The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-14

against the proposition. The Clerk was not res
ponsibIe to the House nor to the country, and
TO what purpose was he to make an argument TO
this body?
Mr.. Briggs, of Mass, said a few words in sup
port of rhe request Of the Clerk, to make his state
ment of the grounds on which he had acted. He
thought it was d1e TO him, as he was placed in a
delicate and responsible situation.
Mr.. White reiterated his objections to any state
ment from the clerk. He protested against the
course of the clerk in depriving gentlemen who
were duly commissioned, ofthe advantage of those
commissions !; and he did not wish to hear from
him an argument on the subject. He could, if
he pleased, address the public or the House, in
the newspapers.
Mr.. Gushing thought the circumstances demand
ed an explanation from the clerk and he wished
to hear it. We had a right TO know on what
grounds, we, the representatives Of the states, are
INSTRUCTED in our proceedings, by that gentleman.
MIR. G. desired that the country should know why
it was that, with the law and. evidence before him,
he had not put on his list Mr., Aycrigg and his
associates, as well as Mr.. Randolph.
MIR. Rhett argued that according to the practice
of the House, whether reasonable or unreasonable,
the clerk had a right to put questions, ana this
body had a right to decide them. He therefore
hoped the clerk would put the question whether
he should make the statement which he wished to
make or not.
Mr.. Wise besought the clerk 10 review his de-
cision, and now to call oneSsct or the other of the
New Jersey delegates. If any question were put,
he, for one, should claim that Mr.. Halstead and
his associates be allowed to vote. He would thank
any gentleman 10 show us how any vote could
be taken here, without a decision Of the question,
which ofthe delegations here are entitled 10 vote.
Mr.. Rhett, in the course of some remarks in re-
ply to Mr.. Wise, said that, in case of the election
of a Speaker by members who, as it might after
wards appear, obtained their seats by fraud, or
mistake, he would pledge himself TO proceed to a
new election.
The debate was continued, and Mr.. Weller, a
new member from Ohio, made an eloquent speech
in support ofthe course taken by the clerk.
The House ad journed at A o'clock, without
coming to any conclusion.
PROCEEDINGS OF FRIDAY-NEW JER-
SEY MEMBERS.
AS a deep interest is every where felt in refer
ence to the action of Congress on the question of
the rights of the five members of New jersey to
their seats, we have taken the following abstract
from the National Intelligencer.
The members elect of the House were called to
order at noon this day by the Hon. John Quincy
Adams,chosen yesterday to be their Chairman, who
directed that the journal of the proceedings of the
four days gone by, should be read, and it was read
accordingly at the Clerks table.
Mr.. Rnett of South Carolina, rose and observ-
ed that it was his intention to move that the mo-
ton of the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr, Wise's,
originally Mr.. Grave's) which the Chairman
had announced as the motion pending from yes
terday, be laid upon the table. with a view to en-
able him to offer the following, which he then
read, viz
Resolved, That the House will proceed to call
the names of gentlemen whose rights to seats are
not disputed or contested, and after the names of
such members are called, and before a Speaker is
elected, they shall, provided there be a quorum of
such present, then hear and djudge upon the
ants to the seats contested on this floor.
Mr.. Rhett proceeded to support this resolution,
when
Mr.. Biddle, of Pennsylvania, rose to order.
The g~entleman's motion was to lay a resolution
on the table, and, by the rules of order which had
yesterday been adopted, was not debateab!e. The
gentleman ought not to discuss his proposition
thus in advance.
Mr.. Rhett replied that he had not yet actually
made his motion to lay on the table, he had only
indicated an animation 10 do so. He should make
such a motion before he resumed his seat. But
had he debated or discussed the resolution he
had read 10 the House? Had he entered at all
into its merits ? He had not, nor did he intend
to. He entirely agreed with the gentleman from
Pennsylvania that it was wrong for a gentleman
who was going to make q motion which preclu-
ded debate, to avail himself of his position to dis
cuss a proposition, when his remarks could not
be replied to. A full opportunity would be afFor-
ded for the discussion after the motion to lay on
the table:was disposed of.
The Chair stated that the position taken by
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, was correct in
principle, and that such ought to be the rule of
order but that the practice of the House had
been different, and gentlemen had very frequent
ly been permitted to preface a motion TO lay on
the table by an argument.
MIR. Rhett said he should not add a word more,
but would now move that the resolution offered
yesterday by the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr.
Wise,) be laid upon the table, to afford him an OPP
%portunity to move the resolution which he had
Just read.
TellerS were demanded.
The Chair. appointed Mr.. Davies of Penn
s%ylvania, and Mr.. Dromgoole, of Virginia, TO act
as ~tellers.
Mr.. Dromgoole observed to the Chair that he