Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-20
WISCONSIN RAILROAD GRANT.
Speech Of Hon. John Letcher.
OF VIRGINIA

Il WISCONSIN RAILROAD GRANT.
Speech Of Hon. John Letcher.
OF VIRGINIA.
In the House of Representatives., March
/ 1863, in reply to Mr.. Disney, Of Ohit
md others.
Mr.. Letcher obtained the floor.
! Mr.. Jones Of Tennessee. If the gentle
man from Virginia (Mr. Letcher) wi
Weld the floor, I will move that the Hous
resolve itself into the Committee Of tn
Whole on the state Of the Union.
Mr.. Letcher. II yield the floor Il
enable the gent eman from Tennessee I,
make that motion, will be entitled to III,
floor in the morniagi -
The Speaker. The gentlemen from
/ Virginia would be entitled to the floor.
Mr.. Jones. ! then make the motor
that the House resolve itself into the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state Of tn.
Union.
Mr.. Seward. rise to a question o.
order. The House having refused TO sus.
tain the demand for the previous question
the subject must lie over one day. 1t is
absurd, after the House has refused to sec.
ond the demand for the previous question,
to 60 on with the consideration and dis
cussion Of the bill.
The Speaker. The practice Of the
House is, that if the House refuse to order
the main question, the subject must 20
over one day but. failing to second the
demand for the previous question. leaves
the subject under consideration where il
was before the demand was made. The
question is upon the motion to go into the
Committee of the Whole on the state OF
the Union.
Mr.. Hamilton. rise to question Of
order. l want to know how the floor has
been taken from the gentleman from Vir-
ginia? (Mr. Letcher.)
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Virginia yielded the floor to another gen.
tleman for the purpose of making the mo.
ton that the House resolve itself into the
Committee Of the Whole on the state oil
the Union.
The question was taken; and, upon a
division, there were-yeas 80; further
count not being demanded.
So the House refused to go into the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the
Union.
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Letcher) is now entitled to
the floor.
Mr.. Disney. rise to question Of or
der. | desire to know If the gentleman
from Virginia did not speak upon this
question on Thursday last, when he OBJ
jected to my occupying the floor2
NJ 7 nt..ha In ak he
Mr.. Disney. Well. sir, do reckon he
did. Laughter.
Mr.. Letcher. Then l appeal to the
Chair to decide between us. There wa.
another question under consideration the
other day in relation to which motion
had been made to refer it to the Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union
| then mad e some reference to this rail-
road bill, and the gentleman from Ohio
called me to order. Does the gentleman
recollect thatf
Mr.. Disney. I do.
Mr.. Letcher. And the gentleman told
me that should have fair chance to dis
cuss this bill before the vote was taken.
Mr.. Disney. ask that the Chair shall
decide the question whether the gentle.
! man from Virginia is entitled to the floor
My recollection, and, that OF other men,
bers If the House is, that the gentleman
has spoken once upon this subject, and Is
therefore, not entitled to the floor. Sc
far as am concerned, have no objection
to his going on. but ask the Chair to de.
eide the question.
The Speaker. IF the gentleman from
Virginia had spoken once upon the ques
ton pending, he would be entitled to thu
floor If no other gentleman desired t
speak. The gentleman from Ohio can 20
claim it for himself because he has certain
~ spoken once upon the question.
Mr.. Jones Of Tennessee. would IN.
quire if the gentleman from Ohio Mr.
Disney has not already spoken twice upon
this question:?
The Speaker. Not Oh the motion Il
commit
Mr.. Jones. Then he is still entitled t.
another hour?
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Ohio is entitled, under the rule, to clos'
debate upon the bill.
Mr.. Letcher. Mr.. Speaker, it seems t.
me that the policy which has been adopt
ed with regard to this bill, indicates very
clearly to the House the necessity for
thorough examination of all the measure
of this character which are presented 70
our consideration. 1t seems to me tina
this policy proves conclusively the pro
priety of referring all such measures to {
committee Of the whole House, where a,
opportunity may be given for discussion
aud investigation in regard to their merits
Now, sir. here is proposition which
has been brought into this House ant
without giving any member an opportuni
" Of examining into its details, or tn
principles involved in it. motion to stoI
debate is made by the chairman Of tn,
Committee on Public Lands, (Mr. Disney
after speech from himself, and after an
other speech from a member who is inter
ested in this road. After two speeche
upon one side, and more upon the other
an attempt is made to gag everybody VIII
is opposed to it, and rush it through tn,
House under the operation ofthe previoi
question. ~.
Sir, if this proposition had merits, if il
various provisions could bear the test Q
careful examination, il the consideration
which were alluded to by the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Mr. Wells) on yesterday
| ~, 4 -. .ho l;rhf for a c;nula n, o,,,.p