The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-11

- oAASaAAS eAo sVtc oIueTlHR tne Inafu
question, in which case the Chair would not
have voted. The Chair directs that the
vote stand, yeas, II; nays, 76; and the
question therefore again rscurs on ordering
the main question.
Mr.. Randall: desire to ask whether the
Chair has the power Of voting in order to
make tie.
The Speaker: The Chair has tho same
right as any other member of the House to
vote at any time; but he follows the
usage and etiquette Of his position, which
he desires not to violate when he abstairs
from voting, as well as taking part on the
one side or the other In debates upon ques-
tions with reference to the discussion of
which he ought to maintain q position of i'm
psrtiality.
Mr.. Farnsworth But I suggest to the
Chair
The Speaker: The Chsir desires to bring
his statement to conclusion. No rights
are sacrificed because the question immcdi-
ately recurs upon ordering the main ques-
ton. The vote having been reconsidcred,
the question must be again tested before the
House, so that the rights of every gentle
man on both sides on the pending issue ore
fully protected.
Mr.. Farnsworth: But the point of order
mako is that the vote was not reconsider
ed. 1t was tie vote, and being tie it
WAS not reconsidered unless the Chair with
draws his vote. If the Chair determines
that he has right to withdraw his vote af-
ter the question has been decided, that is
one thing, otherwise as the record now
stands, the Chair voting as q member of
the House, it is tie, and the vote is not re-
considered.
Dir. Randall: I object to the Speaker
withdrawing his vote.
Mr.. Ingcrsoll: insist upon it that
vote Of the House is not to be changed by
the aftcr-determination of any member Of
the House that be will change or withdraw
his vote.
Mr.. Paine: I insist that the vote of the
Speaker Was cast as the Speaker of the
House, and not as o member of the House
and therefore the Speaker has o right to
withdraw his vote.
Mr.. Randall: That is distinction with
cut difference.
Mr.. Farnsworth: lie can only vote ss a
member Of the House.
Mr.. Paine He can vote as Speaker and
member both.
Mr.. Bingham: desire to make On in
curry of the Chair. If the House orders
the main question will it not bring the
House directly to vote on the question,
Shall the joint resolution pass
Mr.. Farnsworth submit to the Chair
that no other member of the House can
withdraw his vote, nor con the Speaker.
The Speaker: No other member of the
House votes Us the Chair docs.
Mr.. Farms worth 1t seems to me that the
Speaker is on the same footing as the other
members in that respect.
The Speaker: No other member Of the
House is circumstance as the Chair is. In
respect to voting, the Chair has right to
vote if he chooses or not to vote. The
Chair, in n given state of circumstances,
voted. That given state of circumstances
Ass been corrected and entirely changed
under The privileges of the House, and the
Chsir therefore docs not vote. If the
ha nj
the joint resolution, the Chair would
have doubts as to the propriety of his
course; but as this merely RENTS it to the
decision of the lower House upon point
already once decided, and now reconsidered
by majority Of one, the Chair assumes
and decides that he has right to withdraw
his vote under the circumstances, and the
question rccura, VIII the House order the
main question!
Mr. Paine: / rise to o point OF order.
The morning hour has expired.
The Speaker: But the previous question
has been seconded.
MIR. Paine: That has been reconsidered.
:. The Speaker: The Chair decides that the
question now recur, on ordering the main
question on tue joint resolution.
MIR. Bingham: Again I ask the Chair
whether if the>House orders the main ques-
ton it will not bring the House directly to
q vote on the question, Shall the joint reso-
linton pass2
Speaker: 1t will.
Mr.. Paine: And if both Houses refuse
to ordcr the main question, cannot the joint
resolution be referred to the Committee of
Reconstruction
Speaker: 1t can.
Mr.. Eldridge: I rise to point of order.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr..
Randall, objected to the withdrawal Of the
Speakers vote. I insist that the Speaker,
therefore, cannot withdraw it.
The Speaker: The Chair hos decided that
he can.
The question was again taken upon or
dcring the main question. The yeas and
nays were ordered, and it was decided in
the negatiye-yeas, &c: nays, so; not vo-
ting, Ga. So the main question was not
ordered.
Mr.. Paine: move that the joint rcsolu-
ton be referred to the Committee on Re-
construction.
Mr.. Farnsworth: ! rise to point OF Or
der. The morning hour having expired,
this joint resolution must 60 over under
the rule.