DIVISION OF THE QUESTION.
If a question contain more parts than one, it may be divided into two or
more questions. _Mem. in Hakew._, 39. But not as the right of an
individual member, but with the consent of the House. For who is to
decide whether a question is complicated or not?--where it is
complicated?--into how many propositions it may be divided? The fact is,
that the only mode of separating a complicated question is by moving
amendments to it; and these must be decided by the House, on a question,
unless the House orders it to be divided; as, on the question, December
2, 1640, making void the election of the knights for Worcester, on a
motion it was resolved to make two questions of it, to-wit: one on each
knight. 2 _Hats._, 85, 86. So, wherever there are several names in
question, they may be divided and put one by one. 9 _Grey_, 444. So,
1729, April 17, on an objection that a question was complicated, it was
separated by amendment. 2 _Hats._, 79.
The soundness of these observations will be evident from the
embarrassments produced by the 12th rule of the Senate, which says, “If
the question in debate contain several points, any member may have the
same divided.”
1798, May 30, the alien bill in quasi-committee. To a section and
proviso in the original had been added two new provisos by way of
amendment. On a motion to strike out the section as amended, the
question was desired to be divided. To do this it must be put first on
striking out either the former proviso or some distinct member of the
section. But when nothing remains but the last member or the section and
the proviso, they cannot be divided so as to put the last member to
question by itself; for the provisos might then be left standing alone
as exceptions to a rule when the rule is taken away; or the new provisos
might be left to a second question, after having been decided on once
before at the same reading, which is contrary to rule. But the question
must be on striking out the last member of the section as amended. This
sweeps away the exceptions with the rule, and relieves from
inconsistence. A question to be divisible, must comprehend points so
distinct and entire that one of them being taken away the other may
stand entire. But a proviso or exception without an enacting clause does
not contain an entire point or proposition.
May 31. The same bill being before the Senate. There was a proviso that
the bill should not extend, 1, To any foreign minister; nor, 2, To any
person to whom the President should give a passport; nor, 3, To any
alien merchant conforming himself to such regulations as the President
shall prescribe; and a division of the question into its simplest
elements was called for. It was divided into four parts, the fourth
taking in the words, “conforming himself,” etc. It was objected that the
words, “any alien merchant,” could not be separated from their modifying
words, “conforming,” etc., because these words if left by themselves
contain no substantive idea--will make no sense. But admitting that the
divisions of a paragraph into separate questions must be so made that
each part may stand by itself, yet the House having, on the question,
retained the two first divisions, the words, “any alien merchant,” may
be struck out, and their modifying words will then attach themselves to
the preceding description of persons, and become a modification of that
description.
When a question is divided, after the question on the first member, the
second is open to debate and amendment; because it is a known rule that
a person may rise and speak at any time before the question has been
completely decided, by putting the negative as well as the affirmative
side. But the question is not completely put when the vote has been
taken on the first member only. One-half of the question, both
affirmative and negative, remains still to be put. See _Execut. Jour.,
June 25, 1795_. The same decision by President Adams.