The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

| the motion agreed to-
And the Senate adjourned. t
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| On motion of Mr.. GRINNELL. the Speaker
was authorized TO fill the vacancy in the Commit
tee on Commerce, occasioned by the resignation OF
Mr.. CONRAD, as u member Of the House.
RIGHTS DELEGATES.
Mr. THURSTON, the delegate from Oregon, by
unanimous consent, presented memorial from
the General Assembly of that Territory, praying
donations OF public lands; and he moved to refer Il
TO the Committee on Territories.
AR THOMPSON, of Mississippi, said that, few
days since, the Committee Of the Whole ON the
state vi the Union decided that delegate cannot
make motion. He, therefore, raised the point,
whether the delegate could move to refer the me
mortal which he had presented.
MIR. ASHMUN did not understand the facts to be
as stated by the gentleman; but that the commit
tee decided that on matters of general policy the
delegate had no right to make motion-na tiers
not relating to his own territory
MIR. THOMPSON, of Mississippi remarked that
the law OF lslI provides that the delegate may par
tcipate in debate, but shall not vote. He, however
conceived that debate included every right but the
single thing Of voting. delegate cannot vote on
a division by yeas and nays, but he can make n
motion on every question. He contcnded that if a
delegate can make motion TO refer a memorial
he can on every thing ON which he is called to act.
The SPEAKER said that the point oforder raised
by the gentleman had never been decided except
Union. Hthis was an original question, presented
Tor the first time, and there was rule controlling
II, the Chair would be inclined to coincide in the
opinion OF the Committee of the Whole on the state
oil the Union as to the construction of the law
OF lSlI. But the practice of the House has been
different for great length of time from the organ
ization OF territorial governments and, in addition
the rules OF the House provide for motions TO be
made by delegates. The twenty sixth rule says
"All the States and Territories shall be called for
resolutions ON each alternate Monday during each
session OF Congress-" &c. II it be made the duty
of the Chair to call each estate and Territory" for
what purpose 10 the 'Ierritory" called? The dele
gate cannot rise and ask any other gentleman to
oiier his resolution, because no member can offer
resolution unless his own State be. called. Unless
the delegate can offer resolution, there is use
for calling the Territory. The rules provide that
a delegate can offer resolutions; and the Chair is
unable to discriminate between business relating
to the Territories and business relating to the
States The law does not limit the right of debate
OF a delegate to matters referring to his Territory;
but it is general. For these reasons the Chair over
ruled the point Of order made by the gentleman
from Mississippi.
Mr.. BURT (gho was in the chair in Committee
OF the Whole on the state of the Union when the
decision alluded to by Mr.. THOMPSON, of Missis
slppl, was made) appealed from the decision of the
Chair and he referred 20 the Constitution, which
says that '.the House Of Representatives shall be
composed OF members chosen every second year
by the people Of the several States 20 and that
leach House shall keep journal of its proceed
ings," &c. lie presumed that neither the Chair
nor any other member would suppose that dele
gate is a member of the House, and comes within
the provisions of the Constitution which he had
read. lie believed that II was the practice, in
making up the journal, TO enter the resolutions
and motions OF a delegate from Territory; but
he submitted that this was error, and the reso-
lutions and motions should not be entered IL &C.
CURED 10 him to be an Interpolation The delegate
Is mott member of the House, whose acts are TO be
recorded. By the act of 1917 the delegate has the
IN hnt not M I.. "A
further with his remarks, when
The SPEAKER, IN reply, said that the delegate
cannot make motion TO reconsider Such
ton can only be made by one privileged TO vote
and by one voting in the majority.
Mr.. BURT resumed his remarks, in the course
oil which lac said Il was not competent for dele
gate 10 move resolution which questions the priv
leges of a member of the House; aud that the cour
tesy which Che delegate from Oregon asked TO pre-
sent the memorial, did not involve the privilege Of
a member.
Mr.. DUER Haid that the question lay in a small
compass. lie threw aside the act Of Congress OF
1917 and the rules of the House. and he contcnded
that, under the Constitution, delegate from ter
rltofy cannot make motion here any subject
whatever. The act Of Congress Gays that a
delegate may debate, but il does not, by impli-
cation, say that he may make motion. He
went beyond this. The Constitution Of the United
States provides that the House Of Rcprcscn
shall be composed OF members chosen every second
year by the people Of the several States" &c. IL Is
clear, from this that no one but person known TO
the people Of a State can be member of the House
OF component part Of 1t. delegate IL not
member. IL IL the privilege Of a member 10 make
a motion and can Congress, by rule or by law
confer on any person not member tho rights 10
make a mOuons IL could not. And be argued 10
show that II delegate we're permitted to make
motions, they might, as in the case Of moving the
previous question, deprive member of hs RI ght TO
speak. The hne cannot be drawn as 20 when a
delegate can make a motion. IL must be fixed that
hc cannot He, IN conclusion, expressed the hope
THAI the decision Of the Chair would be reversed.
Mr.. BOYD moved the previous question.
Mr.. MORSE appealed 10 the gentleman Ia with
draw the motion; bot
Mr. BOYD did not acquiesce; and, under the
operation Of the previous question,
The decision Of the Chair was sustained ns the
Judgment Of the House-ycas III, nays %.
And the memorial Of Mr. 1HURsToN, the dele
gate from Oregon, was referred.
CIVIL ASD DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The House resolved itself into Committee Of the
whole on the state Of the Union-Mr. BURT in the
CLair-aud resumed the consideration Of the bill
eNpen.cs Of The Government Tor the year ending
June ~, 1851.
CITY HALL.
Various amendments were acted on The clause
Of the bill making appropriation for the Judiciary
having been read,
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi, by instruction from
The Committee for the District Of Columbia offered
an amendment, apprUpriating S2O,OJO, for the
purpose Of extending the eastern wing Of the City
Hall, in the city Of Washington, farther NORTH for
the accommodation Of the criminal court, IL 10
rice, officers, aud records; 10 be expended under
the direction Of the Corporation II Washington.
lie said that last year, an Appropriation was
made To- repair the City Hall, but this was for an
addition 70 tho building. When il happened that
the circuit court nd tho criminal court met at the
same time, ono or the other had 10 adjourn, for
want Of accommodation. lie had been informed
BY those who know, that there was not room for
the preservation Of the records. The committee
believed that the appropriation would be right and
proper The hail is the Joint property Of tic Gov
eminent and the city. The Government has not
yet expended much the city, aud will not II
tbs appropriation be passed.
Mr. JONES said that, at the last session Of Con-
grcss thirty thousand dollars were appropriated for
THE building aud he thought that any person who
would look At il would see that there s sufficient
room for all the courts Of the United States required
% be held in this District. The appropriation u
asked 10 erect a wing north Of the building, fof
what purpose he did not know.
Mr.. BROWN, Of Mississippi, repeated, that when
the criminal and circuit courts happened to meet At
The same time one Or TIC other bad 20 adjourn for
want Of room.
Mr.. JONES said that in such large building
there certainly must be space for more than one
courtroom.
The question was taken, and the amendment was