The native American., 1839-12-21
THE CONTESTED ELECTION.


Trial, of the Hon. r. NJ. L. Hunter Of Virginia,
he having received 10 out Of 232, the number Of
votes then taken. The Speaker elect was con-
Quoted TO the chair by Mr.. Lawrence of Massa-
cluselts and Mr.. Banks Of Virginia and the oath
10 support the Constitution of the United States
was administered by Mr.. Williams of North Car
olina, who, he being the Oldest member, is tech
:nically called . the father of the House" On
Tuesday the Speaker, ON taking the char, made
his acknowledge to the House, in very
neat and appropriate address. The Speaker
claimed to be considered as standing in neutral
position as relates TO the two great party divisions
Of the House and of the country; and, being thus
unen barrassed by party ties, he professeA his de-
termination to administer the duties Of his high
office, with strict impartial,ty, and pledged him
self, whilst affording in his selection Of commit
tees, to the administration every fair opportunity
Of bringing their favorite measures of policy to
the consideration Of the House, to furnish the
amplcst scope to the opposition TO push the most
searching Investigations ofthe abuses or supposed
abuses Of the Government.
We cannot omit to congratulate the country
upon the choice SO happily made by majority
of their representatives, as we doubt not that his
pledges will be redeemed in good faith, and that
the course which the Speaker has marked out for
himself, will result in measures highly beneficial
to the country, and in the highest degree tend to
elevate himself in the estimation of every true
friend of the Union
~ IL
most important step in its organization, the whole
difficulty is yet far from being overcome. The
Speaker, in administering the oath required by
the Constitution to the members Of the House,
found that all the members from the State of New
jersey (includihg Mr.. Randolph, whose right has
not been contested,) holding the Commission of
the Governor Of their State as the only legal pri-
ma facie evidence Of their right to seats in the
House, had presented themselves before him and
demanded to be sworn as members. After hav-
ing administered the oath to Mr.. Randolph, the
Speaker resumed his chair and stated the fact to
the House, He remarked that as the House had;
during its preliminary organization, thought prop
er to pass vote on the rights Of the five dispu-
ted members Of New jersey, he considered it
proper to submit the question of right to the
House itself, declaring at the time, that had
no such preliminary action have taken place, he
should have considered it his duty to have admin
istered the oath as required by the Constitution
and the act Of 1889 TO all who presented them
selves with regular legal credentials.
Upon this new form Of the question the House
ho,o la in
nest debate, and so far as a mere spectator can
Judge, no correct opinion can be formed as to the
probable result of the question or of the period
of its determination.
In presenting this short view of the state of
the case to our readers, we cannot refrain from
again adverting to the original cause Of state
of things, SO pregnant with matter of deep and
serious import to the welfare of the country and
the perpetuity Of the Union. We have carefully
examined all The statements which have been pro-
mulgated by both parties and the friends Of both
porties. All agree in the fact, however they may
differ in the differences from it, that the only first
cause Of the serious dilemma into which the rep
resentatives of the people have been placed for
three weeks, was the admission Of the votes OF
large numbers Of foreigners, the greater number
Of whom were madeniably aliens in the strictest
legal sense, and all Of them alien to our laws,
customs, manners and institutions The maJorl
ty Of the people of New Jersey have manifested,
in the subsequent election in their state, the great
est Indignation at the gross violation of their rights
and the attrocious outrage upon the feelings OF
the natiye citizens committed by the managers Of
the election Of 1898. The Governor and Privy
Council, who commissioned those returned by
the county clerks elected by the american vo-
tiers, have been triumphanty sustained by re-
election by largely increased majority; the great
question presented to the people in the election of
1899, being the propriety or impropriety of the
rejection Of the foreign alien votes received in
1898.
We care not what was the party complexion OF
the candidates in the election OF 1898; we care
not what may be the party character OF the