The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-23

kan hyial
wi ps ssoaioT Knows that we do adhere the cal
anaar The Senate never has. and II Will not lott Now
M there three abslrac, resolutions which nave peeh
oduesd al an early period OF this session. out OF which
M earthly good result, and upon which we cannon
nossbly agree These resolutions have been discussed
Two of them day after day, and that too, against the an
Gent usage OF the Senate, upon Fridays ana oauuay
aud from until o'clock each day The hossulh Ieso
luton the Compromise resolution ana me plieh ie S
luton yet 10 come up and be discussed week al,e
week Abstract resolutions have precedence oil o'hef mat
ters They either made the special order rom day 10
day until the final vote IS taken or ihey are taken up IN m
morning hour and the discussion upon them runs through
Another matter This very resolution is universally
adopted not early period OF The session, but To-
wards the close OF the AT every session since
have had the honor 10 be member OF the Senate SIM
lar resolution has been adopted but instead OF adopting
10 the early paI OF the session, has been adopted al
the close of the session, setting apart Friday aud Sa'nr
DAY. Friday Saturday, for the consideration OF pm
yste business
Mr. ATCHS0N. Just so and at the last session there
was not single private claim from any committee passed
in its order Let us fix aday and The private business WI
be disposed Of and these claims settled one way or The
other The calendar and the committee rooms VIII no
longer be bndened with them know that claims have
been presented by the Committee on Indian Affairs iha
would have passed this body without objection II they
would have given them five minutes consideration ms
done al the short session. never can be done al
the short session. nor sir at the long session. un
less adopt resolution similar TO that presented by the
senator from Maryland, [Mr PRArT.l
5a Mr.. HUNTER concur with what has been said ey
relation this rule. believe that II we look to the m
teTssts OF private claimants they will be worse OIL after
the rule shall be adopted then under the present rule
happened have Witnessed the operation OF this rule
in the House OF Representatives; and the effect OF VIII
be this that when any other matter OF interest arises the
resolution will be aside, the private bills will be ne
elected and we shall go with il just we do now. The
effect OF it will be that they will lose the day set apart
for them, and will not be taken up upon any other day
That is the effect in the House Oh course, II we adhere
to the calendar the Senate ought TO do and as trust
they will do hereafter, shall reach the bills in their
order and they will thus be sooner disposed oil than u
Withdrawn as we propose to withdraw them there Is
much in the objection urged by the from Massa-
chgsetts Mr. DAVIS that we sci aside particular days,
the probability is that We shall hardly ever have quo
rum of the Senate here. And not only that but II is the
custom of the Senate 10 adjourn these days very
much of the time for the first few months OF the session.
Therefore think thai if this principle continues, pri
vate claimants will be much worse OH under this rule
than they would be under the old usage of the Senate
Mr.. HAMLlN. | shall vote for This Teso ulion, and
wish assign in bre "a possible, two or
three of the reasons which induce thus give my
vote. do not concur in my recollection with the sem
ato from Virginia TO the propriey and operation OF
separate rule IN the House OF Representatives think
hazard very e in declaring that, without that rule in
the House, private claims would get hearing there
at all, and that the only hearing they have al all in that
body is by virtue OF the existence OF that very rule. II
we could adopt the suggested by the honorable
senator's from Massachusetts and North Carolina, would
most cheerfully cooperate with them but the practice
OF the Senate shows conclusvely that we cannot ad
here TO the rules OF the Senate. Why, sir, what is
there upon your table at this present moment There
are four special assignments which have overdden the
rules OF the Senate. That is practical commentary
upon adherng TO the rules OF the Senate as the senator
from Massachusetts Mr. DAvIs] and the senator from
North Carolina Mr.. MANGUMl have suggested There
are four special assignments, OF them we'll com
mented upon by the senator from Missouri MIR, ATcHI
soNl as being not only useless, but worse than useless
There another reason Tor The OF this resou
ton, and one, think, which commends itself 10 thu
good sense of every senator There were few private
claims which received the favorable action OF the Senate
at the last session. How was 1t effected? BY persona
controversy among senators here 10 what should ge
the priority in the businessby struggle for The floor
and upon an attempt to ge, acoE upon particular bll
upon which senators might feel interest TO the exclu
sion OF others in which other senators felt interest
Hence the calendar abandoned, and senator's strug
nary A few bills did get through, but not with
out great struggling. There few of us, and wa
one OF the number, who opposed every departure from
the calendar. | stood IN my place, and by my vote op
posed every such attempts and until we were absolutely
prostraed attempted 10 get the rules OF the Senate
forced for the purpose of dsposing OF the calendar in III
order. What the result lilile band OF us wer
disposed to adhere TO the order Of business and 10 taxi
up as was upon the calendar but special order afte
special order was piled up upon your table. The ordna
ny course OF business was not pursued bu, the Senate
refused, time after me TO pursue the regular order o
business and to take it up. What has been the pracuc
OF the Senate for the last five six years think we ma
expect will be the action of the Senate. When we loo
al the fact that there four special orders upon In
calendar, and one OF them private CLAIM and when
take notice of the fact that has been usual TO set apar
day for the consideration OF private bills, think W
may well adopt this rule. There is an obligation upo
Inc part OF SENATORS, 10 lnese
and instead OF repeating further Arguments beg TO EN-
dorse every word which has fallen from the senator iron
Maryland, [Mr. PRATTl There is an obligation whic
rests upon us that the general government shall discharg
Its Indebtedness some OF those where the claim
are Just and unQuestionabe. True il is tina, there ar
many private claims which OF disputed character
Let us al least vote upon them after our committees hay
made their examination.
MIR MANGUM Every gentleman who has spokel
upon this subject except one, believe adm the sound
ness OF the rule OF adhering TO the calendar; and be
leve that every argument 10 induce The Senate 10 adop
this resolution which changes that proceeds upo
the assumption that the Senate will iao do lis duty.
will not be discoureous 10 act upon any such
sumption. ] hope that while the Senate is well con
vinced OF the proPrey OF taking up the calendar in III
order, they will adopt this additional rule of order
that no bill resolution shall be taken OF its course
except with the concurrence OF twohirds oil the body
majority OF the body regulates the OF business
now; but of iwo-ihirds could only be obtained il
case where the eygency OF the occasion would sppea
10 the whole body, and would satisfy the whole body o
the justice OF the exception. | am perfectly satisfied
here, that II private claimants wish their business Il
pass through they should encourage an adherence tc
the rules OF the Senate for If this is DONE all will be
accomplished admit, sir, that ! have witnessed wha
regard very disreputabe proceedings in this body
when gentlemen were pressing for the precedence oil
the claims with which they charged, But hope
that majority OF the body will their faces against
lied upon 10 perform known duiy' II they will do So
THIS resolution is unnecessary for all the arguments in
favor OF the resolution, repeal proceed upon the
sumption that this body is not 10 be trusted fair and
honoiable discharge of It's obligations.
MT DoWNS deem II my duty, member Of two
Committees from which comes much OF the private bust
ness OF the Sehate-the Judiciary Committee and the
audi t,,,r