Washington sentinel., 1854-05-21
PRoCEEDINGs
OF THE
House of Representatives.,

House of Representatives,
THURSDAY, Nay IL, 1854.
I'm continuation.I
Mr.. RITCHEY, of Ohio ! move that we take
recess until twelve o'clock this morning.
The SPEAKER. The motion is not in order.
MIR. McCULLOCH There is no quorum pre-
sent.
The SPEAKER. The Chair is aware of that
fact but fifteen members can order call of the
House.
The list of absentees will now be called for ex.
cuses.
The Clerk proceededto call the list of absentees s
with view 10 excuses.
WILLIAM AIKEN.
Mr.. KERR. ! simply rise, Mr. Speaker, 10
make an inquiry for the purpose OF information.
submit whether the proper course is not, when
the name of an absentee is called, and no excuse
is rendered, 10 send the Sergeant-a-Arms 10 bring
him in
The SPEAKER. During my service here il
has been the usual practice 10 call through the en-
tire list and hear excuses. Then the Sergeant-at-
Arms was by general order compelled TO bring
the absent members into the House. lfit be the
pleasure ofthe House 10 make special order, the
Chair sees no reason why i may not do IT, =,
[Cries of g No special order ~ " General ordern'l
| Mr.. WHEELER. object 10 general order
want special orders.
Mr. KERR. Isitnecessaryt that motion should
be made for special order
The SPEAKER. II is necessary TO have an
order Of the House.
Mr. KERR move that the Sergeant-at Arms
bring Mr.. AIKEN here.
Mr. PURYEAR. hope that there will be no
special order. II would be endless work TO get
absent members present, if a special order was
made for each. trust that the course suggested
by the Chair will be adopted.
Mr.. STRAuB. rise 10 question Of order.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from North
Carolina is upon the floor to question of order
Mr.. PURYEAR. move general order
move that the list of absentees be called through
for excuses, and that, when through, those for
whom no excuse has been offered be sent for
under general order to the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Mr. RICHARDSON. There is no objection to
that
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine. | would most
respectfully put an inquiry TO the Chair.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from North
Carolina is upon the floor TO question of order
The Chair has stated, in reference 10 the power
of the House to send for individual members that
it is very clear, while the practice has been other
wise. The uniform practice heretofore has been
10 hear excuses, and then make general order
cuse was offered. The gentleman from North
Carolina Mr. PURYEARl moves that there be a
general order TO compel the attendance of absen-
tees without hearing excuses at all.
Mr.. PURYEAR. No. sr; ; the Chair msun-
derstands ME. intended 10 suggest that those
by general order of the House.
The SPEAKER. That is the old practice
The Chair misunderstood the gentleman. The
gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. KERR
moves that the Sergeant-atArms compel the at
tendance of Mr.. AsHE. The usual order is, that
the Sergeant at Arms take him into custody, and
bring him TO the bar of the House
Mr.. CAMPBELL. | demand the yeas and
nays on that motion.
Mr.. CASKIE. have suggestion TO make
TO my friend from North Carolina, and that is,
that he withdraw his proposition for the present.
Let us wait until we can see whether those with
whom we have been contendng during the night
intend calling the yeas and nays on every propo-
ston to excuse men whom everybody is willing
10 excuse. Then
Mr.. CAMPBELL. | am reluctant 10 call my
friend from Virginia TO order.
The SPEAKER. This debate is irregular, and
ont of order.
Mr.. KERR. My habit is to act in concert
with those who are engaged in the same cause
with myself withdraw the motion which sub
mitted. at the suggestion of the gentleman from
Virginia.
Mr.. DRUM On call of the House, yester-
day, Mr. APPLETON was stated to be absent from
his seat in the House, on account of severe sick
ness in his family. therefore move that he be
excused.
Mr.. CAMPBELL. demand tellers on that
motion.
Mr.. JONES, of New York. demand tellers on
ordering the yeas and nays.
Mr.. ORR. / submit that the House has al
ready determined the matter. BY vote already
taken, Mr.. APPLETON has been excused for his abb
sence.
Mr., CULLOM. That was at another time.
Mr.. ORR. He was excused at this sitting. He
was excused yesterday, and we have been in ses-
sion since.
The SPEAKER. The House may be in very
different humor at this moment, Laughter
While it was willing TO excuse him yesterday, il
may not to-day. Renewed laughter.
Tellers on the yeas and nays were ordered and
Messrs JONES' of Louisiana and WHEELER were
appointed.
The House was divided; and the teers re-
ported yeas fortythree-more than one-ffth of a
quorum.
So the yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was then taken on Mr.. DRUMS
motion; and il was decided in the Affirmative
yeas 107, nays none.
So Mr.. APPLETON was excused.
Mr.. CASKlE. | now withdraw the request
which made of my friend from North Carolina J;
and hope he will make his motion.
WILLIAM S. AsHE. No excuse offered.
Mr.. KERR. move that the Sergeant-a
be instructed 10 take Messrs. AIKEN and AsHE into
custody, and bring them before the House, 10 show
cause of absence
Mr.. CAMPBELL. | move that Mr.. AsHE be
excused; and on that motion ask for the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER. In the opinion of the Chair,
the motion Of the gentleman from North Carolina
takes precedence of that.
Mr. DRUM. Icall for the yeas and nays on that
motion.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was then put and it was decided
in the af1irmatve-yeas &c, nays 81.
So the motion agreed to.
WILLIAM S. BARRY No excuse offered.
Mr. ENGLISH. / move that the Sergeant-at-
Arms be directed to take Mr.. BARRY into custody,
and bring him before the House.
Mr.. WASIIBURN, of Maine ask for the
yeas and nays.
Mr.. BARKSDALE. | desire to make state
ment respecting my colleague.
Several MEMBERS "Oh, now and "Never
mind itm
M FARLEY. / call for telcrs on the yeas
and nays.
Tellers were ordered and Messrs. GREENWOOD,
and WAsHBuRN, of Maine, were appointed.
The House was then divided on the demand for
the yeas and nays and the tellers reported forty
in the affirmative.
So the yeas and nays were ordered.
The question was then put on Mr. ENGLIsHs
motion; and il was decided in the Affirmative
yeas &C, nays 81.
So the motion was agreed TO.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. Mr.. Speaker, in or
der TO avoid the consumption of time by having
the yeas and nays upon the question Of sending