The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-22

The House OF Representatives,, duTing many years when
presided il. had rule precisely equivalent In ope-
ration 10 the one now proposed The question there
Will the House consider the particular subject proposed
to Be taken up And that question was always decided ,s
dcepaching the business and avoiding much useless ds
cussion Il has been said however. that question may
arise respecting which some preliminary explanation may
be necessary Upon question OF this KIND presenting
ITSELF when it is really important, II Will strike every
mind in the Senate. without the necessity oil any spsech
to impress i upon the minds OF the Senate
| Again, sir; if on one side, in order To show he IN
AoSiance OF subject preliminary discussion VIII DC al
rs TO taking up asiven subject then you must per
nit discussion upon the other side to show that II has
not ths Importance alleged that there is necessity for
action upon it, and that hs time OF the Senate ought not
to DO occupied with the subject You do not stop
there Ii you slow discussion one side TO show the
necessity OF action upon the subject. you admit dis
cusson upon the other side TO show that there is
ssy for action and not only this, but there Will be
further discussion which you must admit, resulting IRON
the comparison of subjects Tor when member rises
and moves TO take up particular subject, which he IN
siss upon as beng important ana % necessary 10 DC
acted upon immediately another member will get up and
mention another subject and insist upon the Importance
OF that and then you enter into comparative discussion
as to the merits and importance OF The two
consequence oil all which is to waste the time. Inc hon
orahe from Texas says we have some tour nun
bred orders OF the day. Now, how are we to look at
cded without discussion and thus we may pass through
the whole four hundred in the course OF the morning
Blu, il discussion TO be allowed upon each OF them, we
should not be able get through the whole either during
the six or eight weeks which Iemain or perhaps even
during long session. Upon the whole. heard the in.
PRODUCTION Of the change in our rules with pleasures and
from practical experience, well IRON the application
to the rule OF any reasoning can employ, II strikes me
| that it will be beneficial in It's operation
Mr.. DOWNS. shall vote for THIS resolution as il is,
and think il is desirable that we should pass it, But II
occurs me that it might be modified as to meet the
| views both Of those who advocate and OF those who
oppose it, Certainly it is important to put an end TO this
consumption OF time upon the motion to take up meas
ure Sill there necessity that opportunity should be
allowed for brief explanation There may De Parllcu
lar objects to be attained by particular bill so that II
may not convey in its title idea Of all that it TO
compish, but It's object might be explained IN some lew
words. think il may be we'll 50 10 amend The rule that
shall Be ~ S Ss, To- N
The rule by adding, except brief explanation not eX-
ceeding five minutes" We should not lose much time
| by that
| MIR. HALE Ii seems 10 me- sir, that the great diff
Guilty which labors in eveybodys mind Is TO suggest
some mode that will the great waste OF time in
useless debates and the discussion has been going on
here, have been rejecting; and think have hit upon
an expedient that will vast deal OF time, and obv
perhaps the necessity for this rule will suggest IT
for the consideration OF the Senate u Is tins that
every member OF the Senate watch every other member
of the Senate who undertakes to address the body about
as closely as a few of nay friends watch me when un-
dertake 10 present abolition petition, llaushter,] and
call him to order at once think shall thus
vast deal of time, secure uniform administration
of law and the necessity OF this rule will be entirely
obyiated. @
Mr. BELL. do not wish to de,an the Senate but,
/ sir lew remarks were made upon the subject by my
friend from North Carolina which require from some
little notice My friend seemed cen to me- VIVA, WAS VERY u
desires accomplish by his amendment IN his explains
ton of what is meant by reasonable debate He might
have saved that time wanted 10 know whether il
intended to prevent hamper the member OF the Senate,
who proposed take up any particular measure which
is laid upon the table by order OF the Senate in the
OF its proceedings. from giving word OF explanation
to the reason for such motion As understand my hon
orabe friend under this rule that cannot be DONE Tha,
is debate Tha, is his idea Of debate stated that by
A. md n
upon such proposition, by the practice OF the Senate
heretofore, 20 into consideration OF the merits OF the
proposition. although !, is done every day That s ht
OF the loose practice upon that subject think still tina
Fit highly expedent that some privilege should be givef
The and perhaps ss sooa PC s snso o
Louisiana, 4 Mr. DowNsl The mover should be permit
ted TO explain the grounds upon which ne thinks the
measure is entitled to PRECEDENCE think there should
lie some such permission that, although wIl not in
sist upon n practice, and by The operation OF Para
mentary practice some privilege should be granted ether
by way Of preface TO the motion or subsequent to IT. IN
order TO permit the 10 inform the body why il Is
thai he wishes the to be taken up This can be
done without going into the merits OF The measure or
casioning any debate ! think prohibition OF any fur.
her debate might be allowable 1t will strike the mind
Of every member Of the Senate, that members should
sometimes Be allowed to explain why certain measure ,s h
moved by my honorable friend from Kentucky MIR US-
DEawooD] the other day, decaraiory OF the late bounty
land law. When that bill was hrst introduced to tins
upon the face of H. II not that il matter
corning many thousands OF the poor men, or the rich
men, OF the citizens throughout the country everyw here
as WAS the original BILL in which every senator would be
supposed to take interest but the necessity OF
taking il up up was that the bounty land scrip would
issue until that question was decided and some 100
issues of that description held back until that ques-
ton should be decided Now. the rule OF the honorable
senator from North Carolina would have prohibited the
mover from stating that fact. That Is striking case
Others occur almost every day where Is desirable As
to the saving of tme have already admitted that the ~
is great waste OF time upon By the indulgence OF the
body honorable permitted to go into the
OF time, let say that every day there consumption
OF time from the violation Of other rules equally impor-
tant TO be observed in this body
For example, an honorable senator rises with memo
rial in his hand The rule that he shall state its con
tents The parliamentary object OF that rule is that the
Senate may whether il s proper paper to be admit
ted into the body, and nothing more. And yet SIR our
elderly members OF this body-sornetimes occupy the
whole morning in giving their views upon me subject
embraced in the memorial. That Is violation OF the
rules; and yet members have often instructed and de
lighted the body and the country. and ask the privilege
any day they please 10 give their views upon any subject
in the morning hour if they here their place. and
can give uerance 10 their sentiments upon any question
come up in its regular That il matter OF grea
injustice upon the few modes and back ward and youna
members OF the body--as my friend from Rhode Island
and myse-who not DESTROYS 10 claim the attention
OF the Senate except upon OF necessity and wher
their business compes them to speak, and to come Tor
ward in that way.
Again: there 10 another rule that when an honorao'
senator asks leave to Introduce BILL he may state briefly
its purport That 10 the parliamentary awhat he may
~. oh: If he Rut we freOuentlV