The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-11
The Amnesty Bill.


Mr.. Blaine suggested that the Centen-
nial bill should be first considered, but
Mr.. Randall insisted on his motion, and
the rules were suspended.
Mr.. Randall then demanded the pre-
vious question on the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Blaine-Does the gentleman de-
sire to cut off the amendment.
Mr.. Randall desire to have the pre-.
vious question seconded, and then l will
allow the half hour which the rules
give me for discussion on the other side Of
the House.
Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman proposes
not to allow any amendment.
Mr.. Randall, will listen to any
amendment.
Mr.. Blaine, the gentleman knows very
well that the previous question cuts OF
the amendments.
Mr.. Randall, am quite aware OF the
effect of it. I have for twelve years
learned its effect in adversely under your
direction an 1 that of your side OF the
house. tMurmurs of applause on the
Democratic side.
The previous question was secohueo,
l59 to 95.
Mr.. Randall, as 1 have one hour for
debate l propose
MIR. Garfield interrupting. Under
what rule? This bill is not report from
the committee, therefore there is no
debate allowed after the previous ques-
tion being seconded.
Mr.. Blaine insisted upon the same
point, and said that the rule as to allow
ing an hour for debate after the previous
question, applied only to reports of com.
mittees. The previous question in this
case cuts of absolutely every moment OF
debate.
Mr.. RaLdall-Does that side OF the
House object to debate?
Mr.. Blaine-It does not, nor does this
side of the House desire any time for q
debate. although as Congress has been in
session five weeks, and as the sessions OF
the House have averaged only about two
DAYS out Of a week, it might be consid-
cred that an hour or two Of debate would
not be too much to allow on bill OF this
kind.
Mr.. Randall (persistentlyl- | want to
know If anybody on that side OF the
House objects to a debate.
Mr.. Hale (of Msine)-No sir but we
want debaIe and amendment both.
Mr.. Garfeld-We want considera-
ton of the subject, which means debate
and amendment.
Mr.. Randall propose that we give
An hours consideration to it.
Mr.. Garfeld-Aye! considera tion
without amendment.
Mr. Blaine-I told the gentleman Mr..
Randall in good faith that it was abso.
lutely impossible for him 10 pass his bill
under that kind of tactics. The vote on
the previous question has revealed the
fact that considerably more than one
third of the House objects TO the bill!
going through under gag.
MI. Randall don't propose to
put it through usder gag.
On the contrary l propose to
put It through after the debate. If
that of the house objects to the de-
bate, it will be itself responsible for there
being no debate. 1t is for that side OF
the house to say whether there shall be a
debate or not.
Mr.. Baine-The 9gentleman from
Pennsylvania knows Mr.. Benton left on
record the saying that "The very essence
of legislative power is amendment" and
the gentleman from Pennsylvanis con-
fesses the weakness Of his cause when he
attempts to deprive the minority Of the
House of parliamentary right to offer
amendments.
Mr.. Randall-(Tauntingly,) l am glad
that you see light, for during many years
YOU were blind to such considerations.
Laughter on the Democratic side and in
the galleries.
Mr.. Blaine, (defantly)-The gentle
man will search the Globe for the last
twelve years in vain for a case where
bill of this magnitude was attempted to
be put through without discussion and
amendment. Never, sir. | de.y him to
give an instance.
Mr.. Randall-Was not this very bill
passed last year under the previous ques
tion on the report from the Committee
on Rules, of which you were a member
NJ. Blaine-And to which | objected.
Mr.. Randall-Never, either in or out
of the Committee, did you object to 1t.
Blaine-Being in the chair and unable
to object myself l got several gentlemen
to object Laughter at the expense OF
the last speaker | asked the gentle
man from North Carolina, (Rainey) 10
object to it but he with the dehcscy
which did honor to his position and his
race said he would be Misunderstood if he
did SO although he thought it ought not
to go through.
Randall say this bill Is almost
identical with the bill reported last ses-
sion from the Committee on Rules
without any objections from your party.
Blsine-I differ with the gentlemen on
that point. did object TO it although
the gentlemen does not observe parlia-
men.ary rules when he refers to what
took place in the committee.
Mr.. Randall repeat that precisely
similar bill came last session from the
Committee on Rules, and that neither as
a member of the committee, nor m .
member Of the House, nor as presiding
officer did you object TO it. On the con-
trary, ms far as you were able you iacIli-
,a,ed the passage of that bill.
Mr. Garfield make a point Of order
that the rules require the gentleman to
address the char and no; 70 address tie
gentleman from Maine as "you."
Mr.. Randall, (contemptuously)-The
gentleman from Ohio is getting very
fastidious. Laughter on the Democrs-
tic side ofthe House and in the galleries.
Mr.. Banks demands the ayes and
nave, or the ordering Of the main ques-
,ion. and the ayes and nays were ordered.
Mr.. Blaine-I desire it TO be distinctly
understood that the effect of ordering the
main question is to cut off all debate
whatever.
Mr.. Randall-And desire it equally
understood that it is not the purpose Of
this side Of the House 10 prevent de-
bate, and If debate is cut of il will be
the fault Of The other side This side
will accord 70 the other side OF the house
all the time IL wants for discussion.