The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, December Oh

Mr.. JOHNSON, OF La, appeared and took his seat
The SPEAKER presented the credentials Of Mr. l..
s. PRENriss and Mr.. WooD, OF Mississippi, with
communication from those gentlemen, stating that they
present. and requesting him to lay the same before
the House The papers read and are IN the usual
form Of such credentials.
The gentlemen then applied to be sworn and admitted
tn their seats.
Mr.. CAMBREIENG moved that the papers be re-
ferred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. BELL. saw no propriety in this course The
Of Mr. Yell, Of Arkansas was precisely similar,
and he had been qualified and taken his seat This seat
had been filled during the special session. and ne took It
under new election, without reference TO the former
election. Some should appear on the Journal
for Withholding the seats Of these gentlemen The ev-
dence Of the new election Of Mr. Yell was the same as
that which the gentlemen from Mississippi had now
presented.
MIR. CAMBRELENG said his object was to have a
preliminary inquiry before the House took up the sub
jcct
Mr. YELL stated that he was duly elected, as he
believed for the years. but he waved his night I'M
der that election, aud reelected.
This dissmilar TO that OF the gentleman from
Mississippi He claimed his right to his seat under his
first election as well the second but these gentlemen
claimed theirs under second election, and 10 opposition
to those members who claimed under the hrst cleo
ton.
Mr. GRAVES moved that the claiming members be
admitted upon the foor and to take part in the>de-
bate
Mr.. HAYNES spoke in support of the motion to
refer the application 10 the Committee on Elections.
Mr.. POPE said the true question was whether the
Representatives of Mississippi should be chosen by
this House, or by the people OF the ate OF Mlsss
sippi He thought the case should be presented to
the House at once. There was no propriety in re-
that committee had prejudged the case. His own
opinion was that the Governor OF MISSISSIPPI had
no right to issue writ of election, and that the
election under it was void
H. of fare
After the proper committee had reported the facts,
the House would determine upon them ihe Com
miitee on elections had not reported against those
gentlemen who where the claiming members.
Mr.. CLAIBORNE stated that II was ms personal
wish that the claiming members should be heard by
the House in support OF their claim But ne should
oppose their admission, members to seats IN the
| House. He stated the circumstances under whicf
he and his colleague had taken their seats the ac-
ton of the House on the subject and remarked that
considering the question settled by the decision OF
the House. he and his colleague had not gone again
before the people for reelection.
After some discussion in which Messrs. Tiinghast,
Johnson, Everett Graves, Yell, Legare, Williams, Of
North Carolina. and Underwood, took part,
Mr. GRAVES modified his motion so as to give the
claiming members seat the floor, and right to be
heard in support Of their claim but restricting their right
to speak to the particular subject Of their claim
Mr. CLOWNEY moved to lay tho motion on the
table.
Mr. CHAMBERS called for the yeas and nays,
which were ordered; and were yeas 60 nays 81.
So the motion laid on the table.
Mr. WILLIAMS, Of Kentucky. asked if the Chair
had not right to settle this question.
The SPEAKER said it was not.
Then, said Mr. WILLIAMS, will offer PROPOSE
ton which will settle it.
The SPEAKER said it would not be in order
Mr. WILLIAMS offered the following resolution
Resolped That Thomas E Ward and 5. S. Preniss,
have been duly elected members Of the House OF Re-
representatives., and are entitled to take their seats as
such
The CHAIR said the motion could not be received
until the previous motion to refer was disposed Of
Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved to refer the subject
10 the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union and that the report Of the last session be pub
lished.
Mr.. BOON moved to lay this motion on the table.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, at the suggestion OF Mr..
BELL, withdrew his motion
The question being then on the motion to refer
/ the whole subject the Committee on Elections
MrEyERETT moved that the Committee be in
truc,ed TO report all the facts Of the case agreed
10. -,
The motion to refer it 10 the Committee on Elec-
tions was then adopted.
The House then adjourned: ...