The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-12-07
News FrOnn Washington.
From the Keystone.
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS AT THE
OPENING OF CONGRESS.

OPENING OF CONGRESS.
BY the Baltimore American of last eve
ming, the reports Of the first gun from
Washington, have reached us. 1t appears,
tha, but one member of the 24l claimants
was absent, viz: Mr.. Kempshall, fede-
raj metrbsf from New York.
The Clerk, Mr.. Garland, at IL o'clock,
oalIed the House to order. He said that " if
il was the pleasure of the House he would
read the names OF The Members OF the
'Twenty-sixth Congress from list which
he had prepared for the occasion" There
was moments pause, and no objection be-
ing made, the Clerk proceeded TO read the
names from the written list before him, be.
ginning with the Maine delegation.
When the State of New Jersey was nam
sed, the Clerk read the name of Mr.. Ran
sdolph. He then said chat there were five
contested seats in the New Jersey delega-
zion, which, if il was the pleasure Of the
Houss, lie would pass over, leaving the sub
,iect to the future action of the House.
The first named of thePennsylvanla del
oegation was then read, when the Clerk was
interrupted by Mr.. Maxwell, one of the
New Jersey delegation. Mr.:Maxwell cal
led for the reading Of the certificate OF cleo
ton Of the FIVE members. Governor Pen
nington's certificate announcing the cleo
ton of the six Members, Messrs. AycrITg,
Maxwell, Halslen, Siraton, Yorke and Ran
dolph, was then read. A debate made up
of suggestions merely sprang up between
Messrs. Maxwell OF New Jersey, Rives,
Mercer and Wise Of Virginia, Vanderpoel
Of New York, and several other Members.
Mr.. Mercer of Va. called for the reading
Of the law of New Jersey.
Mr.. Rives of Va. called for the reading
of the names of the remaining members for
the purpose of forming quorum.
Messrs. Hoffman of New York, Halsted,
of New Jersey, Vanderpoel, Of New York,
Mercer, Of Virginia, Johnson, Of Maryland,
BiddIe and Sergeant, Of Pennsylvania, re-
monstrated in storing terms against the dis
position TO compel the disputed claimants
from New Jersey to stand back until after
the organization, and contended, that as
they were in possession of the GoTernor's
certificate they were entitled to their seats
in the first instance, leaving il incumbent on
those ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE
to contest-as matter of course. leaving
the fraudulant claimants. first decide the E.
lection of Speaker Ec!
Mr.. Bynum, Of North Carolina, spoke
at length in reply 10 Mr.. Halstead, in de-
fence of the conduct of Mr. Garland, the
clerk, in regard to the claim Of the five Van
Buren, members from New Jersey who have
not got the certificates Of election. The
Clerk, he hoped, would hold fast TO his pres
.ent position. The Administration members
were but defending the people of New Jer-
sey in opposing their Governor. He had
assumed power over an act of the people
of New Jersey who were here represented
as we'll az the Governor.
Mr.. Galbralth, Of Pennsylvania, defen-
ded in mastery speech the same positions
as those advanced by Mr.. Bynum, and was
followed by Mr.. Craig, and others on the
other side.
Thus matters stood by the last accounts
at the seat of government. The denOue-
naent of this singular state Of things, brought
on by federal FRAUD and USURPA-
T1ON of the deepest dye time must devel-
ope. The hopes of millions of Freemen,
however, rest upon the frmness and un-
finching energy of the democratic mem
bers.