The right to speak: in such phrases as to get, to have, to yield “the floor.” Also, generally, “the floor of Congress.” The phrase is chiefly American, though it was used by Pitt in 1806. (N.E.D.)
1774. He came upon the floor and asked a member, “What state are you in now?” The member answered, “In a state of nature.” “Aye,” says Porter, “and you will be damned before you will get into a state of grace.”—J. Adams, ‘Fam. Letters’ (1876), p. 12. (N.E.D.)
1800. The practice has been approved and justified on the floor of Congress.—The Aurora, Phil., April 10.
1811. I knew [Mr. Adams] to be an honest man, an able one with his pen; and he was a powerful advocate on the floor of Congress.—Thos. Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, Jan. 16: from Monticello.
1812. Upon the floor of Congress [and elsewhere] it has been plainly hinted that the event of war must seal the lips and arrest the pens of all who had been opposed to it.—Boston-Gazette, Aug. 27.
1823. It was asserted on the floor of the house, and not contradicted, that, &c.—Woodstock (Vt.) Observer, Nov. 18, p. 2/2.
1835. Mr. Plummer proposed to yield the floor to the learned and distinguished gentleman from Virginia, who was capable of making a much greater display and flourish on the floor than himself.—House of Repr., Feb. 27: Cong. Globe, p. 305.
1838. [He slew him] with a bowie knife on the floor of the house [in Arkansas].—Louisville Journal. (For a fuller citation see BOWIE.)
1839. Mr. Garland stated that the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Bynum] had the floor at the time of the adjournment.—Congressional Globe, p. 6 (Dec. 3).
1839. Mr. Wise of Virginia rose and stated that if the gentleman from Ohio would yield the floor, he would submit a resolution. Mr. Duncan yielded the floor.—Id., p. 12 (Dec. 4).
1839. Every man who has taken his seat on this floor claims to have done so with the character, privileges, and rights of a Representative of the Congress of the United States.—Mr. Barnard of New York: id., p. 14 (Dec. 4).
1842. I have heard more about disunion, and the downfall of our institutions, since I have been on this floor, than during the whole of my life before.—Mr. Mason of Maryland in the House of Representatives, July 7: Cong. Globe, p. 563, App.
1848.
| “Human rights haint no more | |
| Right to come on this floor, | |
| No more ’n the man in the moon,” sez he. | |
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ 1st Series, No. 5. |
1849. Mr. Toombs. “The gentleman will take his seat.” Mr. Stanton. “But I had the floor.” Mr. Toombs. “I am upon the floor, and there is no rule of this House by which any gentleman can interrupt me.” Mr. Stanton. “I appeal to the gentleman as a matter of courtesy. I was on the floor addressing the house, and certainly you will not take the floor from me.” Mr. Inge. “I ask the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Stanton) to yield the floor to me, to submit a motion to rescind this rule.”—House of Repr., Dec. 22: Cong. Globe, p. 61.
1860. Gentlemen who have raised upon this floor their bill of indictment against us.—Senator Wade, Dec. 17: O. J. Victor, ‘The History … of the Southern Rebellion,’ i. 88.
1860. In regard to the Fugitive Slave law, I myself doubt its unconstitutionality, and I doubted it on the floor of the Senate when I was a member of that body.—Mr. Rhett in the South Carolina Convention, Dec.: Id., i. 213.
1861. Prior to his use of the floor, Thompson, (Dem.,) of New Jersey, reintroduced the New Jersey State Resolutions.—Id., i. 356.
1888. After a half hour’s recess, Mr. Glover took the floor.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 11 (Farmer).
