The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-09
"Wednesday. Dec. %.

covorinr tho credentials of Messrs. PrentIss ana
Word as having been elected at the regular e' &C.
ton MEMBERS of the tacGntyGM Congress OF inc
United States. The certificate was full and com
plete in substance and form; and the letter stated
that the writers of 1t were present IN the House;
and that they respectfully requested TO be quu'hed
and sworn. -,
Cambreleng moved tho reference Of these docu-
ments to the Committee on Elections, and that they
be printed r., .a,o1 ,L,, tho
mcmber from Arkansas had come here at the last
session. with n certificate precisely ke mat pTo"sht
by the sitting members from Mississippi lie had
since been re elected and re.qualIfied. Ii lie was
entitled to be qualified so were the members here
present from Mississippi. This was a new and most
extraordinary case and it seemed more proper to
keep the matter before the House than to refer to
II committee, -.
Cambreeng talked quantity OF nothing in reply
Yell, of Arkansas, attempted to distinguish his
case from that of the Mississippi members, though
without the least success. lie had been re-sworn,
he said because he had been reelected, and he
thought it best take that notceof the reelection
without intending to decide by so dong whether
the reelection were necessary or valid or not.
Graves moved that Prentiss and Word be admit
ted TO seats upon the floor, and be permitted to take
part in any debate that might arise touching their
right TO Il seat "
| Popo, of kentucky, sad-he was utterly opposed
to referring this matter 10 the Committee on Elec-
tons They have already committed themselves
unon this point They have decided the question
in favor of the sitting members. Besides here is no
occasion for a reference to a committee. There
are no facts in dispute. 1t is mere legal, consti-
tutiona point 1t may come directly before the
House ; il may be decided at once, by the House
and for that purpose, he proposed to offer osolu
ton that Prentiss and Word be qualified to take
their seats and that the resolution Of the last session
| be rescnded. Disguise it as you will, the only
question before the House is, whether this House
or the People of Mississippi to elect the persons
to represent that State upon this floor during the
25h Congress.
| as eta, D.,
liss and Word had an absolute right to be heard
upon the floor; and that the objections made to that
course were mere technical objections.
Clabor Ie said that far his personal feelings
and opinions might have any weight with the
House that he hoped all opposition to Graves res
olution would be Withdrawn. He would not consent
to their being qualified absolutely, but he had no
objection to their being heard upon the question of
right Claiborne protested that neither he nor his
absent colleague had been candidates at the late
election in Mississippi. They had relied upon the
canvass
Bell said it was proper 10 consider, that to this
, matter the people OF Mississippi had not yet been
heard The decision of the last session was wholly
nr laytc 1t is denied that there any binding
decision at ALI; and it is asserted that ,he decision
which was made was against the constitution and
It against the facts
4 AS to admitting the members within the bar thai
@ was piece OF usual courtesy to admitting hem
# to debate, there might be no precedents for that
q but this was a new CASE and must be decided upol
il der the circumstances, of hearing the claimants.
d Foster, of New York, made an GRAFTON against tn
e Everett, of Vermont, replied 10 Foster, and re
l. ferred to the resolution in fhc case of Newman.
Thursday, Dec. %.
It You will see in the Globe of last evening n YER
remarkable series of resolutions submitted YESTERDAY
}. in the Senate, by Calhoun. These resolutions EN-
Of brace the whole substance of the doctrines of null
IS LITIGATION; and they contain an application of thes
Is doctrines TO establish two points, 1st that any dis
cusson at the North, Of the subject of slavery is al
e unconstitutional intermeddling with the domestic
institutions of the South and Cd that any aemp
e to abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, o.
e any opposition to the annexation of Teaas on thu
/, ground that slavery is all immoral thing and bat
t. institution, attacks upon the domestic institu
tons of the South contrary the shirt if not IN ,
n letter Of tho Constitution.
v Strange, of North Carolina, protested in good Sc
o terms, and according to a creed which all til,
Southern orators seem TO have at their tongues
h end, against Northern fanatcism and Norlheri
interference, and in favor of the perpetuity of slave
1t ry but then he thought that it the policy O
d the South to keep very quiet in this matter and no
l. to be making it conspicuous by passing resolution
h about it,
10 Calhoun protested usual, that he understood
" the whole subject great better than every bod
else, and that his resolutions were the tbing an
4, the only thing. He observed, that the onlV wa
10 meet these petitions for the abolition of slavery
10 the District, was, TO refuse to receive them. Bein
or received, there pretence for declining I
)r act upon them.
S, The resolutions lay over to Wednesday next
e In the HoUsE, the matter Of J. @. Adams Peac
Society Memorial, came up as the unfinished bus
O. ness. Howard of Maryland, IN a former debate O
4 this subject, had asserted that there was no sue
:, % decree of the Mexican Government, concerning
reference to third power. Of the points in dispt
between them and us, as was mentioned in the me
- moral, or at least, that no such decree had bee
= communicated to our Government. He now sta
s. ted, that since that debate, copy Of the decree
J question had been communicated TO the departmer
u u of state duly authenticated, and he caused to
rnnI far th.AI inf, a.,
OF two articles, one authorisng the supreme eject
>, 1--WE OF Mexico TO propose reference of the point
- IN dispute to Il third power, and a second author
- lsing him, in case no redress could be obtained fi
The insults and injuries inflicted by the U States
close the Mexican ports against our vessels produe
- and manufactures. Howard said he made thes
statements to prevent any mistakes hereafter, as
J what he had said the former occasion ~
), though what he had said true, as things the
u were, change had since taken place.
/ The question on the reference of this mann
Is rial to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, wbic
g Adams resisted on the gIound that it was a packe
committee, prepared and almost pledged to 70 wit
the Executive in the intended aoar with Mexico,