The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-06
TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
sAToaDAY, Feb. 3.
The sEsArE did MOI Sit ioday
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Amer disposing Of some Executive communica-
lions and Senate bills
MIR. TALLIAFERR0 now rose, and observing
that as il was he believed the general wish of the
House 10 ger question on me long spbec.
rise this day. moved TO suspend the remaining bust
ness Of the morning hour and proceed at once 10 the
special order Of the day.
The motion prevailed; the rules were suspended
for the purpose, and the House resumed the debate
on the
MssissiPPf CONTESTED ELECTION
The question being on the amendment moved by
Mr. Robertson, of Virginia, 10 The amendment OF
Mr. Howard TO the resolution Of Mr.. Bell, viz pro-
posing TO strike oul the word no" so 10 declare
that Messrs. Prentiss and Word are members Of the
twenty-ffh Congress.
Mr.. BnLL, who had the floor from yesterday, rose
TO address the House, but in his introductory re-
marks objected TO the form Of Mr.. Towards amend
ment; (Which proposes to declare that Prentss and
Word are not members OF The 10Th CongresS) as at
frming mere truism for II was undeniable that
al this moment, those gentlemen were not members
of The House, the question in debate being whether
they should be admitted ms such.
Mr.. ROBERTSON, admitting the force of this
objection, said that II applied equally TO Mr. Bells
amendment, striking oul The word "nol;" he intend
ed, therefore, TO modify the motion for amendment,
so as to declare that Preniss and Word are elect
ed" members of the 25,h Congress.
Mr.. BELL hoped the gentleman from Maryland,
to present some issue on which the House could be
fairly divided and which waud settle something
Mr.. b. then went at large into the general argu-
meni, and especially in reply TO Mr.. Legare, in the
course OF which, several explanations were from
time TO time made by Mr.. Legare.
Mr.. RIETT next Obtained the floor, and after
repeng the idea that the South Carolina delegation
had been influenced in this matter by party consde-
rations, the personal influence Of any one Of its
members, proceeded TO the argument, insisting that
the decision of Congress in favor of Gholson and
Claiborne, being Judicial decision, had all the force
ofthe Constitution, and rendered the November cleo
ton null even though every man, woman, and child
in Mississippi had concurred in il.
After some explanations between Mr.. Howard and
Mr.. POPE obtained the floor but yielded ii for a
moment TO
Mr.. CUSHING (who has sufficiently recovered
TO resume his seat in the House Mr.. C.. reminded
the House of his protest at the commencement OF the
called session against the loose practice in forming
the roll Of members without the exhibition of their
credentials; to which he Gas Mr.. Rhett had done)
traced all the difficulty Of the present case.
Mr.. POPE then resumed the floor, and went al
large into an extensive argument in which he took
uplhe on legal grounds, and then grounds OF
the Constitution, and precedents. He spoke with
passed between him and MIR Mckay, OF n. c.. about
The election laws OF North Carolina.
Mr.. MARTIN obtained the floor, and intimating
his wish TO address the House, moved an adjourn
mcnt. s.##
On this question the yeas and nays were demand
ed and being taken, resulted as follows: Yeas l08
nays 90.
So the House adjourned without taking any ques-
ton,