Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-21
coNGREss--Fir., Session.
SATURDAY. DEC. Is. lSi7.
The Senate did 10, si 10 day.
uoI,Sr M pEpRrsENrAT,y


HOUSE OF REPRESEN rATiVES.
The Speaker announced that the first business
in ORDER was the report Ci the select committee
upon The rules OF the House.
The question being upon agreeing TO the suos'''
tuie r. pnited by The committee Tor The one hou'
rule (Which substitute exends the lime whIch
each member may occupy in debating a3y qeeS'
ton in the House VI commilee 10 oGe houf
and halt a0d gives The membef VINO !'po'eu
The measure under considera'i from any eo'n'
mittee, the privilege Of opening aud closing lne
debate, and also allows any member nVe minutes
10 explain the object, nature aud eh.ct OF any
amsndmen, which ne may ofer) Mr. Pollock,
OF p, moved 10 amend the substitute by Ieou'
cina The time 10 one hour, as allowed under Inc
former rule.
Mr.. Pollock briefly supported, his amendment
and expiessed hope that wing congress
would no, abolish rule which had oeen aooP,eu
by the Wing MAORI In the 27'h Congress, 'ul
the purpose OF expediins The business u ING
House. ..:,;o >,
,;m;,;no he time 10 one hour upon the ground,
prncipally. that there were many very important
s.hisc,s which NO member could properly discuss
within so short time.
Mr.. Henley, of Indiana, supported the amend
ment OF the gentleman from pennsylvania, (Nir'
Pollock.) The rule had been adopted, as 'he
honorable member had stated, by the wing ma
iorl,y in the 9Th Congress, and though the Demo
cratic minority had opposed il al mat "u'e, II was
found 10 work SO well that the Democlaue una
joriiy in the 18th Congress had aooP'ea as S".
of The rules OF the House, and mao cohunueu l"
in the succeeding Congress
Mr.. Woodward OF South Carolina spoke
briefly in favor OF one hour rule, which. ne con-
tended did not in The least abridge the freedom u
debate. ,.,;,,,,o
Mr.. Caleb B. Smith advocated The substitute
renor,ed from The committee, and thought lis
practical operation would afford satisfaction 10
the House. ,,o
Mr.. Viuton thought that the debates OIL me
House had los, character by the WORKING VI '"e
ono honr rnle. and ,ha, the House had also lost
courtesy by il, as it sometimes induced memoeIs
10 refuse to give &ay for explanations, IN oroei
that they might lose no portion OF their ahoueu
time. lie thought he liberty OF deoale shouo oe
unrestricted except 10 an emergency; anu 'nd'
was amply provided for by the rule allowing Tue
House TO fix period when The debate upon any
measure should terminate.
The dehare was also participated in by Messrs
Couamer Cobb o: Georgia, Wick. and DINERS
when a motion to adjourn was made and lost
The debate was then tesumed by MI. lhouiP
son OF Pa. in favor OF the one hour RUE:
Mr. Goggin moved 10 lay the whole suoJec'
After some furh debate, Mr.. Brodhead moved
the previous question, which was seconded, and
The amendment of Mr.. Pollock was agreed 10.
The substitute reported from the committee, as
amended. was then adopted SO that the one hour
rule Is retained, with The privilege 10 Inc memner
reporting the measure 10 open and close 'he ur-
bale. and 10 every member proposing an amend
ment To occupy five minutes in explaining such
amendment.
The rule reported from the committee TO autno.
rize register Of those who intend 10 debate o,li
resolution or other matter 10 be kept by The clerk
and The order OF their speaking 10 be deterlnlne"
by loi, was rejected.
A rule was adopted that 'members may al
dress the House or committee from the c'erSs
desk, or from place near The Speakers cha'r
This is The plan adopted in the British ano
French Parlamen,s
A rule was also adopted that, excep, during The
last ten days of the session. no motion 10 SUSPEND
the rules sna b. entertained by the SpeaEer, ex
cept on Monday of every week; and except also
for the purpose of going into committee OF Tue
whole, or ior providing Tor Inc oiscnalse % ,ne
committee from the further consideration oil any
bill referred % it, at er acting, without debate, Oh
all amendments that may be offered
role was also aGopled, that whenever Inc
committee of the whole finds i,self withoo' quo
rum, the chairman shall 'hefeupon cause the roll
10 be called and the committee shall rise and re-
port the names of the absenlees 10 tue House,
which shall be en- cred upon the journals.
A rule was also adopted. that ia Commiuee OF
the Whole. all business shall be considered AMI
concluded in The order oil reference 10 them ~ TIE
House, excep, general Appropriation bills, which
may be preferred at The discretion OF The Com
mi,tee.
Upon the last resolution reported from the COM
fnr Uee The Smith
sonian Instu',on, a debate arose, in which
MIR. Andrew Johnson advocated the appoint
menl Of the commuec, and denounced the
manner in which the legislation in relation 10
the Institution mad been conducted.
Before any question had been taken upon .ne
rule for the Appointment Of The Smithsonian
Committees MIR. C. J. Ingersoli offered reso'u-
ton, which was adop'rd, that the rules of he last
House, with The notifications this dag adopea'
bs the rules OF The House Tor the present session
OF Congress. The Hnuse then adjourned