The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-19

the rest will read il This petition requested Con-
gress to establish unaic asylum for the benefit OF
members Of Congress and that certain be
fined therein 10 prevent their doing injury TO themselves
their friends or the eountry goes on TO signify the
head be Immediately shayen and that he be put upon cold
MIR. CLAY Mr. President, the senator has raised a
point OF orders and presume that the senator from M
nos, ISir DouoIAs,l after moments reflection. will
see il cannot lie The proposition refer this resou
ton to committee OF thirteen. believe that propo
sition truly to be this When the amendment was made
10 the resolution we acting upon this subject is
like what we call in law plea in abatement; Tor used
10 know something OF law some time ago. Perhaps ac-
cording TO strict parliamentary usage, the first motion
should have beer to take up the resolutions offered by
the senator from Tennessee. Mr. BELLl and then TO
move to refer them. The motion was made TO refer
them when the question made at that time about
The proprety OF making such motion, without formal
motion To take up the resolutions for the purpose OF dis
cussing the matter. Having now had the resolution all
cepea, think my friend from Illinois [Mr. DoUoLAsl
will concur with me in perceiying that il is rather loo
late.
wish, however, while am up, with the permission
OF the Senate, to make observation two. The
proposition now is totally different from those we have
been voting for to day The propositions upon which
we were voting to day, measures OF restriction
the proposition in the nature OF enlargement
OF their powers without restriction. What is IL sir
II is refer all these petitions to committee, TO be con-
Sir, know my honorable friend from Alabama Mr..
KIscl and myself have differed have regretted and
felt il 10 be misfortune that we have differed about the
cned to camor and reproach Congress upon the subject
Of petition but il is precisely upon that same principle
that now trust that all opposiIont 70 the reference Of the
petitions may be Withdrawn. Sir, congratulate YOU
congratulate the nation, upon the prospect 81 hna
and amicable settlement OF this question. believe u
will be made with the concurrence OF this body this
week, and will meet patriotic disposition trust, IN
the majority in this and the other House. When these
questions are settled, want no man TO 90 home and
make just such speech upon the stump as ne honorable
want no man TO go home and say to his people, in the
endeavor to excite them, "Why, your petitions were
with the dd They d
to refer them TO the committee to which the subect-ma
tiers Of the petitions referred with which they have
u
speech but think could take up that theme and warm
animate, and exasperate public assembly very much.
Let The petitions GO They will do no harm. trust that
such committee will be appointed as will recon
mend no mischevous measures; and whereas do fear
the non-reerence Of these generally. hope they will
be referred, satisfaction throughout this country
do not want this to be left theme to address muudes
upon.
the experience and judgment OF the honorable senator
from Kentucky, INF. CLAY But upon this question.
constrained say, that differ with him altogether.
sir Why have these petitions been referred to stand
ion of slavery in the District of Columbia to the Com
mittee the District OF Columba and those praying
for the abolition of slavery in the forts and arsenas to
the Committee on Military Affairs; and others to their
proper committees, having reference TO these subjects!
understand, sir, that il has not been done because
the Senate has always wished 70 intimate to pela,-
that subjects they will not consider the subjects en-
braced in these petitions They have been received and
laid upon the table by the consent of the Senate without
vote Now, it is proposed give them the dignity Of
reference to special committee Why sir, 1t is utterly
ide-in van--if know anything Of humanity, and espe.
cally OF that perverse humanity from which petitions OF
this MI Do Them
by course Of this kind' | apprehend that know
little OF humanity do not say pervesse humanity to
apply to the senator, who makes this motion; but does
the senator from Kentucky Mr. Clay suppose he
induce him refrain from exciting and disturbing his
constituents upon these qnesions' No, sir What has
been said upon this floor by other senators true that
element is the alimeni politically, upon which they feed
trust the petitions will not be taken up and that will
NJ The VICE PREsIDENf The Chair begs leave to
state that il must be decided whether this motion is in
order before there can be further debate.
Mr. DOUGLAS Mr. President; concur cur fully with
refer the bills would be equivalent TO motion TO take
up from the table. Upon that point we agree Then the
motion OF the senator from Mississippi INT FoorE to
refer his resolutions motion TO take them but
the upon the reference has not yet been TAKEN hence
is precisely in the position as ii there was motion
argument shows that these resolutions taken up
and il was upon that ground yesterday that was ruled
out of ORDER and could not make speech upon his
olutions because they were not taken up. II was
ton TO take them up Now, sir therefore make this
point OF orders these resolutions have not been taken
up they are not before the Senate and precisely in the
position of the petitions alluded to by the senator from
New Hampshire, mir. HALEl | have desire to
these petitions referred not in favor OF the refer
ence but really do wish TO uniform decision
know the Chair does, and the Senate does upon the
points OF order growing out OF this question.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair begs leave to
state the point OF order, and give his decision.
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi Mr. President, wish to
offer a suggestion.
The VICE PRESIDENT The Chair begs leave TO
the point OF erder II is not open for debate until
the Chair states it, The Chair begs leave to remind the
Senate that the proposition refer is collateral propo
stion and il IL comes under the previous question: IL
will be cut of by that previous question; | fore,
myself conceive that there is question lying back OF
The motion to refer In this case il would be the ques.
ton upon the resolutions Now, it is moi parliamentary
two independent bills under consideration at the
time. IL is not permitted by parliamentary rule. When
any subject is under consideration, motion may be
made to refer ii but it does not extend 10 anything that
is not under consideration This collateral motion,
and the proper motions take The preference in relation 10
it, The Chair will read the rule;
When question is under debate no motion shall be
ceived but adjourn lie the table, postpone indie a.
ntely, postpone a day certain. 10 commit, or 10
the order they stand arranged and noon LOT adjourn
nen shall always lie 10 order and be decided without de-
bate.
Therefore, the Chair is Of The opinion that the point
had been made when the motion made TO refer these
several sets OF resolutions, they not under
sderaon, and could not be- by the Senate at the same
time, the objection would have been well taken and the
Senate would have been compelled 10 refer each set il
does each bill, by itself.
The motion nov refer The pptitions lxinr unon