Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-12-12
eli. =. ongress.
Correspondence Of Commercial Advertiser.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.

III w 'SN'
/ Tho proceedings Of the House Of Repre-
Ieniativcs, in their fruitlsss attempts at or.
ganization, have now fairly settled down into
Il sort Of wrangling debate, in which tedious
ness, repetition, prolixity and irrcleyancy are
blended in most admirable disorder" Yes
,erdsy u new proposition claimed its otten-
II ton, and without coming to any decision on
II that, lo we have to-day no less than three
new ones, which in their turn, have consumed d
a day without briag acted upon.
Il When the House met to-day, Mr.. Duncan
Of Ohio had the floor, but waived his right to
allow Mr.. Wise TO submit resolution, pro-
posing thu, in order to relieve the House of
II It's enbarrassnients, the clerk should call the
| names of those members whose seats were
undsputcd, with the provlSo that after the
II House was organized, no election of Speaker
tako place, or other business be done, until
the contested seats were decided upon.
II A discussion, irregular in the extreme, fol-
lowed this resolution though it ELECTED some
spirited remarks from Messrs Wise and IIotl-
nan. The latter though differing from Mr..
\ Wise upon the proprlety of his proposition,
took occasion to enforce, with great clo-
quence, the nnquestlonabIs right Of MIR.
Aycrigg and his associates to the contested
seats lie thought the only safo mode OF
acting IN such case, WAS to consider the
holding of the Governors certificate ns The
proper test of tho validity Of members
Claims, and earnestly conjurcd the House to
do any thing rather than establish the mon
strous precedent Of passing over members,
simply because their seats are contested.
In the midst Of this discussion Mr.. Hunt,
of New York, offered n resoluti"n proposing
| mt
1t was received with great d,sapprobaton.-
Mr.. Graves, of Kentucky, submitted next u
resolution tha. the clerk proceed with the
call Of the names Of the whig members from
New jersey, and supported it with a speech
IN which he made an energetic appeal to the
II melnbers from the South to defend their cher
shed principle Of state sovereignty, which
was threatened in this attempt to deprive
New Jersey of her rghtful represe ntation.
II The discussion now became more general
and more irrelevant. Mr.. Pickens Of >. C.
at last got the floor. There had been much
speculation concerning the course OF this
Il gentleman,nnd other A administration members
from the South, on this question. Rumor
had represented them as inclined to 90 with
the Wings, intsnluch as the case had aroused
their jealous regard for state severe gnty.--
Much interest therefore, was excited in what
he had to say. Ills speech, however, removed
from every mind the slightest suspicion that
II such view of the case had shaken his at
tachment 10 The party who support the pre-
tensions OF the opposite claimants. Having
stated his satisfaction with Mr.. Wisc's rcso.
ution he almost expressed in as many words
that there was q like array Of evidence on
both sidcs-tliat one was prtnid /aeie rcbuttcd
by the other.
II On the point Of s,atc sovereignty, lie wish
cd gentlemen to understood that the gover-
eighty Of a state Legislature was a very dlf.
iercnt thing from The sovereignty Of the pee
pie ofa state. The great seal Of a state was
only an evidence of authority. Dir. Pickons
closed his vehement harangue with warning
the House 10 beware how they spurned the
voice Of tie people for the sake OF mere form
aud technically, aud spoke with extraordina-
ry emphasis Of the notes Of popular indlgna.
ton that would burst forth like thunder a.
gaInst those who should dare bring them in
conflict. The whole tone and style Of his
II speech leave no room to doubt that the cur
rent OF his feeling runs in perfect sympathy
with those who would fain disiranchze Q
sovereign state under tho pietcxt VI u regard
tor the rights Of the people.
II in tho course Of tho debate, Mr.. Wise took
occasion TO reply TO MIR. PIckens, which he
d'd most admirably. showing that "tho mere
forms and tcchnicalities" so contomptuously
treated, were but the embodied will and voice
OF TIC people become law.
II This DISCUSSION was prolonged By several
new speakers TO a late hour OF the afternoon,
when Mr. Wise, being earnestly requested
II by Mr. Stanley to take 4" second sober
thought" and withdraw his resolution, con
'cpted TO do 20. and the House adjourned
without acting upon the other resolutions.
No one can form any idoa OF the extent
aud termination of the debate on this subject.
With lew exceptions the Wings are for mo-,
bndgIng one inch until Mr.. Aycrigg and hls
nssocialcs arc called IN the list of members.
J." tllow the organization of the House ,o
g" ~ without them. would be- to abandon tbr
rirllt winch they h"Id 10y virtue OF their Ger.
ulcatcs. II IL tumorcd 'hat the clerk - nj
f... u. l..