Mr. Bryan called for the reading of that rule of the House which restrains interested persons from voting.
The Clerk read the same, as follows:
“No member shall vote on any question in the event of which he is immediately and particularly interested; or in any other case where he was not present when the question was put.”
A motion was made to consider the report of the Committee of the Whole, and carried—yeas 64, nays 51.
Mr. Clark moved a proviso as an amendment, declaring that no part of the five millions of acres reserved should go to compensate the claimants under the act of Georgia, passed in 1795.
Mr. J. Randolph called the yeas and nays on the amendment.
Mr. Dana observed that the report on the table had been made on the application of persons claiming land under the act of 1795. The amendment, said he, is nothing more nor less than a denial to comply with the prayer of the petitioners, and whether it was not to all intents and purposes a substitute for the resolutions agreed to in the Committee of the Whole, he would leave to the Speaker. If it were decided to be a substitute, it could not be received, conformably to the rules of the House.
The Speaker said, the resolution reported from the Committee of the Whole was a general one, including all claims; the amendment went to limit and confine the resolution to a particular class, and, therefore, he conceived it to be in order.
Mr. J. Randolph.—It must be manifest to the House that this discussion is forced upon those who are opposed to the report of the committee; that we are not prepared at this time to meet it. I am among those who hoped that some reasons would be assigned, if indeed reasons can be found, to warrant the step about to be taken. I did hope that, instead of a string of facts and statements which were already before the House, the committee would have given us something new in the shape of argument, justificatory of the resolution which they have recommended. But I have been disappointed. Nothing is offered either in the report itself, or in the debate, which throws a single gleam of light on the subject. I have particular reasons to deprecate a discussion at this time. I shall not trouble the House by detailing them, but briefly state that I feel myself unequal to an immediate investigation of this question, as well from personal indisposition as from the pressure of other important business, which has left me but little leisure to attend to this. The few moments which I have been able to devote to it, have convinced me that much new and important matter remains to be brought to light. But no apology will be received: we are driven to a vote by an inflexible majority.
The objection taken by the gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr. Dana,) and the doubt which he raised on that point of order, respecting the amendment offered by my worthy colleague, (Mr. Clark,) discloses his drift, and that of the Committee of Claims, whilst it proves the necessity of some such amendment to save citizens of the United States and their property from spoliation and plunder. The gentleman has stated truly that his object was to further the claim of the New England Mississippi Land Company. As I fear I shall have full occasion to exert my voice, I must beg that the memorial of the agents of that company may be read by the Clerk.