The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-03
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THcRspAY, February


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, !,
THURspAY, February l.
Mr. RHETT called The attention OF the Chair to
the omission of his name in the vote OF yesterday.
the amendment of Mr. BELL on the Mississippi cleo
lion case. Mr. r. had voted in the negative, and the
House directed the correction 10 be made, thereby
making the resut--yeas, 10, nays 49,
Reports from committees were then called for.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD reported Senate bill with an
amendment, for The relief ofth legal representatives
OF Henry Morhit, deceased.
IpDI,N AFFAIRS.
Mr.. PARKER reported unfavorably on the claim
OF Lewis Evans; and on his moion, ii was referred
TO the Committee of the Whole House.
s.FoRE,GS AFFAIRS.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD reported bill for the relief of
Alexander Scott.
RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
The House then resumed the consideration of the
following resolution, submitted BY Mr.. Adams on the
18Th ult
Rssoiped That the President Of the United States
be requested TO communicate 10 this House a copy
and translation of the pamphlet in the Spanish Ian
guage stated in The report Of the Secretary OF State
10 this House to have been printed ard circulated by
the late minister from the Republic Of Mexico, Co
rostiza before his departure from this country and
thename OF the diplomatic tunctionary from TO
reign Government who communicated copy of
said pamphlet to the Secretary of State.
The question pending was the motion OF Mr..
Howard TO strike out all that part relating to the
name OF The diplomatic functionary, after the word
"country" in the eighth line
Mr.. ADAMS, who was entitled TO the floor, pro-
ceeded with this remarks upon the resolution until the
expiration Of the morning hour, when a
The CHAIR announced the special order of the
day.
Mr. JENIFER made an unsuccessful effort TO in
duce the House 10 take up on their first and second
reading, sundry bills from the Senate, lying on the
abt t,asr tIa
appropriate committees.
MISSISSIPPI CONTESTED ELECTION.
The question being on the amendment moved by Mr.
Howard to the resolution moved by Mr. Bell, hereto
fore stated.
Mr. POPE offered an amendment the words of
which escaped the reporter, and which pronounced
by the Char to be ont Of order
Tho SPEAKER then proceeded TO state reasons for
reversing the decision hastily made by him the spur
Of the moment last evening, and declared that dy
sion Of the question Gas then proposed by Mr.. Under
woody 10 he in order under one of the rules OF the
House. although that rule conhctcd with one laid down
in Jcfierson's Mammal the House having decided that
where the two in collision, the latter must give
way) and he therefore reversed his decision OF yes
tcTday.
Mr. HOWARD modified his motion Of amendment
made last evening, so as to prevent in the follow
ing form:
"Rcsoired, That Sergeant S Prentiss and Thomas
J. Word not members OF the 18th Congress"
Mr. UNDERWOOD then took the floor in opposi-
ton TO the amendment and went at length into an argu-
show that the action Of the House, the called
session. furnished good ground for setting aside the
regular constitutional election in Mississippi Noyem-
Der
After Mr. Underwood had finished his remarks in vim
dcation Of the validity Of the election Of members Of
Congress held in Mississippi the first Monday in No.
yemhc $751; ard the day thereafter Grd Of the consc-
qucnt right Of Messrs, Prcntiss aud Word to seats in
The 18th Congress, and in opposition to the amendnent
of Mr. Howard
Mr. ClLLEY, Of Maine, replied, His remarks were
based upon the hypothesis that IN November last, there
was, ne dcto, no vacancy IN the Mississippi representa-
tiou in Congress.
Mr. ROBERTSON moved to strike ont the word
not" from the amendment Of Mr. Howard, so as to
make tho resolution definitely affirmative Of the right of
Messrs Prentiss aud Word to seats in the 25th Con
gross.
Mr. TILLlNGHAST went at some length into
defence OF the validity of the November election and in
reply to the remarks of Mr.. Cllcy
Mr. MASON, OF Virginia, re asserted his position as
sumcd the other day, in favor Of sendg back the cleo
ton to tho People Of Mississippi
Mr. MENEFEE responded 10 those positions at
sone length
Mr. WHITE, of Indiana, was in favor Of the pro-
position TO send back the election. He considered the
vote OF the House, at the extra session. having ope
rated as fraud upon the people Of Mississippi and as
having prevented them from acting unemharrassed at
the November election. He was therefore for send
log back the election and granting them in legal tcrms)
"a new trial. without payment Of costs" lie could
not, however. at present advised vote for the pro-
position Of Mr.. Howard nasmuch as, by the conncx-
ron Of the amendment with the resolution as Il stands
there would be negati0n Of The cains OF boiA the sets
o claimants. Bnt, when should up as an indc-
pendent proposition he should go for ii. Nor did he
thrr& that his difficulty would be removed by division
otae question He closed BY moving that the House
do now adjourn. Negatived so to l04
Mr. innkt hp MI void In Mr.
,PRESrlss.
Mt FETItklN to order, and asked if the
iatnant had right 10 address the House again
lhe SPEAKER decided that he had such right !:
and Mr. Prentlss proceeded in reply to tho Arguments
heretofore adluecd' ia favor of the new proposition
moved by Mr. HowNHa and sustained by Mr. Mason,
OF Virginia, and others.
The House then adjourned
TaE Army BrLL.-A slight error in the transcription
ofth bill reported in the House Of Representatives by
Gen. Mckay, on Tuesday last Causes a serious vara-
ton in ttE Of the Glib section Of Which should