Part 268

POPE, JOHN, Senator from Kentucky, 3, 118, 166, 250, 400, 570; on the repeal of the Embargo act, 7; on the enforcement of the Embargo, 26; on the occupation of Florida, 253; on incorporating a bank of the United States, 285; on a recess of Congress, 412. See Index, vol. 3.

PORTER, JOHN, Representative from Pennsylvania, 36, 124, 187, 316. See Index, vol. 3.

PORTER, PETER B., Representative from New York, 124, 187, 316, 424, 705; on the Bank of the United States, 343; reports relative to the continuance of the charter of the United States Bank, 398; on Foreign Relations, 432; on the bill laying an Embargo, 546.

POTTER, ELISHA R., Representative from Rhode Island, 124, 187, 315, 430; on imposing additional duties, 542; on an increase of the Navy, 609. See Index, vol. 2.

POSEY, THOMAS, Senator from Louisiana, 570.

Postage of Newspapers.--See Index, vol. 3.

Post Office.--See Index, vol. 1.

Potomac River, Bridge.--See Index, vol. 3.

POYDRAS, JULIEN, Delegate from the Orleans Territory, 141, 187, 315; on the Batture at New Orleans, 148, 149.

PREBLE, Commodore, letter of the Secretary of the Navy relative to a gold medal for, 610. See Index, vol. 3.

Presents to Ministers.--See Index, vol. 2.

Presidency, Vacancy in.--See Index, vol. 1.

President, certificate of election of, 27.

Presidential Election, certificate of, 574.

Presidential Election in Massachusetts.--In House, resolution relative to the mode in which it was conducted, 105; the present course will make no difference in the result, but it should induce the House to consider the propriety of providing some mode of distinguishing between legal and illegal elections, 105.

Previous Question.--In the House, amendment offered to the rules, that when the previous question is ordered to be taken, upon the motion in question being put, every member who has not spoken shall be at liberty to speak once, 468; this secures to every member the right to speak at least once on every question, 468; what is to justify this measure of imposing silence? it is said the right of debate has been abused, 468; the majority insist that the rule will not be abused, 469; neither the journals of State Legislatures nor the laws of Parliament offered examples for this arbitrary proceeding, 469; there is a difference between the freedom of debate and the abuse of it when you cannot get a decision without an exertion of physical strength, 469; this has been our course several times, 469; a debate is often prolonged to prevent a decision, 469; if the majority abuse this responsibility, the people will correct it, 469.

If the majority do not possess it under the constitution, it should not be given to them, 469; the rule deserves the character of a Gag-law more than the sedition law ever did, 469; this question affects the essential principles of civil liberty, and saps its hopes at the very foundation, 469; the ground taken by those who oppose this proposition is, its necessity and convenience, 469; these are the points which should be most vigilantly guarded, 469; the subject is in some respects difficult to manage, 469; a feeling in and out of the House unpropitious to an impartial debate, 469; what is that principle of civil liberty which is amalgamated and identified with the very existence of a legislative body? 469; the right of every individual member is in fact the right of his constituents, 470; let not any man say this power will not be abused, 470; the right to speak is an individual right, limit it as you please, consistent with its single exercise, 470; it is not true that this power ever was, or ever can be, necessary in a legislative body, 470; it may be sometimes convenient, 471; the haste and clatter which always attends the close of a session is urged in favor of this measure, 471; should a member, on great questions, be denied the privilege of speaking? 471; to interdict the freedom of speech is a violation of right, 471; freedom of speech is secured by the constitution, 472; shall we be deprived of it when we come to this House? 472; this rule has always been in practice, 472; the principle is, that a majority at any time in this House can, by calling the previous question, cut off all debate, 472; a new construction was given at the close of last session, by which this rule, which it is proposed to amend, was adopted, 472; no such power ever before the last session exercised over the members, 472; see Journal of the first session of the Third Congress, 472; reason of the introduction of the previous question, 473; no necessity for it exists, 473; amendment lost, 474; further amendment proposed, 474; rules adopted, 474; note, 474.

Privateers, encouragement to--petition of citizens of New York for a reduction of duties on prizes, 578; bill for encouragement of, 580.

Captures, petition relative to, 594; a bill relating to captures, 606; do. regulating pensions to persons on board private armed ships, 607; duties on privateer prize goods, report on, 607; documents referred to in the report, 607; bill granting a bounty to, considered, 719; passed, 719.

In the House.--Bill to compensate officers and crew of our public vessels, for vessels of the enemy necessarily destroyed at sea, 703; bill grows out of the case of the Guerriere and Constitution, 703; principles of the hill unprecedented in any country, 703; bill defended on the ground of expediency and precedent, 704; inexpedient and unprecedented, 704.

In the House.--Bill to provide pensions for persons disabled in private armed vessels, 704; improper to adopt a principle so liable to abuse, 704; a per cent. of wages had been, heretofore, reserved to provide a fund for this object, 704; important services rendered by privateers, 704; doubtful, 704; bill recommitted, 705; report on, 712.

In the House.--Bill to encourage by remitting all claim to duties on captured goods, 716; private armed vessels, encouragement of, bill for the, passed, 716.

Proceedings, confidential, in the Senate, 415.

Protective duties.--See Index, vol. 1.

Pro tem. appointment, duration of.--In the Senate, will an appointment under a State executive to represent a State in the Senate, cease on the first day of the meeting of the Legislature, considered, 118; resolution submitted, 121; amendment moved and lost, 121; resolution passed, 121.

Public credit, bill to provide for the support of, passed, 122.

Public lands, report on the cash system, 611.

Public lands.--See Index, vols. I, 2, 3.