Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-10

hand be received, and read at the Clerks table 1t
due 10 The sitting members TO say that they wished no
motion made 10 print.
WAsHrEGroS, Feb. 5, 1888.
SIR herewith transmit 10 you The proceedings Of The
Democratic members Of both branches Of the Mississippi
Legislature, which desire may be laid before the House
At moment when there is much coniarley OF opIn
ion public sentiment in the State Of Mississippi, and
after the gentlemen who claim to supersede my col.
league and myself have expressed opinion That not
ten citizens OF that State believe entitled 10 our
seals for the whole of the twenty.finh Congress, am
grafed al being able TO furnish such evidence OF the
popular will. II must be recocced that the gentlemen
who attended this meeting compose majority OF le Le
glsaiue and that they represent the OPINIONS Of
body OF E'e r7sfG They are iamI'lar with the','r
OF his contested election from The emanu'on OF TIE
writ dawn to The decision of the House in October, ana
the incidents subsequent thcrol"i they nre fresh from
communion with enlightened constituency, ana, ~
all probability, better informed rs to the real state Oh
opinion than ei! her the honorable ciamants or or.
selves or representatives from other States. The names
ta! appear The face Of those proceedings are among
the most distinguished in the Slate for the high stations
tIe7 occupy for talents for integrity, tor all That can
give mparalty 10 evidence weight to character, and
trust their testimony thus sulemnly and publicly rem
dcred will have It's due influence with the House
feel bound to repeat this occasion, what nave
before declared that prior 10 the July election, my col
league and myself distinctly took the ground, lhat he
considered the election not for the special session
ONLY but for t,ro years The papers friendly 10 U.S. ad.
vaIced the same opinion When the decision OF The
House made, confirming us IN our seats l'F ,'le en-
tire 2Ih Congress. addressed Circular 10 Inc Peo
ple (Which widely dlsrhutcd from WHICH Tie loi'
! lowing is an extract:
"To TIE ProrLE OF MISSISSIPPI.
:FeNosc-Cu i=cus In July last, il well known, we
were elected under the Proclamation Of The Governor,
and according the forms Of the law to represent you
in Congress When the Governor issued hrs writ, the
np Mon Of the press and of the propG far as we are
informed believe was that he had The power to DO so;
that the exgency Of the times required HIM 10 exercise
that power but that he had no right to no''dge le con-
sliutiunal term of years: for which members OF
Congress elected; that much OF his wit was vod'
ard that the members chosen would serve not only IN
h. extra session. but throughout the twenty Con
grsss. This was our own opinion IL was every "hete
freely expressed by w. and believe that nime.len'hs
of those who voted al the laic JnIy election went u
| tie polls with such impression
The people were thus distinctly notified OF the action
Of The House, and assured that we would continue
i hold our seats.
Prevented as am by the state Of my health, from APP
nearing in the House vndicate The tights OF those
represent feel bound 10 express my solemn conviciI"
that majority Of the ireemen o.! hissssppI icqu'Gsceu
in the Judgment Of the House 6eticrc, upon evidence
which would be conclusive in court oil justice, mat 'hc
& 800 citizens who sustained me in November, u'd mol
doubt the validity of the July election us conerring OIL
fee iuT years, the binding effect OF The decision
Of the House.
On the other hand kno,c, positively as any tact
can be known that upwards Of 5000 voters, chiefly III
counties almost unanimously favorable to US, REFUSED
to their votes second tne on The ground thnt hc
Judgment of the House binding aud that lhey were
satisfied with it, have doubt but that lo,UOU Tree
nrn Of Mississippi: if opportunity offered Womb al
this moment sanction that Judgment at the polls feei
CONVINCED they would DECLARE that vacancy gould eI.
isl in The representation from that ale, to be iIrd nj
the November election, after the decision OF The House,
the constitutional and only competent tribunal that we
were members OF the whole 23th Congress. ] hat dccl
sion WIS pronounced after searching and pTotracled e1a
mnalin and upon the same evidence which be-
fore tie House. 1t persuaded as that the whole matter
was settled; it gave the claimants Tie benefit OF can
vas Sillout opposition; restrained UOo Ttcmn from
casnr their votes; and should the House nov decide
finally auairs! US however highly its character is gene
rally appreciated, the moral sense The proper ana honor
able n,.c Of an enlightened people, will revolt at the
injustice OF such course.
IF his was not nv solemn conviction; if was mol,
as believe fully informed 10 the intcnti0HS OF those
who voted for me in July, and of their iShes and ortn-
ors now if could be convinced that the claimants re-
ceved majority Of the whole number OF Toles cast at
the November clectlon-GL partc as that election was;
and without opposing candldates-l would at once close
this controversy BY resignng my seat !cei satisfied
that my colleague would pursue the same course Al
though DISTINGUISHED BY the House, and prevented from
heinz candidates by their resolution declaring US men,
beers for two years if the claimants had presented them.
selves here with clear and properly nsccrtaned mayo
rim. we would cheeruly have resigned our places and
submitted the matter to the people SUCH, however, I'd
nv opinion is not the believe that The popular
vii IN Mississippi adverse 10 those gentlemen nj
the election aud that is still and however my wan
inc health or ncnalons might other" Use Influence me-
my duty to those who have Tor series Of years. sus
tn;ncd me with large and Uniform majorI,ies, will induce
me to hold my sral until am elected by the verdict OF
the House That verdict has been once 7ec0rGed IN our
favor; and trust tIe House will pause long before re-
vesng it, and the rights and equities it carries with IT.
Trust il will deliberate lung before assumes the alarm.
ing rcros''vc of orro"ing Others to The places 'Is
REIGN STATE :,t
Unable defend my cause in person. or to ns,GF W,'
ed constituency appeal the House, through you, for
its dispassonaie and impartial Judgment Regarding 1t
rs tribunal too grave TO be influenced by passion
and too Jus, TO render final Judgment without pos'ttTc
knowledge Of the facts appeal to it, not for my col
league and myself but for those We represent not Tor
empty honS "cro,s Sss sua 'H hs shs
have the honor 10 be,
Very respectfully,
b.. Your obcd't servant,
JOHN F. II. CLAIBORNE.
To tile Hon Taos. GLAscock.
IT, clIovnc is COW of the proceedings referred TO