The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-25
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty second Congress First session.
THURSDAY. JUNE "A, 1852.
SENATE

ate that the House have concurred in the amendments OF
the Senate 10 the bib III K 2l) amend act entitled
for the punishment OF crimes in the District OF Co
lumba.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC.
Mr.. BADGER presented the memorial of r. d. Battle,
administrator OF the estate OF Isaac L. Battle praying that
the estate may be released from further liability under
Judgment; which referred the Committee the
Post Office and Post Roads
son. and executor OF James Simpson, praying ex-
tension of patents for Improvement in forming and using
iron plates rails railroad tracks, IN cities and else
where, and for mode OF turning short curves upon
railroads which referred 10 the Committee on Pa
tents and the Patent Office.
REPORT COMMITTEE
Mr. MALLORY. from the Committee on Naval AT
fairs, to whom referred the memorial OF John T. ST.
John, proposing TO build steamer ON new and i,-
proved plan, upon certain conditions reported adversely
thereon
The engrossed bill g. 1850 TO incorporate the Sisters OF
Vlsitation in the District Of Columbia was read third
time and passed.
AMENDMENT OF RULES.
Mr UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, will now ask
the Senate consider the resolution which submitted
some time since proposing an amendment OF Inc rules OF
the Senate.
The motion being agreed TO, the resolution was read
as follows:
Resoped That the s)h Of the Senate be amended
nent offered bill resolution may be laid upon The
aoe without carrying the bill or resolution with it.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President beg leave TO
ment which propose 10 make 10 our rules have d!s-
covered from many years experience that towards tns
close of the session, when the general appropriation Dill
comes up for consideration, gentlemen will propose
| amendments, and those amendments Will De discussed
day after day, and week after week sometimes and we
cannot get clear OF them because IN attempting 10 get
clear of the amendment obliged TO get clear OF
the whole appropriation bill by laying upon the table
In that way much time is consumed, and il makes our
appropriation bills the field of almost nterminable dis
cusson. We have previous question, and we cannot
stop debate by that expedient And OF ale gentlemen
| lnooct
oil legislation the appropriation bills; while, under
the existing rules towards the close OF The session. our
to appropriation bills, when the Senate are entirely
satisfied 10 the merits or dement's OF the case and wish
10 get clear OF them.
aIy object s therefore, in such to allow the mo-
ton to be made lay the amendment upon the table
without carrying the bill or original proposition WIN H.
tn. Senate will perceive that II VIII always ne wilnh
their power refuse to lay upon the liable, II the popo-
son submitted amendment meets Inc iavoraoie
consideration Senate The only object and effect OF
ii is to place these amendments within the power OF
majority the body, and by preventing these useless dis
cussions TO facilitate the progress Of business nope,
for these the amendment viii be adop'ed and icy
US see how 1t will operate, at least 4 have witnessed
this evil OF which have spoken for years, aud have
thought that remedy nigh, be devised Tor H. This
which propose, TO me, will be very beneficial
remedy and only ask the Senate to Try it, II does not
work well shall be among the hrst TO move It's repeal
1t is my m convicon however, that IL will have very
MIR BADGER would sugges, to my friend to vary
the phraseology that it will read "msy be ordered TO
Ma UNDERWOOD ! accept the suggestion.
4 Mr BADGER. would also make another suggestion
10 my friend from Kentucky. think the rule-to have
the effect OF stopping the consideration by the body OF
such propositions they may deem II not proper 10 con-
sider n connexion with otheIsought 10 be extended 80
as 10 include amendment TO an amendment would
therefore suggest him 10 vary the phraseology Tins
way, that amendment 10 bill reso uton or to an
amendment may be ordered to lie upon the table with
out carrying the main subject with H.
Mr.. ADAMS. IL seems 10 me that the suggestion OF
the senator from North Carolina is unnecessary Tor an
amendment 10 an amendment becomes an amendment oil
the original proposition, and the resolution IN the form
introduced by the senator from Kentucky consequently
applies to an amendment 10 an amendment as well as 10
others.
Nh. BADGER. My friend from Mississippi is mis-
taken in that supposon The resolution is this " An
amendment 10 a bill resolution may be ordered TO lie
upon the table" Now, amendment to an amendment is
not an amendment to bill or resolution.
Mr. UNDERWOOD am altogether Indifferent with
rega'd TO The phraseoogy The Senate perceives very
clearly what tue idea is, and what is ibe evil which
wish 10 remedy. hope my friend from North Carolina
will be kind enough to put his modincaon into writing
! am willing to accept any verbal modification.
Mr. HALE. Mr.. President, want 10 say single
word do not feel very great interest IN inns mauer,
bat suggest TO The Senate before they adopt u,
that il is pretty wide departure from the system which
has hitherto prevailed n this body Hitherto the debates
the Senate have been conducted upon the assumption
that the Senate have discretion, and Judgment and WIS
dom enough TO conduct the deliberations OF the body
without many restrictive rules as have peeh loun
necessary in the popular branch oil the nahonai
legislature Bu, this proposition, now nfoauced py ne
senator from Kentucky, seems 10 be 40 ndcauon nat
the Senate have found out that they have mol que 80
much discretion and so much seli-govcrning principle,
and so much wisdom, aud much judgment, as theoret-
oay they have been holding out TO the nation that they
had II seems to TO be an assumption that we are
approximang in debates to that stale oil things which
accordance with the usages OF the other branch ot
Congress, aod that consequently we are Obliged 10 adopt
OF The restrictive by which they cut on
debaesoch the hour rule at certain stages oil de-
bate and the FIVE rule in other stages OF the de-
bate and order to put stop to debate and come TO
vote upon the question pending.
Now, sir il ihs honorable senator means this as the
first indication 10 the country that we have at last dscoF-
% cred what think, the country suspected long ago. mat
approximatng 10 that state oil things hlnk ne
. amendment is wise and proper but, sir, should be
followed up--it should be followed by the adoption of
the previous question, and next by order to stop de-
lowed by the hour rule and by The whole system OF
measures which the House of Representatives have found
for the purpose OF restraining the desire OF
y much speaking thai has afflicted that body speak OF
this without much 10 yself Tor rarely speak
in the Senate and make very short speeches when do
BESIDES do expect to stay here great while-but
think il we adopt the amendment OF the senator from
Kentucky, that ought not TO stop there we ought 70
20 further and take the whole series OF measures which
e I have mentioned And will say more: II we take
this step, will go further; and this body will not re-
tain that character, or that pretence of character which
hitherto been the pride OF the Senate TO sustain be-
> fore the country
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. 1 beg leave to quote text "a
i my friend on my left, [Mr. Hale
,pl The PRESIDENT The Chair will take occasion u