The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-08

with resolution Of the House. directing them to inquire
when the Presidents annual message and the accompany
ing documents wpud be laid before the Houses and also
whether any, aid, if any, what action of this House
would facilitate the execution OF the public printing
1.-THE report stated that the message and documents
would make book of over 1890 pages; $40 pages o.
which, containing the Presidents message the reports OF
the Secretaries of the State of the Treasury and of the
War Departments, with their documents accompanying,
would be furnished to each member OF the House on tins
day, Frday morning, January THIS 1000 copies OF sad
message, NC on the 18th inst and the remainder OF the
number ordered very soon thereafter. The committee
deemed that no action OF the House necessary 70
facilitate the public printing as IT was proceeding with
The report was laid on the table, and ordered to be
Mr. HENLEY gave notice that he would propose to
amend the JOINT rule appointing Committee on Printing
so as to make in order for said committee report all
times.
THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
The House resumed the consideration of the motion
pending yesterday when the House adjourned
On motion of Mr.. GOCGlN, the House resolved itself
into the Committee of the Whole the state of the Union,
Mr.. c. b. SMITH the rhair) and resumed the consd.
Grafton Of the joint resolution relative to the southern
mail the question pending being the appeal taken
from the decision Of the Chair by Mr.. }, THoMrsoN.
Mr. JACOB THOMPSON said the Chair had decided
that the gentleman reporting bill or proposition from
standing committee had the right to close the debate upon
it, after the expiration of the time allotted for the general
debate.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. C. B. SMITID stated the ques-
ton to be the appeal taken from the decision OF the
Chair under the new rule of the House, which allows TO
the chairman OF committee, any member reporting
the proposition, the right to open and close debate the
Chair having decided that the gentleman from Virginia,
Mr. GoGGN, having the floor when this question OF or
der was raised, could speak for one hour. The gentle
from Mississippi had appealed from this decisions and
the question Stood Shall the decision of the Chair
stand as the Judgment of the committee
Mr. SIMS read the rule referred to, together with
the rovso 10 the effect that any member after the order
to close debate may speak five minutes to an amendment
which he may have to offer Mr. s contended that this
Notwithstanding a he q n
clusionwas intended to operate against the preceding
part of the rule This rule uhe hour rule not TO be
Interpreted in explanation of the povso; but the proviso
was explanatory OF the rue and so, he conended. the
Mr.: POLLOCK followed sustaining the decision of
Mr.. DUER opposed it, considering the right close by
the chairman in this was right subservlent to the
ruea right to close debate only while debate might be
Mr. HOWELL COBB submitted and illustrated two
legal principles of Interpretation applicable to the case
ict between two principles rules that construction
was to be preferred which would accommodate the case
that both principles can remains and the second pnnci-
pie was, that when the conflict of rules is such that
they cannot be onced that Interpretation should be
taken which gives the fullest force and effect to the last
adopted rule. Under these considerations hewoposed 10
support the construction taken by the Chair Otherwise
he cOnended the committee would make out case IN
which an order of the House might repeal rule of the
| House; which impossible.
! Mr.. WICK said he did not know what might be
thought in Indiana of the support which he proposed to
give to the opinion OF the chairman, Mt {, B. SMITH,
rule 10 differ with his honorable friend and colleague
who. as chairman, had made the decision under
consideration But, at the hazard OF misapprehen
son. he would venture tor TO say that his honorable
friend was right Rules adopted to regulate debate
here Sometimes IT happens that those rules, like other
laws, are somewhat obscure AMI need construction De-
cisons OF the Chair of the House, construction of
the rules become settled law, and afterwards submit
ted TO- One rule OF this House gives the right to
Der introducing measure to close the debate by hours
e ON berf
see Mr. STANIoN] introduced resolution in the House
70 close this debate after half hours consideration in
Committee of the Whole; and it adopted. After
wards the honorable chairman (yourselD decided that
notwithstanding the resolution, the member who had in
troduced the measure under consideration was entitled
10 continue speaking In committee after the close of the
halt hour until he had occupied the floor hour
avery member had acquesced in this decision, it would
have remained precedent, and become settled law,
and In the meantime, the before the committee
would have been reported to the House yesterday and
finally acted upon; and to-day the House wond have
been progressing with other business of the nation In
stead OF this, technical exception had been taken
the decisorbof the Chair and here (said Mr. W)
pretty far in the second day OF discussion of point
OF order which would subserve the purpose very WELL
decided either way.
Sir (sad Mr. W. we are mostly lawyers; and it'll
mass OF our consituentsmen not accustomed to rejoice
this discussion, am apprehensve they would have
cluded that the most of us belong that class Of our
profession who possessed OF that peculiar order OF
talent which is better adapted the argument of special
demurres and OF motions 10 quash, than OF grand ques
TONS fear they would quote upon us one Of our own
maxms, TO wit: QuthGret ltera hGre an cortice !"
literal translation OF which reads thus, to wit " He who
stops in the letter, sticks in the bunk and liberal
translation will read thus to wit "He who adheres to
technicaltes is, at best, but shallow fellow"
| The debate was further continued by Messrs. TRU-
MAN SMITH, JACOB THOMPSON, GREEN, STU
ART ,., Of Michigan, WOODWARD, c. j. lNGERSoLL,
GENTRY, and RHETT
The question was then taken "ShaI the decision Of
the Chair stand the judgment of the committee J" and
it was decided in the acknowledgements 10l, nays 73.
The committee then resumed the consideration of the
JOINT resolution respecting the mail and
MIR. GOGGlN said that when the point of order was
raised on yesterday he was abouh,o notice remark by
the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. c. BRowN,] who
told us (and he glad of the declaraion that large
portion of the stock of the Richmond and Fredericksburg
company owned at the north; for gentlemen from
that region might be assured by IT, that in restoring this
contract they would not be voting merely for the benefit
of Vignians. Mr.. G. well pleased with the effort
OF the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. G. w. JONES;
OF the justice of his conclusions The gentleman from
Tennessee had referred TO the price paid for mail service
from Petersburg to Weldon, and compared it with the
sum demanded by this Richmond company. But tina,
route in the night and the watering places &c
for the cars attended by slaves, which great
saving to that company; Whereas the route hence to
Richmond was in the daytime, and twice every day
The gentleman from Tennessee was mistaken in his
statement that the delay of the great southern mail from
Washington, induced by the arrangement for carrying by
the Bay line by the way Of Baltimore, was only twelve
hours: the delav thus Induced was eighteen hours.
Mr.. g. w. JONES said that the delay between New
York and Charleston was only nine hours and half.
MIR. GOGGlN. The gentleman was right in what he
UnU cnid Rut IN hia u.nrlrc h.,