Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-23


lie acted upon lie wished in reference this point make
few remarks He entirely III favor Of the main object
OF the amendment which had been proposed by the Senator
from Penny the army bill, ard which discussed
the other day he had doubts however, the details
of that amendment and therefore he had ytiy cheeuy
ceded 10 the proposition for posponemep But appeared
that the proposition submitted amendment TO the army
bill by the Senator from Missouri had now been introduced in
the form Of separate bill This bill, then according the
rules of the Senate be read three times three separate
days. unless the Senate by unanimous consent. should ether
direct The question presented TO the consideration
of the Chair was how that unanimous to be OBJ
tanned. He perfectly of the laxy of practice
which prevailed upon this subject but when was proposed
that bill should be read second time for the purpose of I'M
mediate consideration, he appehended that motion for that
purpose necessary and that the which urged its
immediate consideration should also ue stated As attentive
he had been the proceeding Of the Senate this morning.
he had heard such notion lie apprehended, therefore,
tina. IN. hill oniy bos t,e soAae be-
subject the motion, Shall be read second time and
until that motion received the unanimous consent OF the
Senate the motion oil the honorable Senator from Delaware
was not in order
Mr.. BENTON said the Senator from Georgia had, he
thought precisely reversed the rule or he might be allow
ed the phrase he had alphabetically stated IT, The unan
Of the Senate required to be affirmative
ly expressed Ii no objection made 1t sufficient
III which silence consent emphascaIly such
The gentleman did not object because perhaps he
did hear the question. The bill before the Senate
unanimously and regularly and the motion of the Senator
from Delaware regular and parliamentary motion. II
the motion of the Senator from Delaware to lay down
pose OF proceeding with the army bill by ITSELF would be
perfectly agreeable to him but he apprehended that II this
bill laid down, and the army bill taken up the other
amendments offered to the army bill would be brought for
ward, and they would still be involved in the same difficulty
which he had been trying get rid Of He must therefore
against the motion OF the honorable Senator but that
motion prevailed and the army bill then taken up and
gentleman should amendment that instant would
he this bill amendment and they would conse
qucny be again confusion For the purpose OF prevent
ing that conusion he gave notice that Immediately up
dsposng of this subject if the Senate would consent TO
proceed with IT. he would ask the Senate at Whatever time
it might be, whether by day ly night to proceed with The
| army bill, and take final action upon it.
/ Mr. J. NJ CLAYTON said he desired it to be distinctly
understood that the object which he had in view III moving
lay this bill upon the table for the purpose Of taking up the
army BILL afford opportunity TO move to amend the
army bill in reference the subject Of the public lands In
regard the remarks Of the honorable Senator from Georgia,
who seemed suppose that his motion assumed that the bill
before the Senate for consideration after having
its second reading by unanimous consent he could only
saw that all his molten assumed that the bill
under consideration by the Senate. II certainly the
subject of discussion And perfectly in order, there
FORE postpone the consideration Of the subject for
the purpose of taking another subject. His object 10
dsenange the Senate from the confusion in which they
placed for seemed 10 him far more proper to besow their
time upon the important matters which awaited their consde
than that they should be engaged in discussing quss
: tons of order
ty for taking up the army bill give gentlemen oppo
tuny their amendments because they could as
well be moved by way OF amendment TO this bill as TO ht
army 40 no conceIned lie would DC glad q
have opinions Of Senators thus Indicated and TO have
full and consideration Of the subject While he ad
mitted that, general it irregular and unparamentar,
aude branch Of the Legislature what had occurre
in the of their deliberations in another branch, yet
might in which would be entirely unsuitable, am
he thought this such The House having already
peremptoy refused the land subject with the
BILL attach that subject 10 that bill must necessarily
bring on contest between the Houses. He felt il b,
his sacred duty, therefore, TO oppose such course
Mr. BERRIEN said he hoped they TO be diverted
from consideration Of the motion which he had submitted
Senate Whatever urgency there might be in reference 10
the passage of this bill he deemed tmpoant that the Senate
should poec, its proceedings by adherence TO its rules
those rules be governed by the declarations OF the ho
norabe from Missouri then the bill might be deemed
to have been read second time by unanimous consent but
if they be by reference 10 the record then
could be considered The rule Of the Senate, in
many words declared that bill should be read three several
times separate days. unless the Senate should otherwise
unanimously direct 1t not the fact Of nacon on the
part of individual members OF the Senate that gave the
presiding officer right TO consider hli as read second
tne but active positive direction the part Of the
Senate, by vote given in to question stated lie
was not singular in having heard the observation of the
Chair He would venture say there was not gentleman
this side Of the House who understood that the bill had
been proposed 10 the Senate for a second reading.
Mr. BENTON. No one objected.
Mr. BERRIEN. Neither did any one affirm The rule Of
the Senate Is member direct must in
directing Now unless the rule the Senate which requires
positive direction be unanimously given by the Senate
he interpreted in the way in which the Senator from Mis-
sour contends that say that the direction shall be infer
red from the failure of member OF the Senate to object
unquesonably the bill is not before the Senate in Commit
of the Whole, though the observation of the Senator from
Delaware be TO certain extent correct that the bill IS
before the is before the Senate for the purpoc Of
being subjected the question, Shall he read second time
Il Mr. CLAYTON then, varying his motion, moved that The
further consideration Of the question The Senate be post
poned, for the purpose of taking up the army bill.
Mr. CAMERON said he should vote for the motion 10 post
pone first because he anxious that the army bill should
pass and secondly because he believed from the discussion
which had taken place the last two three days. that his
amendm, nj would fail il il attached the army bill
/ Mr. BENTON desired the Senator from Pennsylvania to
state whether if the army bill TO he taken up, he
still adhered to the intention Of offering his amendment
i Mr. CAMERON. IL is not necessary sir TO repeat what
| have said
Mr. BENTON understanding that such will be the case,
must adhere the which will prevent the army bill
from being ccgged with such provisions Mr. b. again
ed the consideration Of his hill He stood the ground
which he had before occupied and he desired that all Anne
rca-he whole country might know ithe would not consent
to have proposition brought before the Senate which thu
House had already acted upon and rejected in order 10 delay
the main object He repeated and would repeat until II
should be known there ard elsewhchc should until
it might he known every wherethat the ground upon which
he stood that the army bthc bill for raising ten req
ments of sodiers-the bill which the House had passed
upon-whch had been lying for week before themthe
ground upon which he stood that this measure should
a., lxphr he al