Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1839-12-16

that believe no party advantage can he taken NJ
that course; and that none such is intended on
my part. Respectfully,
ii. A. GARLAND"
Mr.. Graves said that in this state of the case,
the gentlemen from Massachusetts MIR. Adams
could probably suggest some course to counteract
the step taken by the Clerk as it seemed To him
Mr. &. to he utterly mpraccable TO organize n
House so long az the Clerk remained in the seat
which he now occupied.
Mr.. Adams. commenced this address 10 you fell
low citizens, with the declaration that should
be under the painful necessity Of appealing! from
the Clerk TO the House, and call upon the H'use
aud the majority of the House 10 set aside entirely
his decisions aud TO act for themselves. | have
no doubt of their power TO do it. Therefore, in
submitting this proposition, hive no reference to
the Clerk nor amy opinion of his propose that
the House itself should act. Ii lnny If II peases,
choose temporary Clerk. 1t may take whnt
cou sc il thinks proper. | put this mouer to tile
House, aud to the majority Of the House. and tell
them that it is their duty to organize themselves,
aud that no decision of the Clerk eau force upon
them the organization of the House in any man q
ner he may think proper. 1t is in the power of
the House to set The Clerk aside; hut il is not in
the power the House to obey his dctatrs
despite as he is determined they shall be. The
House, thank God,Ils not under the necessity OF
submitting to them; and call upon you 10 SCI,
him aside.
speuk not personally to wards him F.; speak Of
his acts and OF the situation in which he has pa.
ced the Houso--at is n situation in which il is inn
possible tor them to act so long rs lis decisions
stand 1.-The had taken question on the sesoi-
lion which was drawn up by the gentleman from
Kentucky, Mr. Graves aud laid upon the table,
and which have now Brought before the House,
should not have spoken. But, one by one, these
resolutions have been Ia 4 ON the table, They
might as well be pun in the fire. The Clerk tells
us he cannot put the question upon them thlt it
is the dictate Of his duty. ] hope no more of the
benefit of his agency, at least until il has gone
through the process OF reelection. | repeat,
offer this resolution in its present forn-it is not
mine originally, but it answers my purpose, and
ii will effect the organization of the house.
That is all ask and appealing 10 this body
now, ms IN independent body body possessing
powers entirely independent of the Clerk--l call
upon them to act upon the resolution in such
manner as they choose. ANY member may pro
pose mn amendment; and ii there are those las
we know there are] who think that the call of
New Jersey members ought not to be made let
them propose an l,renilnant to set aside those
memberslet us see what the will of the MAORI
~ is. The Cerklhas rendered it impossible for us
to do so III the usual way, by departing from The
usual orin.
In the first place, call upon you, in the name
of the People of the United States, and 10 save
of our being here whole week. and for aught
know, n whole month, without organization, fur
we shall he here certainly until some person shall
appeal from The decision ofIhe Clerk and il shall
he set inside i call upon you in the name of the
People of the United States that People from
whom we have had so many wonderful NANTES.
tutons OF regard and affection. " hat will they
say? What will our constituents say? What will
my constituents say to me? This has brought me
at last to determine to address the house according
TO my duty. What will my constituents say to me
for suffering this house to spend four DAYS
senseless debate, when the first Gifts duties was
organize and NJ time it was in possible 10 organ
ize without resort TO some extraordinary meas
ure?
Fellow citizens, 1 am willing that the Clerk I'M
der his sense of duty, should be held responsible
10 the People for four days wasted in idle debate
] do not say idle because there has been no good
sense, or wisdom, or reasoning in the arguments !;
bur none of them cnne 10 the one great point
that u, to The organization. the actual, practical
organization Of the house. Jhut was our duty -
not to he debating here, for four days, idle ques
lions which The dictator in that chair said he
never would put. say he is irresponsible for that
| wish he may answer 10 the People of the United
States how he has wasted these four days. But
now say, from this time forward the louise
the majority of the house-and 60 further, aud
say, l2l members who have been sci down in the
oiShH VI tic tie w
Administration, ure responsible to the PeoI le and
10 the country, aud TO mankind, for nny further
delay. If any one, ms | have said, thinks
proper 10 move an amendment requiring the
Clerk to omit The members from New Jersey
Mr. Vanderpoel here in,erpossd, and suid he
Ind such nm amendment 10 propose. Loud cries
of "order."
Mr. Adams resumed. The gentleman, if he
thinks proper, can propose ii after | have maze
the lew remarks which have yet to offer. II
there ia majority of the house determined TO set
aside the five members from New Jersey WHO
have produced therscredenlins at the table ere
denlials precisely similar 20 those OF other mem,
beers who have been called in this house, and 10
say they shall not be perm tied 10 vote, sag So,
says1. Let The majority say so, and they are res
pousibe 10 The Peep e AMI to the world Ior that
decision. in my private opinion j believe that it
is the rights Of The PEG lie Of New Jersey that are
ut stake mere. say nothing Of State sovereignty
or the Governor OF the State, but Of the People.
These five men come here with the auihIrly
required by the Constitution and Laws, declaring
themselves Representatives OF the People of New
Jerssy aud The Constitution and Laws of tho
United States, and the laws Of the state of New
Jersey, have SAID that no other evidence shall be
received Of the will Of the People.-That is the
evidence, and the only evidence. that has been
presented. Now TINT heing so, these gentlemen
come here nnd present it. You have already re-
ceived one member presenting 1t. II you re-
fuse the five others, having the same evidence, ii
is not the members whom you turn out of this
house and refuse to allow vote it is not them
you Ouirage-it is the sovereign People OF the
State of New.Jersey whom they represent.
Whatever may he thu ultimate determination of
the house, here are men coming here under the
forms prescribed 10y the Constitution aud the laws
for true Representatives OF the State of New Jer
sey, in whom the rights Of the people al hnt STATE,
are vested (; and you cannot deprive Them OF thar
right without ouIrugng the rights of the people of
New Jersey. In their persons is vested the right
Of the people of New Jersey 10 be represented :
and if you say that it is not So that they shall not
be received, it is the people OF New jersey whom
you thus deprive of five sixtls OF their represent
iRtion.
Now, have heard much of this respect for the
rights Of the Poople-o Of this contempt for the sig
nature OF Governor of the State, aud of her
Councl-nnd have heard it said that here is a