THE CHANCELLOR'S CASE.

when it was called up to a second reading; and, while on its pas-
sage, it was proposed to insert a clause continuing the act of 1798,
ch* 86, which made provision for the payment of the Chancellor's
salary; but the proposition was rejected, and the bill thus passed
and sent to the Senate. This bill, proposing to continue or perpe-
tuate each temporary act by name, requiring much consideration,
and omitting all provision for the payment of the Chancellor's
salary, the general appropriation for which, during the last twenty-
four years had been continued or renewed by each continuing act,
was, without hesitation, rejected by the Senate.

It appears, that, on the 14th day of December last, an order
was passed by the House of Delegates, calling on the register in
chancery, to report " at as early a period as possible, the number
of cases remaining in said court undetermined, and the length of
time they have remained there; also the number of cases in which
the papers have been lost; and the number of decisions made
within the two last years, ending on the first of November, 1824."
This call was answered on the 20th of the same month. On the
answer being read, it was immediately referred to the committee
of grievances and courts of justice; "which, it would seem, might
have been considered the best and most correct disposition that
could have been made of it: but, in a few hours after, that refer-
ence was reconsidered, and it was referred to a select committee.

In this place it will be necessary to remark, in order duly to
appreciate what followed, that by the standing rules, and the long
established usages of the House of Delegates, no member is
allowed to introduce any bill, upon any subject whatever, without
having first obtained leave; and the House having referred that
leave to a committee to inquire, to digest the subject, and to report
accordingly—and in cases when a petition or memorial is presented
to the House, or a communication is made to it, such petition,
memorial, or communication may be, and most usually is, as a
matter of course, referred to a committee with leave to report by
bill, or otherwise. But, in such case, the bill reported must have
a direct, and immediate relation to the subject referred to the com-
mittee. These two are the only modes by which any bill can be
brought into the house. *

It does not appear, from the votes and proceedings, what the
register did say to the House; but it is difficult to comprehend how
any thing which he could have said, in answer to the questions
the House had propounded to him, could warrant this special com-