolish cases conclusive au'hor'ifs me huuse
of 1,ommous i'm numerous cases, (cted IN ha'seh,
-6o efter the Bill Of Rights refused to receive peu
tons and resolved in several cases, staha'ng o'ueiS
not TO receive certain classes OF petitions and Tue pre-
cedents in the Senate and House OF Representatives
are as numerous full and conclusive TO the same point
Indeed one law OF both houses, from the foun2aon OF
the Government has been, not to reeeiVe any Pettin
indecent or insulting either House Surely, II tne
House NAV refuse grounds OF personal dscehey anu
dignity, a fort;ori they may refuse on constitutional
grounds OF objection 80,
Of the Senate and OF the most distinguished states
men of modern times MIR Calhoun OF South carolina y
that sol oil the rights belonging to deliberate oooy
none is more universal, more indispensable 10 pro-
per performance Of its functions, than Ito rgh 10 oe
termine at its discretion, what snail receive, over
what i, shall extend Jurisdiction, and to what shall
direct its deberaton and acton II Is The iirsl ana
universal law of all such bodies and extends not only
10 petitions but 10 reports, TO biis ana resolutions
Va only in the latter the TORN OF The question
y! NAV be pared the function N the animal eco
nomv with which all Living creatures are endowed
of selecting, through the instinct OF taste, what 10
receive or to reject, on which the preservation OF
their existence uSpcuuS IepiiFe them w tits i"HN
finn and the poisonous, well as the Wholesome,
would he differently received INTO their system So
with deberave bodies; deprive them OF the essential
and primary right TO determine al their pleasure wha
10 receive reject and they would become the passive
receptacle nd,ffeenlly, of all tina, Is frivolous, absurd
unconstitutional, immoral, and imp,ous, az we'll as
what NAV properly demand their delberai'on and ac-
ton Establish this monsrous, this impous principle
las il would prove to be IN pracce and what must os
the consequence To what would we commit our
,.t,o chan hp
abolition of the Constitution (Which We are oil oount
no oslbs 10 protect according 10 this aoomnabe doc
trine it must be received. So # 1t were prayed th
abolition Of the decaogue, OF the Bible itsef g
farther. Ii the abolition society shouio De converted
INTO body of atheists and should ask the passage o.
= law denyiup the existence of the Almighty Being
above us-ihe Creator OF aiaccordlng to thus basphe
NOUS doctrine, would be hound to receive the peti
zion, 10 take jurisdiction OF IT.
To receive and to reject petitions, declares merely
their unreasonabl.ness I, refuse 10 receive them DE
cjares the want of jurisdiction There are many classes
of petitions which the people have the perfect figh
eaceably TO assemble - prefer, which they have u.
rpbt TO present by their Representatives., and "hcf
they ha We the right 10 have stated, and heard, and
read but upon which Congress not only not bound
10 act but is bound not ID take The very hrst step o
legislation
ist Each House is bound in sef-respect. not to re
eeive petitions insulting to t'ef--auch US are ho'
COACHED in decent and respectful language Every
Legislature, in every civilized country, has tins nhe
rent power Of self preservation and seliprotsc'on.
and. Neither House is bound TO receive petition;
contra 6onos Such, TOR example, as 'hose P'ay
ing for the establishment OF gambling houses, or ha"uy
houses such as are grossly and nP!oosy s""c"'"s
to the common Christian sense
3d. Each House is bound not TO receive such as pray
for pnloabe violations of the Constitution OF the U
States-such, for example, should pray Congress &c
make law prospecting the establishment OF reigion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or anfdg'he
the free dom of speech Of the press, or the fght
the people penceabiy to assemble, ana TO pe'on the
Government for u redress of grievances Suppose
there should be petition to annhilate the right OF pc
tition by law would any contend for the obligation tc
receive and entertain jurisdiction 10 invade The riyht
under pretext Of the right to exercise the right oil pc
tition?
4th. Congress may not receive those which have
oen before been received REFERRED reported upon, de-
ba,ed and deliberately decided upon, for long series
of wears and the prayers of which have been uniform
~ nepatyed Such has been the case with epoiition
ne editions They have in every form been rejected ne
patived reported against and DECIDED against oy oo'h
Houses in ipnumerabls instances, for ory-hve years
And is Congress be allowed no beneht OF the Prnc
ple "stare dsesis or members to be "atgued IN
10 compliance with their prayers, oy continued rePe
ftion and camor Even in the cases OF peulions LOT
claims on government, matters OF account OF Pecu-
aisry LOSSES would not Congress have The power to
enact some such rule that, when such cIaims hao
been reasonable number Of times rejected, the peti-
lions for them should not again be received ne
rule would the people many unjust and nquitou'
appropriations obtained by much asking besides the
rratuity for Danny Dardens horse. In all such cases.
polite and patient Legislature could do no more than
listen 10 their prayers and instantly decide ha. they
were already decided See The joint resolution on this
point at the last session.
5th. Congress ought to refuse TO receive petitions
which invariably disturb its ORDER and prevent The pro-
rress of its business of primary Importance tanaii.
c.m has cost the country the most of its expenses OF
time and money in legislation for the last ten years
ought to be made give way at least 10 the practical
and patriotic concerns of the nation.
9th Congress is bound not to receive petitions winch
violently and dangerously attack the "salu' popa''