Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13


was to be conducted.
WEDNESDAY, FEBEUARy 10, 1s47.
A PRIVILEGED QUESTION
Mr. YULEE and said desired to offer resolution
which, though not altogether question Of privilege yet was
one which involved the rights If persons entitled the pvi-
lege of seats the floor
The resolutions were here read, and follows:
he$oued, That the editors of the Unon newspaper pub
shed IN the city OF Washington having in publication
tanned number Of that paper dated the 9th of February
issued and uttered public libel upon the character this
body be excluded from the privilege Of admission the floor
Be further resolved, That the report of the proceedings
OF the Senate OF the sth day Of February relation bill
entitled An act to raise for limited time additional mill
tary force and for other purposes partial unjust the
body and that the Reporters for that paper be excluded
Senate.
Mr. YULEE asked for the immediate consideration.
Mr.. SEWER objected @'
The PRESIDING OFFICER announced that objection
being made, the resolution would lie day.
Mr. BADGER suggested that the resolution related to
question OF privilege the parliamentary practice gave pre-.
cedence over ordinary resolutions, and exempted from the
rule applicable to them
the rule, ne could find distinction made between reso-
tons upon questions of privilege and any other resolutions
This resolution, therefore, must lie over.
Mr. BADGER appealed from this decision
Mr.. CALHOUN hoped the Senator from North Carolina
would not insist on his motion for appeal for appeared
10 him desirable that the resolution should lie until
morrow, so that Senators might have opportunity Of
aiming the article eerre to- which contained alleged
attacks-for not single attack but severaupon this
body as well as the report that complained Of if
that report has been garbled.
Mr.. ARCHER said that he could have no objection that
the resolution should lie indeed he believed that that
would be the est disposal that could be made of pre-
sent but he was unwilling that this decision of the Chair
should establish precedent 'r....~
Mr. SEWER insisted that the rule applicable to all
resolutions .....
IL
the honorable Senator from South Carolina, that better
In every respect that this subject should be considered
row and not to-day for he admitted that subject which
ought not TO be acted without full consideration In adopt
ing resolution to vndcate the dignity of the body and
preserve 1t o gross assaults they ought proceed in such
manner to show that they were not acting under excite
ment but cooly and deliberately. They should do nothing
but what just appreciation own dignity and repec-
liability required He would be perfectly willing therefore
that the resolution should lie over but he could
to withdraw the appeal for the which had been very
properly assigned by the honorable Senator from Virginia
III the decision oil the Presiding Officer should be acqulesed
would establish precedent which might very inconve-
nient and even dangerous to The privileges of this body
OF It's members He insanced case of gross and
open insult that might be offered the body while engaged in
deiberaion which would require the immediate nerposion
OF It's authority. An obstruction the public might
be occasoned by riot taking place within the hall other
wise, and would be exceedingly announcement in such
that resolution punish the offending parties should be
CURED to be postponed for day. Il for such
these that questions of privilege took priority all Others
and were always in order and il question for the Sc
nate to determine when such question opvege raised
whether 1t demanded immediate action whether it might
be consistently postponed 1t for the purpose of avoid
ing the establishment Of such precedent the decision
the Chair which has just been made would establish that he
had taken appeal.
Mr.. CALHOUN said he did not entertain the least doubt
Of the correctness Of the position taken by the Senator from
North Carolina that question of privilege always takes pre-
dence He had merely suggested the posponement order
Mr. DX a1 tfCJ an an examination.
subject was very clearly ina. .he law upon tins
found upon full examination ,haate believed 1t would be
questions OF privilege were exempt from the rule 80
binary resolutions TO lie for day But he
y to if he could not extcae the Senate from the difficult
y IN which was placed by proposing and he believed the
proposition would meet the appreciation of gentlemen on al
sdes) that the question Of appeal well the resolution
should be deferred until tomorrow.
Mr. YULEE acceded to the proposal TO postpone the
sderation of the subject until tomorrow.
On Thursday the President Of the Senate said that the first
business in order the question upon the appeal taken
the Senator from North Carolina from the decision Of the
chs reference resolutions offered Yesterday by the
Senator from Florida He then proceeded, in a speech
some length to assign the grounds upon which his decision
rested This resolution, he thought, fell clearly within the
rule requiring resolutions to lie day. il the present
consideration OF such resolution should be objected to- Unan
consent generally given the immediate consdera
on Of questions such as the presented in these resou
TONS At was true, but general parliamentary usage could
be permitted to override express rule. Like the
the common law conflicting with statute, the former mus,
always yield To the latter.
MI BADGER contended with Difference to the opinion Of
e CHAIR that resolution concerning question Of privilege
did not fall within the rule of the He nstanced the
case OF verbal motion being made question Of privilege
whch motion any Senator might require should be committed TO
wnung such motion, thus put in writing, could not in
ms onon he construed such resolution conem-
plated by the rule Of the Senate s."
After debate the question upon the appeal
by yeas and nays, follows
hrhSMcssrs Allen, Ashley, Atchison, Anterior, Bagby,
nreese Bright, Cass, Chalmers Dickinson, Dix Fairfield,
flanagan, Houston, Mason SEWER Soue, Spcgh Stur-
geon, aud Tuney-2o. ="
Nals-Messrs. Archer Badger Bcrrien, Butler, CAL
noun, Cameron, Ciey Thomas Clayton, John NJ. Clay
Corwln, Crittendcn, Davis Dayton Evans Greene Hun
ung,on Jarnagin, johnson, Of La Mangum Miller More
nea' nes pearce Simmons, Upham, Webster, Wcstcott,
80 the decision Of the Chair was reversed and the further
consideration oil the resolutions postponed till Friday.
ANU being taken up that day. there occurred an inter
eshe deba the great length Of which precues any attempt
at even sketch OF H. though the following out line may serve
to give the reader some idea Of the course il to,k
Mr. fULEE explained the causes which induced him 10
offer the resolution, and added tina; he regretted the
uniy had not been afforded him Of relieving the Senate from
the trouble and the loss Of time upon the
ton OF this matter. Such opportunity would have been
Afforded had the editor whose paper the objectionable pub
icstion was made, after two nights time for reicc.