The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-01-13
s&ou6reSSi9uaC.
goth Consress---lst Session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY JANUARY, 2, 1916.
THE ARMY AND OREGON.

He ARM AM OnEUOh'
Mr.. HARRISON, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported bill to provide
for the organ ization of two regiments OF
rifemen, and for other purposes; which
was read twice, when
Mr.. HARRISON moved that ii be COM
mitted to the Committee of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, and that it be made
the special order for Tuesday next, the
9th instant.
Mr., Houston objected to making the bill
a special order. These orders were be-
coming so numerous already as to be en-
barrsssi ng to the House in the regular Or
der of business.
Mr.. ]. @. Adams rose to address the
House. He said that he ought perhaps
TO commence with an apology to the
House for addressing it at oil on this ques-
ton. The state of his health was such
as to render it impossible for him to en-
ter at all on the many important questions
connected with this subject, and, whatev-
er observations he might feel it his duty
to make upon it, must necessarily be
brief. His physical power would not
enable him TO go at any length into the
question
The question now Immediately before
the bill making provision for raising two
regiments of rifemen should be made the
special order for the first Tuesday in
January.
The Speaker said that that constituted
one part of the question, but was not de-
bateable. The other part of the ques-
ton was on referring this bill to Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and that question was open to de-
bate.
Mr.. Adams said that he asked, that the
question might be divided, and might
first be put on the reference, because he
presumed that there was no diversity of
opinion on that point: if there was it
would change the whole state of the de-
bate.
Mr.. Houston of Alabama, said, in ex-
planation, that it was not the reference of
the bill he had objected to, but its being
made special order.
The speaker further declared that the
first branch of the question, viz; the ref
erence of the bill could be decided by a
majority but that to make it special or
der would require a vote Of two thirds.
| Mr.. Adams said that, if the House
should refuse the reference, then he
should have nothing further to say.
The Speaker said that the first ques-
ton would be on the reference OF the bill,
and that question was debateable.
Mr.. Adams then asked if he was al
liberty to debate the question whether
this bill should be made the special order
for Tuesday next.
The Speaker replied that he could not
but that the question of reference might
be debated.
Well, then, (said Mr.. Adams,) | will,
at the risk of being arrested for irrelevancy
/ (which seems of late favorite mode ol
preventing discussion,) speak in reality
and in substance to the question of ma
king the bill special orler-while, in
form my remarks will be on the question
Of reference.
This measure now proposed to be re-
/ ferred is one, which, for variety of rea-
sons, is as important as any question
which has hitherto come, or will hereafter
come. before this House for discussion.
! 1t is difficult to speak on one of the bills
relating to this subject without reference
to all the others. For example: this is a
bill to raise two regiments of rif1emen.
Now find there has been reported in
another part of this building bill provi-
ding for one regiment of mounted rife
men. The question then presents itsell
to mellow are these two bills to GO to-
/ gether! and whether they ought not to be
considered together! lfbut one regiment
only Of mounted rifemen is necessary to
/ be maintained, then it does not follow
that two regiments of unmounted rife
men are needed: the one bill depends in
a measure upon the the other. | refer tc
this merely as an illustration. to show
the variety of measures which are at the
same time in contemplation of the House
| find further, in the same bill to which
have just alluded. an appropriation o.