The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22
TUESDAY Auersr 10, 1850.

y
TUESDAY, AUeusr 10, 1880.
The Speaker announced reports to be in order
from select committees, when
MIR Jones, from the Committee on Rules, made
the following report
At the end of the proviso OF the twenty fourth
rule, witch is in the following words, viz:
aThat where debate is closed by order of the
House, any member shall be allowed, in commit
tee, five minutes to explain any amendment he
may offer,n insert as follows:
After which any member who shall first OBJ
tain the floor shall be allowed to speak five min
utes in opposition to it; and there shall be no
further debate on the amendment, but the same
privilege of debate shall be allowed in favor of
and against any amendment that may be offered
to the amendment and neither the amendment,
nor an amendment to the amendment, shall be
withdrawn by the mover thereof unless by the
unanimous consent Of the House"
MIR Jones said all were aware that, under the
rules, Ave minutes were allowed, after general
debate was closed, for explanation Of amendments
and all were aware that under this rule some of
the most business-lke and beneficial debates had
taken place but he thought that il had likewise
b. en- seen that this rule has been abused II was
originally intended, as all must know, to give the
mover of an amendment, particularly to appro-s
priation bills, an opportunity to explain All were
aware that amendments had been transferredfrom
one to another, and debate thus prolonged. This
report was from the Committee on Rules, and pro-
posed to extend the right Of a member offering an
amendment to make five minutes explanation TO
apy other member desiring to reply, and that then
there shall be no further debate. The same privi-
leee was to prevail with regard to an amendment
to an amendment; then the committee shall vote;
and the mover shall not be permitted to withdraw
il without the unanimous consent Of the commit
tee. He moved the previous question.
Mr.. Thompson Of Mississippi expressed the
hope that the gentleman, after making speech,
would withdraw the motion.
MIR. Jones did 80, merely to say that the report
was from the Committee on Rules, and was offer
ed for the purpose Of endeavoring to facilitate the
business Of the House; and they had instructed
him to demand the previous question.
A conversation ensued, after which MIR. Nc
Lane addressed the House at some length. He
was followed by
Mr.. Iuge, who concurred in the views expressed
by the gentleman from Maryland, Mr.. McLane.
The object is to gag the minority, and compel
them to submit to injurious, unjust, and hasty le-
Qislation and it WAS matter Of surprise to him
that the gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. Jones
should make himself instrumental in bringing
forward the proposition. He did not question
the right Of that gentleman to do so, but the gen.
tleman would find few members of the South who
have an identity Of interest with himself The
gentleman from Georgia, MIR Stephens, and the
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Kaufman, members
Of the Committee on Rules, were absent and he
v.~tarsa a. ..Pssss the opisio~ that --'.'.: -
| them would have assented to the proposition
they would have revolted at It. The proposition
is offensive because it accomplishes nothing, and
its object is insulting in its character. No mem
Der can hesitate to pronounce 1t as absurd, with
out referring to the sectional questions which in
fdence our judgment One branch is, that M
member shall withdraw an amendment.
| Mr. Ashmun said that he did not rise to dis
cuss the merits of the proposition, as II was Sc
plain and simple that the common sense Of the
| House could not fail perfectly to understand it
| He supposed that the reason why the previous
question was withdrawn this morning WAS to enable
| the gentleman from Maryland and the gentleman
from Alabama to make able and very lucid argu-
ments The House had listened to them, and
enjoyed all the light which these distinguish d
gentlemen were able to shed in opposition to the
amendment He would barely remark, in rela-
ton to the comments which the gentleman from
Alabama made on the committee, and the lecture
which he read to the gentleman from Tennessee,
Mr. Jones', as being the instrument-that Is to
say, the tool--in the hands Of the committee for
reporting measure designated as IN outrage on
see, IMr Jones, being Southern man, may take
the lecture to himself and receive It as he pleas
en-, and reply to ii it did not belong TO him, Mr..
Ashmun.l But he might, for the Information Of
the House, state that when the report was agreed
to In committee, there were present three North
ern and two Southern gentlemen, and they were
unanimous. The latter, he repeated, concurred
fully in the report, and therefore, il there has
been any outrage attempted on Southern rights,
as pretended by the gentleman from Alabama,
these two gentlemen were agents in the transac-
ton. After this plain statement, and with view
to close the debate, he would move the previous
question.
MIR. Holmes asked for the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Johnson of Arkansas moved that there be
q call Of the House.
The Speaker, in reply 10 q question, said that
as motion had been made TO recommit the report
presented this morning, If the House should pass
to the consideration Of other matters, this would
he morning-h hour business, and the first In order
when committees are again called
The question was taken, and call Of the House
refused--yeas 80, nays 1875.
Mr.. Bsyly said: This subject win come up to-
morrow, when the House will be In better hu-
NOR; therefore move that the House resolve It.
self into Committee Of the Whole on the state
Of the Union.
The motion was agreed TO, and the Committee
took up the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill
Mr.. Seldom Of Virginia occupied an hour In
the consideration of the message Of the President
with regard To the boundary Of Texas and New
Mexico, and in condemnation of the position as
sumed by the Executive, which he regarded az at
terly subversive Of the fundamental principles Of
our Government, and as tending to change the re-
publican from into one Of consolidation.
- "A - o An1 xuho tho( nm
mittee rose, and the House adjourned.
"WEDNESDAY, Aueusr II, 1850.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
FIVE minutes rule, and
Mr.. McIane, who yesterday moved TO recon-
NIT the report Of the Committee on Rules with
instructions. withdrew the motion.
Mr.. Festherston moved to lay the whole
subject on the table; but the motion was disagreed
to.
The previous question was then seconded
and, under It's operation the report OF the Com
mittee on Rules was agreed to-yeas liz,
nays Al.
Mr. Cobb Of Alabama moved to reconsider the
vote, but the motion did not prevail.
The House then resolved itself into Com
mittse Of the Whole, and took up the Civil and
Diplomatic bill Speeches were made oy M essrs.
Ashmun, Toombs, and Stevens Of Pennsylvanis
Mr.. Duer then obtained the door, when the
Committee rose.
Mr.. Jones asked leave TO offer the following
resolution. witch was read for information viz
Resolved, That the Committee for the Distric
Of Columbia be Instructed to inquire into the pro-
pristy Of rslisqashing TO the said District oil the
public iots owned by the United States In Wash
ton city for the use and support OF common schools
in the District.
Mr.. Hubbard objected to the introduction Of
the resolution.
The House then adI6prned.
THu,sp4 PSF is, 1850.
The House In d Nee OF the Whole took
nd the Civil and Dipiomatic Appropriated bill /;
,ksr sks dsh.ts unos tke pyesidsuts TEXAS and