The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
HOUSE OF REpR EsENTATIvEs.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1850.

TUESDAY, AUGUST ~, 1901.
| Mr. Grinnell said that as there was vacancy
| in the Committee on Commerce. eauspd by I'll
resignation of Mr. Conrad of Louisiana he woul,
move that the Speaker be authorized to fill tn
vacancy; which motion was agreed to.
Mr. Thurston, by unanimous consent, presente,
the memorial of the Legislative Assembly of Or
egon Territory, praying for donation of land L
settlers, &c; which he moved be referred to tn
Committee on Territories.
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi remarked that
day or two since it was decided by the COMMITTEE
Of the Whole on the state of the Union that
Territorial Delegate could not make motion
This decision has been made against his opinion
and, in order that Delegates might understand
their rights he raised the question of order
whether Delegates could make motion.
Mr.. Ashmun did not understand the facts to bt
as stated by the gentleman from Mississippi The
Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union decided that on matters of general policy a
Delegate had no right to make motion.
Mr.. Thompson of Mississippi said that the law
allowed a Delegate TO participate in debate, but
not to vote His opinion was that the word
"debateo was of universal construction, and in
cluded every right Of a member except the single
one of voting. lie insisted upon it that If a Del
egate could make motion to refer memorial he
could make motion on any other subject, and
especially on bill which referred to the interests
of the Territory which he represented
Mr.. Stanly rose to question of order He
submitted whether this discussion was in order ?
The Speaker replied that the debate was not
in order and if objected to, 1t could not pro-
coed.
Mr.. Stanly objected, and called for the regular
order of business
Mr.. Albertson moved to refer the memorial to
the Committee on Public Lands
The Speaker stated that the question Of refer
ence could not be considered now, and proceeded
to decide the point Of order made by the gentle
man from Mississippi II this was an original
question, (said he,) presented for the first time,
and there was no rule of the House controlling II,
the Chair would be inclined strictly TO- coincide
in the opinion of the Chairman of the Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union in the con-
struction of the law of 1917. But the practice of
the House had been different for great length Of
time-as far as the Chair knew, from the organi
zation of Territorial Governments to the present
time-and, in addition, the rules Of the House ex-
pressly provided for motions 10 be made by Dele
gates BY the Goth rule, IL WAS provided that all
the States and Territories shall he called for res
olutons and petitions on each alternate Monday
during the session of Congress II was made the
duty Of the Chair to call each State and Territory
on each alternate Monday for resolutions. For
what purpose was the Territory called, unless the
Delegate could rise and present resolution He
could not ask any other member Of the House TO
offer it, because no other member could offer II
except when his own State was called Unless,
therefore the del, ~te Was sNthorized to present
resolutions when his Territory was called, there
was no use in calling it. The Chair was OF opin-
ion that Delegate could Offer resolution and 1t
could not discriminate between motion in rela-
ting to his own Territory and motion relating
to any other business before the House. The rule
did not limit debate to questions arising in rela-
ton TO his own Territory. The rule was general
For these reasons the Chair overruled the point
of order raised by the gentleman from Mis-
sissippi.
The subject was debated by Messrs. Burt and
Duer, when
Mr.. Boyd moved the previous question, which
was seconded.
The question was then put, "Shall the decision
Of the Chair stand as the judgment Of the Com
mittee1 " and II was decided in the affirmative
by the following vote, Yeas ll6, nays 81.
So the decision of the Chair WAS sustained, and
il was decided that Delegate had right to make
a motion.
The question being on the motion Of Mr.. Thurs
ton, to refer the memorial to the Committee on
Territories
MIR. Albertson moved that Il be referred to the
COMMITTEES on Public Lands.
The question was first taken on the motion Of
Mr.. Thurston, and 1t was agreed to.
On motion Of MIR. Colt, the House then went
into Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, lMr. Burt Of South Csrolius In the chair
and resumed the confederation Of the bill making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expen-
ses Of Government for the year ending 3Oth Of
June, 1881
The Committee was engaged for some length Of
time in examining the items Of the BILL of no ssn-
era interest after which Il rose reported progress
aud the House adjourned.