State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-12

conduct of this House on the present oc
casion. lie suggested course by which
the unhappy difficulty would be adjusted
in manner mutually satisfactory and hon.
orable to both parties.
Messrs. Peyton, Thoms, II. NJ. Johnson
Adams, C. Allen, Patton, Thompson of $
Carolina, and Howard sustained the appeal
Of the gentleman from Virginia, with view
to procure II reconciliation between the par
ties before the House adjourned.
After some further proceedings, in the
course of which Messrs. Bynum and Wise
having simultaneously risen, made mutual
explanations in regard to what had pas
sed.
Mr. Davis moved to suspend the rules
for the purpose of making the subject OF
the North Carolina contested election the
special order of the day for Monday, after
one o'clock, and Tuesday, after 9 o'clock
which was agreed to.
And, at half past o'clock "A. ~ the
House adjourned.
Sitting Of Congress on The Sabbath.
J Monday, March 2S After tho reading
of the Journal of the proceedings of Satur-
day, MIR Storcr rose aud moved the suspen-
sion of the rnlcs for the purpose of enabling
him to offer a resolution nstructing the
select committee on Rules, to inquire into
the eXpediency Of so amending The rules
as to provide that, hereafter, the session of
Saturday shall close at twelve o'clock at
night, and that no part of the Sabbath shall
be devoted to Legislative business, unless
under some pressing necessity, and then
only by order of majority ofthe House.
The question was taken by yeas and nays
and determined in the negative; yeas g.,
nays 81.
The Washington correspondent of the
Journal of Commerce says, "Thc PROPOSE
ton was not debateable, and therefore we
cannot know the views which governed
the votes OF the individual members; but
presume that many who voted in the neg
alive did so upon the principle that this
was already the rule of the House, as they
had maintained in the debate on the sub
lect before the House. The ground talk
en- by Mr. Mercer and others, in the debate
on Saturday was, that, according to the
practice and usage of all civilized and chris
tainted nations, without single eXcep-
ton, the Sabbath was not Il legislative day.
"DieS dominicuS, non .juridicuS," is still the
maXim of all the courts in chrstendom :;
and the Sabbath is no more legislative
day in practice, than it is judicial day.
The exception to this leading rule is the
occurrence of great public cXigences, re-
quiring immediate Legislative action"
Distribution Of the proceeds Of the public
lands.
The House resumed, as the unfinished
business of Monday last, the consideration
of the preamble and resolutions of the leg
slature of Kentucky, in favor of the distri-
button of the proceeds of the sales of pub
lie lands amongst the several States, accor-
ding to their respective federal numbers.
The question being on the motion of
Mr. Williams of Ky. to refer the subject to
the committee of Ways and Means, "with
instructions to report bill distributing the
proceeds eff the public lands to each state
according to the federal population of each
state for the purpose of internal improve
ment and education"
Mr. Clinton Allen resumed and concluded
his remarks in support of the motion.
Mr. Halves followed against the motion,
aud the measure contemplated by it, which
he denounced as "a notorious and abomln-
able proposition" Before he had conclu-
died.
The hour of one O'Clock having arrived,
the order of the day was called for.
North Carolina contested election
The House having adjourned on Sunday,
without settling the North Carolina con
tested election, and the subject having,
therefore, been made the special order OF
the day for Monday,
Mr. Calhoun resumed and concluded his
remarks on the subject.
Mr.. Graham (the sitting membcr) follow
ed, in support of his claims to the seat in
contest, and spoke till half an hour after
/ four.
| MIR Newland (the petitioner) then took
the floor in reply to the sitting member, but
. yielded it to motion to adjourn.
North Carolina Election.
Tuesday, March 30. The House, after
( u aborous and protracted session, settled
| the North Carolina contested election; in a
way, too, that was not expected, by refer
ring it back to the people Of Buncombe
The first branch of the resolution reported
from the committee on elections, declaring
that "Jamcs Graham IS not entitled to a
seat in this House." was agreed TO, yeas
ia, nays 81. The question was next taken
on the second branch of the proposition
declaring that "David New!and is entitled
to seat in this House !" and some who
were expected to vote in the affirmative
gave their names among the nays. In
tense interest, says the correspondent OF
the Journal ofCommerce, "was now to the
surprise Of many manifested in the result
The members were collected in groups
around the Clerks table, and many Of them
were keeping lists themselves. 1t run
along nstonishingly even through the roll
and at last, it came out tie, 90 to 90. The
anxiety of the House was very visible, while
the clerk was reading the yeas and the nays
slowly and audibly, for the members 10
hear whether their votes were correctly
recorded. All thoughts and eyes were al
ready directed to the Speaker, upon whom
the responsibility of deciding the question