The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-12-17
q % ~ G. R NJ q q.

Wed nesday, December 4, 1889.
There is yet no Organization in the House of
Representatives. Another day has passed in de-
bate, cool and deliberate, it is true, but not coming
| much nearer the point than yesterday. On the
one hand, the administration members are deter.
mined to exclude the New Jersey members from
voting for Speaker that question decided, they
are probably Indifferent which set can carry the
day EAT all events, aSvery deep impression has
been made upon the minds of the honest State
Rights men attached to the administration, at the
bold attempt to ezpumge sovereign State from the
coniederacy, by refusing to recognize the seal of
the State and the signature of the Governor and re-
turning officers. 1t is an experiment hazardous to
the administration party, and will, think ,termi-
nate in admitting the returning members to occu-
Ply their seats. Mr. Wise, in order to abridge the
debate in this informal meeting of the House, pro-
posed resolution that the Clerk should call the
roll, emitting contested seats, and if quorum was
present, the subject should be debated before they
! " ent into an election for Speaker. This gave rise
to warm discussion MIR Wise supported his res
outon in a calm decided manner, and Mr. Hunt,
of New York, offe ed substitute, but In the noise
and confusion which ensued, nothing could be
heard. Mr. Graves, of Kentucky, proposed that
the Clerk call the roll as it has uniformly been
Called without reference to any contested seats -
and this proposition he supported in an able speech
Mr. Pckens, Of 5. &. in favor of Wise's reso-
luton. MIR Barnard, of New York. spoke in favor
of the New Jersey members and a long, desutory
debate continued, without arriving at any definite
conclusion.
Mr. Garland, the Clerk, read the following ex-
tract from the Constitution of the United States
"Each House shall be the judge or the elections
returns, and qualifications of its own members and
majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do
business but a smaller number may adjourn from
day TO day, and may be authorized 10 compel the
attendance OF absent members in such manner "a d
under such penalties, each house may provide -
Under this clause, he contended he had right
House a se for g an Is and The
Thursday, Dec 5.
The opening was as usual by the Clerk of the
House, and The discussion resumed.
Mr. Randolph, OF N. j. and Mr. Dickerson, one
of the administration claimants, from the same
State, both claimed the floor at once The Clelk
decided 1t as being in possession OF Mr.. Ran
dolph.
MIR Vanderpoel, of N Y, with marked anxiety
TO get speech from Mr. Dickerson, thought that by
courtesy at least, If not right, member who had
spoken once should yield the floor TO one who had
not joined in the debate
10 this winning appeal, however. the Clerk
bluntly observed That lie was acquainted with the
rule OF the House, that lhe subject before it was a
new one, and that Mr. Randolph was entitled to
the floor. That member then proceeded TO make
an eloquent exposition Of the general question tax.
ing the same views as had been already presented
by him and other speakers enforcing them, how
ever, with new references 10 parallel cases both in
the General Congress and the Legislature of New
Jersey.
When Mr. Randolph had finished, much sensa-
ton was caused in the House, when
Mr. Adams! now took the floor. There was orea,
NaJy
He sad-"Fellow-c itzens o: the Twenty Sixth
Congress of the United Stntes-l address myself
to you, and not to the Clerk of tho House of Rep.
resentatives, under painful sense Of my duty
The Clerk commenced reading to you the Mem
bers of the Twenty Sixth Congress until he came
to the State OF New Jersey, when he paused and
stated to the House, that five Of the seats of the
Members from New Jersey were contested, and
that he must refer that decision to the House. AT.
ter that he again, in the discharge of his solemn
duty, declared that he would not put a question
except a question of adjournment. In what pre-
dcament are we placed? We are fixed here as
immovaby as the columns around the Capitol
What then are we to do. The Clerk refused to
proceed with the roll, and reinses to put gu estion
and IN this condition are left.
had determined, said Mr.. Adams to have said
nothing upon this controversy, and should have
adhered to my determination but for the two decis.
ions of the Clerk We are here under the ;n;nnc
ton OF solemn duties, and fuller representation of
the people OF the United States than ever before
and ever will probably again exist, The Clerk has
Pieceu us IN POSITION from which neither
advance nor recede In the present case, said Mr.
Adams, it may be necessary TO do what Mr. JefTer.
son tells you Lord Dunmore did-adiourn from the
usuai place OF meeting to a tavern aud there con-
stitute yourselves.
p, call upon you in the name of the people Of the
United States to sorganlze yourselves. You are
mere under solemn and responsible duties. call
upon inc majority of the body here do this. We
nave recently been told by the official organ that
majority of this House, Independent of the New
Jersey claimants, were friendly to the Admstra-
ton That paper says l2l members all of whom
are here, are friendly to the Administration. / Of
ter me Following resolution, not go upon the
Clerks desk Gin the limbo Of vanity and the par
disc of fools" but before the House
Resolved, That the Acting Clerk of this House
sha'I proceed with!the call of the members from
the different States of The Union in the usual wav
ealing the names OF such members of such mem.
oers from New Jersey as hold the regular and le-
ga, COMMISSIONS from the Executive cf that State
low citizens of the House, and not to the clerk. 1t
was I" the members Of the House he appealed and