The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-13
FRIDAY. APRIL s, 1853.
TAKING THE YEAS AND NAYS.

lion
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and he
Johnson inventor for the construction In the Senate
chamber OF his mode Of taking the yeas and nays
the entire OF the construction shall not exceed
the OF $780, TO be paid out OF the contingent luna OF
the Senate
reported the back. with recommendation that II
Mr.. BRIGHT. in making the report. stated that there
two OF the committee favor OF the resolution aRd
one against Il. He was directed by the committee TO
recommend that be made the subject OF Discussion be-
lore acted upon.
Mr., HOUSTON, am satisfied OF the proprie'y Of
this resolulon, and my onycton cannot be increased
diminished by discussion But understand that oh.
ecions really exist TO this resolution among senators
here, and would be glad TO hear from any from all
gentlemen the opinions they may entertain and
ished answer all OF their objections their entire
satisfaction think this machine is perfectly unexcep
uonabe, and has many advantages 10 recommend lis
fleet upon as have done, they will concur with in
my opinion in regard 10 IT, is not important TO the
Senate, where there but some sixty names 10 be
called, as II will be 10 the House OF Representatives,
where there hundreds II 1t should be adopted in
the House, will expedite their proceedings to save
at least one-ha oil the time now consumed IN calling The
yeas and nays and they then be able 10 dispense
with the onehour rule, and thus give TO lis members
opportunity TO speak as long as they please.
The yeas and nays by this machine be taken with
the most perfect accuracy and IN much less time than Is
now consumed for that purpose. But II gentlemen have
objections 10 the resolution propose, should like TO
hear them stated have the opinion OF majority OF
opinion and my opinion was formed after thorough
examn alton OF this machine. 1t costs but ISL 500 to in
troduce 1t into this chamber, and we waste that much
every day in other ways.
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa. | am that minority OF the COM
miltee 10 which auson has been made. have no
opinion that is worth anything in regard to this matter
have no doubt that the delay occasoned by the calling
OF the yeas and nays serious difficulty in the House
oi Repre- but that difficulty does exist here
We have been able TO get along here with all the dh
cues attending the present practice OF taking the yeas
bills TO the House of Representatives that they
acted upon, and which slept the sleep OF death upon the
Speakers liable.
Now, object to the Senate trying experiments for the
House OF Representatives, If they choose to cumber their
journals with yeas and nays from to H. am disposed
to let them do and not try TO undertake experiments
here Tor their benefit Another reason why am opposed
to this machine is, that 1t is secured by lock in such
way that senator may sometimes vote in the negative
or affirmative when he would desire to vote the other
way and the mere reading the list oil names may
not enable him 10 detect the erroneous vote This ma
chine may be well suited 10 the House oil Representa-
hves, where great loss OF lime IS occasloned by calling
the yeas and nays but let them try their own expert
mens, as do not think we need it ourselves in this
body
This Mr. Johnson is an ingenious man, and would
do nothing to inure his rising prospects and prevent
him from becoming another Fulton, or another Morse
Let him continue to make his Inventions am IN favor
OF that being done / am IN favor OF all those things.
and even OF all the humbug inventions OF the day; and
am willing TO be humbugged To some little extent my
self lLaughterl This is wonderful age; it seems
to me that wonders will never In the case OF
Fulton, great results have attended his invention, and
still greater might have attended it II Napoleon
had adopted when II was presented to him, he could
have invaded England and conquered her But such
great results can hardly attend this invention now
brought to our notice.
However, do not wish to depecate this invention at
all. believe the inventor is meritorlous young man
and il he only satisfy the House OF Representatives,
where there is much loss OF time from the calling OF
the and nays that it is advisable TO have his ma
chine put into operation there, | should be very much
pleased TO see it done And when this Senate becomes
enlarged by the admission OF States 10 the size OF
the House OF Representatives, there may be necessity
for it here also. But until that shall take place do not
think we shall need il here
Mr. HAMLIN. think the honorable senator from
Iowa Mr. DoDGEl has very well stated some objections
which exist. least my mind to the adoption Of
the machine referred TO in this resolution. Blu, think
this very invocation is clearly Improvement upon the
present practice. There are some things which should
be done in the good old way and in other, and
cned believe that the present process OF taking the
yeas and nays is OF those things which should still
be done in the old way might enumerae some other
things but do not desire 10 do now. will content
myself with asserting that the taking OF the yeas and
nays is one OF them.
Ii has been suggested by honorable senators around
me, that principal against adopting this resou-
ton IS that II against The constitution Tor that Instru
recognises but two ways OF voting either pira
by ballot, and this neither II would also be great
innovation and deprivation 10 some honorable senators
here, because would deprive them OF speaking in the
only way III which they known TO speak here.
But there is another idea that | wish to suggest TO
senator's in regard 10 this machine think that, the
whole, this whole thing ridiculous in the extreme, and
may well be treated such My fiend upon my RICH,
here, MIR. BRoDHEAD,l and my friend upon my left.
Mr. WELLER, and indeed the whole OF Us, are to have
affixed 10 desks keys knobs to be secured
bya lock, by which they thrumb out their votes as
ladies do tunes al piano. tLaugher.l
Mr. BUTLER. should lose my key. tLaughterl
Mr. HAMLiN. That is very true and in that way
the loss security Of the key would determine mans
vote. And, besides all that, whenever the vote TO
be taken each senator must be in his seal 10 give
his vote and not only that, but be must keep the seat
he takes at the commencement OF the session. for every
change IN the choice Of seats here will require
ponding change IN the arrangement at tie Stcretays
desk, where the be recorded and heo nothing
will be more common than TO see you, Mr. President
standing IN that place that you now well occupy
whenever vote 10 be taken, anagnng the Senate IN
lhs way Senators, TO your places Are you all ready
! lLaushter The whole thing will be very like an old
militia training you acting captain calling upon your
company 10 fall into ranks, and after you have found
them all ready, would call out TO them "Voe," as
the militia captain would say "Firew tLaughterJ The
whole thing, IN my Judgment, is extremely ridiculous.
As Tor making experiments here Tor the benefit OF the
House OF Representatives., think il is highly improper
was long enough a member OF that House 10 hnd out
that IN this very thing OF calling the yeas aud nays lies
ono OF the constitutional rights OF members IL IL the
re BIT and duty OF the minority sometimes TO consume
the time OF that House. when, the last stages oil the
sion, onerous and Objectionable measures attempted
10 be forced upon them By the majority; and have there
as would everywhere, been 10 resist all such meas
by every constitutional expedlent in my power and
this calling OF the yeas and nays believe 10 be one oil
them.
Now, would make no allusion tba, would be disre-
spectiu to the Senate the House, but it suggested
around hers that ~ very convenient at least Tor
some men, TO know how others vote before they vote
themselves Laughter II the voting is 10 be done by
this mechanical process they would be deprived OF that
lag. Ihnap xrh IN he habi