The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-12

now changed his opinions, Is il would seen from mo-
| tiyes Of convenience.
i (ME VAEDsRPoEL said that he had taken part IN
the debate on the preliminary question: and the speech
70 which the gentleman alluded had cen delivered only
/ on the man debate
Mr. JOHNSON said that whenever the speech had been
delivered. It's principles the same, and they
IN the very teeth OF those he maintained. Why
break up long aud uninterrupted usage Simply be-
IL apprehended 10 be possible that by admit
ting The gentlemen from New Jersey take seats
Speaker might lie elected whom gentlemen did not
like That was the beginning and The end OF the whole
argument. As TO those gentlemen having no right To
for Speaker Mr. insisted that, II they bad any
rights here members their rights we're complete, and
subject to qualification limitation whatever Either
they were members Of Congress, they were not. II
not, they had no rights here they were, they bad al
the rights which any other member could demand
Where any limitation 10 the laws or the Consltu-
tun' Where the idea Of such thing a quasi
member Of the House Of Representatives TO be found!
What law gave them power To do certain acts oil mem
bershp, and others The moment man present
ed credentials in conformity with the Constitution and
the law he entitled all rights aud privileges per-
tanning 10 amy other member on the floor whose right
4 was the most ndsputable
The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr Pick
ems had said thai ii these gentlemen were allowed
10 vote IL might change the entire political aspect OF
| the House. But did not that gentleman know per-
fecty that il was entirely n the power OF The House
al any time il chose, TO put Speaker out and 10
Il
to the genileman's objection But 10 this doctrine
of limited power 10 Representative, IL was total
! novelty, thing utterly unknown TO the Constu-
| tion. Mr.. j. had never heard il asserted before
! This Secretary Of State of New Jersey had been
4 magnifed into person OF vast Importance; IL was
possible that that gentleman might have been TO the
city of Washington with his seal of Office in his
pocket-he might have used il here, day and night,
for the purpose Of sprnging on the House mass of
documents TO suit the purpose OF the claimants, but
which would plunge them at once into laby rinth
out OF which they might not be able 10 gel in three
montbs-an inextrcabe maze, where they could
not advance without difficulty nor Iecede with ere
dit. But the House was foreclosed from receiving
| or acting on it, The act of l795 forbade them 10
decide upon il until they had taken the oath OF Of
hce. Perhaps there might be reason for this;
perhaps gentlemen would act when under oath as
they would not when without. He did not make
such charge but il appeared al least that the ram
ers Of The law were OF that opinion. Before they
proceeded 10 act on this mass Of testimony or any
other, until they had been duly sworn into office they
must overthrow that law. Ii had been read 10 the
House BY his eloquent friend from New York, Mr..
Barnard,) whose most admirable speech has not yet
been answered; no gentleman had attempted 10 an
sWer 1t, and no gentleman here was able 10 answer
il, learned or eloquent as he might be.
=. Mr.. J said that his sole object in rising had been
TO enter his solemn protest against entering upon the
investigation of evidence unit, they were sworn
into Office. Mr.. j. did not know what might be the
views Of other gentlemen, (for he never attended
any private political meetings,) but from the first
right Of those who held the legal certificate of their
State authorities The more he reflected, the more
he was confirmed in that view and he never should
depart from it,. Come what would come he never
should abandon the ground he had taken If there
was but one solitary member found who stood out
and refused all compromise this subject, il was
the humble individual who now addressed the House.
He had on former occasions solemnly sworn TO main
tain the Constitution invioate. He felt that oath
binding on him now. Let come what would come,
he should maintain the position he had taken,
steadily rejecting every thing like compromise,
1 in whatever shape il might be proposed. He
should as soon think OF compromising his con-
science
Mr. CoLQUITf, of Geo now addressed the House
The debate was continued by Messrs. NlSBET,
BLACK, and UNDERWOOD
Mr.. UNDERWOOD indicated his intention to call
| for the previous question the question under
discussion; and that he should them after the gentle
man from Ohio (Mr Duncan) had closed his remarks
offer proposition which he thought might receive the
| appreciation OF the House.
! This proposition not read hut its purport
| to proceed with the call of the roll until it got
through WITH that the Of the Jersey members of
one or boh sdes) should be pretermitted, called,
and II called, on objection being made, they should he
passed over until the roll gone through with and
quorum had been formed
Mr.. U. then moved the previous question, which
seconded; and the main question ordered to be
now taken. ....." g..
And, after conversation to the effect of the
present uestion- ~.
The main question which was on granting permits
sion to read the papers, was taken.
Tellers being asked, Messrs Vanderpoel and Tllng-
4 hast were appointed.
And the question being taken, there appeared-Ayes
| l06; noes I0l.
| [Pendlng the annunca,ion of the negative VOTE Mr.
VANDERPOEL inquired whether any Of the New
Jersey gentlemen had voted
| The answer from several quarters was, Yes-one
who had as much right to vote ourselves-Mr Ran
doph u
| So the House determined that the papers nigh, be
read. . -,
| The CLERK thereupon proceeded with the reading
And the proceedings OF the Prvy Council Of New Jer
sey being III the Of reading ..*
Mr. PROFIT rose and inquired whether that paper
filed in the Clerks office until last Saturday
The CLERK replied was laid on his table last Sa-
turday
Mr. PROFIT said if the document had been on file
in the Clerks office he should have objected
reading but he protested against this introduction of
every thing which Tom, Dick, or Harry might think
proper to bring here the spur Of the moment. He
moved the paper be thrown under the table
Mr. DUNCAN hoped the Chair would instruct the
Clerk to proceed
The CHAIR said he understood that, under the de-
csion just made, the gentleman from Ohio (MI Dun
can) liberty proceed in the reading Of any pa
pcrs presented The circumstances under which pa
per might be presented might afterwards be made
objection to the House proceeding upon it,
Mr.. PROFIT said he wished 1t appear the
journal that he had objected the reading OF this paper
and that brought this Hall until Satur-
day last.
The CLERK then proceeded in the reading Of the
documents, and had not concluded when
Mr.. DAVIES, OF Pennsylvania, moved adjourn
ment; which not agreed TO.
The CLERK then resumed, and finished the reading
| of the papers after which, s.@
Mr. DUNCAN rose and said that he anxious
| as any member Of the House could be that the body
should be speedily organized possible, aud tina, the
=