Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-10

cison of the Clerk We may be hire a whole week
nav, whole month, III our present situation, unless We
dcviSr some mode by which "" ran t.n relieved from It
ask il ii crcdrilblc 10 this House, that V" shall
CONSUME further time III perfectly idle useless d"at"
because the Clerk has placed Z, N Il SITUATION III
which no question lc put. Now. am Willing
that The Clcr! shall b. held responsible I" III" pee"
pie Of the United =atrs 'ar -" four days Il i:Ir
time of hS House that have been wasted IA a."
improbable ciai". upon questions that he Will not
nat | say thai he IS responsible fer the waste d
lime that he has already accustomed: In, now tn.s
House Itself viii be responsible Ir amy further vast
Of time. viii 20 further, aud say that III" ono ham
drcd and twcntr-onc members which have been sci
down friends III the Administration, arr Responsible
the people of the country, If the organization OF Tie
body for the despatch Of the public business is not
irrthwith completed | say that # there - majority
of this in: determined Ia sci as de- the i've mcHhr {,
from New Jersey who have produced their credentials
precisely IN the form with thos" produced by til.
member from tina, State whose name The Clerk has
calrd-; Tie majority of this House VII! say that those
members shall not he permitted I" sat, why let Il
say 50, and that majority will b. responsible Ia tho
country and 10 the world for sHch decision
Now. hcrvc, that they cannot say and IN my
private opinion, | believe that ii Is III" rights OF the
people of New Jersey that involved. say no.
thing abuu! In" Governor Of the State any por-
ton Of the State, but the people. THESE five men
came here with tn" authority OF the Constitution and
the laws declaring them be the representatives Of
ton of the United States, and the laws of the Stat.
Of New Jersey declare that other evidence o mcnl-
bcslp than that produced hy them shall be received
here. Now | say that these came here present
INC that evidence: that cf them has been received
member, and If refuse Ia receive the others,
then II j. not those members that You turn gu, of
the House, but the sovereign pcop" If New J"r-
>cy. Whoever may finally, and after proper inyc>-
legation. h. determined To hc the and lawful Re-
personalities from New Jersey, these five the pre-
nd
o their seats without outragn. iic people of their
State. II YOU that they shall ~" be- r,'vrh j.
the people they come 10 represent whom you reject and
whom YOU deprive of ryc-sxths o their representation
Now have heard about attack the rights ii the
people Of New Jersey, and have heard stated ihai lirr
is Il contest between iii" people I" y jersey on the one
hand. and Tie Governor and cornell on the other
why. t"' o"', 49,. Council represent The people
of J"rsr; and IT must be borne III mld ,,at long at.
ter these contested elections took place. and ong after
the Governor and Council decided who Tho PERSONS
duly elected, thcy nave Eccn called upon 10 pronounce.
sentence upon the correctness of Tins DOG, sion and
they HAY" done bv rrClrcting tins VERY t"r,rIor
and CoGnc by whom i; was gwen. Ny honorable
friend over the way, (Mr. Nandcrpocll who intends to
offer amendment 10 the resolution hay" submitted.
in his ardent appeals 10 THIS House in favor OF tho
cred rights Of the propI. Of New Jersey, who pro-
poses III the very Of Gathering them, take away
their rights: for if the members from New Jersey
not called, the people of that State will be deprived of
their rights, and vcsiNths of their voice will b" sup
pressed in the important proceeding OF organising tins
body. The appeals Of the gentleman III favor of the
rights o! the people, and ls manner oI showing his
regard for them, put in mind Of a story have
read IN the Bible. whore man gocS mp 10 another and
acctinnatrlv asks, art thou IN health, my brother
and then >taS ham under the fifth rib Now the mani.
f,stnons OF lovc and respect very various. pro-
isS iu have much ny" and respect for the rights %:
the people my friend from! New York, who, una. r
stand Is BE- uf the leaders Of this io,sc and
therefore speak of hm with great respect and defer
cmcc but his mode of showing love and respect for til,
rights OF the people, 10 take away their rights, while
TO best cndravors 10 prevent their beng
deprived of them and as cannot, give them double
representation on tins floor, winch the Constitution
does not allow, will gIvc them that representation
winch tho evidence OF their constituted authorities
shows 10 h. tn. true Mr.. y then submitted tn,
resolution which he had previously read
Mr.. MERCER suggested TO his friend from Nl>sn-
chusct;>, that III" same difficulty would again occur Of
putting the question TINS resolution.
Mr.. ADAMS SAID h" was willing 10 wait awhile To
what amendments glrmcn might propose 10 the
resolution He then prU1 srd 10 put the questions t.
the House himself He protested against the Clerk
putting any question.
Mr.. rANDERpOEL several times tried 10 obtain
The lioor for the purpose Of Offering amendment To-
Mr.. Adals resolution.
Mr.. RliErT asked of the Clerk fine had determined
that he could not put questions 10 the House:
Mr.. GARLAND (lhc Clerk made an explanation !
of what he conceived to be his duty, in TIE position in
which he found himself, and Of The that he had
found II necessary 10 pursue. He did not think that
he had rgh, put any other question than the qses
ton Of d"urnn.nt. He considered himself a. sitting
there simply as The Clerk ofthe House, and moi it.
Ck"ir""".
Mr. RfIET'i then Offered r, solution that rryi>
Williams. the oldest member oth. House, BE- appointed
Chairman of this meeting until the House should be
organized.
Mr WILLIAMS objected to the Introduction Of the
resolution. He thought they could have questions pu
If the Clerk would only do his duty all other Clerks
OF the House had done Besides, III competent
to put the question this resolution it also
pcicnt 10 put the question the resolution Of the gen
llrnan from Massachusetts, which preceded l.
Mr. UNDERWOOD asked Of The Clerk if h. would |
be willing 10 put question ii a majority OF members
present desired it:
Mr. GARLAND stated thai he was willing to pat
questions If the viii Of the House that he should
d. so
Mr.. UNDERWOOD then asked the Clerk TO pu, The
quc sttnn on the resolution submitted hy hiu
Several VOICES heard CRYING :. No no, and
much confusion prevailed at the time.
Mr THOMPSON, of South Carolina. submitted t.
the House that or later they adopt the re-
solution Just offered by his colleague hIr Eh,., as II
would b" impossible for them ever Ia organic without
some proceeding of the kind. Thu, objection of tin,
gentleman from North Carolina. that there was Il re So
luton that had precedence, could only apply in rrg
larr organized hndcs where Parliamentary rules could
be observed, and did not apply to this meeting, which
was vet in n state of d.Sorrani2atio!
Mr.. RllE'rT then varied ms motion. So rs To call
MIR. Adams he Cia't instead al ilr Williams and
putting the question himself 10 The meeting il was car
RED, and Mr.. Adams took H., Chair
Sluch confusion and noi>" being heard IN the GALE
r!rs, and sonic Kissing.
Mr.. THOMPSON of South Carolina SAID. that h.
announced 10 the galleries that il there the slight
est interruption 10 the business Of the meeting he would
call the President for military force preserve
der
On motion Of Mr. MERCER,
Grd,rcd Tina; til" Rules Of The last House Of Repre-
scnaives be adopted for the goycrnmrni Of III" pro.
cccdings of tins meeting.
Nr Wise then moved that the acting Clerk BE- dire cl
ed to call the members of the House. including. such
call The members from New Jersey. who hay, the Ger
tiicatrs Of Tn" Governor nf that State that they ar"
elected a Representatives al til" Twcnty-sixth Con-
grcsS.
Mr. JOHNSON Of Tennessee moved az adjourn.