The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-12
TwENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

SATURDAY, Doc. n.
The members elect Of the House OF Representa-
tives were called 10 order al noon this day by the
Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, their Chairman,
and The journal Of yesterday having been read, mo-
tions were made by Mr. DRoMGooLE and Mr.. LIN
COLIN TO amend Il in reference TO what had been said
BY Mr. ID, when applying for instructions how dis
charge his duty as teller IN counting the gentle
men who should present themselves TO pass between
the Ielers as members OF the House. and the decis-
lon OF the Chair thereon, (from which decision Mr..
Vanderpoel took an appeal Mr.. Dromgoole insist
ing that he had said that be should count all The
gentlemen from New Jersey who present themselves
10 vote, unless otherwise directed by the House !"
which last words were, on his notion added TO the
entry in the journal And Mr.. Lincoln being de-
sirous TO have Il stated that Mr. Adams, as Chair
man, had stated that those only were entitled to
who produced commissions In regular form Sac
cording TO the Constitution OF the United States and
the laws OF the State Of New Jersey" (Which latter
words had not been inserted)-
On This motion long and desuliory debate arose,
In which Messrs. Lincoln, Duncan, Tiinghast,
Saltonstall, Smith, OF Maine, Wise Cushing Alher.
ton, Briggs Bynum, White, and Dromgoole partici-
pated
The question having been put, tellers were de-
manded.
The CHAIR nominated Messrs. Gddings. of
Ohio, and Crabb, of Alabama; but on the sugges-
ton OF Mr.. Briggs that it was usual and according
to the rules of order to nominate telers who were
OF opposite sides upon the question TO be decided,
Mr.. Adams nominated Mr.. Bynum OF North Caro-.
lima, in the place of MIR. Crabb.
Mr.. BYNUM applied for instructions as TO whom
he was 10 count.
The CHAIR directed him to count all who pre-
scented themselves, and 10 report the result to the
Chair.
Mr.. BYNUM expressed his opinion that The gen
uemen from New Jersey, who held the Governors
certificate were not entitled 10 vote at ALL and de-
MED the right of the Chair decide that their votes
should in any be received.
The CHAIR thereuPon nominated Mr. Smith, of
Maine, in the place of Mr. Bynum.
Mr.. SMITH pleaded his want Of personal know
ledge OF the candidates from New Jersey; but, his
objection being overruled, he consented to serve and
the House was divided; whereupon the teers re-
ported the vote 10 be ayes LOG, noes I07. So the
motion of MIR. Lincoln to amend the journal was
lost.
Mr.. SLADE moved TO amend the record in the
journal BY striking out the clause which stated that
the decision OF Mr., Adams. in the chair, was I'M
conformity 10 the view he had expressed before be-
ing appointed Chairman. But, after some CONVEX
sation across the House, Mr. S. concluded to with
draw his motion.
MIR. GRAVES moved to amend SO as to state.
what he insisted to be the fact, that Mr. Dromgoole
had not in the first instance, referred TO any diec-
ton from the House; but only from the Chair al.
though, after the decision Of the Chair had been
given, he had used the words "unless otherwise di-
reced by the House." And he pressed his motion
with great earnestness and pertinacty on the ground
that otherwise great injustice would be done 10 the
Chairman. Ii Mr.. Dromgoole had asked direction
OF The House, and then the Chair had volunteered 10
direct him, the Chairman would Justly be charge
able with an act of usurpation. But this, Mr.. G.
insisted the Chair had not DONE and il ought not to
appear on the journal as if he had.
Mr.. DROMGOOLE was very confident he had
in the first instance declared that he should count
all who came, unless otherwise directed "by the
House"
Mr.. ADAMS then addressed the House in ex.
PLANTATION OF the reasons OF his decision of yeser-
day, and afterwards the general subject of the
existing nj he
We regret that, owing 10 The position Of the Re-
porters seats, II Is peculiarly difficult to hear with
distinclness what is said from the Chair owing to
which, as well as occasionally low tone Of voice in
which Mr. Aspoke, it was scarcely possible to catch
all he said. We present the following as exhibiting
at least The substance OF his address, so far as it could
be heard
The gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Dromaoole,)
when ne had been appointed to act as one of the tel
ers inquired Of the Chair whom OF the members from
New Jersey he should count and added that he should
count all the gentlemen from New Jersey who might
present themselves to pass between the telers unless
otherwise directed by the Chair perhaps he said by
the House. And 1t was only because the gentleman
expressed determination TO as members those
who, in the judgment Of the Chair were not entitled
to be counted, that that decision of the Chair was
given from which appeal has been taken The Chair
felt compelled to say that the gentleman from Virginia
could not do as he intended if he acted constutionay
because, according to the Constitution the State of
New Jersey Is entitled to six members in ALL whereas
besides the member from that State already called ten
gentlemen claimed to be recognized as her representa-
ves here his declaration Of his the sole cause
why the Chair made any decision IN the matter The
Chairman had thought of usurping any power what
ever for he aware, at the time Of what has since
followed, VIZ that an appeal would be taken from his
decision Il was merely the expression of his opinion,
which 1t was for the meeting to confirm or to reverse
at their pleasure. As to the charges of usurpaton of
"monstrous usurpaon," which haye been so loudly
sounded within this Hail. far as they are personal to
the Chairman he will only reply that If the gentlemen
who have made them have thought by them to intmi-
date him in the discharge of his duty as no
it, they are mistaken And now as to the exceptions
taken to that decision itself the Chair believes that
there exists much Of heat than Of diversity Of
opinion on The principal matter at issue in this meeting
The decision can have effect upon the main que
between The parties which of the two seats of cai-
mants from New Jersey shall vote in the election Of
Speaker The Chairman understands himself to have
been placed here for the sole purpose Of organizing tho
House The moment that object shall have been eff
fected, his power will AS tho roll shall
have been called through. and the House constituted.
the Chairman will call upon them to elect Speaker, as
required by the Constitution Of the United States and
by the 5lst rule Of the house that election must be made
by nominal calls, answered viva voce and then, il it
shall appear that any gentleman have voted to whom
there objection. the House Of Representatives can
decide that question As to the pretensions Of the
gentlemen producing regular commissions according to
the laws Of New Jersey, the Chair would again state
his conviction that there is here upon this subject far
more Of heat than diversity Of opinion. The Chair
would above all things if in his power, aay that heat,
and endeavour to bring the members to cool dsci.
sion As to the question which party Of claimants
be permitted to vote Representatives from New Jer
sey, will be time enough settle that question when
it arises Upon the question taken this morning, one
Of the telers asked the question the gentleman
from Virginia had asked yesterday, whom Of the cla
mants Of the from New Jersey he should count
but he did not, like that gentleman, add that, unless
otherwise instructed he wonld every person who
should present himself The gentleman this day, there
FORE told that, II in the any person whose