The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-07

continue and where vacancies have occurred on
count OF the expiration OF the term OF senator's Tor eon
venence sake propose that the Vice President shall NIL
those vacancies 1t only TO last during the executive
session IT, however, different course shall be pre-
ferred, have objection.
Mr. DICKINSON. The question has so often been
before the Senate since have been here whether we
should confer upon the Vice President me power
point committees and the Senate has SO oen decided
against it. that apprehend we would better not now
change that principle II may occasion some inconven
fence hereafter. at the next session. the usual course
nrncnle of courtesy upon both sides OF the Senate in
the appointment Of the committees, which makes i desl,
rable that il should be done IN the usual way should
prefer that practice should be adhered to.
The VICE PRESIDENT inquired whether the senator
from North Carolina modified his motions
MIR MANGUM have no preference at all. III any
gentleman wishes that the list be made out
and acted upon in the morning. In the mean time, how
ever cannot act upon any busness-eher upon nom
ness-unti their appointment The resolution sim
ply continue the committees they have been and to
fill the vacancies, and not to give the Vice President
power to appoint committees
MIR. BERRIEN. Before the modification takes place, !
beg leave to suggest to the senator from New York that
while the course to which he has referred has been
OF the committees, whenever vacancy mas occurred,
has been uniformly the practice TO refer It to the pres-
ding officer TO supply that vacancy That is all hat 10
be done now. The committees are TO remain as they
stood the last and where vacancies occur II
will be in conformity with the uSges OF the Senate that
the Chair should fill those vacancies.
Mr.. FOOTE apprehend that we have no committees
now, this is new session. .
Mr. BERRIEN The resolution from the honorable
senator from North Carolina proposes to continue the
committees from the last session, far the members
still remain and to authorize the Char to NIL the vacan-
MIR. MANGUM. Out of a feeling of delicacy to the
Chair the opinions of the Chair not harmonzing. as it
is supposed, with the majority OF the body withdraw
the resolution 80
O'Clock morrow, select its committees which was
MI MASON moved that the further consideration of
Mr. BUTIER With the understanding that shall
be appointed upon that committee, move, SIR, that
special committee be ased to be appointed by the Chair
from the Oldest members of the body make this mo-
ton as modification of the resolution of the senator
from Wisconsin. | move to amend that resolution by
substituting ga select committee" for ''the Committee on
Mr. HANfLIN This is purely constitutional ques
tion and which it seems TO should properly go to
the Judiciary Committee. We never have had COM
mee of privileges and elections, for the reason that 1t
has been that question of this nature has risen
believe the objections these cases have been entirely
upon constitutional question. This certainly Is one
purely and exclusively Of that character involving il Is
true perhaps, some one or two facts, bat yet resting
entirely upon that construction which the constitution Is
to receive upon the presented 1t is true that IN the
formation of committee, the same gentlemen that COM
pose the Judiciary Committee, the same senators who com
pose that committee other senator's learned In const-
tutional law, may constitute select committee; But the
Judiciary Committee being the proper which
stutional questions should be referred seems to me
there necessity this occasion for departing from
the general, appropriate and proper rule have really
objections to the OF the select committee but
it would more properly 60 to the Judiciary
Committee.
The question being taken upon the amendment to the
resolution, it was agreed to-
The question recurring upon the adoption OF the reso
The The VICE PRESIDENT Of how many shall the
committee consist?
SEVERAL SENATORS. OF FIVE
No objection being made, it was SO ordered.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES,
A message in writing was received from the President
of the United States by the hands of his acting private
secretary. Major Bliss.
Mr. WEBSTER moved that the Senate proceed to the
conside ration of executive business, which agreed
to- and after time spent with closed DOORS the doors
were reopened and the Senate adjourned