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

frat place submit The point Of order which have sub
mitted Then, in reply my colleague over the way,
MI diDDtkes ready 10 meet the issue upon the
great principles which he hss alluded want The qaes
on first 10 be taken upon the point OF order have sub
ruitted
4 Nh. GIDDINGS / say that when ths President pre-
sens hs message here IL our present condition L Is an
encroachment upon the rights ef the HOUSE lie has
right 10 send messages this body except transmit s
annual message at the OF the Cosgrass
he shall have been informed of organization In no
he TO the House Of Representatives
but 10 Congress in It's aggregate capacity This is IN its
nature serious attempt al innovation and rcvoiuton
From the time that General Washington assumed the
presidential chair down this the very last day Of De-
celnber 1855 Executive has attempted 10 palm
himself on this body until organized branch Of
complete Congress meet the innovation at the hresh
old. II is eDcroachment upon rights and reSis
II at the start For one viii submit 10 IL The
joriiy may but with them will be the responsibility.
III the President wished 10 coDmuncate 10 why did
he moi do before left dwellings, We then
much Of a House Of Representatives now.
There point Of time when become CAPABLE of acting
in concert with the Senate when both bodies together
stute Congress In The constitutional Accspison Of the
term When our Speaker Is elected and in when
tie members have admitted taken their and
in, tbe country then looks upon as cousii-
branch Of Congress With the Congress of the United
States consutonaly organized ii 10 expected that the
President win communicate
Mr.. MATTESON With the permission Of The gentle
from Ohio will read the second section of the first
law passed al the inst session q Congress which was be
March a. lfSe and continued September % 1882 IL
has intimate copnexion with the question issue
The section reads as follows:
SEC 2 And BE- farther saacsd Thai the session
the oath affirmation aforesaid shall be administered by
member OF the House Of Representatives 10 the
speaker; and by him all the members preent the
Clerk previous to entering other business and 70 tbs
seats The President q Ii. ssnss for the tim. being
shall also administer said oath affirmation each
seat any case q Presdent o the Senate
shall not hare taken the said oath affirmation, the
the Senate.
| Mr. JONES of Tennessee Mr. Clerk, the constitution
provides that the Senate House Representatives
shall constitute the Congress Of the United States IL also
provides that Congress shall least In every
year and that until otherwise provided meeting shall
be on the first Monday Of December It then makes il the
duty 0 the President of the United States from tins TO
time to communicate 10 The Congress when assembled the
state Of the Union and recommend for it's adoption
such measures be deem best for the interest and
prosperity Of the country What rule has been prescribed
by which the President 10 know when Congress in
session. None that to be found in the constitution
A gentleman asks whether do not al ways COM
Duncae to him the fact of organization, That is
but is merely practice Of courtesy, not duty
devoved Congress by the constitution Suppose when
shall have elected Sposker shall be The viii Of the
majority TO refuse inform the President that
assembled and organized then how il be know that fact
How do know that there ID nj the other end Of the Av
President TO communicate with us Members Of tbs
house Of Representatives know that the constitution OF the
United States has provided for and they must take II
for granted that he is his post and il is the Psiden;
duty take for granted that the people have done their
duty AND the Capitol their proper representative
in order 10 constitute the Congress Of the United States
He must take it for granted thai the people representatives,
have discharged their datrhst they have assembled in
Of the constitution When he deems it his duty
communicate 10 Congress he do and though
his private secretary should find this hall vacant
occupied the Executive win have di,ciargec his duty
As TO the question why he cid present hrs comrnuu
cation before, have only TO that he may not have
thought that II was important touo we in an
uuorganLed condition for Eve ak weeks three Eve
months il TO be established doctrine here that the
Executive is not TO communicate 10 any information
however important until Congress shall ask at his hands
That not the constitutional provision IL that be shall
from time 70 time communicate with Congress see
ojecton-there can be poneo the practice Of ooure
sy which has been followed from the organization Of the
government 70 the present de that when both houses
organized shall inform the President that Congress
is assembled and ready TO receive communication that
be may at 10 make TO them. Now, shall sickle on
question OF courtesy etiquette which is unknown 70
the constitution, and in nowise obligatory this House
anybody elsef For myself have respect for prrotcs
custom, etiquette anything Of the sort longer
than II bias good in it fayorno longer than IL s
founded on right and jnstice
Mr.. JONES' Of Pennsylvania. Mr. Clerk did not rise
10 gentleman question merely desired OPP
portuuy say this The President Of the United States
has assumed the responsibility Of presenting bis message
In present unorganised condition treating
House under the consultation wish merely call for
The previous question the question Of reception of that
message and let every member of this body take the
sponsibity without debate BY his vote, OF declaring
whether not be will recognise the existence Of this
House prevent important papers from going TO the
country touching matters which Affect the government and
The whole country.
Mr. BoC0CK shall occupy the attention Of the House
but two minutes in relation this Cen
upon The other side Of The House Mr. Clerk have
spoken Of this very extraordinary contingency Never
before II hes been said has the President Of the United
States message 20 this House until organized
by the election Of Speaker. that before
since the foundation Of this has been the
the members Of the House Of Representatives hare
sat here for four weeks without Speaker.
In relation 10 the law which has been read by The geo
tlensn from New York Mr.. MtT1Fsos what have 70
say. Mr. Clerk Is that It brought Out by myself many
days ago and is Ia the recollection Of almost every
Der Of this body, but the phrase used in that law r. that
Speaker shall be elected and the members In '
fore proceeding any other busincssn The term 'bus
has specific and, may say, technical meaning
Now have been debating hers for long time Would
gentlemen cay that in doing proceeding 20
other business - The House OF Representatives has
passed various resolutions either OF order in relation
rs organization. Was that proceeding 10 other bus
ness We have right 10 take any steps which may be
conducive 10 the election of Speaker and 70 The orrnn
nation Of this House and unfl that IL read DO
know how far II may be persuasive 90 that end Tbs
reception and reading Of the message proceed
ing business When have read H. and action shall
be proposed growing ont Of II other than the election Of
Speaker Il will then he time enough for Renteen 10 OBJ
ect and entrcnch themselves behind tbs law aforesaid
Then shall agree with them.
There Is point that has been hiued at over the
which wish 10 present specifically 10 the at
tenton Of this House. and for that purpose that
ar61e this occasion.
Mr. Cerk when he Congress q the United STATES - rot
in session the constitution Of the country gives the prrs
dent the rghtto call this body together There might
danger Of invasion might be threatened
or some Of our rirhts nation might attacked md