The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF non. A. II. sTEpnENs.

SPEECH OF HON. A. II. STEPHENS.
oS GEORGIA, sa.
the report from the Committee on Territories. proyl.
fingfor the admission OF Kansas into the Union as a
State with The constitution prepared at Topeka by The
fee-state party delivered In the House Of Represent
klr STEPHENS propose, Mr.. Speaker. before pro-
ID what have arisen mainly to say on this occasion
k the consent of the House 10 allow me now 10 offer
amendment which stated yesterday wished TO pro-
lie TO the bill now before us es3as1r& s8 4 lsiT5
Mr. WASHBURN, OF Maine. If the gentleman asks that
sent now, shall object to 1t as shall At all times
Dir. STEPHENS, On the motion to commit the bill "a
Commtee OF tho Whole on the state Of The Union the
ndment iS MOI an order, unless by unanimous consent
Dir. WASHBUlsN. understand that to be a side meas
intended to destroy the bill and shall object to it
w and NJ all times. u S.B sB8s b6y1 G.,Is
Eir STEPHENS. Estate to the gentleman that have
SIDE OtoEs Tor this BILL nor Is my amendment intended
any side measure ] wish my proposition 10 come ds
icty before The House as substitute for the pending
T. | am opposed out and out to this bill as ii now
fnds' want no Misunderstanding on that point /
E however, vote for the substitute; and what 1 want is
Pirect vote between the bill now pending and the subs
tc offered as an amendment But us The gentleman from
pine VIII not allow me to offer my proposition as an
bendment, now move to amend the motion 10 comm
is bill TO the Committee Of the Whole on the state If The
hion, by adding to it, "wiih instructions to report this
heudment In lieu Of The original bill y in other words
Instructions TO strike out all in the original bi and
Insert my amendment in lieu thereof That il the mo-
In which submit TO the House. and upon il shall pro
I'D with what have TO say ... n. :. ''- -
immlteria TO me, Mr. Speaker II can net vote in
House on the proposition sui mted by me, whether il
Yes to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
hion or not am myself prepared to vote on il to-day
fher in the House or in the Committee of the Whole on
state OF the Union But Lam inclined to think that il
better go to the committee. We can then take IN this
bendmen, and consider it in detail. 1t may be some
lnemen would suggest notifications which would ac-
Pt We can then discuss the merits of the original bill
friends can amend that II they wish. My amendment
In hp nu -. A.
by desire, II majority be favorable to its objects
erefoe shall vote for the reference But the gentleman
pm Ohio Mr. CAAPnEL the other day said that the mo-
70 reer or eommi made by the gentleman from Indi-
successful to defeat of the bill The gentleman from
pine Mr. WAsHBuRNl also followed in the same line
Pw told these gentlemen, day before yesterday and
state it again to the House, that do not, consider
motion to commit the bill to the Committee of the
hole the state of the Union il carried as equivalent to
defeat or the measure at ALL By means sir. What
argument OF those who say reference Of the bill is
nnmolnt to its deteat2 Nothing better than this, as
gued by the gentleman from Maine to wit that all the
lends OF the Kansas bill two years ago. when that bill
referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state OF
Union considered itas equivalent its defeat That
argument and the authority adduced by hin, to sus
lin it. Sir, 1t is mmaeria to what certain friends OF
Kansas bill may have thought would be the effect Of
reference, when It was referred II they considered
reference equivalent TO its defeat the sequel showed
|a they we're in error. That is all. II was referred II
as considered two weeks in committee and it was then
bssed .s..s I'D .a. e'sG 7. at|
Mr. WASHBURN. VIII the gentleman allow me to say
Iat that simply because they breke down the rules
the House In two instances III they had they never
|uld have got that bin out of committee. "A
Mr. STEPHENS. Will the gentleman state what two
Mr. WASHBURN. In the irst place, by deciding tina,
nder the 10th rule you might strike out the enscng
ause of the bill. In the second place. by rising and re-
png the bill to the House when there was no quorum
Mr. RICHARDSON The gentleman from Maine is To-
Ally mistaken when he says there was no quorum
Mr. STEPHENS. hope the gentleman from Illinois
MI let me proceed. The gentleman from Maine Is mis-
Aken in both his instances The record shows that the
rers Mr. CLsGNAs and MIR. SAPP reported l03 ia favor
the motion, and % against it. That is more than n
uorum-one hundred and eighteen was quorum-one
undred and twenty-five voted. Though great many
resent refused 10 vote than quorum, no Eever did
oe on the motion 10 strike out IL does not require
uorum TO vote on motion TO rise every knows
nd far the violation of the 10Th rule is con-
erned have this TO cay to the gentlemanas said the
Ay before yeserday-that nothing be clearer than
hat thing done In the committee on the passage Of
be Kansas bill under the llgth rule legitimate and
roper and that rule OF this House violated or
Serrode on that OCCASION This intend to show beyond
av doubt The charge that there was no quorum vo
ing Is answered BY the record have stated Then
the two other chargesor besides the charge relating
the 10th rule made, the gentleman from Maine
Mr. WAsHnURs, or some other gentleman said two days
go, that there another rule violated. What do
ot know-ior no one was montened-but the statement
setting aside other bills having priority in the order Of
usincss the galeadar the KausasN Nebrass bill That
ss one statement and think IL also said that up
ards OF hundred bills thus set aside 10 reach this
he Now, Mr. Speaker have the rules of the Honse be-
're me- and ask the attention Of the House to the l35h
ule:
In Committee Of the whole on the state Of the Union the
m 'ha be taken and Disposed Of in their order the
endar; but chen ooi0R m made TO the confederation OF
bill aority ef hs ooh'n,ee sho decide vitkos debats
neither Il shall be taken up and disposed Of laid aside
rovided that general appropriation bills and In time OF
Ills for raising money, and bills concerning treaty
peace, shall be preferred 10 all other bills at the dsyeo1
ne copmiitee and when demanded BY any member the
uestion shall frst be pr 80 regard 20 hem." 1.
Even in times Of war appropriation bTls aud bills re-
ting TO treaties Of peace have other preference except
nat the question Of taking them up rst shall be FIRST put
majority may lay even them aside. =. q
Sir, could rnle be written more painly7 Can Ian
nRge be moro clear distinct than tbishat when
e house goes into the Committee OF the Whole the
ate Of the Union aud when the frat bin IN order Is read
the Clerk and gentleman objects TO taking IL mp, II ID
zen submitted to The committee whether II VIII bO taken
not and majority Of he committee hoDe TIE trpressi
-aHted porer 20 dopfne wiout Jsbuts whether they will
zen act on or lay i aside for other business and SO on
the second and TO the third and TO the fourth and 10
&c one hundred aud fftleh IL you please7 Was Il not
erfecty competent for majority Of the COMMITTEES Of the
hole on the state Of the Union when the Kansas bill
eommtiee to pass other bills and take up that bill
This they did Each bill laid aside as u was reach
]. They had right TO do IL They violated no rule 10
DING II The number Of bills laid aside 70 reach y was
My eighteen think but u the number had been legion
there bad been one hundred, Eve hundred or thou
,ud-it would have made no difference.
Sic the rule in this s clear as u could be made
nd tho aelon Of the committee on that occesion was
rctly in order This maintain and deJ an answer or
Now, then, sir, as 10 the 10Th rule.
When the committee on that occasion had laid aside the
bin and the second BILL aud the third BILL and on,
MIL they had come TO the Kansas bil the eighteenth iG
rder-whch they had right 10 dothey took ~ up for