The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-01


The question being ON the adoption Of the resolu-
ton pertaining to the rules of the House
| Mr.. JOHN q. ADAMS rose TO inquire M was
not generally the custom Of this House, even oe-
fore the adoption of the rules, TO pass resoiu'lo"
| liormirg the Senate that this House has formed
quorum and elected Speaker, announcing who thar
Speaker u.s. and stating TO the Senate that the ftouse
is ready 10 proceed robustness; and the adoption OF
the rules, among other things, was consequent, ON
| the returning ofthe message from the senate. Inc
adoption of the rules pertaining only the House was
very properly an independent procedures; but there
were rules belonging to both Houses, and on which
this House could not act separately. lie believed as
far as his experience went that the praciee OF TINS
| House had been, in the first instance 20 SEND the
message to the Senate to which he had alluded,
and to receive the return message. From TINS Gus
tom, as member oft this House, he did not wish TO
depart; and If the gentleman would withdraw ms
resolution, he would move that the House SEND the
message TO the Senate.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, suggested
that there already resolution before The
House.
The SPEAKER, in reply to Mr. ADAMS stated
that resolutions frequently received by the
| House and acted upon previous 10 The adoption OF
the rules and that the House were governed N these
circumstances by the general parliamentary law.
| Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, asked leave to
offer resolution; which, not being in order al the
time, was read for information, and which provided
for the sending the usual message to the Senate that
the House were organized and ready TO proceed TO
| business.
Mr. DRoMGoOLE suggested that the resolu-
| ton should also communicate the fact that the
House had elected as Speaker Mr. JOHN W. DAVIS,
| one of the representatives from Indiana.
| The SPEAKER said that the resolution of the
| gentleman from Ohio with reference to the rules OF
the House was the first in order before the House
"a message was here received from the Senate, by
| the hands of their secretary informing the House
that a quorum of the Senate was assembled, and
that the Senate was ready to proceed to business
| Mr. MCDOWELL, on account of objections
made to his resolution at this time, Withdrew it.
| Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, now renewed
| his resolution, rs follows:
Ordered That message be the Senate, informing
that body that quorum the House Of
diana snaker and Is ready TO proceed TO and
| The resolution adopted.
| Mr. MCDOWELL renewed the resolution which
he had before offered, providing for the appointment
of committee on the part of the House, to join the
committee of the Senate to wait on the President OF
the United States, and inform him that quorum OF
both Houses had assembled, and that Congress was
ready to receive any communication he might be
| pleased to make.
| The resolution was adopted.
| MIR. MCDOWELL offered the following resolu-
| ton:
Resolved That the standing rules and orders of the last
House OF be adopted as the rules and orders
| of the proceedings OF this House
! Mr.. WOODWARD, Of South Carolina, asked
leave to offer resolution; but it was not received,
| not being in order at this time.
4 Hr HAMLlN proposed to amend the resolution
Of Mr.. Med, so as to adopt the rules of the
last session of the last Congress, but after some
conversation, withdrew his amendment.
| Mr.. II. moved another amendment, to except the
33d rule, commonly known as "the hour rule"
| from the rules to be adopted
The question being the amendment to the
resolution
Mr.. PAYNE, of Alabama, said he wished to
see the (hour) rule so amended as not to apply in
all discussions upon revenue-bls, lie was not
under the impression that the House was disposed
at this time to abolish the hour rule altogether.
There might be some necessity existing for the con-
tinuance of that rule upon the general subjects of
legislation which came before the Congress of the
United States but on bills for the raising of reve-
nue., it seemed to him that it ought not to apply.
This was subject which bore upon the people Of
this confederacy, and on which we all felt deep
interest. 1t was the only question on which this
II House could perpetrae despotism upon the peo-
pie Of this Union. II was in raising revenue that
the people might be oppressed; and it was the only
means by which, under our government, the citizen
can be oppressed. The right Of trial by jury, and
all his other rights, appertained to him in his per
sonal capacity, except the right regarding the rais
ing Of revenue; and inasmuch as the power Of the
House was omnipotent this question, it seemed
to him that the greatest latitude Of debate should be
allowed on all measures introduced here for the pur-
pose of raising revenue. For that reason he moved
the amen0ment winch ne nHu lRucaten al the COM
mencdtnent of his remarks.
! After remark by Mr.. WINTHROP on point
Of order,
Mr.. McCLERNAND inquired of the Chair whe-
Their it was understood that the amendment of the
i gentleman from Alabama Mr.. PAYNE embraced in
its purvew appropriation as well as revenue bills
Il Mr.. PAYNE responded, that if it did not he was
Eentirely willing so to extend its provision.
Mr. McCLERNAND continued, that he agreed
with his friend from Alabama, that revenue and APP
scrutiny and the fullest debate. The constitution
. had confded to the House the power to originate
bills to raise revenue, and whyi Because the rep
! resentative branch Of Congress cmanaed more d.
rectly from the people, and was more Immediately
responsible to them. The money power was the
lever of government it merged all other powers and,
according to its exercise, became, in the hands Of the
ruler the means of great good, the most fearful
and remorseless engine OF oppression Congress- was
now invested with unlimited power of taxation as
to amount: superadd to this the power Of unlim-
tied taxation to Objects and the republic becomes
a practical despotism. 1t may retain the forms Of
freedom but will in fact sink into the violence, in
justice, and wrong of tyranny. The difference
between il and despotism IN form would be, the
aggravated evils Of many, instead of singe-head-
ed hydra. There was wild spirit of internal inn
, provement prevailing in some portions of the coun-
try. In his judgment, this mad spirit threatened
more danger to the integrity of the constitution, and
the stability of institutions, than any other
project agiiated by the friends of strong rich,
, and splendid government.
Mr.. PAYNE accepted the modification proposed
, by MIR. McCLERNARD TO his amendment.
Mr.. CIllPMAN, of Michigan, made few re-
marks from position in the House rendering inn
possible the report Of anything more than the points
, to which they were directed. He was opposed he
said, to the hour rule altogether. He did not
think any member Of this House could do Justice to
himself, either physically or intellectually, in a
straight jacket.
Some conversation as to the precise state of the
question before the House, and the effect of the
amendments proposed, took place between Messrs.
: PAYNE and CHAPMAN.
q Mr.. PAYNE withdrew his amendment.
, The question then recurring on the amendment of
Mr.. HAMLIN, to except the one-hour rule
Mr. HOPKINS asked the yeas and nays; which
were ordered.
Mr. HOUSTON inquired if it was in order to
/, move to lay the amendment on the table,