Maumee City express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1838-184?, 1839-12-21

the United States, to do justice to the claims
of William Henry Harrison.
CoNGREss.-At the last adviccs (Dec.
llth) the House Of Representatives had moi
effected its organization. Nor, in the words
of private letter, from a friend, now in
that city, is there "any appearance of a
likelihood for an organization" Tho Sc
nhte is ready for business, but cannot pro-
ceed without the action OF the lower house.
The message of the president is getting
mildewed in his cabinet, and cannot b. de-
livered, until the House is in order. And
truly, to all appearances, it is in most ad-
mred disorder. "Cres of sorder' (says
our friend) order, order, pour from all sides
of the House, the cry of 'wha: is the ques-
tionr and uproar and confusion worse
confounded---the representatives of the
nation, complete laughing stock for the
people in the galleries; about dozen
speaking at once, or attempting to get the
floor"
Beautiful, beautiful picture! Who can
doubt for moment the permanency Of our
government, in view Of scenes like tIlese7
Ye doubling foreigners, ye unbelicving Eng
lshlnen and cavaillng Frenchmen, where
are your arguments now? All gone. Ame-
rican example is now perfect, and the peo-
pie, through their representation have vindl,
Gated their precious prerogatlve of govern
ing themselves. If ours is not ths freest
nation upon earth, our Congress is the fire.
est Congress at least. Perfectly free and
easy! A beautiful creation of fancy, of
which Tammany Hall was the original
sketch. A brilliant idea, ofwhich the Wash
ngton, Jefferson and Franklin of the Revo-
luton caught but faint glimpse, and which
has burst only in its MONDAY effulgence,
upon the present congress. Pure, perfect
freedom, in the costume of Adam and Eve.
Serious!y;--this is a question of state
rights, that is now agitated in Congress.
1t may be stated thus; "Do we live in a
country divided into sovereign states, uni
ted, for certain special purposes under
general government, or in a nation of con-
soliduted colonies!' Is the general govern
ment the only exponent of the will of the
people, and are the state governments to be
thrown aside as useless! Congress has left
it to the states to provide the manner in
which the elections of its members shall be
certified. The Wing members from New
Jersey, are provided with certificates Of
election, in the form prescribed by the laws
Of the state, and under these, they claim
their seats. Five other persons, without
certificates, also demand the same seats.
The question then arises: "Can Congress
recognize the existence of separate, SOW
reign, independent states, or may it arrogate
to itselfthe sole right of interpreting the
will of the people"
If Congress cannot give faith to the acts
of states, then state government is dead
letter, and we had better have the form, as
we have the spirit of consolidation. But,
if states can act as such, then are the off,
GERS of those states the proper organs
through which those acts must appear. The
locofoco members of Congress contend that
that body is the only judge of the will of the
people, and that too without the interven-
tion of the state governments, and under
this plea, they refuse to give credit to the
certificates of the Jersey members claiming
to interpret The will of the people against
them, though that will has never been ex-
pressed in any legal form. Thus stands the
case. Congress cannot organize, because
the locofocos will not allow all who are GER
titled to be members to take their seats.
The locofocos have majority, and the pow
er to organize or not is in their bands. The
trial of contested election cannot take
place until after organization, for according
to the constitution, Congress can only Judge
Of The claims of its members. In the mean
time, thousands Of dollars are every day.
lost to the people, their business remains
undone, and indellible disgrace is settling
deeper and deeper into the yitals of the con-