Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr. PALFREY rose to question Of personal privilege of
member Of this House He wished 10 present the question
10 the House the iom Of resolution Gould that Iesolu
ton be would respectfully ask of the Chair be read from the
Clerks desk, must he hitpseii read il from his seat
The SPEAKER ii the gentleman rises TO question Of
privilege he state in any form he fit in order that
the Chair decide whether not ii is question
Mr.. PALFREY. Then submit j, in the form Of the fol-
lowing preamble and resolve.
A voice. Can that be done
The SPEAKER. Itdepenis entirely upon what tits.
Mr.. PALFREi then read the paper which he held in bis
hand, f1lows
Whereas common report represented members this
House that awles mob has assembled within the District Of
Coumba each nights last past and has
ted violence setting defiance the laws aud
ted auho the United States and menacing individuals
Of this body and other persons residing in this city There
lore
Resotsd Tia; select committee Of Eve members sp.
pointed inquire into the facts above referred and
port the facts with their opnnn whether Legislation
cessay cxpedent the premises they further
have leave 70 sit during the sessions Of the House.
The SPEAKER The Chair knows authority for de-
Gliding that to be a question of privilege.
Mr. PALFREY. Do | understand the Chair, then, to
rule that question relating the protection Of the personal
safety member Of this House il not necessarily question
Of privilege
The PEAKER. The Chair does not understand that
member Of this House at all alluded to in the resolution
Mr. PALFREY. will read il again. If you please. He
accordingly read the latter part Of the preamble
The SPEAKER The Chair did not hear that part Of the
preamble The Chair disposed 10 think if the liberty
safety life of any individual member Of this House has
been menaced from any quarter, IT Is question Of privilege
Mr.. GENTRY desired TO make a remark. He would sug-
ges the gentleman from Massachusetts that the House
would be competent judge Of the Of the ques
ton presented by him if informed OF the particular
manneroi all tie circumstances in which the safety of
member Of this House had been menaced by mob. The
House could then determine whether there existing cs
which required It's interference.
Mr. RHETT said be did not know the circumstances b
which the gentleman from Massachusetts, alluded
Mr.. PALFREY wished 10 be pardoned for moment !;
and (M r. yiedng said be desired the gentleman order
give proper direction his remarks understand that
this preamble stated that report had represented members
Of this House that members Of this body had been menaced
He would simply the gentleman that did refer
to himself, (ar. P.)-ha the menace was not to him.
Mr. GENTRY, Tin bis seat II any member has been
menaced let him and state the fact 10 the House.
Mr. BAYLY rose to a question Of order Could the recital
OF fact upon rumor that member Of this House bad
menaced, make il question OF privilege If any member Of
this House in that situation he could before the
House and The fact and ask Its protection if he did
not this other member might here and point
the thus menaced, and thus raise the question OF p
viege But could the reference vague rumo whep
if there any foundation for it, IL easy to reduce
TO certainly, constitute question OF privilege
The SPEAKER remarked that this question en-
tirely but that the Parliamentary law laid DOWN
pressy that common rumor sufficient ground for
tion Moreover il well understood that where the life
person, liberty Of member menaced in any way,
proper subject 10 be acted upon by the House The
record where member had been challenged by
person Of Joo that the House had considered that he
menaced, and that il constueda question Of privilege
The Chair therefore hed upon the best consideration he
could give the question: that where allegation made
that the life liberty person Of member Of this House was
nenaced, It question Of privilege in regard TO which
any member ought TO be heard The Chair Of opinion
that the House might very well call for specifications and If
such specifications not made, would be sufficient
ground for the House TO reject IL and refuse the nqny but
not suihcen; for Chair to rule it out Of
order
Mr.. RHETT (resumng) said he had no doubt, if any
member Of the House eDacd for any thing he had done
or said this oor thai would then be the privilege Of this
House TO interfere. But he thought the Speaker recc-
on would that either Of the person liberty Of
member of this House not connected with his duties here
was no such thing question of privilege. Why, il he
should insult the street and he likely chasse
hin for IT, would II be said that be had the privilege
and demand the protection Of this House against whom
he had already insulted He asked because a
member Of Congress- could be be privileged from the ordinary
responsibilities Of and gentleman TO citizen OF Wash
ingon Had il 10 this, that member Of Congress
only be exempt from any personal assault
iu relation his official duties but that his being
Der 10 be afford him protection whatever he
might do in any yarl oftbe United States
Mr. o. J. INGERSOEL interposed and asked IL the gen
teman om South Carolina would allow him to refer the
constitution on this point The constitution provided that
The Senators and Representatives" shall in all
except treason felony and breach Of the peace, be privileged
from arrest during their attendance the session Of their
specve Houses and going returning from the
and for any speech IN either House they shall not be
questioned in any other place"
The SPEAKER wished, before the gentleman from South
Carolina proceeded, TO be allowed 10 refer to Jeersons
Manual from which he proceeded 10 read the following,
among other passages
$50 far there will probably be no difference Of opinion
following it's otherwise In December 1885, House