Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-12-12
'ntnn SpRrtatnr s eEfmFral Mnnr rttsrr.

When they made their propositiona year since
to the claimants on this floor to resign their
seats and go before the people again, he claim
ed the honor to 60 with them. But their
proposition was declined. Mr.. Randolph adj
verted to the recent State election i'm New
Jersey, as sustaining the conduct of the Gov
ernor. Mr.. Adams then followed in a speech
| full offre, in which he rated the Clerk pref
| ty soundly. He called him an absolute despot
to all intents and purposes. He wills and
wills not to proceed in calling the roll-he
wills and wills TO put question. He
called upon the members in the name of the
people of the United States to set aside this
Clerk. Without doing it they could not or
ganize. He said the official paper asserted
there was l2l members friendly to the Adj
mlnistration present-hc called on them, as
they were the majority, to organize. Upon
them rested the responsibility of further delay.
Our report ofthe proceedings on discovering is
lmperfect-but the conclusion was that Mr..
Adams was put into the chair, and the Clerk
deposed, at least from acting as Chairman of
the House. There was great and repeated
applause in the gallary when Mr.. Adams
took the Chair-and the House soon after ad-
journed.
Frtday-At noon this day the members C.
lect of the House were called to order bv
the Hon. John Q. Adams, chosen the day be-
tore to be their chairman, The journal of the
four days proceedings gone by was then read,
and corrected In several particulars. Mr.
lthett, of s. c. moved to lay the resolution of
MIR. Wise on the table with view to afford
him an opportunity to offer one which he
read, in these words
Resolred, That the House will proceed to
call the names of gentlemen whose rights to
seats are not disputed or contested; and af-
ter the names OF such members are called.
and before Speaker is elected, they shall, pro-
vided there be aquorum OF such present, then
hear and adjudge upon the elections, returns.
and qualifications of all claimants to the seats
contested on this floor
Iellers were demand-when the chair ap-
pointed MIR. Davies, of Pa. and MIR. Drcm-
goole of Va. MIR. Dromgoole then enquired
who he was to count! He was unwilling to
decide between the claimants. The chair re-
piled those having commissions in conformity
with the constitution and laws of New Jersey.
Mr.. Dromgoole remarked that he had seen
none OF the papers, and was ignorant of the
persons who possessed them. Mr.. Wander
peel took an appeal from the decision of the
chair, which he pronouced an act of usurpa-
ton. 1t was virtually declaring that the
gentlemen from New Jersey should vote on
their own case, which is forbidden by rule
OF the House. During his remarks there
were cries of ''order''-and others ofsgo on.''
Mr. Rhett read the rule to the Chair, but the
Chair replied that the rule did not apply in
the present lnstance-the members would not
be voting In their own case, but in the case of
their constituents. The day was consumed
In debate, without any question being ia
ken.
letter received here, written on Satur-
day night, says that up to that time the House
had not got an inch farther in its progress to-
wards organization, and that all was uncer-
tain as to the future.
The Senate is regularly in session, but
can transact no Legislative business until
the House is organized. The Presidents
Message has also to await the same event.
But all this is of small moment compared
with the danger of anarchy and bloodshed
to which the country is exposed. How small
a thing might now light fire which moth
ing but blood could extinguish 1t is in
this view only that the magnitude of the out
rage Perpetrated by the Clerk can be fully
realized. 1t is, indeed, a most fearful
responsibility that he has assumed, at the
behest of party and he should be made
to feel the indignation of an insulted people,
for his baseness and perfidy. The correct
ness OF the rule which he violated is shown
by the very confusion and difficulty which
have followed, as by his own declaration he
had not the power to put question that
would enable the House to get rid of its en-
barTassment