Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-12-11
rHIRTY-rIRsT coNGREss-IsT SESSION.
TaUasDAY, Dec Oh, l849.
cENATE


SENATE.
The Senate met at II O'Clock and after reading of the Jour-
no. House OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. McClernand of Illinois, submitted resolution WHICH
was read, follows, viz:
Resolved That the rules of the House Of Representatives
as they existed close the last session Of De
adopted far they are applicable Tor the government
this House, until otherwise ordered
Resolved further That Linn Boyd OF ky be and Is mere
by appointed and requested to act as chairman OF TINS house.
with power preserve the order there OF as lar as
able 10 the rules until Speaker shall have been elected
Mr. AIcCernand explained that the resolution IN the frs
place was designed obviate that confusion and dhcuity
which must exist with all Legislative bodies III conducting
business when in disoganized state II Is properly saio
that order is Heavens first aw-it certainly 'noua DC e
first law for any deibcraye body VINO WISH 10 cstaosh a
corum in conducting its business.
II was only by the greatest orbcarance yesterday that or
der was preserved when the TWO propositions were
terminate the contest for the eecoli % peaAe.. t
House cannot rely all times upon the courtesy ana ior
bcancc which govern the action of the members iester
dav the first resolution intended TO obvlate dHcuity
The second branch of the resolution was designed LOT me
appoinrmcnt of temporary chairmana chairman VINO was
preserve order merely and enforce tnc Ius % @ %
adopted He scarcely need state TO ms ooas @ me e o
authority which the clerk had act was derived rom the
and courtesy OF members. ~,
There was no order authosng the election even OF lha
officer The first day which Congress assembled uhue
the new Constitution OF which quorum was formed mo-
ton was made the election Of Clerk Since ihat lie
has been the practice of the House TO elect cek anu
rule adopted continue him in office until MS successor
was appointed. ,..,
session. He possessed other power tnan tt ol mere
Clerk II was therefore only by courtesy that he was now
permitted in view of the difficulty and dangers when
environed the House without responsible officer to preside
He proposed the appointment OF temporary Chairman
Such an officer would be responsible the House and TO the
people The Clerk not responsible, either morally or
politically. regard the particular individual named IN
the resolution he would state Thai hai been inserted at The
suggestion of Mr. Cabe Florida to whom he had named
either Mr. Vinton of Ohio Mr. Boyd as proper person
TO temporarily
Mr. Duer said he desired the time of the House,
which had already expressed opinion adversely 10
luton substantially the the one now proposed Inc
ONLY effect of the resolution would be that the temporary
chairman would from the necessity Of the case, be lr
Speaker of the session Ii he only placed there ne
would remain there. He thought that the iarest propose
ton would be a the Speaker OF the last session. MI "ln
hrop, should preside lempofar hat would be alr COM
promise us il would afford opportunity Of TAR hearing
The administration which had not YET made any EXPOSITION
of its policy.
The administration should have fair trial by giving lhem
Speaker with power 10 appoint committees ne maze
reflections upon the minority, when he sala were ma
king factions opposite 10 an organization ne ho'ea " ID!
the resolution on the table.
Mr. Bayy, of Virginia, asked Mr. Duer 10 Withdraw ms
h Under as%en he 7sd ne % said
desirable that the proposition OF the gentleman from limos
should adopted The only objection made seem to be in
apprehension that Ii probable if temporary chairman
appointed ii would be in effect appointing h lot TIE
session. .
Mr.. Duer that if he placed there he could not
be got from the necessary tendency OF the movement
Mr.. Bayy would, in reply 10 that, only ask, what III
faithful and dignifed discharge OF the duties OF temporary
chairman would have any effect TO keep INN there ne uo
not however, think thai ihere was any probability Oh 'e
House being compelled act thus. The gentleman Named
Mr.. Linn Boyd is the senior member oil the House. ana
has been the universal practice OF the House 10 select the
senior member, when resort 10 such action IS ihct IN
the 9th Congress- the House. similar OCCASION selected
Mr. Adams TO preside temporarily, because OF his seniority
bv universal consent and it done the motion OF
gentleman politically opposed 10 him. The gentleman from
Kentucky Mr. Boyd was me one therefore, VINO shoud oy
courtesy preside in consequence OF ne long ana
service representative He could objection 10 his
appointment he would have power except to keep or
der His conduc; could affect the administrations in any
way.
by substituting the following THAI Linn Boyd and SAM
uel Yinon act as chaamen Of this House. each sitting al
tenately day time until Speaker Is elected Mr
Evans held that this the tairest proposition
Mr. Schenck of Ohio, offered the following as an amend
men TO the original proposition which was hccep'ee as
temporary chanen shall be confined 10 keeping order dur
ing the necessary steps and proceedings Tor the election OF
Speaker only and shall not relate 10 any ACT OF legislation
Mr. Root said lie would like the gentlemen named sit
ting side by side colleague who was as old as the
Others and he not quite good soldier he had seen
much service Since this intended as peace Offering
harmonze all difficulties, he wcd propose 10 add as an
add onal Chairman the of the Hon. Joshua r. Gid,
dngs Great aughter He was happy to lind that II had
met with universal appreciation, manifested by the
exceeding burst of good feeling and laughter He was indif
feren the resolutions but he willing that the gentle
men shout stand or lie down together.
Mr. Wlmot said they had been voting and acting for
three days and he had order in such an AS
semby He believed that the orbearance and good temper
of tho House might be relied onhat it would continue II
temporary chairman was appointed the would be
prolonged He believed the contest would end soon If they
would 70 on If he placed there proposition would
ultimately be introduced to authorize him to appoint
mttees He saw other of terminating the contest
but to proceed with the voting He believed that all the OBJ
stacles would be end The adoption oil the reso
luton would only protract the contest
Mr. Duer rose and objected TO further remarks being out
of order OH proposition 10 Jay on the table
The question called for on all sidea OF the House
Mr. Stanton of Tennessee wished TO introduce PROPOSE
ton for the adoption of rules but did not press the motion
as il was objected to.
The question being again called for taken, and the
resolutions were laid on the table BY vote on yeas and
nays of 6 in the affirmative and 04 in the negative Then
on notion by Mr. Wentworth, the House proceeded 10
vote ra roce for Speaker The following is the result of the
several votes, viz 80 a.,
66 "a