The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-12
WHOLE NO. 2ss.

has said tina, his sole aim is to allay the heat which
seems TO prevail and he earnestly prsys every gentle
present TO reflect very eooly upon the questions
presented.
Il is highly expedent to avoid the recurrence Of all
these questions 10 future when the members shall
be called to nominate Speaker. Nov, there was
which occurred at the last Presidential election
which has important bearing the before rs
No doubt IL is ia the recollection Of all the gen
temen here. question arose IN the Senate whether,
in canvassng for President and Vice President
the the Suite OF Michigan should should
be counted for tina, State had not then actually been
admitted the Union although she had constituted
herself into State had chosen electors. who had
ted for President and Vice President and had sent for
ward the returns. When these returns received,
the question whether those should should
not be counted; and after debate the Senate to
the following joint resolution IN regard 10 them
Resoired, That, in relation TO the votes OF Michi-
gan, il the counting emitting to count them shall not
essentially change the result Of the election they shall
be reported by the President Of the Senate IN the fol-
lowing manner Were the votes Of Michigan to be
counted, the result would be. for b for President Of
the United States, - votes; i not counted for d
for President Of the United States, votes; but in
either event A b is elected President Of the United
States and IN the manner for Vice President"
This resolution was concurred in by the House Of
Representatives, and the return accordingly made
in this form
1.-THE President Of tho Senate then, in pursuance Of
the resolution adopted by the Senate and House Of Re-
representatives. announced the Of the the
two Houses Of Congress in joint meeting assembled,
and declared the as follows
- /, therefore appears that, the votes OF Michi
gan to be counted, the result would be- for Martin Van
Buren,, Of New York, for. President Of the United
States no votes If not counted for Martin Van Bu-
ren Of New York, for President Of the United States,
l67; but, in either event, Martin Van Buren,, Of New
York, is elected President of the United States And
do therefore declare that Martin Van Buren, Of New
York, having majority Of the whole number Of cleo
tora votes is duly elected President Of the United
States for four years. commencing with the fourth day
Of March, thousand eight hundred and thirty
seven"
And SO il was done upon the electoral vote for Vice
President although in regard to him the result was that
whether with or without the OF Michigan. there
choice, and the election was completed by the
Senate
Now it seems TO me that this proceeding furnishes
principle ON which the whole difficulty under which we
have been aborng may easily be solved Let the
members from New Jersey. possessed Of the regular
credentials from the Governor Of the State be called
in the roll the election Of Speaker II they
let the report TO the House what would be
the result should their votes be counted and what
they counted If the result in either case is the
same, the will be like that Of the OF Michigan
The question will be disposed of without violation OF
any right If the members when called do not vote,
VIII uspOseu oI, ana tne rpht Oh no
violated II they vote, and their should turn
the scale Of the election let the question: whether their
votes shall or shall not be counted be finally decided
by the House The right Of the members who have
brought with them the regular credential from the Go
is at this time the right OF the People Of New
Jersey if they arbitrarily denied the RICH. Of voting,
the People of the State be deprived OF their repre-
sentation this floor. This is what | wish, above all
things, to ayod-thc suppression Of the representation
Of New Jersey in this House Now, TO the question
whether that People shall be represented by the
of claimants by the other set, believe. as said,
there much diversity Of opinion. With regard to
my own the resolution proposed at the last session of
Congress is my voucher II my opinion then, as
it is my opinion now, that permanent Speaker ought
not to be elected until the question shall have been
settled offered il in order to avoid just what has
happened now. ! foresaw that nearly equal would
be the division of parties in this House. that this
question would arise, and that it would be productive Of
heat and Of great delay. Ii was my opinon ex-
pressed it them but the House did fit to cons
der my resolution the not provided for and
upon the law as it now stands but the House
when it is regularly constituted, may provide for BY
appointing a committee to examine into the facts and
report upon them, and decide upon the report even
before the appointment if they think proper Of per
manent Speaker As 10 the immediate difficulty, have
already remarked, that when the vote Of the meeting
was taken by teers this morning. question did ap-
pear, in fact; there is practical question before the
meeting, and it is in my judgment premature to look
forward in search of one
With regard to the right of members voting upon the
question Of their admission there is precedent,
although did under the present Constitution
II gentlemen will consult the 4h volume of the journal
of the old Congress- there occurred respecting
the right TO sit OF certain members from tho State OF
Rhode Island The term for which they elected
had expired, and the question whether they should
be permitted under the circumstances to vote upon
the questions before Congress. If any gentleman
wishes look into the case, he will find many six
different forms of the question whether those Rhode
Island members should be permitted vote and every
time the question put they did vote, until the ques
ton was finally given up
The Guam having now distinctly stated the
z, ounds on which the decision OF yesterday was
ade will only add in conclusion, the repetition of
his earnest hope that gentlemen will preserve the
utmost GOODNESS in thinking and speaking on this
exciting subject, and will endeavor 10 make up
clear and deliberate judgment upon the questions
which shall arise in this debate
Mr.. GRAVES, aner further urging his amend
men with much earnestneSs, at length consented, at
the solicitation Of OF his friends, to withdraw
it, and il was withdrawn accordingly.
MIR. RilEFT, rose and asked the unanimous con-
sent of the house to have correction made in the
journal of yesterday morning. This became neces-
sary in consequence oil the opinion which the Chair
man had Just expressed as 10 the powers which had
been conferred upon him. The chairman had
stated that he should consider those powers as hav
ing transpred the moment the roll was completed.
This was not the fact according TO the resolution
which he (Mr RI had submitted. The CLERK had
not called upon him for that resolution, but in max
ing up the journal, he had thought proper TO do with
out ii and it sill remained in his own possession
Mr.. r. therefore, moved the following resolution:
"Mr. RHErr moved resolution that Mr.. Lewis
Williams, being the Oldest member Of the House Of
Representatives, be- appointed chairman Of this
house, TO serve until the election Of n Speaker
"Mr. WILLIAMS bjecting 10 serve,
"Mr. RHErr moved the following resolution:
"RsSolccd That the Hon. john QUtNcY ADAMS
be appointed chairman Of this house until the house
be organized by the election of a Speaker.
"Mr. RHErr then put the question 10 the members
on the adoption Of the resolution and The being