HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY, May 15, 1869.The SPEAKER called the House to order at 9 o'clock A. M., and subsequently, on invitation, Mr. Davis of Floyd, Chair.
ADJOURNMENT TILL MONDAY
Mr. RUDDELL. Mr. Speaker-I move that the House adjourn.
Mr. COFFROTH. Would it not be better to say, when the House adjourns it shall be till Monday morning, 9 o'clock? Otherwise we would have to be here at 2 o'clock to-day.
Mr. RUDDELL. My motion is made. Let him amend it.
Mr. COFFROTH. I move, then, to amend the motion, so as to make it: That when the House adjourns to-day, it shall be till Monday morning, 9 o'clock.
Mr. GORDON. I rise to a point of order. Nothing can be in order till the journal is read.
The SPEAKER. There is not a quorum. The journal is not read till the Chair is satisfied that there is a quorum.
Mr. RUDDELL accepted Mr. Coffroth's amendment, and so his motion was agreed to by consent.
SPEAKER BUSKIRK
Mr. COFFROTH. I wish to say to the House that I am compelled to go home today, and I take it for granted that the House will give me leave of absence (''Consent," "consent"). I have a resolution to offer. I have thought it proper, and it is perhaps but just, that the resolution which I propose to submit, should come from the minority, and I propose to introduce it now, not as a mere matter of form, but because I think it is due under all the circumstances. I offer the following resolution:
Mr. GORDON. I object to the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The resolution will be read for information. And the Clerk read as follows:
Resolved, That the warmest thanks and most kindly wishes of this House are hereby presented to the honorable George A. Buskirk, for the able, faithful, and impartial manner in which he has discharged his duties as Speaker.
The resolution was entertained and adopted by unanimous consent.
H. H. ROBINSON.
Mr. PIERCE, of Porter, submitted the following, which was also adopted by consent.
Resolved, That H. H. Robinson, Reading Clerk of the House, be allowed per diem for the session.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I have some reports here from the Judiciary Committee, recommending indefinite postponement of certain bills.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Reports are not in order.
page: 245[View Page 245]LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
COFFROTH. Mr. Speaker, I am really compelled to go away to-day on important business, and I would like to have leave of absence. ("Consent, consent.")
The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is taken by consent. The gentleman can go.
WILLIAMS OF ST. JOSEPH.
Mr. OSBORN. I wish to inquire if the gentleman from St. Joseph (Mr. Williams) has been allowed to record his vote on the suffrage amendment?
Mr. Speaker BUSKIRK. His name is recorded.
ABSENCE INDEFINITE.
Mr. PIERCE, of Porter, Mr. JOHNSTON, of Parke, Mr. RATLIFF, Mr. MITCHELL and Mr. STEWART, of Rush, severally, asked and obtained leave of absence indefinitely.
THE COLORED FOLKS.
Mr, GORDON. Mr. Speaker, inasmuch as we yesterday ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, I insist that the negro-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is out of order. The gentleman from Boone will pardon the Chair for the expression of a different opinion as to that fact. [Laughter.]
Mr. GORDON continued. I insist that the colored folks may have the right to re-ratify. [Laughter.]
ABSENCE.
Mr. JOHNSTON, of Parke. Mr. Speaker, I am requested to ask leave of absence for Mr. Miller ("consent.")
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has leave.
Mr. WILDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask for leave of absence for the balance of the session.
VOICES. "Consent," "consent."
The SPEAKER pro tempore. You can go, sir.
Mr. HIGGINS. And I ask leave of absence.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. You can go-
Mr. MONROE. And I-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. You have the right to go too. [Laughter.]
THE MORGAN RAID BILL.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to re consider the vote by which the House postponed the consideration of the Morgan raid bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is re-considered. [Cheers.]
Mr. BUSKIRK. I move to concur in the Senate amendments.
The SPEAKER pro tempore The amendments are concurred in. [Cheers and laughter.]
Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to point of order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is well taken, sir. [Laughter.]
CLERKS, DOORKEEPERS, ASSISTANTS.
Mr. PIERCE, of Porter, submitted the following, which was adopted by unanimous consent:
Resolved, That the thanks of this House are hereby tendered to William M. Merwin, Principal Clerk, John O. Hardesty, Assistant Clerk, Thomas McCon, Doorkeeper, C. P. McCoy, Assistant Doorkeeper, and each of the employees mder them, for the able and faithful manner in which they have discharged their duties during the Special Session.
After an ineffectual motion to adjourn, by invitation of the presiding incumbent, Mr. Ruddell occupied the Chair.
A NEW BILL.
Mr. DAVIS, of Floyd. Mr. Speaker, I offer, and I desire to introduce the following bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Bills are out of order.
Mr. STANTON. I appeal from the decision of the Chair.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is all right.
SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT.
Mr. DAVIS, of Floyd. Mr. Speaker, I more to reconsider the vote of yesterday for ratifying the negro suffrage.
Mr. BUSKIRK. I second the motion, and move a call of the House. [Laughter.]
Mr. DAVIS. I withdraw the motion.
VALEDICTORY.
Mr. COFFROTH. Mr. Speaker, being about to leave the hall, I want to say a word to members, one and all, with the kindest feeling; and it is this: That if any word of seeming unpleasantness has been at any time uttered here in debate, either on my part or that of any other member I know that I, at least, am of a nature that is a little hasty, and if I have at any time said anything that ought not to have been said; if a single word has been spoken in the heat and earnestness of debate, that has stirred the feeling of anger in any breast, I hope it will not be cherished by any one. I hope we shall all meet again. Probably we never will. I know, indeed, that we never shall all meet again in a legislative capacity; and I wish to part with all in the best feeling here. And I hope that you may all live long, and come happily to the solace and rewards of life, that you may all live to a peaceful good old age: that your eyes may
- "Grow dim in death as sets
- The morning star, which goes not down behind
- The darkling west and sinks obscure
- Amid the tempest sky, but melts away
- Into the light of heaven."
I bid you good morning.
page: 246[View Page 246]Mr. BUSKIRK. I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; and accordingly, the House adjourned till Monday morning, nine o'clock.
