The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-26
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRrpAY, January 26, 1914.

FRIDAY, January 70, 1914.
Prayer by tho Rev. Mr.. Tinsl,y.
The CLERK then read the Journal of Yesterday.
Afler which,
MIR. HUNGERFORD offered resolution asking
The consent OF the House 10 authorize the Commit
tee Retrenchmon TO send for persons and papers;
which was agreed to.
Mr. L. }. lNGERSOI4L rose to n privileged ques-
ton and read the rules in relation to stenographers
and explained the power authorized thereby TO the
Speaker under them, in admitting stenogra pliers on
the hoor Of the House for the purpose OF reporting
the proceeding OF that body. lie said he had this
morning seen, In the United States Gazette, letter
purportlng TO be report, which false in its
cepion, relating TO himself and the gentleman from
Massachusetts on the presentation Of the resolutions
oil the Legislature OF Massachusetts in relation to
amendment oil the Constitution, to allow Fede-
raj representation this floor only To the free ct-
zens oil the country, which signed " OLIVER OLD
SCHOOL," whom, report says, is one NATHAN SAR-
GENT In mentioning this subject, he asked no indi-
vidual right, because he always ready and W III
ling 10 maintain those rights but representative
right He knew that every public man was liable to
abuse but he, as a represen NATIVE of seventy
thousand yrtuous ireemen, was not disposed to
be falsely and mdicousiy reported by those to
whom he had extended by his vote, the privilege of
desk on the floor Of the House under the color of
reporting its proceedings. lie was not disposed TO
let such misstatements pas, unnoticed represen-
talve OF the people The author Of this perversion
Of facts signs himself OLIVER OLpscuooL," and he
had been credbly informed il was one NATHAN SAR-
GENT, and he called upon the Speaker, as a repre-
sentative OF the people, o ascertain if he is the
thor, and deprive him Of the right of desk
porter, which had been assigned him in virtue Of the
authority of one Of the rules Of this House, and
which, the presiding officer of the House. he was
bound to enforce, and deprive him Of the privilege,
for an abuse Of it. Here Mr. lngersoll asked if any
member wished to amend his proposon--to which
lV Vuas mod Ha Il a. l.Ih .a.
introduced in the Committee on the Rules, and the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Saunders) and
himself had said If something was not done on the
subject, the letter writers would outnumber the
members. II something was not done on the sub
ject, the honor and dignity Of the House was gone
because they are reported by those letter writers
Jalsely.
Mr. TILDEN asked Mr. Iagersoll to what part of
the letter he objected
Mr. INGERSOLL The whole but he did not
wish any personal controversy; however, if it was
necessary, he should not shrink from his duty
The SPEAKER explained, and said that the rules
only allowed Reporters on the floor, and not letter
writers, and when an application made to him
for the privilege he always made the proper inquiries
US to character, &c.
Mr. INGERSOLL asked the Speaker if he recol-
lec'ed such name among the applicants as Nathan
Sargent'
The SPEAKER said be had some recollection OF
the name.
Here the Doorkeeper Mr.. Dow gave the Speak
er the order which had been issued admitting Nathan
Sergeant on the floor Of the House as Reporter,
not as letter writer or prevarcator of facts stated
by MIR. Ingersoll
The SPEAKER read the order Of admission.
Mr.. +. JOY NORRIS and youched for the
character oil Nathan Sargent whom he knew TO be
man OF standing and character, but he would not
vouch for the truth of his report lie said be did not
think he Nathan Sargent) would willingly misrep-
one nd cd Al fha pt
sal rested with the Speaker
Several gentlemen said II did.
Mr. ADAMS rose and asked the gentleman from
Pennsy vania what part of the letter untrue -
lie had read IT, and II represented the facts as they
actually occurred Personal illusions had been made
to hun and his son by the gentlemen from Pa, (Mr
lngersolI) and by the gentleman iom n Carolina
MIR. Saunders and he here endorsed the statements
made by Oliver Old School" as a true represen.
ation Of the facts as they occurred lie hoped that
In thus endorsing the statements made his !eoks or
gr ming would not be taken for mpertneuce al
though he considered the questions propounded 10 him
by both the gentleman from Pennsy vana and the gem
tleman from North Carolina, at the time as imper,i-
nent, and had declined answering them As this
question had now been brought before the House
he would state that neither his himself were
the authors OF the resolutions Of the Legislature Of
the State Of Massachusetts and he hoped if the re-
porter is to be elected from his privilege, it would
not be done by he arbitrary decision Of the Speaker
II he nigh be permitted, he would take upon HIM
self the truth OF what had been stated in the letter
alluded 10 by the gentleman from P,nnsy yauia and
f the Speaker had discharged his duty as he should
have done at the time, he would have called both the
gentleman from Pcnnsy vana and the gentleman from
North Carolina TO order for imperlinence In the
of his remarks he had made no ausion to the
gentleman from Not III Carolina, who had made an
ausion 10 him, inierring that he had belonged to the
Hartford Convention. He never belonged TO the
Hartford Convention, and the House and the country
knew what part be had taken in relation to that Con-
vention
MIR. SAUNDERS rose and explained, and said
that he had only alluded TO the Hartford Convention
TO show that the resolution presented at the last
sion OF Congress, by the gentleman from Massachu-
sets, was but revival Of resolution Of that Con-
yenlion, which was the same in its character, and
which he did not does not consider "impertaeni"
but "pertinsnf" to the question He had not stated
that the gentleman from Massachusetts belonged TO
the Hartford Convention, as asserted by him.
Mr.. ADAMS said he had no, stated hat the ques.
ton asked by the gentleman from North Caro- ina on
that subject was impairment but irrelevant to the
question then before the House. IL had nothing
whatever TO do with either the 2lst or the 25th rule
which was the question then pending but he did say
that the slusion was intended to cast odium upon
him and his son, which was Impairment II appear
ed 10 him that, on ysrious occasions whenever he
arose TO discharge his duty to the country these per-
sonaes were Ie,eiled at him, which he d consider
impairment, and he appealed to the House IL such
was n, the fact; and he did oanddy confess to the
House and the country that his feelings hurt at The
time. The questions asked him we're both irre-
evant and impertlnent and no man had right to ask
another whether he ia the author Of this paper or
that as had been stated by the gentleman from Penn
syvania Mr. lngersol) il is true he could not say
had Teen asserted this floor, that he was born
"rifho,a fear but he not afraid Acknowledge
his acts, done here in the discharge Of his official duty
to his constituents and the country lie sa that he
not the auth of the resolutions Of the Lceisa
ture Of the State Of Massachusetts, as had been i'm
piled and he further stated for the information of
the House and the country, hat the petitioners on
that subject bad placed tier petition in the hands of
his son. who was, at the time, Representative from
the city of Boston, and he had presented IT to the Le
glslature. Ii was referred to a select committee
and BE was made The chairman Of that cnrnmIitcc