Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-27
Hascs Precedents to show the correctness of his Pc

Hatscs Precedens to show the correctness OF his Pc
ston.
MIR. FRANCIS THOMAS said to the gentlema
from Tennessee (Mr Belly that the House was nov
about decide upon the validity of the decision give
by the Chair that the previous question could be enter
taned by the House. The Chair had decided that, b
the parliamentary law the question could be entertain
ed and from that decision his colleague had appealed
because he alleged that the House could entertain
question while the members from New Jersey wer
waiting to be sworn in. The gentleman from Tennes
see would see that lie would make confusion con
founded f he succeeded in showing that the creates
latitude should be allowed to the debate now, becaus'
such latitude must be allowed after the decision Of thu
House that the previous question shall be put. He wa
for combining the House to the single proposition her
before it, which the appeal of his colleague. Wher
that question was decided, he would be willing TO NEE
the gentleman from Tennessee with his authorities
The gentleman from Massachusetts entitled to the
floor to discuss the subject OF the appeal taken by n:
colleagues; but he not authorized to indulge in the
latitude of debate which he had thought proper to take
Mr.. BELL said he understood all that had been said
by the gentleman from Maryland and agreed with
him; and he proceeding TO show that the play was
not worth the candle while the proposition of the mem
her from North Carolina the most rational one for
the moment the question of appeal was decided, and
the previous question seconded, the gentleman from
Massachusetts could have the greatest latitude OF debate
allowed him. For his part he had no objection to
deciding the question of appeal at once, and to affirm
the decision of the Chair. He would also 20 Tor the
decision of the Chair that the question before the House
involved the very question TO the admission OF the
New Jersey members.
After some remarks from Mr. MERCER on the
point of ord involved,
Mr.. ADAMS, by general consent, resumed and con-
cluded his remarks, when
Mr.. RlIETT addressed the House at some length, in
reply to the remarks of Mr. Wise, charging HIM with
having acted inconsistency in regard 10 the New Jer-
sew members, and in reply to the remarks of Mr..
h,th he ipdic
reporter He commenced BY saying that, in his obscr
vaons the other day, he had expressed the opinion
that when had then passed resolution, refusing to
the New Jersey members seats, we were House OF
Representatives, and he had stated farther, that being
a House, and having adjudcated on the case, IT was
contrary to parliamentary usage to take mp the same
case again for adjudication. No gentleman who had
addressed tho House SINCE had conroverted this posi-
ton The case of Claiborne and Ghoson, referred TO
by the gentleman from Massachusetts, had no appll-
cation all to the present In that case, seats
had been given to those gentlemen at one session,
and the next session this decision had been
ed, and certainly Congress had the right to re-
verse the decision of former session. What ne con-
tended for was this: When the House had once made
decision, and determined upon question, IT was not
competent for any gentleman, according to parliament
tary law to bring up that proposition again: and that
proposition had not been controverted But the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts held that contrary to
morality and contrary TO what right, for him (Nr
r. to hold to this opinion. Then, SAID Mr. H., ac-
cording this doctrine, if the House has done wrong
in my view, in making decision, must not act ac
cordinr to parliamentary usage, but must go directly
against it, for the purpose of accomplishing what
believe to be right Is this the principle which gen
tlemen desire that should act upon: he would moi
question the conduct of any gentleman on thus Hoo
he would condemn no man here; but while n.
did not do this he would certainly exercise his owl
views ~ ,-hrt became him as member on thI
floor, disregardng the opinions or the sophstry o
any man. He had said further, when he ADDRESSED
the House the other day, that as the people were look
ing to this body to do something speedily and as Thu
great interests of the country required US to act he
was prepared support that proposition which wou
bring this debate to speedy termination. With view
of getting at the business which of such vital IN
tcrcst the country at large he felt bound to supper
that proposition, whatever it might be, which wou
preclude debate.
With regard to this New Jersey case, he did not es
innate il as some gentlemen seemed to do He cons
dered that the House having the power to determine
did determine il; not DISTINGUISHING the people OF
jersey but he understood, even by the resolution
the gentleman from Virginia (Nlr Wise) himself,
was to be made matter of contested election, to b
decided by the House hereafter, in the proper an
constitutional manner. Then it be no dstran
chIsement
He had never conteuded that the title which gen
tlemen laid so much stress upon should be violated
On the contrary he had contended that we were to b
which VIC were bound to decide upon. The Hous
to this course in the of Messrs. Nayo
and Ingersoll. The title which both these gentlemen
held, was read and he had voted for Mr. Naylor-
This the proposed in regard to the ~ Jerse
members; and in this case he had held that you cou
not invadate the title, but were bound to look int
it. Well, Sir, when You came to look into the pa
pers on the Clerks table, what was the state CT thing
presented In the first place, there was certificate
title from the Governor of New Jersey; secondly, al
z. IL al l.rli, rnpt.E "a In
that impugnment was correct The House took up th
matter and upon this evidence, decided that the hve
members having the certificate of the Governor, shoule
not take their seats. Then the position which ne man
tanned was that the matter had been adudcateo upon
By competent body; and could gentlemen doubt the
correctness of this position Was this the House o.
REPRESENTATIVES were we members OF Congress, wher
we made this decision If we were not members o.
Congress- as had been commended by the gentleman from
Virginia, Mr. Wise) then he agreed that our oeterm
nation of the question null and void But II tins
was House of Representatives at the time 1t made tho
decision was perfectly competent for it to adud'cate
the matter; and, having done So that adjudication
must be final until the question was brought up as
matter of contested election The gentleman from
Virginia and other gentlemen, had charged hun witt
inconsistency but when gentlemen make those charges
they should ccoec that they who live in glass houses
ought not to throw stones. When gentlemen made
charges Of Inconsistency against others, they shoult
be certain that their course was consistent. II wa
be rccollected that the gentleman from virginia Ia
declared over and again, IN debate on tis moor
that the House has made no decision upon TINS ques
ton, and that there was House to make decision
vet that gentleman had introduced resolutions IN ina
body which he declared House, calling 1t
House. and calling US the Representatives in the Con
gress of the United States The gentcmans first re
Solution introduced before the gentleman from Massa
chusetts was called to the Chair, read as follows:
Resolred, That the Representatives Of ne Congress
ofMc United States assembled, to relieve them
selves from the embarrassment and difficulties whci
at present obsruc the organization ofthe House. WI
proceed by the Acting Clerk, to call the names OF gen
ernen whose rights TO seats are not disputed or con
tested; and after the names of such members are al
called, and before they proceed to elect speaker
other officer, or to organize in any manner, they shall
provided there be quorum Of such present. hear an.
decide upon all credentials certificates, or commission
of nersons claiming seats in the House Of Representa-
tres under the Constitution ofthe United States and
the laws of the respective States
Here the gentleman confesses that we were al una
time the Representatives of the Congress OF the UNI
ted States and in the latter part of the resolution 1T