Tuesday, December 7.
Another member, to wit, from New York, Uri Tracy, appeared, and took his seat in the House.
Challenges, Duels, &c.
Mr. Bacon said he held in his hands three propositions which deemed it his duty to submit to the House. They were not for the regulation of the great concerns with foreign nations, but for the necessary object of regulating themselves. It would be seen that these resolutions had not grown out of any personal considerations, nor out of any particular case, but out of the serious evils to which the House had been exposed by the want of such regulations from the commencement of the Government. In 1796, the evil had risen to such a height that the House had unequivocally expressed its opinion on it.[10] Mr. B. said he felt it his duty to express his sense on the subject by laying the resolutions on the table, and more particularly as he understood that the subject was now agitated in the committee appointed to draught rules and orders for the government of the House. He would merely remark that the resolutions might not be correct in form, or they might be altogether erroneous in principle. He was not anxious as to the particular form; but he was decidedly in favor of the general object, and wished to take the sense of the House upon it. For himself he was well prepared to act on them; but for the convenience of others he wished them to lie on the table.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to report on the rules and orders for the government of the House, do report a rule declaring, "That if any member, in the course of debate, shall make use of opprobrious or vilifying language with respect to any member, or call into question the integrity of his motives, or those of either branch of the Government in relation to the discharge of his official duties, except on a motion for impeachment, or for other interposition of the constitutional powers of this House—or apply to either indecorous or reproachful expressions—it shall be deemed a breach of the orders of the House."
That said committee be instructed further to report a rule declaring, "That if any member, during the session of Congress, whether of the House or not, shall give or send to any other member during his actual attendance at the seat of Government, a challenge to fight a duel, or if the member so challenged shall accept the same, it shall be deemed a breach of the privileges of the House, as well on the part of such members as on that of any other person whether a member or not, who shall be aiding, abetting, or assisting in giving or sending such challenge, or in carrying the same into effect, and every such member shall be held liable to be expelled from the House therefor."
That said committee be further instructed to report a rule declaring, "That if any person, during the session of Congress, whether a member of the House or not, shall commit personal violence or assault upon any member during his actual attendance at the seat of Government, it shall be deemed a breach of the privileges of the House, as well on the part of the person so assaulting, as on that of any other person who shall be aiding, abetting, or assisting therein, and such person, if a member, shall be held liable to be punished therefor, at the discretion of the House."
Ordered to lie on the table.