The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-11

tha~sht. But, regarding il as measure which
may, Immediately or remotely, in my humble udg-
meni, tend 10 bos,ililles between Great Britain and
the United States, desired not TO give my vote
siIher for or against it, until such time as we might
have before us all the information in the hands Of
| the Executive
The call for that information was perfectly prop
err IL was ample in It's scope; and, in my jGdg-
ment, should have been answered promptly !
have no complaint TO mGle MS to the delay which
! occurred IN the passage Of the Tesolunoni but
have complaint TO make thtt the Information was
not full and ample. IL is evident, on the face Of The
communication Itself that very large portion Of
the letter Of al, McLane has been withheld.
| Mr., RATEfQVk. rise In question Of or6e-.
hsSPEAIIER. The gentleman from Georgia
Nc KRG1 viii take bis seat. The gentleman
from New York Mn. RAIHBuSl will state hts point
of order.
/ MIR. RATHBUN. II is this that any mem
Der making personal explanation must be con-
fined to the matter Of that personal explanation
The gentleman is discussing the correspondence be-
tween our minister and the British government
! That matter ID neither pertinent nor proper nor
personal. The gentleman in this way might speak
an hour.
The SPEAKER, interposing The chair will
decide the question at once. The House, by con-
siderable majority, had given the gentleman from
Georgia Mr. kHGl leave TO proceed after ex-
press statement on the part of that gentleman that
be intended to explain the reasons why he did not
Mr.. BRoDHEAD. beg to state that when the
gentleman from Georgia rose, he distinctly svowed
that he desired TO make personal explanation.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman is not in or.
der.
Mr.. KING. | think can satisfy gsntlemen-
| Mr.. HOUSTON wished to say one word on the
point Of order.
The SPEAKER. No debate is in order, except
an appeal is taken from the decision Of the chair.
MIR. HOUSTON. will, then, crafty the chair
by appealing from the decision. Mr.. H. then ex-
planned his view Of the question, with reference to
the original propostion OF Mr.. KRG.
Some conversation followed, in which Messrs.
BAKER, HOUSTON, aud the SPEAKER purt-
cipated.
Mr.. KING said he should have concluded his
remarks long ago, If this interruption had not taken
Mr.. HOUSTON. That may be true. But the
gentleman has done that which is violation Of the
rules OF the House, and therefore it was that he
(Mr. H. objected. And he wished vote on
the appeal
Mr.. COBB inquired whether an appeal had been
! taken
MIR. HOUSTON informed him.
MIR. COBB wished to say few words.
MIR. HOPKINS rose to inquire whether the APP
peal was debatableI
| The SPEAKER said yes, except IN a case where
the previous question had been demanded.
Mr.. HOPKINS referred 10 the second rule, and
to the note appended to the 3lst rule.
The SPEAKER latter a moments examlnaton)
decided that the appeal was not debatable.
The SPEAKER then explained the grounds Of
his decision. He said, the gentleman from Georgiu
Mr.. KING rose and stated that he desired make
Il personal explanation.
Mr.. KING. And to explain the reasons why
did not vote on the Oregon resolution.
| The SPEAKER continued The first expression
that caught the OF the Speaker was that the gen.
temsn desired leave to make personal explanation;
and then he said that he would state the reasons why
he had not voted on the Oregon resolution. The gen
teman from New York Mr.. RaTmBUsl then
TO question of order. The chair was about to put
the question on leave to make personal explana-
ton, and no announced But the gentleman from
Alabama, Mr.. HoUsTos, rose and said, that that
mode Of putting the question did not express its &C
tual state. II the chair had been permitted to put
the question on leave 10 make personal expana.
ton, it would have required vote Of two-thirds
But in consequence Of the objection of the gentle
man from Alabama, the chair put the question in
this form: shall the gentleman from Georgia have
leave 10 proceed with his personal explanatory"
And upon the decision Of the House then given
the chair announced that the gentleman from Geor-
ga was IN order. From that decision, an appeal
is taken. And the question is, "Shall the decision
of the chair stand as the judgment Of the House,"
And the question having been taken, the vote
stood-ayes los, noes not counted.
| So tbs decision Of the chair was affirmed
| The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Greorgia
will proceed with his remarks.
MIR. KING proceeded. ] am not responsible,
Mr.. Speaker, for the delay which has been occa-
stoned, by this question of order. have 10 doubt
that gentlemen have motives satisfactory to them
selves at least for the course they have pursued.
| When was interrupted, was going on to say
that the reason why did not vote was because the
information transmitted by the Executive was evil
IDENTIFY not full it should have been. care
not of how much importance the Information
which has been withheld may be; land must re-
gard it in its absence being of the utmost import
ance the Executive could have communicated il to
| this House, and could have considered it in
secret session, ought to have done, il it was
not proper that it should be made public. But
when called upon to vote measure which re-
gard as tending Immediately remotely to HOSTILE
ties with foreign power, must require Of the Ex-
ecutiye that he shall lay before this House all the
information requisite 10 enbghten my mind and to
| enable me TO come to correct and patriotic con-
clusion. And because the Executive has not done
this, l could not conscentiously vote, and there
fore did not. ] am not disposed to embarrass
him IN the management of our foreign relations; nor
am disposed to withhold from him my vote when
ever, IN the view of candid mind it may be neces-
sary to aid him in concluding these negotiations
But when am called upon for such vote, he must
place in my possession all the information which he
can furnish In relation 10 the necessity or expeden-
cy of my giving such vote. In the absence of that
information, am opposed to all action on the sub
lect. This statement designed to have made when
addressed the commteeon Monday, but was pre-
cluded by the expiration of the hour allotted me.
And now, Mr.. Speaker, beg leave to tender my
Acknowledgements to the House for the courtesy il
has extended towards me- This is all have to saw.
and should have said it long ago but for the inter
ruptons that have taken place
| Mr. RAIHBUN rose and asked leave TO make
a personal explanation.
Mr. r.. said the gentleman who had jus,
concluded his personal explanation, and had
given to the House the reasons why he did moi
vote upon the Oregon resolution, was present in the
House, and was fortunate enough to possess himself
OF the floor, and to make speech Of an hour upon
the subject under consideration. He (Mr. r. was
in the House during the whole discussion, and he
made divers and vi gorous efforts TO obtain the floor
for the same purpose, and failed. He was compelled,
therefore, to vote without bcing able to explain to
the House or to his constituents the reasons which
induced him to vote for the resolution; and he
claimed, therefore, the gentleman having been in
duged IN making personal explanation, and giving
the reasons why he did not fit to vote upon one
side the other, latter making n speech of an