Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-10
ff'rom to y. !. Ecsewy Paf.
EI,cac; If LCncr .i.om Hash"gioR, .HoMdey
iH.. E,r,1ohrr = 80

=. J..
EItraCi If LCttcr Iron UaSh'HgI0R, .noadGy ETTn
io., E.r,1otcr =, 80
At twelve O'Clock precisely, tho loua" and galleries
BEING crowded hevon! all former precedent, -" ham.
81 The Clerk produced al instant silence - the
Hall and that gentleman rising, sad that, according Ia
the nincnora prcccdcnts Of the House hc wcnd pro-
coed call tho Of such members were elected
members Of the 'rwcntySlxth Congress have wit.
messed the opening of many Congresses, but
never saw 5, deep a feeling evident pcrVadcd the
vast asSrmhlagc al tins moment. The consciousness
that immense responsibilities now to be as
sulncd and the great principles al issue were nnw e
be decided, diuSed s"nSc OF anxious and almost
OPPRESSIVE sccnini:v throughout the body, VIII eli
was gradually Increased the distinct and nrEi
enumeration ". the Clerk announced success vcy
The names of the members from Maine, Now ilanp
Shire Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New
York, until il had reached Ms climax OF curiosity and
interest. When h" came io"Acw Jersey. "J"srph
F Randolph was called and answered to his mG.lc.
and pause p"rc"p bic hv ,h. deep interest Of all
sued while every eve was bent upon the clerk; who
broke the silence h. saying in firm voice. and resoue
manner:
which there are double claimants. Il not being the irl
" tho Clerk TO give preference to either, he pro-
poses to omit them until the roll of the undispncd
members is finished, when he will present them t" the
House. with the evidence III his possession, that the
proper tribunal may decide
lie was then proceeding TO Prnusvt"aHia when his
farther progress stayed tr or" Il the Wing clam
ants from New lc-Scr, who is'"irG on his name beng
Rad \ debate iimraiat,r cusryd upon the approved
prrccdcnts WHICH consumed the rest Of the day, and
lott both parties the adjournment Il" nearer settle
mcnt than when il began. The gentlemen who raEti-
cpated il this discussion NrsSrS Mercer "i \ r-
rina Vandrrror Of New York, 'ii!l.nehast Of Rhode
island Jcn,icr OF Maryland, RIvcs OF Virginia, ioi
man Il New York, Hnlscad Of New Jersey, Slads OF
Vermont Bddle Of Pennsylvania, Cost Johnson Of
MARYLAND Sergeant of Pennsylvania, Randol pin Of New
Jersey Bvnum of North Carolina, Galbrah of Penn
sylvania Everett of Vermont, Craig Of Virginia, Max
well of New Jersey, and White Of Kentucky.
When the House adjourned, three propositions
before il: one hv Mr. Mercer, to have the law Of New
Jersey on the subject read another By Alr R!ves, 10
permit the Clerk II 60 as he proposed. BY general
consent SO as the cation OF the House;
and the third By Mr. Nandcrpoe 10 have the evidence
of both parties produced Al 10 the House. Nothing
arrived at, When 10 the general relief Of ell an ad-
iournmcnt proposed and carried, Remae conir'd'-
ccatc.
The general opinion leads to an approval of thc
course adopted BY the Clerk, the most temperate,
firm, and fair which could have been devised, and
which candid, considered is the most unexcePonabie
Mr. Garland dec ded to adopt il, upon deliberate view
Of the respons b es devolved upon him by his deli.
cate and difficult position, and after most thorough ex
animation of all the presidents and the common law of
The case. The course he took required high degree of
moral courage. A weak man, or man not sincerely