State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-05
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
From the PennsyIylnil Inquirer
NIGHT SCENES IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Extract Of q letter to The editor, datcd Vash-
inrtOn, June rs. 1916.

ington, June IT., 1886.
In continuing the scene OF Thursday night
and Friday morning, it is necessary to saw
that the call of the house demanded by MIR
Parks, was sustained. That YOU may I'M
derstand the process Of this business, it is
necessary to transcribo ono of the standing
rules of the House, under the direction of
which the operation is managed. The 5Ist
! Rule is ms follows:
"Upon the cnll Oftho House, the names of
members shall be called over Ivy the clerk
and the absentees noted after which the
names of the absentees shall again be called
over; the doors shall then be shut, and those
/ for whom 10 excuse or insufficient excuses
are made, may, by order of those present, if
! fifteen in number, he taken into custody,
wherever TO be found, by special messenger
{ appointed for that purposc''
! After the roll had been called over, il WINS
announced that one hundred and eighteen
members had answered to their names.
The nbscntecs were then called and on
motion of MIR John Quincy Adams, it was
voted that the order of the House should be
carried out to its fullest extent. The Ser
! geant at Arms was directed to proceed and
arrest members mt their lodgings,or whcrev-
or they might he found. When this order
was issued, Mr. Lewis of Alabama, rose and
asked where the Sergeant at Arms expect
ed to find Mr. Ben Hardin, of kentucky.
| The Chair called MIR Lewis, to order.
Mr. Lewis. | wish to know, sir, where
/ MIR Hardin is.
! Mr. Polk. Mr. Hardin has not been OK
cused, and it is not in order for the gentle
man from Alabama to make the ntcrroga-
tory.
| Mr. Lewis. But, sir, | wish to know
where Mr. Hardin is
Mr. Polk. The gentleman from Alabama
will take his seat.
Mr.. Lewis. ] cannot take my seat, sir,
till know where Mr. Hardin is.
! MIR Polk. 'Tis the duty of the Chair to
keep order, and if necessary, he must ell
force il.
Motion alter motion was made without
effect to get suspension Of the call of
the House; and in the mean time, Nhe
House was entertained with questions
oforder and wit and anecdote.
MIR Wise rose TO inquire fany thing coulL
be done during the pending of call of the
House.
MIR Polk. Certainly not. A call of the
House puts an end to all other business.
MIR Wise. Well, sir, | should like TO
know how many members gentlemen en-
pect to get here by this procedure, and yet
| insist that it be carried out. What will
be the effect oft? Why, sir, the Sergeant
will proceed to the lodgings of the member
and rap at the door. Who's there is the
grufl' reply what do you want? wish
/ you to repair TO the House of Representa-
tives to answer to call of the House. Very
well 90 back and tell 'cm III he there
presently. Away goes the Sergeant; the
member gapes, and yawns, and throw
ing himself into bed, goes to sleep again.
/ The Sergeant raps at another members
door? Whose there? The Sergeant at
Arms. The door opens, and the member
in night cap, standing in his -. Order,
order, order
| AT this moment, Mr. Dromgoole of Va.
rose as well as he could under existing Cir
cumsances, to tell the Chair that two of
his colleagues MIR Charles Fenton Mercer,
and MrJ ohnson We're nj the door and wish
ed to be admitted
MrPolk said they could only be admitted
by vote ofthc house.
Mr. Wise. The Sergeant has been sent
after them, and ! object to their coming in.
unless they come under arrest.
MIR McKcnnon asked how long it would
he before the Sergeant would return.
MIR Polk. In very few moments.
MIR Boon. think, sir, the members ought
TO he allowed to come in. III were outside
and wished to come in, these doors would
not stop me. By I'd down with them
in an instant.
Mr. Polk. Order, Order
AT last the Sergeant at Arms returned
and MGssrs. Charles f. Mercer and Joseph
Johnson, of the imperial Kingdom of Vir-
gnia, walked into Court. Mr. Mercer look
cd like seven vinegar cructs, but Mr. John
son was good natured, and appeared to
laugh at the affections Of this world
MIR Polk. Gentlemen, Il call Of the House
having been had, and you not having an
swered TO your names, the Sergeant at
Arms was directed TO arrest you. lie has
done So. You are now at the bar of the
House TO answer for this contumacy, and if
you have an excuse TO offer it will now be
heard.
Mr. Mercer IL is now twenty years and
upwards since | have had a seat in this
House, aud believe that have at all times
faithfully discharged my duty. | was in |
this House from ten o'clock Yesterday. till
twelve at night, without food, and deemed
Unnecessary to 20 out for rctrcshmcnt.
Whilst | was ont, and at time when |
supposed that the House had adjourned, |
looked up and saw light. supposed |
was wanted. / came up, went TO your
door, and was denied abundance; bnt |
and my friend were taken into custody !
by the Sergeant at Arms. This consider |
n personal indignty to me, and to the State
of Virginia. have no excuse TO make
And hereupon Mr. Mercer and Mr. Johnson
were excused.
Mr. llawes of Ky. was next brought to
the har of the House. lie had no other
apology to offer than that he had become
nj L. LII