A motion was made to add the following words to the end thereof:
"And that the said Matthew Lyon be considered in the custody of the Sergeant-at-arms until the further order of the House."
The yeas and nays were taken upon this question and decided in the negative—29 to 62.
Thursday, February 1.
Breach of Privilege.
The Speaker informed the House that he had received a letter from a member from Vermont, which he was requested to lay before them.
Mr. Rutledge thought, that in all cases, when letters were sent to the Speaker to be laid before the House, it would be proper for him to state the substance of such communications before they are read, otherwise improper matters might be brought before them.
The Speaker allowed that the suggestion was a proper one, and proceeded to state the contents of the letter in his hand; which having done, the reading of it was called for, and it was read as follow:
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:
Sir:—As the attention of the House of Representatives has been called to my conduct in a dispute with Mr. Griswold on a suggestion of its being a violation of the order of the House, and the respect due to it from all its members, I feel it incumbent on me to obviate the imputation of intentional disrespect. Permit me, sir, through you, to assure the House of Representatives that I feel as much as any of its members the necessity of preserving the utmost decorum in its proceedings; that I am incapable of an intentional violation of its rule; and that, if, in the present instance, I am chargeable with a disregard of them, it is owing wholly to my ignorance of their extent, and that the House of Representatives claimed any superintendence over its members when not formally constituted, and when they are not engaged in actual business. If I have been mistaken in my understanding on this subject, I beg the House to believe that my fault has been without intention, and that I am very sorry that I have deserved its censure. I am, sir, your obedient servant,