The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-03-18
Conversational News

WARRINGTON. hdACu A%s
HousE.-The Speaker announced that thu
pending question was on the appeal of Mr.
Harris, of ILL.,, from the decision of the Chair
that he could not read the Journal Of the state
men: Of the Kansas Committee to show thai
the Committee had not executed the order Of
the House, for the reason that the minority
could not make a report from a Committee
and therefore it was no question of privilege
Mr.. Harris said that nothing but imperative
daty impelled him to raise the question. l,
was not done rashly. The cases quoted by
the Speaker were not analogous to the one un-
der consideration. He and others of the mi.
noritv did not propose TO make a report from
the Committee, but merely wished to show
that the other members of the committee have
disobeyed the order Of the House.
The minority report no bill for legislative
action. The substantive proposition is that
the privileges Of the House have been infring-
ed, and that the minutes Of the committee are
part of the majority report. These, the mi
nority had right TO refer to or produce those
minutes.
Mr. Stephens Of Ga. repeated that no pre-
cedent for the movement, as had been claimed
BY Mr.. Harris, could be found on the records
Of the British parliament, or Of any legislative
body in the world. The gentleman from Ills.
had not produced an authority to sustain him,
the question IL whether the remissness Of the
majority or the minority of committee is a
question of privilege. He contended that it
was not.
Mr.. Grow Of Pa. caused to be read the reso-
buttons under which the committee was ap-
pointed to show that the committee was in
structed into all the facts connected with the
Lecompton Constitution.
Mr.. Stephens rose to point of order.
Mr.. Grow said that it came with bad grace
from Mr.. S., who had INDUCED in the utmost
latitude of debate.
Mr.. S. replied that he had confined himself
strictly to the question before the House. If
Mr.. G. wanted to 60 into an investigation of
what the Committee had done he was ready.
Mr. G. said that parliamentary law requir-
ed that majority of friends of the measure
should have been put on the Committee, but
the presiding officer had put majority Of its
opponents on.
Mr.. Winslow of N. c., called Mr.. Grow to
order. r aa
Mr.. G.-Of course. tEF
The Speaker said the question was a deli
cate one, as Mr.. G. was commenting on the
action of the Chair. @
E Mr.. Grow resumed, saying that If the ma
Jority of committee violate the order Of the
House, how is the House to take action to as
certain unless by the statement Of one or more
Of the members of that COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Stephens said he was ready to show
where the report was made up that the Com
had examined every material fact.
MIR. G. replied that the Committee had no
discretion, they were directed to investigate all
the facts. s.a6 .tE
Mr.. English, of Indiana, said. let each branch
of the Com. put in the papers.
The Speaker said the reports should be re.
ceiyed by general consent, and it would then
be proper fo- the House to take such action az
they might fnlnk proper.
Mr.. English appealed 70 question on all
sides Of the House to receive the papers and
fix day for their consideration.
Mr.. Washbnrne, of Maine, objected.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, suggested to Mr.
English to affix proviso to the effect that nc
amendment should be made Of the report Of
the majority in the form Of bill to admit
Kansas so long as any FIVE members Of tn,
Committee desired to be heard upon on tht
facts.
Mr.. Houston, Of Ala, said that no simla
proposition had ever beeen made.
Mr.. G. said he recoIIected that foreigr
State was once admitted into the Union BY
joint resolution, and why could not the at
tempt be made to admit Kansas into the sam
wav.
Mr.. Colfax asked Mr.. English to modif
his proposition SO as 10 call for only tie Of
fetal report Of the Committees proceedings.
Mr.. Stephens said it was not the object o
the Committee to append the bill on the join
resolutions for the admission of Kansas.
Mr.. Washburne, of Me.-You can Raw
your report introduced into the records of tn
Committee.
Mr.. Stephens.-I stand upon the rights o
the Committee.
NJ. Jones, of Tenn, moved that the pend
ing appeal be laid on the table.
Motion negatived by 100 against IL.
Mr.. Harris said his proposition embrace
the whole case fairly and fully. Would MI
Stephens or any of the Committee object I
the minority hereafter presenting their view
in report.
Mr.. Stephens said he would not.
Mr.. Letcher would not object 70 Mr.. Harri
making report in the regular way, but oh
jected that the minority should fake chance
with demurrer, and when that fails take an
other chance by making report.
Mr.. Harris claimed nothing at the hands O
the majority Of the Committee, but as the
had expressed anxiety for proposition o
which all parties could unite, he submitte
his proposition as one Of fairness. but appre
hending an objection he would call a:tentio
to the subject now, if Mr.. Letcner and hi
friends had determined on their course. Hi
course was fixed.
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