Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-12-12

quorum 0I sucn present, theh near anu
adjudge upon the elections, returns and
qualifications of all claimants 10 the seats
contested on this floor
MIR. Rhett went on TO make some re-
marks in support of his resolution, when
Mr.. Biddle Of Penn. rose to order, OBJ
jeciing to Mr.. RS discussing his reso-
luton in advance, as by the rules, it was
not dcbatcable.
Mr.. Rheit said he should not add
word more, but would now move that the
resolution offered yesterday by the gen.
tleman from Virginin, Mr.. Wise, be laid
upon the table, to afford him an oppor-
tunity TO move the resolution he had re lad.
Tellers were demanded.
The Chair appointed Mr.. Davis, OF
Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Dromgoole, of
| Virginia, TO act as tellers.
The question was about 10 be put upon
agreeing to the resolution, when
Mr.. Dromgoole observed TO the Chair
that he had been appointed to act as one
of the tellers, and was ready to discharge
the duty assigned him, but desired first
to be instructed by the Chair how he
was to perform it. lie understood there
were ten gentlemen claiming a right TO
seats as Representatives from N. Jersey,
which of them was he to admit TO pass
between the tellers He was wholly
unwilling to take the responsibility upon
himself OF deciding between the claim
ants.
Mr.. Adams replied that the Chair
conceived the rule TO be that such per-
sons as possessed commissions in con-
(ormiiy with the Constitution and laws Of
New JERSEY wero entitled to vote as
members of the House, and that no 9TH
crs were entitled. This was his own
opinion, and he expressed it with the
more confidence because he had openly
asserted the same opinion yesterday, i'm
mediately before the House had placed
him in the station he now occupied.
| Mr.. Dromgoole said he was ignorant who
the gentlemen were who possessed such
commissions; he had seen none Of the
papers of the claimants, and did not know
what they were. Was he to admit all
who said they had commissions accord
ing TO the laws Of their State MIR. ID.
knew no better how to discharge his duty
as teller than before inquiry OF the Chair.
Mr.. Adams replied, but, owing to tho
loud conversation which now arose
throughout the Hall, the first part Of
what he said was naudiblc: when heard,
he was understood to say that it had
been stated by the Clerk that the COM
missions OF five other gentlemen, whom
he named, were in the same words with
that of MIR. Randolph, whom he had re-
cogniZed as member.
Mr.. Nandcrpoel took an appeal from
the decision OF the Chair, which he pro-
nounced an act of usurpation. The
Chair seemed desirous of putting n par
,icular set Of claimants on the roll, aud
hating them declared members in pre-
terence TO the opponents. lie had been
placed in the Chair for no such purpose
1t was II gross act OF usurpatiOn -
Cries Of 'Order'-o others of Go on 90
on y II was virtually declaring that the
gentlemen from New Jersey should vote
in their own case, when rule of order
was staring the Chairman in the face
which declared directly the contrary
lie appealed from such decision -
Were men TO be suffered to vote in their
own case If they were, all he could
say was, that it would present to the
world an Unprecedented, and, he would
add, "A shocking spectacle.
Mr. Rhett read to the Chair the rule
Of order referred to, which is in the
words following
mo member shall vote on any qnes-
tion in the event of which he is imme-
diaioly and particularly Interested
The Chair replied that the rule did
not apply to the present case, because it
was not the Representative from New
Jersey who were concerned, but their
constituents and their State. 1t was not
these individuals own case ; it was tho
case of their district, and Of the State of
New Jersey.
MIR. w. Thompson, of South Carolina,
cOntcnded that member had as much
right to vote on this question as on any
other. When man brought a regular
commission from his State, he was
clothed with all the rights belonging to
any other member of the House and
though Mr.. Il. should, in such case,
decline voting, yet, if these gentlemen
choose to vote, they had clear and in
disputablc right TO do so.
Mr.. Granger, of New York, rose in
reply TO Mr.. Nanderpoel. lie said he
had hoped, yesterday, that he might at
length congratulate the nation on the
fact that her Representatives were now
prepared to come up to their work and
10 say, distinctly and openly, who were,
and who were not, 10 be permitted TO
vote here os members of Congress. lie
had flattered himself TINT now, al last,
they had rcao he'd point where no man
could hide himself behind the doubts or
The arguments Of a dead Clerk, but that
the record Of their official action would
be sent forth 10 an anxious and expe CT ut
People. What were they told That
gentlemen holding commissions in every
respect like their own were not entitled
to vote in that House to lay rcsolu-
ton on the table--and why Because,
behind the present question lay another,
by which it must be decided whether n
commission under the hrnnd seaI oc m