536 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



The letter was read. (See Senate Proceedings, January IT, 1855.) 

 Mr. JAMES MEACHAM. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to 



introduce a resolution of inquiry, founded upon that letter; and upon 



the resolution I demand the previous question. 

 The resolution was reported: 



Resolved, That the letter of Hon. Rufus Choate, resigning his place as Regent of 

 the Smithsonian Institution be referred to a select committee of live and printed; 

 and that said committee be directed to inquire and report to the House whether the 

 Smithsonian Institution has been managed and its funds expended in accordance 

 with the law establishing the Institution; and whether any additional legislation be 

 necessary to carry out the designs of its founders; and that said committee have power 

 to send for persons and papers. 



Mr. W. H. ENGLISH. If I have the right to object to the reception 

 of the resolution just proposed by the gentleman from Vermont [Mr. 

 Meacham] I do so; and I move that the communication submitted by 

 Mr. Choate be laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. 



The SPEAKER. The resolution of the gentleman from Vermont, to 

 refer to a select committee the letter which has just been read, is in 

 order, in the opinion of the Chair. Upon the adoption of the resolu- 

 tion the gentleman from Vermont demands the previous question. It 

 is in order to make a motion to lay the matter on the table. 



Mr. ENGLISH. Then I make that motion. 



Mr. MEACHAM. Will that motion carry the resolution with it? 



The SPEAKER. It will. 



Mr. MEACHAM. Am I not still entitled to the floor. 



The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Vermont can not retain the floor 

 after moving the previous question. It is in order for the gentleman 

 from Indiana to make the motion he does, as it is a privileged question. 



Mr. MEACHAM. The resolution I offer is simply one of inquiry, made 

 in respectful terms, and it appears to me that there can be no objec- 

 tion to it. If the motion of the gentleman from Indiana is pressed I 

 shall demand the yeas and nays. 



Mr. THOMAS H. BAYLY, of Virginia. I ask my friend from Indiana to 

 withdraw the motion to lay upon the table. The resolution ought to 

 go to the Judiciary Committee, and the clause providing for sending for 

 persons and papers ought to be stricken out. 



The yeas and nays were ordered. 



Mr. J. R. CHANDLER. I would ask whether the motion to lay upon 

 the table includes the motion to print? 



The SPEAKER. It does include that motion. 



Mr. T. H. CLINGMAN. The motion to lay upon the table and print 

 would be a debatable motion. 



The SPEAKER. It would scarcely be debatable pending the demand 

 for the previous question. 



Mr. CLINGMAN. The demand for the previous question has not been 

 seconded. 



