230. If the justification, or explanation, or apology, of the member, is thought sufficient by the assembly, no further proceeding is necessary; the member may resume and go on with his speech, the assembly being presumed, unless some further motion is made, to be satisfied; but if any two members (one to make and the other to second the motion) think it necessary to state a question, so as to take the sense of the assembly upon the words, and whether the member in using them has been guilty of any offence towards the assembly, the member must withdraw before that question is stated; and then the sense of the assembly must be taken, and such further proceedings had in relation to punishing the member, as may be thought necessary and proper.
231. The above is the course of proceeding established by the writers of greatest authority,[32] and ought invariably to be pursued; it might however be improved, by the member who objects to words writing them down at once, and thereupon moving that they be made a part of the minutes; by which means, the presiding officer would be relieved from the responsibility of determining, in the first instance, upon the character of the words.
232. If offensive words are not taken notice of at the time they are spoken,[33] but the member is allowed to finish his speech, and then any other person speaks, or any other matter of business intervenes, before notice is taken of the words which gave offence, the words are not to be written down, or the member using them censured. This rule is established for the common security of all the members; and to prevent the mistakes which must necessarily happen, if words complained of are not immediately reduced to writing.
25. An exception to this rule is sometimes made in favor of the mover of a question, who is allowed, at the close of the debate, to reply to the arguments brought against his motion; but this is a matter of favor and indulgence, and not of right.
26. Sometimes a member, instead of proposing his motion, at first, proceeds with his speech; but in such a case, he is liable to be taken down to order, unless he states that he intends to conclude with a motion, and informs the assembly what that motion is, and then he may be allowed to proceed.