The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-04
LcoNrINuEn FROM FOURTH rAGKl


New York rose and offered the resolution, he had
not reduced it to writing but requested the Clerk
TO do so. | directed that it should be done by
the Clerk The gentleman Immediately made a
motion to lay the resolution on the table which
was passed on by the House before the resolution
had been written by the Clerk at the table. Sub
sequently sent word TO one Of the clerks that
the resolution must read so rs to stop debate on
the California message and so directed it, The
journalizing clerk did not hear the direction
given to the reading clerk, and the resolution
was filled up by him You and the House know
that it is my duty, as Speaker, to correct the
Journal of the House. IL is read TO me the morn
ing after the adjournment When the Journal
was read on the succeeding morning, the resolution
was 10 stop the debate on the Presidents message
and the California BILL then pending before the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union. instructed the Clerk TO strike out bill,
giving him my reason for not entertaining the
motion to include the bill namely, that it was
privileged question to move to stop debate on the
message, because it had been referred to the Com
mittee by the House but, the bill had not been
before the House, and the House had no parlia-
mentary knowledge Of the tendency of the bill, it
could not entertain as privileged motion a reso-
lutlcn TO terminate the debate on it. This cor
rectioa was made in my room, and the Journal as
corrected was read the next morning to the
have narrated them | have nothing more to say.
Mr.. P. King said that he had very high re-
speet for the Speaker of the House, but that his
opinions were such that he could not vote for
him. AS he had stated, the object was to smother
the California bill in Committee. lie had offered
his resolution for the purpose of getting vote
On the bin wiJnOuV eonnecnon WIN any DINER
matter.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, inquired if the
Norb Il m he IL
ton at all a?
Mr.. King replied that the Clerk did.
Mr.. Stephens inquired if he saw the resolution
after il was voted on2
Mr.. King replied ia the negative.
Mr.. Stephens inquired if the blank was filed
up?
Mr.. King stated that the Clerk was directed to
fill up the resolution by the Speaker in accord
ance with his motion. He had no idea that it was
so filled up. When he made the motion, he stat
ed it distinctly. Having found it was in order,
he then moved to lay it on the table. He desired
vote on the bill in the House, where the votes
could be recorded.
Mr. Holmes said that, as it was obvious, after
the statement made by the honorable Speaker,
there was no foundation for the charge, he would
withdraw his motion to appoint committee.
Aftef good deal Of discussion and confusion,
Mr. Holmes then renewed his motion that a
committee Of rfMa be appointed by tbe gept'epap
now presiding over the House, Mr.. Winthropl
TO investigate the charges made against the hon.
orable Speaker by the honorable Preston King, a
member of this House
MIR. Root corroborated what Mr.. King had said
in regard to the resolution offered by that gentle
man on the 9th inst. He was in favor of refer
ring the whole subject to committee, and would
not vote for resolution casting censure on the
gentleman from New York.
Mr. lnge said that too much had been said al
ready. He was in favor of committee His OBJ
ject in rising was to move the previous question
which he did.
The previous question was then seconded and
under the operation thereof the motion of Mr.
Holmes was agreed to-ayes 81, noes 60
Thereupon the Speaker appointed the follow
ing gentlemen to compose the committee to in
quire into the matter;
Messrs Holmes, Vnton, Boyd, Ashmuu, DOty,
Stephens of Georgia, Strong Gentry, and Rich
ardson.