The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-27
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirtisth Congrcs.--First Session.
SATURDAY, JUNE "a. 1915.
house OF HEPaEsENTATIvE
. journal having haan raa1
Personal EXPLANATION.


Mr. HUNT rose and asked leave to make a personal
explanation General consent being given he proceeded
say that during several years service here, he had
had occasion appear before the House in explana
ton OF any matter personal to himself But he perceived
that the report in this mornings lntegencer. Of yester
days proceedings in relation to the report which he had
the honor to submit from the Committee on Commerce,
so imperfect and erroneous, he felt compelled most
unwillngly, to ask the indulgence OF the House for
moment
Deeming it important that the standing committees
should have opportunity to bring forward the
they had matured he had moved that hour
should be devoted to receiving reports from committees,
which might be disposed of without giving rise TO debate
The form OF the motion he made quite different from
the phraseoogy of the reporter.
When the Committee on Commerce was called, he
submitted report the several topics heretofore refer
red to that committee relation and harbor i'm
provements including the bill introduced by the gentle
man from South Carolina Mr. RHErT,] respecting ton
mage duties, the Presidents message, and the Chca
go memorial The report concluded with series of
resolutions. embodying the exclusions OF the commit
stated that these subjects had been discussed several
occasions at the present sessions that there would be
further opportunity for debate when the barbor bills shall
be taken up; that although there differences of
opinion, he believed every member had formed settled
opinion on the propositions contained in the resolutions,
and must be prepared to vote upon them without discus
sion and deeming early action desirable he moved the
previous question. These remarks wholly omitted
in the Inielgencer. The honorable gentleman from
Georgia. MIR. CoBB,] commended that the motion was
contrary to the implied understanding of the House, that
such reports only should be received gave rise to
debate and in the excitement OF the moment ne spoke
fortune to associate with that gentleman member OF
this body for five Years, and Notwithstanding political
differences, perfect cordially and personal Kindness had
attended their intercourse from the day they met in this
hall mr. CoBB nodded assent He was unwilling now
to believe that the gentleman could have designed i'm
pue to him intention to take undue advantage, or
to violate any understanding. express or implied He
the gentleman would not expect him to quietly
submit TO such charge; If(sad Mr.. H) am mistaken
in this, will only say that am ready repe the impu-
taft | with WI hat
calm unconceIn which springs from conscious recttude
of purpose He willingly left it for others TO decide how
far he observan of the rules OF the body and the
propretes of his position The motion he made was in
accordance with the habitua usage of the House 1t is
OF frequent occurrence as every member knows, when
committees called for reports giving 10 debate,
to call the previous question for the avowed object OF
precluding debate. 1t has been decided uniformly that
the mover of a resolution, which goes over if debate
arise, may move the previous question to cut OIL debate
In submitting this report and making the motion, Mr.
H. said he but acted in pursuance OF the instructions OF
The Committee on Commerce They directed him to move
the previous question, with view to immediate action.
BY that motion distinctly submitted to the House
whether debate should should not be allowed 1t
for majority to determine whether to take the question
then, keep il open for discussion 1t not for him
to presume in advance that debate would be desired on
either side; and is obvious that the effect was precisely
the same If like motion had been made general
call Of committees He emphacally denied that it was.
in any possible aspect OF the inconsistent with any
implied understanding with the uniform practice OF the
House He had desired to say thus much yesterday, in
reply to the gentleman from Georgia When personally
assailed, his motto was
.-ro right the wrong where'er It's given,
Though in the very OF Heaven"
But under the decision of the Chair, and in the precise
state OF the question yesterday. opportunity was al
0dd h% for r. defence an,e or reply far regards tho
kind feelings expressed by the gentleman OF New YORK
10 exist between him and myself bear cheerful evil
dence to the existence OF that kindly feeling on my
part. With reference to what occurred yesterday the
gentleman seemed to think that intended refec-
ton on his personal motives Since have been mem
l hare ~ nc houo naryor in Jncfan nm.
pugned the personal motives OF any gentleman, nor did
intend to be understood in the present my own
serespect well my regard for the character of this
body, would forbid such
But Mr. c. considered yesterday, and now, that the
introduction of the resolutions from the Committee on
Commerce, accompanied by the motion for the previous
question, violation of the general understanding
OF the House, by which was agreed that such bills and
reports alone, would not give rise to debate, should
be received. The effect of the OF the gentleman
would have been violation Of the good faith OF the
House. if the House had sustained the demand Tor the
Mr.. HUNT Would not the effect have been precisely
the though the report had been presented under
general call of the committees'
Mr.. COBB admitted that, Under general CALL the pre-
vous question might be demanded and sustained. But
the difference in the two consisted in this that if IN
the latter the previous question was not sustained,
the House would, notwithstanding, proceed TO consider
and vote upon the resolutions and the friends OF the
measure would not be deprived OF a decision OF the ques-
ton by failure to sustain the previous question Not
So however, in the present case Here The friends OF the
sustained the matter goes to some other day and
may be reached and the strong nducement to ac
ton upon the measure is brought in to urge the majority
TO sustain the previous question, winch does not exist IN
the other case and in this view, the gentleman will find
the difference in the two But that is not the point
The question is, whether under general understanding
that reports which would not give rise to debate,
should be introduced, such report as this one was
contemplated Does the gentleman from New York
believe that gentlemen on this side of the House
would have given their assent to his motion, II they
had supposed that the purpose to force them to
vote upon resolutions involving the most important
nifty of learning their contents except their import
might be gathered from the reading OF them at the Clerks
table, II to this effect that Mr. C. excepted at the
time, and considered it vioative OF the general under
standing of the House, under which we were proceeding
Mr. c. had already stated that his universal practice in
the debates of the House fobds the idea OF his intending
any personal imputaon upon the motives OF the gentle
man from New York
TERMINATION DEBATE
Mr. WHITE, OF New York, moved reconsideration
of the vote of yesterday. adopting the resolution to ter
inmate debate the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill on Monday week and the was ordered 10 be
entered upon the journal
JOSEPH NoURsE.
The special order for this day being now demanded by
Mr. ROCkW ELL, of Connecticut, the House proceeded
to the consideration of Mr. BowLINs motion to recon,
slider the House amendment to the Senate bit, entitled
An for the relief of the administrator on the estate OF
Joseph Nourse deceased"
Mr. BOWLIN proceeded TO represent his AFFECTIONS to
the bill at length, and show that Mr. Nourse was
thirty years receiving salary as Register OF the
Treasury; that the end Of this time, he became
Jafo,, for