The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-16
T HE UNION.

coruptionthe eculent eeking corruption in this repecr
IN THIS governentor years past tell the people OF this
ny have been, and will be, used machine plumber
oc ioT and peipeq5e The possession b o.
United States knew the in which their govern
ment was conducted if they could be all assembled at the
outon in twenty flour hours which would tumble the Pres
ldent heads Of departments both houses oGongess DEM
believe they would act right in DOING
And whereas silence the part this House may
ZION or indifference TO the correction of the evil the part
OF the Representatives Of the people; and whereas, mo
other place for any speech debate and this House. from
sesse of vincaton investigation and whereas
this House, speaking only for itself, deems investigation
and the excessive dangerous and degrading character of
The corruption charged, from the high position and lofty
place whence the charge emanates being made without
formal contradiction, in the presence of all the of the
American Unon and all the powers of the world, by
BE therefore rescued by The House of Representatives of
ne people Of The United States Of fnerica, That commit
whose duty shall be wait upon the Senate Of The Uni
ted States, at the first convenient when open
session. and deliver the President of the Senate for the
consideration of that body this preamble and these
lions, and TO request the Senate respectfully take
such measures as may seem best adapted 10 procure
speedily possible, the aainabe specca-
ton of persons times places and circumstances Intended
TO be included ia the charge the preamble
far the relates the House of Representatives
will pleased Communicate the result Of their proceed
ng upon that subject To this House the earliest
proper the end that such proceedings may be laid before
the American people for their information and action and
and the interests OF the people Represents may require
Bet further resolced, That the committee have leave
perform its duties during the session of the House.
Mr.. j. r. INGERSOLL objected
The SPEAKER ruled that the resolutions were not
strctya resolutions of privilege, and therefore not in
order
Mr.. BROCKENBROUGH appealed, and upon that APP
peal stated that he would acquiesce most cheerfuy in
any disposition which 4 might be the pleasure of the
performed BY the presentation He felt himself placed in
a most painful and embarrassing position. He had i'm
agned that no circumstance could possibly which
could induce him. for moment to interrupt the regu-
lar of business of the House in Which he felt an
anxious and painful interest, with reference as well to
the general interests of the country, deeply involved
the paragraph which had been read forced itself upon his
notice. We could not shut our eyes under pretence of
bs o Danns OF sy aw II we hs, 0 I'd g Tdns
of which he had the honor to be member, charged
with most dsgncefu corruption. The charge was made
by high officer of his own State Respect for the Of
fee and the officer and the State he represented respect
for the place in which the charge made for himself
his fellow members, and the House, compelled him not to
admit the truth by silence to admit the truth $50
far as this House embraced of this charge, over
whelmng in its character, and embracing all political par
teswhgs and democrats. He should stand in strange
position indeed. at home if he should there deny the
existence OF corruption here to extent which he had
never dreamed, when was made by high officer of the
State here and permitted to go nquesiioned as i il was
at least sanctioned by the whole delegation from his
State. He would be told he too late in taking his
position, and that he should have sought inquiry and in
duty to notice the matter had it come from any other
source than senator from his State, in co-ord-
nate branch OF the Legsature-one clothed with all the
dignity of the senatorial character, and invested with
portion OF the majesty of sovereign repub-
he And that republic composed of the very
people he had the honor to represent If it had
been said by any in the streets published
in any newspaper squb he would have considered it far
beneath the dignity Of this House to mention it, But it
is made in place whence it would 60 abroad to the
whole civilized world, whose eyes turned to at
this time with peculiar interest not only from inrn
sic Importance and rapid development OF power, but from
the accidental circumstance of war; which, in some de-
gree affected their interests, present and prospective To
tell the civilized world that this young republic yet in
its infancy was already 50 degraded 50 eekng with
heads of departments, and both houses of Congress-as
10 excite revolution, if the people could see it. which
tomac, and this from high officer, who makes the dec
araon soemnly and who must be supposed to have OPP
porunities OF observing, too startling to attract
attention and when he told that his people, if here
would take part in that revolution, he felt bound to do
what the people, if here would first doinquire and he
could not see how his silence could be construed other
wise than as an acquiescence and Indifference What
the House others might do respect for his State
compelled him to move The privileges of this House
the PRIVILEGES Of the senae-weEe but the privileges Of
ground-the only ground which they could be tolera
ted for moment He held to be the privilege of his
constituents to have inquiry made upon charge made
by one of their own representatives in another body
upon the character of this House and if other gentle
men could excuse their silence by laughing at the charge
ridiculous, unworthy of notice, such
could not avail him in this instance, coming as the
charge did, from the immediate representative of the
State. Made officially it assumed something of the
character of charge from the State itself He acknowl-
edged that there were difficulties in making inquiry in
one house as to what said in the other He had
drawn the resolutions to be deliberately respectful
to the Senate and the senator in question lie was the
last man to trcspass willingly any rule of order any
privilege of the other departments of the government
tor in this House for words spoken in debate He did
not propose to do He denied nothing said by any
senator in his resolutions He said nothing disrespectfu
of the Senate. The difficulty, in all such cases. arose
only from the fact OF the mpossbity, in former tines
OF taking down the precise words spoken. But when
officially recognised reporters and the speeches published
and sanctioned by members themselves, they 60 forth to
the world with official and authentic stamp, which
render impossible for one house not to know and to
feel what the whole country knows and eesthe words
spoken in the other This proved the importance of the
rules OF parliamentary decorm, which requires that no
harsh reference or charge shall be permitted one house
towards the other Upon this subject he asked the Clerk
20 read authority from the laws have adopted from
Hasel's precedents He had had time to search for
authorities The Clerk read as follows:
"Nether house can exercise any authority n mem
Der officer of the other but should complain the house
OF which he is, and leave the punishment them Where
the complaint is of words dsrespccttnly spoken by
Der OF another house, il Is difficult obtain punishment
because OF the rules supposed necessary be observed Gas
to the immediate noting down word) for the OF
members Therefore il is the duty of the houseand more
particularly of the Speakcrto interfere imnediaely
not to permit expressions go unnotced which may give
ground ofcompaint to the other house. and Introduce pro-
ceedngs and mutual accusations between the houses
which hardly be terminated without difficulty and dis
Orders Hats, 81.