The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-10

PRODUCTION OF the resolution.
The SPEAKER said, that, as question OF PRIV
lege If il was such as the gentleman from Massa-
chusetls [Mr. HuDsosl commended, thus saoee'
would override every other question;
The resolution was then read az follows
whe.es, John P. Helss, person In this employment Of
SOW member Of this House, with asehood IN asos'si
R,syrsd Tina, the said John IIe,s be dismissed
the employ Of the House as one OF lis printers
Mr.. PETIT objected.
Mr.. MCCONNELL said he had already objected;
and that he moved lay the resolution on the table
Mr. HAMLIN desired the Speaker to state |
whether this was privileged motion beyond that
which he had submitted TO 60 into Committee OF the
Whole on the state of the Union. He did not in
tend to interpose any objections; he was willing that
the resolution should be submitted at any time; but
if he was in order he would submit his motion.
The SPEAKER said, that the motion Submitted
by the gentleman from Maine Mr. HAMLHl was
undoubtedly privileged motion, which could at
any time be made by the rule. But that there was
this difference between the two motions: that OF the
gentleman from Maine was privileged question, |
and the other was question Of privilege and must
put everything else aside. |
Mr.. HAMLlN concurrtd, he said, in the idea of
the chair; but could not regard the question before
House a question Of privilege. There was
difference between that which pertained to a men,
Der OF this House and his rights, and that which
pertained merely to officer Of the House, whom
the House might at any time discharge
The SPEAKER intimated his impression that
the question was one Of privilege, and must over
| ride all other questions.
Mr.. BAYLY said he had not risen to take part
in the quarrel between the gentleman from Msssa'
| chuselts MIR. HuDsos,] and Major Hess, one OF
| the firm Of Richie & Heiss, who were the public
printers. But he must say, that he did not concur
with the gentleman, that a member this floor
had the privilege Of making injurious statements in
relation to the manner in which any one Of the Of
fcers of this House discharged his duty, and that
that officer was not to be permitted to correct these
| statements in the only mode IN which they could
be corected-through the public press. They had
no seats here; they had not the privilege to defend
themselves on this ihoor-and IL they were not TO be
permitted to put themselves right before the coun.
Try through the press, they would be deprived Of
the privilege altogether.
| Mr. r. CHAPMAN rose to a question Of order.
He had no disposition, he said, to prevent the gen.
leman from Virginia, MIR BArLr,l from making
| his remarks but if that gentleman dill 80, others
must He (Mr. C.) did not understand that there
was any question before the House.
| The SPEAKER said, that the question was on
the resolution Of the gentleman from Kentucky,
Mr.. R. CHAPMAN. But, sir, the resolution
| has not been received.
The SPEAKER said, that if this was a question
Of privilege, the question on the introduction of the
| resolution need not be taken. Any question which
conveyed an impuation on a member, touching
his integrity, necessarily question of privilege,
ami must override all others.
/ Mr.. CHAPMAN not believing this, he said, to
be question of that character, indicated an appeal
| from the decision Of the chair Whereupon-
The SPEAKER said, the chair does not desire
to be considered as saying what shall constitute
question of privilege. That is matter which
must be determined by the House. But the chair
states that question Of privilege, If necessa-
rily overrdes all others
| Mr.. DRoMGOOLE said he did not understand
from the language Of the resolution, that the priv
lege Of any member Of the House was involved.
The gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr. Hupsos,I
had made his personal explanation by the courtesy
of the House; but this resolution was proposition
4 to expel one Of the officers of the House. Ger
tany that did involve either the privilege of the
gentleman from Massachusetts,, or his MIR. d. 50
own. He, therefore, submitted to the chair that
this resolution like any other must be received or
refused by the House.
Mr. G. DAVIS submitted that this was a matter
of personal privilege. Here man in the en-
ploy Of the House. member rose in his seat and
made respectful and unexceptonable inquiry as to
the manner and the time in which Of its officers
had performed the duty with which the House had
charged him. and that man had the audacty--
Mr.. MCCONNELL. / call the gentleman to Or
der.
Mr. DAVIS. To CO.
Mr.. MCCONNELL. l call the gentleman to or
der.
Mr.. DAVIS. To the public papers and charge a
member of Congress with
Mr.. MCCONNELL again called to order.
/ Some confusion followed, and words Of excite
ment and recrimnation passed between Mr.. DA-
I Wis and Mr.. MCCONNELL
After which,
Mr. DAVIS proceeded The freedom of debate
as to the manner in which the public printers and
, the officers Of the House discharged their duties
was one Of the highest privileges pertaining to
: ry member. II was question not only material to
himself, but one which deeply concerned his constt-
, uents and the country He repeated that this was
personal privilege, and the freedom of debate had
been grossly and wantonly violated
, Mr.. BAYLY rose to question of order. He de-
sired in the first place, know whether point of
order was debatable'
; Mr.. R. CHAPMAN said that he had certainly
intended to call the gentleman from Virginia Mr..
BAYLYl to order; but tina. he MIR. CO. had not ia
ken any appeal from the decision of the chair and
if taken, he presumed, Of course, that that
gentleman entitled to the floor
Mr.. BAYLY. My friend from Alabama Mr..
r. CHAPMAN in q spirit Of which do not COM
plain, and which | was glad to see him manifest
here, called me to order. The Speaker said that
was out Of order. did not understand the gen.
fore, how my colleague, Mr.. DRoMeooLE,l who is
so AZ, fail at questions of order, the gentleman
from Kentucky, [Mr. DAVIS took the floor from
l me.
The SPEAKER. The chair was under the i'm.
preston that the gentleman had concluded his
marks before taking his seat.
Mr.. BAYLY. No, sir.
i Mr. r. CHAPMAN said, he had called the gem
tleman order; but that the chair did not decide
that this was question Of privilege, but had left
that matter to the decision Of the House, he (Mr.
C.) had not taken an appeal.
Mr.. BAYLY. So far from having concluded my
remarks, had but just commenced them. Am
entitled to the floor addressing the char.)
Mr.. G. DAVIS-sad, he had understood the gen.
tlem.n from Virginia, Mr.. BArLY,l as yielding the
| floor.
Mr.. BAYLY said, he had merely yielded the floor
on the ground that the resolution not debatable.
] The Speaker had said that the resolution was de-
batabe, and that he (Mr. b. was in order. The
| gentleman from Alabama Mr.. CHAPMANl had spo-
ken Of appeal, and then came the question on the
point Of order.
Mr.. CHAPMAN said, that the point Of order he
had made this that the resolution did not in
Aolve question of privilege, and did not, therefore,