The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-12

hres. 7acsdgy. Apr'l -. lSjA
The llouse being IN Committee Of
the whole. Alr Chandler in the Chair
The Chairman The question before
the committee Is ON the Senate amend
ment- TO The deficiency bill AMI on
that question the member from Missis.
sippi Mr. Harris has still the floor.
Mr. Harris not availing himself Of
his right. Colonel Benton rose aod ad-
dressed the Committee.
TuE NIL CONES FROM 4 rREE srArE.
If any bill to impair the Missouri
Compromise line Of 1920 had been
brough, into this House by n member
from slave state, or under the admin
isiraiion Of President elected from n
slave state. ! should have deemed ii my
duty TO have met il ai the threshold,
and TO have made the motion which the
parliamentary law prescribes for the re-
pulse Of subjects which are not fit to be
considered should have moved its
rejection at the first reading. But the
bill before us, for the two may be con-
sidered as one, does not come from that
quarter. II comes from free state,
and under the administration of Pres
idcn elected from n free state and un-
der that aspect Of its origin, deemed it
I right to wait, and hear what the men,
bers Of the free states had to say 10 ii.
1t IVES n proposition from their own
ranks, to give up their half Of the slave
~ compromise Of 1920; and if they
! choose to do so, do not see how south
ern members could refuse TO accept it
II was n free state question and th,
members from the free states were the
majority and could do as they pleased
So stood aloof waiting TO see theii
lead, but without the slightest intention
of being governed by it. | had m,
own convictions of right and duty, ant
meant to act upon them. | had CONF
into political life upon that compromise
had stood upon it above thirty years
and intended to stand upon ii TO the end
SOLITARY and alone. if need be" Zap
plause and laughter) but preierriug com
pany TO solitude, and not doubling for al
instant what the result was TO be.
have said, that this bill comes int
Congress under the administration of
free state President; but do not mea
to say, or intimate by that remark, thr
the President favors the bill. | kno'
nothing Of his disposition towards IT
and il did | should not disclose it herr
II would be unparliamentary, and
breach of the privileges of this Hous
TO do so. The Presidents opinions ca
only be made known to Us by himsel
in message in writing. In that wa
il is his right, and often his duty,
communicate with us. And in III;
way there is no room for mistake
citing his opinions no room for an II,
authorized use Of his name no roo
for the imputation Of contradictory OPP
; ions to him; and in that way he b
comes responsible TO the Americl
people for the opinions he may deli
er.
All other modes OF communicate
- are forbid 10 him, as tending to an u
due and unconstitutional interieren
T. with freedom of legislation. 1t is n
bribery alone, attempted upon mel
ber. which constitutes breach of q
!, privileges of this House. IL is any I
= tempt to operate upon members vo
by any consideration Of hope or fei
favor or affection, prospect of rewal
rre or dread Of punishment. This is pi
d liamentary law, as old as English p'
liaments, constantly maintained by t
p British House OF Commons, and late
r. declared in a most signal manner.
b was during the reign Of our old mast
- George the Third, and in the famo
=. case Of Mr. Fox's East India bill, a
q port was spread in parliament by Q
he Of the lords Of the bcdchamber, that
p king was opposed to the bili-ihst
y, wished it defeated. and had said that
- should consider any member his eneI
who should vote for il. The House
70 Commons took FIRE at this report, a
"a Immediately resolved;
p That TO report any opinion, or p
,. tended opinion Of his Majesty, upon a
~, bill depending in either House Of L
'd' lament, is high crime and misdeme'
F. or, derosalory to the honor Of the ero'
10. a breach Of the fundamental priyile,
y of Parliament, aud subyersiye Of
constitution % the country
-, This resolve was adopted in
House, by a majority Of seventy th
votes and was only declaraiory OF
IN isiing parliamentary law--sueh as
~ had existed from the lime that Engl
counties and Loroughs hrst sent knig
I'D ofihe hire and burgesses 10 repres
~ them in the Parliament House. Ii
an old English parliamentary law,
Il 20 recorded by llaisell, and all
10, writers on that law. ltisalso Amer
law. as old as our Congress, and.
such, recorded IN JefIrrson's Manual
80 Il s.. honest law and. a. such, exi'
"a ia every honest heart. sr, the Pr
dent of the United Siales can send
40 opinion. eKcepi IN wriilrn nessai
-. and no one ran report his opinions
~, .