Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30


MI HOLMES moved that committee OF five be appoint
ed by the gentleman presiding the House (Mr.
WsTHRor TO investigate the charges made against the ho
norabe Speaker by the honorable PREsToS KING, mem
ter of this House.
Mr.. RICHARDSON suggested that the committee should
Mr.. HOLMES accepted the modification.
After few suggestions by Mr. McCLERNAND,
Mr. COBB, OF Georgia. (he sPeaker) desired to make
explanation Of this matter.
The SPEAKER stated that, by unanimous consent the
Speaker Of the House would be allowed address House
Mr.. COBB then and addressed the House nearly as
follows:
do not desire be understood as inteposing any OBJ
lection to the committee moved by the gentleman South
Carolina but il is important, conceive that simple
statement of what has occurred should go before the public
connection with the charge which has been by gen.
eman from New York. On the day indicated the gentleman
rose to privileged question. under the rules Of the House.
to offer the usual resolution close the debate the ques
ton pending before the Committee Of the Whole the state
OF the Union. As you, sir, and the House aware,
1t resolution very frequently offered and resolutions TO
terminate debate, in blank always kept for gentlemen
who desire to offer one. When the gentleman from New
York and osred the esoun he had reduced to-
writing, but requested the Clerk to do directed that it.
should be done by the Clerk. The gentleman Immediately
made motion to lay the resolution the table, which
passed by the House before the resolution had been w
ten by the Clerk the table, Subsequently sent word
one Of the clerks that the resolution read stop
debate the California message and directed it, Tho
eunazng clerk did not hear the direction given the read
ing clerk and the resolution filed up by him. You and
the House know that my duty Speaker the
journal Of the House. It is read the morning after the
adjournment When the journal road the succeeding
morning the resolution stop the debate the Pes
dents message and the California BILL then pending before
the Committee of the Whole the state Of the Unon
instructed the Clerk to strike out BILL giving him reason
for not entertaining the motion include the BILL namely,
that privileged question to stop debate the
message, because had been referred to the committee by
the House but the bill had been before the House,
and the House had parliamentary knowledge Of the PEN
dency Of the BILL could entertain privileged mo-
ton resolution to terminate the debate on it, This cor
recton made my room and the Journal corrected,
read the next morning the House. The circumstances
occurred Just have narrated them. have nothing more
to say.
MI p KING said that he had very high respec, for the
Speaker of the House, but that his opinions such that
be could for him. AS he had stated, the object
to smother the California bill in committee. He had offered
his resolution for the purpose of getting vote on the bill
without connexon with any other matter.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, inquired il the gentleman
fom New York drew up the resolution at all
Mr. KING replied that the Clerk did.
Mr. STEPHENS inquired if he saw the resolution after II
was voted on
Mr. KING replied in the negative.
| Mr.. STEPHENS inquired if the blank was filled up
Mr.. KING stated that the Clerk directed to fill up the
resolution by the Speaker in accordance with his motion He
had idea that it filled up When he made the mo-
ton he stated it distinctly Having found it in ORDER he
then moved to lay it the table. He desired vote the
| bill in the House where the could be recorded
Mr.. HOLMES said that, it obvious, after the state
ment made by the honorable Speaker there founda
ton for the charge he would withdraw his motion appoint
| committee.
Mr. BAYLY then obtained the floor, but yielded to
Mr. BURT who offered the following resolution
RESOLVED That the charge made against the Speaker this
House of mutang the Journal of the House. by Mr. PREs
TON KING, member from the State OF New York. by his
own statement without the color OF foundation
Mr.. BAYLY said that this resolution met very much the
objection he about make the motion of Mr. HoLMEs,
for the that this scandaous charge would go upon the
Journal where would endure forever while the reuation Of
made this morning would live in fleeing newspapers only
He not willing that the Journal should carry the charge
posery unless vote of this House upon appeared
with it. baser charge made.
The SPEAKER mr. WISTHRop] stated that the gentle
man must refrain from personal remarks.
Mr. BAYLY begged the pardon Of the House, and spoke
urther in favor of the resolution of Mr. BURT.
Mr. STEPHENS. of Georgia. felt satisfied that when the
charge made the gentleman from New York labor
ing under mistake, and moved the previous question.
Mr.. sTANLY, after few remarks, moved to lay the
whole matter on the table.
Mr.. SCHENCK appealed to gentlemen to withdraw their
motions He did want to be put in false position he
wished to acqut the Speaker
Messrs. STEPHENS and STANLY then withdrew their
motions
Mr.. SCHENCK believed that the Speaker had done no
thing but what he had right do and ought have DONE
This House knew nothing Of the California bill a bill.
The bill having originated in the Committee of the Whole
the state of the Unon the House had cognzance Of it.
He thought the Speaker right in ruling the resolution
Of ORDER He satisfied with the explanations Of the
Speaker and Of the gentleman from New York, and thought
that the House ought pass resolution acqu tho
Speaker but that should be only resolution declaring that
the Speaker had done nothing wrong He would lay
the present resolution the table, If 1t pressed
Mr. INGE asked the gentleman from New York to with
draw his charge
Mr. P. KING stated that If there any doubt in the
minds of the House the Speaker about the resolution the
question of order should have been raised when the motion
made. When he into the Clerks office yesterday
he found his motion changed. He had doubt that the
declaration of the Speaker He had very high
spect for that gentleman but thought he had done wrong
Mr.. suggested TO Mr.. BURT to modify his
solution strike out the words by his statement"
Mr. BURT said that it not his purpose censure
the gentleman from New York. and he The
modification
Mr. WENTWORTH next obtained the floor, but yielded
Mr. SCHENCK, who offered the following substitute
to the resolution offered by Mr.. Bear:
Resope, That after hearing the statement made by the
honorable PRESTON KINs, member Of tn House. who has
explanation of the SPEAKER the House perfectly satisfied
there exists for casting Speak
err but that he did only what right and proper him
to do in the discharge of his duty presiding officer the
correction Of the Journal
| Mr.. WENTWORTH thought that this matter was mere
y misunderstanding between the Speaker and the gentle
man from New York. He would vote for any resolution
exoDeatng the SPEAKER but voting would be very
careful in not voting for that would gentleman
from New York.
Mr.. HOLMES then renewed bis motion that committee
eff nine be appointed by the gentleman presiding over the
House, (M WISTHHoP,) to investigate the charges made
against the honorable SPEAKER by the honorable PREsro
KISs, a member OF this House.
| Mr.. VENABLE satisfied that the Speaker not only
did what II his right do, but what it was his duty 10
do. He wished the subject 60 to committee grave
charge had been made against the Speaker which would 20