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

hnd takes away Their representation because, "
the members OF New Jersey are not called, tho
People Of New jersey will not be represented.
They will have no voice whatever on the all-iin-
portant question on which we are to vote, for so
Judge it to be fiom the full attendance which we
find
At Nil events, that voice will 10 suppressed in
the rate Of fve-sixths. This cost Of Friendship ap-
pears to I'VE like something have read of in the
good book MS occurring between two persons
where one approaching The other with n smiling
face snd, "Art thou III health, my brother" and
Immediately gove him n stab under the fifth rib.
This is precisely the friendship Of the gentleman
from New York. lie proposes as nm evidence Of
his respect for the People, TO deprive them Of five
sixlhs oltheir representation Now, the manes-
tations Of love aud affection are various, and diff
ferent in different individuals. do profess to
have rs much respect for the rights of the Peo-
pie as the gentleman from New York, who ! TN.
dersinnd IL 10 he OF The lenders of this house,
anil of whom, therefore, speak with great RES
pect and reverence.
His mode ol protecting the rights of the people
is To take away five sixts Of their repre- sentaron
in one Of the most important transactions that this
house could perform. Y mode consists in let
ting them lave their own aud. they cannot
have u double represen atnp, because the Consti-
tuition will not alIow it, give them representa-
ton in those persons who have tho evidence which
the people themselves have declared should he
the only evidence to show what their will il.
These ARE the reasons why have offered The
resolution which lays ~ the Clerk : table.
! Mr. a. WINS here interrupted by Inuch cnnfus-
ION, and the in,ermingng Of many voices denan.
ding "How shall the questisn be put-who will
! put the question:"
Mr. Adams (whosc voice reached the ear OF the
Reporter above the tumuI) replied, 81 intend to
put the question myself
Fellow. citizens, now want to see what ninend-
ment shall he proposed to The resolution. After
that us have sad, propose, from the necessity
of the case TO put the question myself because j
protest against the Clerk being addressed at ull.
appeal to the house i pppea TO body possess
ing the power TO act-I appeal to the majority o.
| the house.
Mr. Rheu rose and said he desired 10 put a
question TO the Clerk.
| Mr. Adams objected to any question being nd
dressed to the Clerk.
Mr. Rheu said, Does The Clerk determine he
will not put question?
| The Clerk rising TO reply, loud cries were raised
in all parts ofthe Hail. ANSWER the question yes
or no, to that question: !"
TThe confusion was here so great tbnt it
almost Impossible TO ascertain accurately the pur-
port of what was suid
| The Clerk proceeded TO state that he consid-
cred himself the Clerk OF the House of Represen-
tatives, and not the chairman oia meeting.
| (Cries # "Wel hut you can answer ques-
ton, yes or no--say yes or nop
The Clerk proceeded to state that the Clerk of
the house of Representative in accordance with
past usage, was compelled 10 make out roll OF
members OF the 26th Congress- TO the best of his
! knowledge aud ability, and under his own respon-
sble sense of duty. Under that conviction, he
had made out roll OH certain principles, which
appeared to him to be true. Those principles
| no had not bern permitted TO state. lie had not
been allowed TO explain the ground upon which
he had acted in performing, according 10 his sense
of duty, the delicate charge which had been
! m him frsf pur pf Ittv h.,-
ing performed, he had, at the appointed hour of
H. proceeded, also according 10 usage, TO call the
roll. His duty was when the roll was called, aud
quorum was present, to put to tile house all
questions arising up 10 the time of the election of
Speaker All this the Clerk came prepared to do.
In the call of the roll he was arrested.
| Very loud cries Of mo! no! you were not
arrested."l
The Clerk proceeded: A quorum had not been
nscertAincd. The Clerk then, of course, could
uoI pruCer,. further until the house had deter
mined in their own mode what was IL quorum,
md who were entitled TO vote or not to vote.
! Unquesonably quorum was present; there
might be mnny more there nigh, he gentlemen
who not entitled 10 sit here. The Clerk
then did tia: which he was bound to do he took
the roll as his guide. IL he had put u question,
and division by teller had been ca,d for, those
in the affirmative passed through teers, and the
number was taken down; then those who voted
in the negative. The question WIS lost
| The Clerk was again interrupted 10y MIR Stan
ley, who rose 10 put TO the Clerk the direct inter
roea,ory: "WhO arrested your
The Clerk proceeded. Whether the Clerk was
arrested or not is matter of no consideration; he
was not allowed 10 get through his roll or to de.
terrnine whit was II quorum Of the house. lie
was prevented from performing that duty. The
gentlemen present might organize themselves as
was done in the first Congress. He could not
now put questions Clerk OF the house. hui if il
| q mi fi ne ia
tions as chairman Of the meeting.
| MIR Rhelt ten offered resolution that Lewis
Williams, the oldest member of this body, he ap.
pointed as Chairman to serve until Tie house he
organized by the election of Speaker
| Nir Il. snid, no question could be taken until
SOME such step had heen TAKEN. The usage of
tie last Congress was, for the Clerk to put oles
tons, and he (Nlr X. had, on former day, read
precedehts establishing that fact But the Clerk
had now snid hat he wou not put questions
The result was inevitable some person must he
| appointed To put questions. He hoped The reso-
luton would be adopted
MIR Lewis Williams objected. The proceed
ing contemplated in the resolution was ont of FORM
He for adherrg to the invariable usage oftle
house.
Mr. Briggs said he understood tho Clerk to be
willing to put questions.
MIR Underwood TO the Clerk. Will YOU sir
put the question on my resolution?
The Clerk am willing to put any question
il The principle on which do so is Clearly com
pretended; namely that do it in the capacity of
chairman of,he gentlemen present.
Mr. w. Cost Johnson. l object, sir, TO your
putting questions as chairman.
lGIeat uproar aud confusion here prevailed
| throughout the Hall.
| Mr. Rheu called Tor the question on his resolu-
ton.
| Mr. Lewis Williams said If there was to be any
order nj ALL the resolutions ought To be PUT to the
II.p. ,i:,,,,t f,kn
power to put the question on the resolution Of the
gentleman from South Carolina. (Mr Rheti,l he
had equal power to put it OIL that Of The gentle
man from Massachusetts, 'lr Adans.) The lat.
ter was entitled 10 priority.
Mr. Profit, rose aud addressing the Clerk, said