The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-04


Say nothing in regard to any business which mns'
transact; until say this House is organized messag,
be revFEed from the President Therefore il is that
sustain ths point Of order made BY The gentleman from
Mr.. cLlgGMAK / say that the constitution provides
that Congress shall assemble al a certain time That time
has arrived and the members Of the houses have
sembei Il also says that the House Of Representatives
shall Choose lis Speaker Well Of course that implies thai
must te House before proceed choose Speaker
IL the argument OF the gentleman from Maine Mr.. WAsH
BrRS right see what the eject Of II would be- Sup
pose that aer the election of Speaker that Speaker should
die and tbere should be regRaas In the speakersp
would to be House2 According 10 bis argument
would That is his doctrine; least that i fair
view q T. This Is subject which some tine ago was very
npch debated.
The constitution provides that the President shall from
time 70 time make communications 10 Congrebs Well
the President Is well that Congress session il
Is his duty i2 know ihat fact and be does know it The
centeuas ffSn Maine ullmated that the President may
have nndertak, 10 this message 10 dictate 10 IA
MrWASHBuRN. Not al all.
Mr. CLlNGMAK Then the gentiernans remarks about
the President Iictaiing 10 has meaning at all and
therefore should have no weight with the House The
President has certain duties devoved him. have
duties likewise The President may whenever he under
stands Congress to he in session communicate it, and IL
Is his duty 10 do whenever in his Judgment IL ia inn
poriant 10 te webeng Of the country That cunmuni-
cation has been in this instance made and object in
u ing 70 move for its reading that the House might
have knowledge of ifs conients agree with the gem
tleman from OHIO, Mr. CAMrEELI, that cannot pro-
ceed 10 legiaae IN relation 10 the message but may
President that should hear IL In doing violate
provision or the constitution and statute hold
that much obliged, by courtesy TO co-ordnais
branch OF The government 10 hear The message
regularly organized l think that, mark OF
respect towards the President should bear the
read Whether then take action NOT is question 10
! he decided after the hearing.
Mr. GIDDiNGs appealed 10 his colleague Mr. CAMrnEIL
TO withdraw his point Of order lie thought this
great question 10 be tested by echncaity Of order 1t
was in his opinion attempted innovation the entire
practice Of t government from its foundation and he
wished TO mest II in the brogdest manner.
Mr.. CAMPBELL of Ohio taken very much by sur
prise TO md that this had been presented here He
at loss 10 understand by what authority the Clerk
could recognise any person entitled to he floor TO pre-
sent the message OF the Pdent 10 this unorganzed Con-
gress- E
The Clerk II is directed to the House Of Represents
tres The Clerk asks permission TO say that he not
that the message here until the announcement
made by the doorkeeper He bad information that
any to be presented. He viii say, however
that II he had received ibe information prior the prese-
talon Of The message he should have received IL
MIR. CAMPBELL- Geptlemen seem 10 have formed some
idea 10 the contents OF the message The gentleman
from Georgia M STrPBsss has made the point that it
contains in form why should proceed to
the election Of Speaker forthwith
Mr.. STEPHENS Ii the gentleman from Ohio will allow
for moment expressly dsclam any such statement
The genueaH refers to me or 10 anything uttered by
sne-
Mr.. CAMPBELL do not aIlude to the gentleman
from Georgia knowing what the contents Of the
message
Mr., STEPHENS Eere is nv point The constitution
makes il the aAiy ef tbs Presidf Of the Gned SGs to
communicate the houses Of Congress Information touch
ing The state OF the Union &c take for granted that the
President would not thus communicate 10 us unless there
1t4ie which in mis- opinion, ought 20 be
made knos Shall we have the communication he
has sent read, not
ar CAMPBELL But The gentleman urged that
Mr. STEPHENS. said that there might be niorms-
ton contained in the message which would be with
strong reasons for the speedy organization Of the House
What that information is what reasons II may give
70, do not know, do that the President
urges such upon that ground but ai there may
be matters of great public interest communicated which
shall show that il ia duty 10 eject speedy
ganzAtion.
Now Mr. Clerk the gentleman from Ohio on rny right
Mr.. GTppiNss speaks OF this unprecedented pro-
cesdiug i may he unprecedented r tbs parliamentary
history of this country because the House OF Represents
lives remained long unorganised before and IL
may be that questions have heretofore presented them
selves Of sueut public interest make the President
consider II his duty 10 communicate TO Congress in its
organized condition. such act may be unprere-
denied in history bat t is unprecedented in par
nmentary hstary. II the House viii permit me will
read the iater part Of the ninth section Of the Manual
showing hAt such preoeenis be found in the his
tory Of the British Parliament II IL that part OF the Man
ua which treats o the state OF The British House o Com
nous beorea Speaker is elected and how Speaker Is ther.
chosen.
II bAs been usgn pat question 70 the House but with
out question: the members proposing him cnpduct him 10
the chair bot there be objection another proposed
question is put by the Clerk (2 Halls 1855 a are also aue
tons Of adjournment &c Grey, s0d where the House de-
bard and exchanged messages and with the King
for week without Speaker, until they were proroCued
They have dene dc ds - d for fourteen days. Il ChsBd
35l s35")
So that il seems tRi this Is by no means an unprece-
dented instance Ia parliamentary history The British Par
lament bas been according this authority in session for
least fourteen days without he election Of Speaker
during which communications have passed between the
two houses and between The House aud the King No such
instance has arisen In history, because such
Necessity las ever arisen for such proceeding Tho Brit
sh Parliament The occasion referred TO- In session
for fourteen days without the election of Speaker do
ring wbich time communications passed between
them and other branches Of the government Now think
it Is due matter u courtesy TO coordinate branch
Of the governmen especially Al Is the duty OF the Pre-
dent give information touching any public interests
thai The message should be received and read
Mr. CAMPBELL, Of Ohio. l should like to under
sad distinctly ihe position taken BY The gentleman from
Georgia, Mr. SrErHEss DO understand The gentleman
from GrssEa 10 Intimate, when be upon the hoor
some Gaies since that the contents Of that message
n SPEAKER
Ar. STEPHENS. Not at all
Mr.. CAMPBELL 1 understood the gentleman 10 say
something OF thai sort
Mr.. STEPHENS No, sir such thing.
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Well, that IL might have the effect 70
accomplish that object, something Of the kind
Mr.. STEPHENS ! said il might contain matter that
would lead 70 that result For illustration suppose hat
while We remained here in uporganized condition The
country should be invaded by hostile force The House
knowing Of the fact greatly the detrment Of The
country take Il FOR granted that the House IL
informed Of the fact would proceed organize i'm
mediaiey, when otherwise they might not Ny object
not 10 state that the message contained matter direct
ly referring 70 the organization at ALL but that IL might
contain information in reference the condition Of the
country sarh would lead 20 speedy organiza-
uon ui the HOUSE than would otherwise be effected not