The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
rHr ousA rrvAs,or ppoJscr. a

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THE cuBA INVASION PRoJHcr. 2a
Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi, asked the general
consent of the House to introduce resolution,
which was read for information, calling upon the
President of the United States to communicate to
the House, if, in his opinion, the public interests
would not be injured thereby, the evidence in his
possession Of a considerable number of men, last
summer, fitting out military expedition TO invade
the island of Cuba, and that he communicate copies
Of all instructions given to Commander Randolph,
any other commander, concerning such expedi-
ton and all the correspondence relating thereto; and
that he also communicate to the House copies of
all orders and instructions, and correspondence
with those assembled on Round Island in the sum-
of lS49 including copies of the correspondence
between the President or heads of Departments,
with the Governor Of Mississippi.
The resolution was objected to, and lies over un-
der the rule.
pooRKEEPER AND POSTMASTER, zg
Mr.. BURT called for the orders of the day, and
insisted upon ii. aA 5w }tf N9 EmEEB
The SPEAKER stated that the business first in
order the motion of Mr.. AsHMUN to lay upon
the table his motion to reconsider the vote to post
pone, till the first of March, 1851 the election OF
Doorkeeper and Postmaster of the House.
Mr.. ROBINSON moved that there be call OF the
House; and, on this motion, 7
Mr.. BURT asked for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered; and being taken, resultcd-yeas ~,
So the House refused a call of the House.
The question then REQUIRED on the motion OF
Mr.. AsHMuS-to lay on the table his motion to re.
consider the vote by which the House postponed
the election of Doorkeeper and Postmaster until
the first of March, 1851.
1t was decided in the afiirmative--yeas LOG, nays
l04.
Mr.. BURT rose to a question of privilege The
vote which had just been taken postponed the cleo.
ton of Doorkeeper and Postmaster TO a period
within day two Of the expiration of the consti-
tutional term of the House. He submitted, with
hat vt,no mt crlrh
officer as Doorkeeper Postmaster and, before
he took his seat, il the Chair agreed with him that
this il matter Of privilege, he should offer rcso-
luton which provides for the contingency which
exists The Doorkeeper is Of the officers of the
House. The Office was created at the first session
of the FIRST Congress, in 1889.
Mr.. ASHMUN called the gentleman to order.
Mr.. BURT did not wish 10 proceed unless in or
der. He had stated a matter Of privilege, and
thought that the gentleman from Massachusetts
had heard him. He then offered a resolution--that
this House, having postponed until the LIST Of March,
1851, the election Of Doorkeeper and Postmaster,
the Sergeant-at-arms perform the duties of the
first named Office until a Doorkeeper shall be
elected.
The SPEAKER decided that the resolution was
in order.
Mr.. AsHMUN inquired on what groundi
The SPEAKER. The House. by its vote, has
postponed the election of Doorkeeper and Poetmas-
ter until March, 1851 Until that time arrives, it
viii not be in order to move to proceed to the cleo
ton Of these oficers. But it would be in order to
move the appointment Of a temporary officer until
then. The position occupied by the present Door
keeper and Postmaster Ia this these officers were
elected by the last House Under the practice of
until now, the old officers have continued 10 dis
charge their duties until their successors were elect
ed and the Chair thinks that they until their
ance and viii Of the House They are not clearly
elected officers Of the House and the House, in its
Organization, IL being question Of privilege, can
provide that any other officer shall discharge the
duties Of Boorkcepcr. ~ fta.t3 l.lfa
Mr. AsHMUN asked the Chair on what ground
the resolution was in order. The Chair had given
a construction Of some rule. What right has the
gentleman from South Carolina to offer the resolu-
ton syslr
The SPEAKER. On the ground of the question
of privilege. Suppose the House were without OH
GERS ALI would IL not be aqucstion of privilege TO
effect an clcctionl Suppose the House wanted TO
remove an officer, would IL not be competent 10 do
soS Uf1lN $3.50. W NlIN
Mr. AsHMUN understood the Chair TO say that
there were persons 10 perform, the dutics. The gen
teman from South Carolina contends that they are
not officers; and IL would be making new rule, to
require the Sergeant alarms 10 perform the duties
of Doorkccpcr. He appealed from the decision OF
the Chair He claimed that the decision was en-
tirely wrong, because no gentleman, without sus-
pension ofthe rule, rise and offer q resolution OF
this kind. No standing rule be altered with
out giving notice Of one day. t
Mr.. BAYLY thought that the gentleman was
clearly wrong, and contcnded that the House might,
at any time, remove officer, and devolvc his du-
tics on another officer. a3,l 8'I
Mr. p. KING said that they had been for several
weeks attempting TO organize the House. The real
difficulty was, that the friends of slavery both
sides Of the Ho~se were unwilling 10 vote for any
man opposed to slavery.
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman that
the resolution did not open the question of slavery
Mr.. McLANE, of Maryland, called the gentleman
from New York 20 order. i.t.t llIt tl
The SPEAKER repeated that he was out Of
order. UEf. .s1l4
Mr.. KING said that he was sitting what he be-