Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15
FRIDAY, .Hau Esd. 1856,
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
PRAYER By the Rev. Dr. Howell Of the Baptist churcl
The journal of Yesterday was read and approved.
LIMITATION OF THE DEBATE.
Mr.. MILLER offered the following resolution

The journal Of Yesterday was read and approved.
! LIMITATION OF THE DEBATE
Mr.. MILLER offered the following resolution
R.soired, That no member shall speak more than
twice the question, in Committee OF the Whole.
Mr. WISE. l move 10 lay that resolution on the ia
| Bile.
| Mr. FERGUSON Does not the rule already adopted
apply the Committee Of the Whole we'll as 10 the
House understand that rule to be, that member
shall speak than twice the question, and
not more than until every member who desires TO
speak shall have spoken.
Mr. MILLER. 1t is not applicable to the committee
or else il Is never attended to-.
| Mr.. WATTS, of Norfolk. The gentleman from Ac-
comac had the rule divided so as to make the first part
OF il, that member should speak more than I'M
Ill every member who desired TO speak should have been
hcarappy TO the Committee OF the Whole
Mr.. WISE. withdraw the motion 10 lay upon the
table to make the observation that rs long Is live
will never the example in this country oil mparing
the freedom Of debate. You have now fixed fact in
the hour rule II you have the power to liz al one
hour you have the power to fix it at Ole minute Now.
it is oiteI necessary that may speak three
four times al Somctimest Is necessary.
We Offering amendments every one OF us. We wish
TO do our work intclliyiby ana for taking Time.
Nothing in the world digest matter well as de-
bate. II is all important to this commonwealth that
matters should be understood by ourselves II after
member has offered proposition and il has bex aSsail-
ed first BY one whom he has reply, and then by an
other and third and fourth and fifth perhaps OBJ
jectons multiplying which all be met-it he i cut
off from debate he defend his proposition 1t
country at this day, to assail in any the freedom
Of debate
Now, If YOU say that shall not -pcak nor
than twice, you say that he shall not speak once and
if you have the power limit him to the shortest posi-.
BILE period of time, the freedom Of speech and debate
where it is most valuable and most precos gone the
minority have Defence there is protection Of pub
lie liberty, and mere considerations Of time no mere
considerations of convenience or Impotence shall drive
me to assail principle that has been recognized from
the time Of magma charta down 10 this day As nne of
the most precious muniments opubiic liberty freedom Of
speech and the right Of debate. tell gentleman now,
that on this subject am rebel. loli tell M that
shall not speak here in this Convention. You NAV tell
me in vain, | want to dc it and Will do it.
Mr. FISHER. ] call the attention of the House 10
the fifth rule Of the Convention which is in these
words:
'sNo member shall speak more than iw,cs to the same
question without leave, than once until eYery
other member intending TO speak shall have spoken. i
| On the 9th of February Mr. FrLKEaso. Offered the
following resolution:
"Resoired That the 5th rule Of the rules and re.la-
tons Of the Convention be adopted to govern the Com
mttec Of the Whole"
Subsequently modification was offered By the een-
tlcman from Accomac. "Mr. WISE moved TO amend
the said resolution by substituting therefor the follow
ing:
Rfsolcrd, That so much OF tie 5th rule Of tho rules
member shall speak more than the same q,es-
tion until every other member intending 10 speak Shall
have Spoken be adopted to govern the Committee of the
Whole.
1.-The question upon the said amendment, b. ng put 10
the Convention, was decided in The affirmative
"The amendment rs amended was then adopei-aye=
20, noes CO.
Mr. WIlITTLE moved the previous question.
Mr.. MILLER. wish TO know iithe resolution which
offer is in substance the rule Of the house. because
ift is | wish to it enforced
The PRESIDENT. The distinction j. this. The 9Th
rule Of the Convention prescribes that
No member shall speak more than twice 10 the same
question without leave, than once until every
other member intending to speak shall have s1.keu -
The 9Th rule declares that,
1.-The rules of parliamentary practice. conrrised in
JeherSon's Manuel shall govern the Convention in all
cases to which they are applicable, and consistent with
the rules and orders Of the Conrepton
Under the 9th rule it would have hcrn hold ,h, in
committee Of the whole debate was not snh;ct -, Inn
itation under the 9th rule AS stated BY the gentleman
from Mason. Alr. FULKERsoN moved 10 nn5lv the 9Th
rule to the committee of the whole and the motion was
laid on the table II came up again on the next day
ton was this:
That so much Of the 5th ue Of the rules and repu-
latons Of the Convention prescribes thar no mem
Der shall speak more than 'once the same question
until every o'ei i'eh,"eF intending 10 speak shall
have spoken. be adopted govern the committee of the
whole.
In Committee ofthe Whole under tina. rule no mem
Der has right to speak more than once on the
question: until every other member desiring speak
spoken, but then thatns mbcr may speak again without
Leave.
The previous quessia was seconded and the main
question ordered. Thenain question was on the adop-
ton of MIR. MiLLER's resolution
Mr. WISE. mrie to lay the resolution on the 10.
Bile.
The PREs1DEN14' That motion cannot be made,
pending the operate on of,fe prev ious question.
Mr.. WISE. en- call the yeas aud nays on the
adoption Of the re- solution
The yeas and D avs were ordered and being taken,
there were yeas 50, nays 4s, as follows:
ArEs-Mess'r1. Anderson, Arthur, Banks, Barbour