The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-12-17

tuents say to us, doing as we have done-suffering
ton of the Mouse What will mine say 10 me
call upon the 12l members,-the maiority,-to
organize this House They have the majority,
and upon them rests the responsible lity of further
delay offer the resolution and ask for an ara end.
ment to It, If any gentleman has one 10 offer.
IMr Vanderpoel here interposed, and said he
mad such an amendment to propose. Loud or les Of
Mr. Adams resumed. The gentleman. if he
thinks proper, can propose itafter have madeleine
few remarks which have yet to offer. If there is
ma orty of the House determined to set aside
the five members from New Jersey who have pro-
duced their credentials precisely similar to those Of
other members who have been called in this House
and to say they shall not be permitted to vote sag
so, sag So Let the majority say so, and they are
responsible TO the people and to the world of man
KIND Tor that decision. In my private opinion 4
believe that it is the rights of the people of New
Jersey that are at a stake here, / say nothing Of
State sovereignty or the Governor of the State but
of the people, These five come here with
the authority required by the Constitution and
laws, declaring themselves Representatives of the
people Of New Jersey and the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, and the laws of the
State OF New Jersey, have said that other evil
dence shall be received of the will of the people,
That is the evidence, aud the only evidence, that
has been presented, Now, that being so, these
gentlemen come here and present it, You have all
ready received one member presenting it. If you
refuse the five others having the same evidence, it
is not the members whom you turn out of this
House and refuse to allow to vote-it is not them
whom you outrage-lt is the sovereign people of
the State OF New Jersey whom they repfesent.-
Whatever may be the ultimate determination OF
the House, here are men coming here under the
forms prescribed by the Constitution and the laws
for true Representatives of the State of New Jersey
in whom the rights of the people of that State are
vested and you cannot deprive them of that right
without outraging the rights or the people of New
Jersey In their persons is vested the right of the
people OF New Jersey to be represented and ii
you say that it is not So that they shall not be re-
ceived, it is the people of New Jersey whom you
thus deprive of five sixths of their representation
Now, have heard much of this respect for the
rights of the peopleof this contempt for the sig.
nature of Governor of the State land of her Coun
cl-and have heard it said that here is a conflict
between the rights of the people and the acts of the
Governor and Council. Why, the Governor and
Council are themselves the representatives of the
people of New Jersey and what constitutes a re.
markabe answer to this appeal to the rights Of the
people is, that long alter this election had taken
place-iong after the exercise of the authority by
which this commission gven-the people Of
New Jersey have ,, been called to pronounce upon
nor and that very Council by whom the certificate
was given. This remark produced much sensa-
tio M, IN the House, and Mr. Adams proceeded ]
why, then, are the rights of the pr ople outraged
How are they to be respecte d respect the rights
of the people in those who come here with that
official document, which is the only in which
their will is manifested. If you say they shall not
vote, It is the people who you outrage. You take
away from the people, thus represented by persons
presenting documents to show that they the
right of fve-sixths of them to vote. And it struck
me as strange thar my honorable friend (Mr Van.
derpoel,) who proposes to offer an amendment, in
his appeals to the House about the rights of the
people, whilst in the very act Of attering the PEG.
pie. sacrifices their rights and takes away their
Observation-Disclosures if the members Of New
Jersey arc not called, the people of New Jersey
not called, the people of New JERSEY will moi
be represented. They will have no voice whatev.
er on the all-important question which we are
to vote, for so Judge it TO be from the full attend,
ance which we find. At all events, the voice will
be suppressed in the rate of five sxths. This cost
of friendship appears to me like something / have
read of in the good book occurring between two
persons, where one approaching the other with a
smiling face said, cart thou in health my brother?"
and Immediately gave him stab under the fifth
rib This is precisely the friendship of the gen.
tleman from New York.
He proposes, as an evidence of his respect for
the People, to deprive them of 6ve.sixths of their
Now, the manifestations Of love
and affection are varous and different in different
individuals. | do profess to have as much respect
for the riShts Of the People as the gentleman from
New York, who, understand, is to be one of the
leaders of this House, and of whom, therefore, i
speak with great respect and Difference. His mods
of protecting the rights of the People is to take "a
way fve-sxths of their representation in one of
the most important transactions that this House
could perform. My mode consists in letting them
have their own !; and, as they cannot have dou-
bic representation. because the Constitution will
not allow 1t, give them representation in those
persons who have the evidence which the Peope
have declared should be the only evil
dence to show what their will is .
These the reasons why l have offered the
resolution which lays on the Clerks table.
Mr. Adams here interrupted by much con-
fusion, and the ntermingIing of many voices de-
handing "How shall the question be put--who'
will put the question:? p .,.
Mr. Adams (whose voice reached the ear Of the
Reporter above the tumnlD replied, "t intead to
put the question myself" .. ...
Fellow citizens, now wait to what amend
ment shall be proposed to the resolution. After
that, as have said, propose, from the necessity
of the case, to put the question myself; because
protest against the Clerk being addressed at all
appeal to the House, appeal to a body possess,
ing the power to act-f appeal TO the majority or
the House. =.
After a scene Of considerable confusion, Mr.
Rhett finally moved that Mr. j. q. Adams serve as
chairman until the fIouse be organized, 1t was
out by Mr. Rhett and carried, whereupon Mr. Adams
vas conducted to the chair by several members.
Mr. Mercer then moved that the rules Of the last
Congress be adopted for temporary government Of
he House durng the preliminary proceedings,