Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-01-03
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THURSDAY, Dec. IL, 1874.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, Dec. IL, 1874.
Mr.. A. G. DoDoE, on leavs, presented the
constitution, ordinance. and memorial, adopted
by the Iowa convention for the formation of a
State constitution. Mr.. D. moved that these
papers should be referred TO the Committee on
Territories, aud 5000 extra copies be printed.
Mr.. VlNroN thought this constitution should
go to the Judiciary Committee. Such had
been the case in the Senate. All the consti-
tutions of the new States, he said, had gone
to that committee. 1t was the proper one, in
his opinion. The admission of new State
was grave and important subject. II was
the business of Congress TO examine the in-
strument with great care, 10 see that II was
republican, &c.
Mr.. DoDcr said he hoped the motion of the
gentleman from Ohio would not prevail. The
Committee on Territories he regarded as the
proper one to which this subject should be re-
ferred and with all due Difference to the gem
tleman from Ohio, he would inform the House
that the precedents in similar cases were not
as stated by him. The constitution of Florida
which was now before the House, had been
referred 10 the Committee on Territories, and
bill from that committee reported for her adj
mission during the last Congress. The con.
stitu,ions of Arkansas and Michigan. when
presented to this House, had been referred TO
the Committee on Territories; and 1t would
be departing from The previous action OF the
House, if the constitution of Iowa should now
be sent to the Committee of the Judiciary.
| Mr.. D. saw no reasons why the honorable gen.
tlemen composing the Committee On Terrific.
ries were not as competent to decide on the
questions of constitutional or other law growing
out Of the application Of new State as those Of
the Judiciary. .5
AS to the republcanism Of our constitution,
said Mr.. D., / venture to predict, let it be the
pleasure of the House to send II TO what COM
| mittee j, NAV, no fault would be found with
that. He trusted, upon examination. that it
| would be found equal, if not superior, to any
instrument of the kind that had ever been pre-.
scented to this body.
| Mr. D. said that, in asking tho House TO
print 5000 copies, he was but following the
example set 10 the case ofFlorida. He read
| from the journal of 1888 a resolution then
adopted, showing such 10 be the case lie
| hoped the motion to print would prevail.
Mr.. A. V. BRowN did not wish to provoke
any discussion on this question, and therefore
| would make but one brief observation. He
| believed that the usual destination Of subjects
| of this character was the Committee on Terri
tories, and he hoped that in this case the
House would not depart from its usual course.
1t was true, that hardly any question could
come before the House in which come legal
principle was not involved; but as to the re-
pubicanlsm Of this constitution, he apprehen-
ded II was more ques .ion Of fact than of law.
II might, perhaps. be mixed question OF fact
and Of law together; but he thought there was
more of the former than of the latter involved
in it. He hoped, therefore, that the reference
would be to the Committee on the Territories.
Mr.. E. ]. BLACK observed that reference
to the rules of the House would best explain
which Of the standing committees would most
appropriately have this subject IN charge. The
67th rule prescribed be dnliaa Of tia sa@wits,
tee on the Judiciary to be ITO take into con-
sideration such petitions and matters or things
touching judicia! proceedings as shall be pre-.
scented, or may come in question, and be refer
red 10 them by the House; and to report their
opinion thereon, together with such PROPOSE
tions for relief therein as to them shall seem
expedient'' By the 95th rule, il was provi-t-
ded that : it shall be the duty Of the Commit
lee on the Territories to examine into the le-
gisla,ive, civil, and criminal proceedings OF
the Territories, and to devise and report to the
House such means as in their opinion may be
necessary to secure the rights and privileges
Of residents and non-residents.' MI b. said
he took it, therefore, for granted, that It the
House disposed Of this subject according to
these two rules, the proposition ofthe honora'
BILE delegate from Iowa would prevail.
M. WrNTwoRTB observed that the gentle.
man from Ohio, in quoting precedents, had
not quoted the presidents Of the House, but OF
the Senate. The Senate, 1t was true, had re-
ferred matters Of this nature to their Commit
tee on the Judiciary, and the gentleman ar.
gued, therefore, tina, this subject should should
be referred to the same committee in this
House. II must, however, be recoiected that
there were frequently different modes OF pro.
ceeding in the two branches of the national
legislature, and that they were at this time
differently constituted as regards political sem
timent. II might not be considered proper to
refer this subject TO committee which would
act speedily on it, by one of the parties in this
country, whose object was to delay the admis-
sion of this Territory. question had been
raised as to the republicanlsm Of this consti-
tuition; but he believed the gentleman from
Ohio and his friends would find, upon exam
ina.ion. that there was rather too much repub-
licanism in it to suit their visws. 1t, howev-
er, when this constitution should be brought
before the House by the report Of committee,
the gentleman should find any provision IN II
| not republican enough, he would most coTdi-
oily join him in amending it.
Mr.. levy observed that the application Of
Florida for admission into the Union was re-