Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-10-12
PROSPECTUS OF TAEa
, From Bicknell's Reporter
FROM WASHINGTON.
Extract to the El:tor, dated,
Washington, s. pk. 80

the debate on the Bill to suspend the pay
m,nt Of the fourth instalmont Of the Dis
trbuiion act. All other su'iacts hav"
bean laid aside to make room Cor that sin
gle affair, and after all, the bill was pass
ed last night, at a very late hour. by a
clear and decided m1ority. Il it had not
passed last night, and had by any man
agament been left over to day, the Secre
tary of the Treasury. would on Monday.
have been compelled to issue his warrants,
calling the States to pay back the thirt
instaIrnent Of distribution mlde to them,
and which is now in their possession, TO
enable the Treasury to meet the demands
already urgently pressed upon its Golfers
Such state of things would have been
sincerely daplored, and the injurious oF
fects it mlSt have produced on the country,
Can be anticipated and appreciated by ev-
cry one. Fortunately, the bill passed AZ
IL O'Clock lust night, with an Amendment
offered by Mr.. Pickens Of South Carolina
which confined its operation to the first
day Of January 1899. The original bill
was indefinite, and provided for its own
existence aud operation. "tll otherwise
altere by law" Tho bill, fancy, will
be found quite satisfactory to every one.
who is not disposed and willing to suffer
his better judgment and patriotism TO be
warped and led as;rny, by his political
predictions. The Treasury. in consc-
qu,nce OF the cmbarrassments Of the
whole country, has became comparative
ly destitute OF means, and, who could b.
SO unreasonable rs 10 ask the Secretary of
the Treasury to distribute to the States
money that his Golfers do not posscss?-
If tie distribution had been insisted on, &
the bill to suspend the deposlc act, had
not pissed, the country would have been
snbIcc.ed 10 taxation, or the States would
hav hecn compelled 10 pay back the mo-
nay they have received under the preyi-
Qua iost.Imant Of the depositc bill. Such
dilemma would have added immensely
10 tho already distressed situation Of the
republic; and the public interest would
have ben laid PROSTATE at the shrine Of
party despotism
You know, that | am not n political par
tizan, and, in indulging these Incidental
remarks, you will. hope, give me credit
for cnndor, instead Of accusing me par
tiz1nshp. ] am not, aud never can b.
made a political parlizan, do not like old
maids or party politics.
The Mississippi election has also been
a theme Of discussion through the week.
and has been made peg to hang speech,
es upon. The seats Of the representa-
tives from Mississippi are not contested;
but the gentlemen who hold ihem, having
som, doubts whether they are, o: are not
m,mbcrs of Congress-, have called on the
house to decide the vexed question. Thi>
case is queer one, and | will state it ve-
ry briefly.
The Hon. John r. II. Claiborne, and
tho Hon. Samuel S. ]. GohIson. were
momb,rs Of the last Congress, snd as such
held their seats, and discharged the duties
required Of th,m with great ability
Their term of service expired on the FIRST
Of March last.
On the 9TH Of Juno last the Governor
OF Mississippi, in consequence Of Mr.. Van
Burcn's call for special session of Con
gress. directed n special election for
members Of Congress to hold their Offices
I'LL the regular Missl's ppi election could
be had in the month OF November. An
election was had, aud Mossrs. GohIson g.
Claiborne, were reelected by very heavy
maoritics. IL is now cpnienoe on the
one hand. and denied on the other, tina,
the Mississippi election WIS null and void
by reason of tho informaIiy of the Coy
crnor's proclamation. The Constitution
Of the United States expressly provides,
tina, members of Congress shall be elected
once in two years, and that they shall hold
thair seats for two years. unoss removed
by expulsion, &c. Now, it is contended
that NJ ,ssrs. Claiborne and Gohson were
elected 10 Congress, by majority of all
the votes in Mississippi; and that al.
though the writs of election called on tho
people TO vote for members TO hold their
seats Tor three months, they were IN TACT,
and by the Constitution ana laws, elected
for the full period of a regular session OF
Congress.
On this point, there exists a variety OF
opinions; aud whilst The friends of the nd
minIstration On the ono hand. contendcd
that Messrs. Gohlson and Claiborne
ought to hold their seats. the opposition
are decidedly Of opinion that thew should
be ej,ctedt Thus you see, that the qtles.
tion of election or retention, has been
made bone Of political contention. The
subject has already been fully discussed;
and on Mondiy next, will be decided by n