Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-22

specify persons and facts the House might lay the table
or otherwise dismiss it, they saw it lie wished an in
vesgaton II rumor with her tn ousand tongues, true,
he believed that members Of this house implicated in
violation OF the lawso deeply mpced as parties to theft
and felony that they should be expelled from this floor He
was not only for the investigation, but ii proved
to be true, he should go for the expulsion of the member or
members implicated
Mr.. COBB, OF Georgia. after some sation with the
SPEAKER TO the precise Of his son appealed
TO Mr.. BRoDHEAD withdraw his appeal that The question
decide under the ntmaon Of the Speaker whehe- this was
question Of privilege not.
Mr.. BRODHEAD replied that he had taken an appealom
the decision of the Chair because the preamble and resolution
presented by the gentleman from Massachusetts, did not make
such case as required the Intervention of this House, andd
not amount to privileged question question privilege
he, therefore. must insist on his appeal
Mr. COBB ntimaed his Intention Then, to move the prs-
vous question: that the House might dispose Of the appeal
come to the question raised by the resolution but waived
and finally withdrew, the motion, in accordance with what
seemed to be the wishes Of the House.
Some conversation ensued between Mr.. COBB and the
SPEAKER, in which
Mr. COBB stated the point which he differed from the
decslon and should sustain the appeal pressed vote
and
The SPEAKER repeated that il member rose and stated
breach Of privilege committed upon himself fellow
ber whether arising upon facts within his knowledge
reaching him by rumo whether growing out of debates in
this House OF circumstances which happened thousand
miles distant the Chair decided that upon the allegation be-
ing made was for the House to take up the question and
determine whether such breach Of privilege had occurred
to require Its nteposon and whether there sufficient
ground for its being entertained question Of privilege
Mr. MEADE said the question had not yet in his opinion
been correctly stated. He acknowledged the distinction
drawn by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr VIsTos) between
privileged question and question Of privilege. When
member rose 10 privileged question, the Speaker bound
to hear his motion, and when that motion was made the
Speaker must decide whether in order. It's being in
order depended on the fact whether not question
involving the privileges Of members of the House. And the
Speaker must necessarily determine for himself whether
such question. He must decide in order proceed with
the business iii should be question Of privilege then
out Of order, and the Speaker say II he
ceve the motion, then he virtually decided that ques
lion Of privilege, and therefore in order If the House
dissatisfied with the decision, it must be decided by appeal
and thus the House decided this question Of privilege Ii
there appeal then the House concured with the
Speaker, and the question then the adoption of the
notion He concured with the Speaker that it ques-
ton involving privilege If a mob attack member
for words spoken in that House in debate if the member had
right speak the words he should be protected He would
vote for the resolution of inquiry, and would amend
ment to inquire into the conduct of members Of this House,
who, rumored, had insgated the crime which had
been recently committed The series of resolutions intro
duced Monday by the member from Ohio declaring the
right of the slave escape, and other acts Of his known
the members of this body justify the suspicion that he
connected with the crime recently committed.
Mr. HASKELL concurred in the expression of the desire
that the gentleman from Pennsylvania would withdraw his
appeal from the decision Of the Chair that the whole qnes
on might up fully and fairly before the House, that
its importance demanded He glad that the gentleman
from Massachusetts, had avaed himself Of the occasion
introduce resolution of this character. If the gentleman
had not done it, he should have done ii himself had been
his design and he had into the House prepared in
roduce resolution, having in view the object of
the resolution of the gentleman but investigation of the
matters which had lately agiated this community Now
strange Of things presented here Members of this
body he believed and felt ready charge had been
gagged by the of conduct they pursued this floor and
out OF this Hail. in the deliberate attempt TO scatter the seeds
of nsurecton and nsubordnaton, if MT rebellion,
the slaves in this District. Men this floor under the
gab Of philanthropy and love Of human liberty had been
dtavorng pepeue ones for which they ought TO swing
high Haaman He spoke the plain truth He willing
to have his words measured and he held himself responsible
for the language he used An attempt had been made on this
floor abolish slavery in the District of Columbia in the
form Of law, if they could and in violation Of the consitu
ton and bsed and foled that these mock phanthrop
he believed before God, attempting TO abolish
slavery in this District by melting the negroes leave their
masters.
The SPE lKER here nterposed, and reminded the gen.
teman that the question before the House upon the
appeal.
Mr. HASH ELL (contnuing) charged that the conduct Of
these men, tn language this floor and out Of this House,
bad been sucl produce this state Of thinga DISPOSE
insu ction and rebellion among the slaves in this
District He ned in his hand resolution which be intend
ed to move, and which he should by way Of amend
ment when this House entertained the resolution Of the
eman from Massachusetts,, having for its object inquiry
into the conduct Of these MEMBERS and they were found
seats this floor.
We had lately in this community agitation and ex-
element which every good man must deploe-slaves leaving
their masters vessel coming to this city
The SPEAKER again interposed, and suggested to the
gentleman from Tennessee the proprey OF conhnng himself
the question Of appeal He anticipating debate upon
the merits Of the resolution; the question whether there
should be any such debate the Chair had decided that the
resolution in order appeal had been taken from that
decision, and the question the appeal
Mr.. HASKELL said he would conclude what he had to
by reading for the information Of the House the amend
which he proposed offer the resolution Of the gentle
from Massachusetts, and which he should offer at the
proper time
that said committee authorized inquire into and
report House whether any member members Of this
House instrumental in procuring the slaves who we're
recently decoyed from their in this district TO leave
their owners and whether the said members Of this House
have been guilty Of felony attempting aiding in
attempt TO kidnap slaves"
Mr. BAYLY obtained the floor with a view (he sad) TO
submit motion, before doing which he wished TO make
single remark avoid misconcepon Of the object he had
view His impression that the decision Of the Chair was
incorrect and be wanted therefore understood that IN the
motion he about TO make he did not commit himself to
lis propey. But he anxious TO have this committee
raised he desired this investigation go that this whole
might be pobed TO the bottom and he therefore moved
to lay the appeal on the table.
Some conversation ensued between the SPEAKER and
Mr. STUART, Of Michigan, and Mr.. MCKAY, in reply
TO an inquiry Of the last named gentleman.
The SPEAKER stated that the appeal were laid on the
table the resolution Of the gentleman from Massachusetts, would
then be before the House for its action.
The question being taken, the motion OF Mr. BArLr was