Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-22

for ITSELF while there is enough to call the yeas and
nays to vote each for itself. All this must be APP
parent And now, sir why persevere in endeavourng
get declaration from the Senate which is to cut off
parliamentary proceeding when you cannot do it =
1t will end in impotency OF that gentleman may rest
assured It's the first time that such thing
attempted in the American Senate. 1t is cutting off
from elaboration 1t is cutting OIL from right
ofnstruction, and it is torestaing debate. 1t is an
sumption the like OF which never before was known in
this body.
Now sir this great committee-we have had their
name in the newspapers though they have not yeti been
elected by the Senate. Grant that they have all the
wisdom OF the Senate, and will carry it out with them;
yet the Senates not to declare upon this that
it could give them no instruction. They are not
to adopt resolution which admits that the Senate can
not enghten them at all 1t is for the Senate to say
that they would sit here in Egyptian darkness until the
committee comes in and Eliminates the chamber
And now lift should be the fact that every thing is fea-
have nothing do in the world after it goes out but to
come back agan-like the French king who marched
up the hill and down again-if such should be the CASE
should be produced aud let us have the ILLUMINATION from
would better become the American Senate thait
it at oncel be better TO produce the report at
once and act this bill for the admission OF California
as it came alopgl
Sir the going out of that committee from this cham
Der might excite alarm throughout the country What
do we suppose il we see a physician fastening to
house Why that somebody is sick there but we are
not yet alarmed. But if two doctors going there
we suppose the case is difficult And if we see
four five, six doctors collecting at the house,
conclude Immediately that somebody is dying at
thai house. Now, SIR if this great number OF political
doctors are to sit on the body Of the republic what will
the country suppose but that the poor republic IS al Inc
last gasp and that takes thirteen doctors to set upon
the case and save the patient Sir, it IS to alarm me
country. tell you from this proceeding there must be
an alarm, there must be laugh. One or the other
there must be. From the sublime to the ridiculous is
only step; and what in this case must have con-
vulsed the country in the beginning has got where
step would cover it with ridicue. Sir, suppose tins
committee goes out and comes back with report, and
suppose it is nothing more nor less than TO TINS
Senate into the old blacksmith shop at Gretna Green
and making them join parties together, whether GOD
sanctioned it not suppose the committee comes
back with report cut and dried tor the purpose OF o
ing California four or five measures which the Senate
and the House have been talking OF for four or hye
months past suppose they bring back nothing but what
already prepared and which is upon all our tables IN
what position will this great committee be! We have
read of the mountain that was labor and thatwa de-
lvered of But was at least 1--we mouse or
the fable says it run. But here it seems that gentlemen
to bring out something that has been lying on our
tables SO long that it is deada combination OF mea-
sues which have been so long born that they are lying
helpless in their cradles Sir, there is no medium The
country if not alarmed, must laugh But am against
making what is equivalent to proclamation declaring
the country in danger The sending out OF such COM
mee this precisely the Senates max
ing proclamation in solemn torn that me republic Is
in danger and then almost giving the d,catora power
of seeing the republic sustained to committee am
against king this proclamation. do not believe the
republic in danger to- day. believe there mas oeen
|
providing remedy now, would be the providing OF
remedy for what is past do not hold that the coun-
try is in danger now, and do not think that we ought
to undertake alarm the country by the solemn form OF
setting thirteen physicians to consult over the critical and
dying condition OF the State and to come IN with nos
trum to save her Why sir, it will be very ludcrous
thing if this committee shall come IN with our old nos
trum If they should come in with scheme to JOIN all
these bills together it will put us in ludlcrous position,
and in which we ought not to be placed II gentle
men wish to unite other measures with California let
ltha he Cali
propositions and the opinion OF the Senate can De taken
upon hem as the Senator from Kentucky animated
ing in such manly and parliamentary manner. That
| is the right way to DO.
Now, sir, this thing which is called an amendment
but which is nothing but declaration an independent
resolve-such one would be perfectly proper to be
adopted in caucus, but which cannot he adoped IN
the Senateths independent resolve. that we Will give
no instructions of any kind whatsoever TO guide the COM
mttee why sir, although the Senate may vote 1t, they
cannot prevent from undertaking to give instructions
to guide the committee and although 10 point OF TACT
no OF may be able to suggest an instruction that
could guide this great committee, yet in the parliament
tary sense we can-under the parliamentary law, We
have right to offer instructions to guide the commit
tee And who is it, Mr.. President that makes tins mo-
ton that the committee shall not be guided! hope no
one of the thirteen who be that committee un-
dertakes to maintain this resolution; Tor, SIR although
may be true true as gospel that they are superior 10
the rest of the Senate and that we cannot guide them
at ALL yet they should not tell as So 1t IS we who
should disuuay ourselves and no one OF that thirteen
in INV opinion should vote. Decacy, reserve decorum
should make them stand OIL and refuse TO vote of re-
solution which would stuufy all the other members OF
the body They should leave it to ourselves to stnly
ourselves. ~.
| have taken up more time than intended on this
preminary point. | consider. it wholly nugaory, tnat,
after what is called an amendment but is nothing but
resolve to govern the action OF the Senate sna! pe
voted upon and adopted-as may be, though, Think
ifthe thirteen gentlemen who to compose the commit,
tee will abstain from voting, it will not be adopted and
really delicacy, think, should forbid them to vote
after all that DONE say it nugatory tor we shall
undertake to exercise our pafhanthtaly ls VI 1iie.
been here lust about long enough to know how TO do
it. and to get vote upon every instruction IN some
form other that lies upon the table ana upon every
instruction that may hereafter be offered
/, Mr. CLAY am very sorry Mr.. President, Tor this
unnecessary consumption OF the time OF the Senate put
there two three remarks winch the honorable pc
naor from Missouri has made, which seem to me to re-
uure some notice. The honorable Senator has spoken
Of caucus and intmated that there has been one o
what authority does the Senator make such an asset
ton | now pronounce it mistake, an a1solqs ano
entire mistake There has been caucus that know
Of although, God knows, would attend a caucus o.
any and every body settle this most unhappy
which is now dsracting the country, ana "ouu al
tend il without anv feeling ofreproach from whatever
quarter if mioht be- yentured to be hurled The honor
able Senator speaks of his rights. Yes Sir and other
's as we'll prepared as the Senator from Missouri is
10 assert theirriehs And the Senate has its rights
Now, sir | putt to the Senate and the country, what
has been the progress OF TINS matter Inc oenaloi
from Missouri proposes an amendment embracing tour
propositions, and as sort of menace suppose, he
shells out eight or ten Others and speaks of his having
others yet in reserve Well, my dear sir,-Mr Press
dent meau-has not this body right protect itself
has not the majority of this Senate right to say whe
Their they will or will not create committee lwithou
any Instructions The resolution will be adopted :,
The Senator offers his set OF amendmens-ior the
purpose will not saw because have right TO gono
the intention of the Senatorbut the effect OF them
would be delay procrastnaon embarrassment and and
dnced AGAINST these distinct and emphatic expressions Of
the opinion OF the majority OF this body The question
then comes to this whether the Senate shall or shall no
have the powell speak always OF the majority OF ht
Senate-to actl saw sir, it ought have it, and
care not by what name you call it, The previous ques
aG; many ose w s e Ibis ee SusS
. mode Of terminating useless and unnecessary debat
in his house In my reflections upon the past in re
v spect to my parliamentary career-my Congresslona
career-I look back with more satisfaction tha
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