The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-09-12
Rights of Delegates.

The following interesting debate oc-
CURED in the House of Representatives,
on the Doth of August, on the rights OF
Delegates:
Mr.. Thurston asked the unanimous
consent Of the House to present the me-
mortal Of the Legislative Assembly OF
the Territory of Oregon, praying dona-
tions Of land, sc
! No objection having been made, the
memorial was presented. --....
| The Speaker, Ito Mr.. Thurston. =
What disposition does the gentleman
from Oregon propose to make of this
memorial' s...e........
Mr. Thurston. l move that it be re-
ferred to the Committee on Territories.
Mr. Thompson, of Mississippi. A day
or two since it was decided by the Com
mitiee of the whole on the state of the
Union. in afiirmance of u decision made
by the chairman of that committee, that
Delegate from a Territory could not
make a motion. | suppose the decision
includes every motion. desire to say
that that decision was made against my
Judgement and in order that the Dele
gates may understand what their rights
are in this House, raise the question
of order, whether the Delegate from Or
egon can make any motion of reference
to a committee?
Mr.. Ashmun. / do not understand
the fact to be as stated by the gentle
man from Mississippi, Mr.. Thompson.
The Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, decided that upon
measures of general policy affecting all
the States and Territories of the Union,
Delegate could not make a notion
The motion then made did not refer, as
the motion now made does, to matters
affecting purely the Territory which the
gentleman from Oregon represents
The gentleman from Mississippi Mr..
Thompson cannot, therefore, accom-
plish the object he has in view by rais-
ing this question.
Mr.. Thompson. The law allows
Delegate to participate in debate, but
not to vote In my opinion, however,
the word "debate," under the universal
construction, gives a Delegate every
right which any other member Of the
House possesses, with the single excep-
ton of the right to vote. He cannot vote
on the yeas and nays, but he can make
a motion on every question. And in
sist, that If the gentleman can make a
motion to refer a memorial, he can
make a motion on any other subject on
which the House may be called upon
to act, and especially so, if it relates to
the interests of his own Territory.
Mr.. Stanley interposed to question
of order.
Mr.. Thompson, of Mississippi, said,
he merely desired to make a suggestion
for the consideration ofthe Speaker.
The Speaker said, if objection was
made, the gentleman could not proceed.
Mr.. Stanley objected.
Mr.. Thompson, Of Mississippi. |
consider that the point l have raised de-
cides the whole question.
Mr.. Stanley. | call for the regular
order of business.
Mr. Duer, Ito the Speaker Has
objection been made to the reception of
the memorial offered by the gentleman
from Oregon? Mr.. Thurston..
The Speaker. The memorial was re-
ceived under the unanimous consent Of
the House, and the gentleman from Or
egon Mr.. Thurston moved that it be
referred to the Committee on the Terri
tories. The gentleman from Mississip-
pi Mr.. Thompson raises the point of or
der that Delegate from Territory is
not entitled to make a motion, and,
therefore, that the motion Of reference
made by the gentleman from Oregon is
not in order.
Mr.. Duer. The memorial may nc
doubt be presented, hut | concur in the
opinion that the Delegate cannot move
to refer it,
The Speaker. The point of order
made by the gentleman from Mississippi
Mr.. Thompson has not, to the know
ledge of the Chair, been decided until
few days since, when it was decided in
Committee of the Whole on the state Of
the Union. Ifthis were an original pro-
position presented for the first time, and
there are no rules of the House which,
in the opinion of the Chair, controlled
the question, the Chair would be strong
ly inclined to coincide in the decision Of
the chairman of the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, in the
construction Of the law of 1917, and
which decision was sustained by the
committee. But the practice of the
House for great length oftime, so far
as the Chair has any knowledge, has
from the organization of the territorial
governments, been different And, in
addition to this, the rules Of the House,
in the opinion of the Chair. expressly
provide for motions to be made by the
Delegates from Territories.
The twenty-sixth rule of the House
provided that &c all the States and Terri
tories shall be called for resolutions on
each alternate Monday during each ses-
sion of Congress. Now, if it is made
the duty Of the Chair torall each Ter
rtory upon each alternate Monday