The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-31

il should be settled with some degree of dehb-
sraticn.
MIR. GWIN. Let the Chair decide the. quss-
ton.
has decided that debate was not in order, In
Mr.. SUMNER. From that decision of the
Chair most respectfully take an appeal
The PRESIDING OFFICER. From that
ruling of the Chair an appeal is taken by the
Senator from Massachusetts, The question is
on the appeal
Mr.. BENJAMIN. In order 60 put stop to
the whole debate, I move to lay the appeal on
the table. That is q motion which is not de-
batable
Nh. SUMNER. Is that motion in order'
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Certainly u
is in order.
Mr.. WELLER. l desire to make one re-
mark in regard to the rule.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. 1t is not in
order now. The question must be taken with
Mr.. SUMNER. Allow me to state the case
as it seems to me- | was on the hoor ana
Welded it to the Senator from Wisconsin, strict
ly for the purpose of an explanation. Wnen
he finished, was in possession OF tho hoor
snd then it was that the Senator from Loulsi-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. VIII the
Senator from Massachusetts give leave to the
Chair to explaine
MIR. SUMNER. Certainly.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. A point of
order was made by the Senator from Calltor-
MIA, mr.. GwIN, that debate was not in order
upon the question of granting leave; and tho
Chair SO decided. Tho Senator from Massa-
cbusests then lost the floor, as | apprehend,
and he certainly did by following it up by en-
appeal After that, he could go no further.
He lost the floor then again for second time ;
end then it was that the Senator from Louis
lana interviewed with another motion, which is
certainly in order, 20 lay the appeal on the
table That is not debatable. This, it seems
to me- 10 the state of the case.
MIR. CHASE, Will the Chair allow me to
make single statement?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Certainly.
Mr. CHASE. The Senator from Massachu-
setts rose and held the floor during the sugges
ton made to the Chair by the Senator from
Wisconsin. The Chair then, after the Senator
from Wisconsin had fnished his suggestion,
declared his opinion to be, notwithstanding the
suggestion that debate was not in order. The
Senator from Massachusetts, then took On ap-
peal, and retained the floor for the purpose of
addressing the Senate on that appeal. While
he occupied the floor, the Senator from Louis
lana rose and moved TO lay the appeal upon
the table. That win be borne out by the gen.
tlemen present.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is so !;
but the Chair does not understand that debate
was in order on the appeal The appeal was
to be decided without debate; and therefore
IL e Al IL. Il
lost the floor after he took the appeal
Mr. BELL would inquire whether there
is no. bill already pending for the repeal of
the Fugitive Slave Law?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. | have not
inquired of the Secretary, but it is my belief
there is similar bill pending but it was not
or that ground the Chair made this ruling.
Mr. BELL. / would inquire whether there
is not such bill pending? Did not the hon.
orsble Senator from Ohio some time ego bring
in such bill
Mr.. WELLER think he did.
Mr.. CHASE. No, sir.
Mr. BELL Then | am mistaken.
Mr.. CHASE. My bill is not on that cub
ject
is ON the motion of the Senator from Louisiana,
to lay on the table the appeal taken by the
Senator from Massachusetts, from the decision
of the Chair.
Mr.. CHASE. ask if the motion of the
Senator from Louisiana is in order, when the
Senator from Massachusetts, retained the floor
for the purpose of debating the appeal?
Mr. BENJAMIN. The Senator is not in
order in renewing that question, which has al
ready been decided by tho Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. IF the Chair
acted under an erroneous impression, in sup
posing that debate on the appeal was not in
order, when it actually is, it was the fault of
the Chair, and it would rot have been in order
for the Senator from Louisiana to make the
motion which he did make, while the Senator
from Massachusetts, was on the floor. Bat
the Chair recognised the Senator from Louis
lana, surprising that the Senator from Mas
sachusetts had yielded the floor The Sena-
tor had taken an appeal; he followed it up by
no address to the Chair indicating an inteu-
ton that be intended to debate the appeal, or
the Chair certainly should so far have recog-
Missed him. But tho Chair would reconsider
his ruling in that respect, with the consent of
the Senator from Louisiana.
Mr. BRIGHT. The Chair will permit me to
suggest that think the motion proper to be
entertained now, is the one proposed by the
Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.. NORRIS |
bill; the Senator from New Hampshire raised
the question as to whether the Senate would
grant leave to introduce it; and i think the
proper question to be put now is, will the SEN
ate grant leave to introduce bill repeating
the Fugitive Slave Law? The effect of the
motion of the Senator from Louisiana would be
to lay the subjecs on the table, from which it
might be taken at any time for action. For
one, am willing to give decisive vote now,
declaring that | am unwilling to legislate upon
the subject that am satisfied with the law as
it reads, and that will not aid the Senator
from Massachusetts, or any other Senator,
III
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator
from Indiana is certainly not in order
Mr. BRIGHT. | certainly am in order in
calling the attention of the Chair to the fact
that the Senator from New Hampshire
The PRESIDING OFFICER The Senator
from Indiana is not in order.
Mr.. BRIGHT Then | will sit down, and
ask the Chair to state wherein | am out Of
order.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. In discnssipg
question which is not before the Senate.
MIR. BRIGHT | claim that the motion il
before the Senate. The Senator from New
Hampshire raised the question, immediately,
that
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair
decides otherwise.
Mr.. BRIGHT. Then Isppeal from the de-
cision of the Chair and state this as my
point of order, that before the bill was present
ed, in legal parlance, the Senator from New
Hampshire raised the question as to whether
tie Senate would grant leave; and that is the
point now before the Senate
The PRESIDING OFFICER, The Chair
win state the question which he supposes to
be pending. The Senator from California made
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