The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-12-17
Was hingto Dec. 10.

The business of this day at the Capitol, far as
tho public interested in the Details may be
compressed into the space of nutshell Not the
least progress has apparently been made in the
ierial matter before the Convention. The Loco
Focos still resist tho desire of the Wings to
bring the main question of the New Jersey TO
practical test and the Wings refuse to compton,
Use to give up their legal and Constitutional rights
or to depart from the immemoral usage of the
House, and the established presidents Of the gov
erument The Clerk first arrested the wheels OF
| the government, and the administration party have
now assumed the responsibility of holding them
back, with tho hopes of inducing the opposition to
aid their unhaoVed designs. This responsibility
rests fairly upon them. They have not even the
pretence of law or Constitutional right 10 justify
their conduct and they seem now determined TO
edo or die ia very desperation They ''smile AT
hazard and disdan reproach." They have waded
SO deep in inquity, that returning would be worse
than to go on They have suspended, as it were,
tho whole operations Of the legislative branch of
the federal government, for seDen entire days, and
have squandered upwards of $50, 900 of the peo-
pies money in idle, useless, revolutionary debate.
F'They have a boosted majority Of the uncontosted
members the opposition offer them their unani-
nous concurrence--and they still refuse to organ
ze the House, according to law and usage. The
opposition in the minority upon the question,
and can do nothing themselves, without assistance.
Then does the responsibility OF the present de-
porablo state of things rest fairly upon the Van
Buren, members ? In honest truth, it does and
they are conscious of the fact But how to avoid
utter and lrrelrevable disgrace and ruin is the
question. They talk Of compromise.
The Loco Focos endeavor to make question OF
popular right, out of this case, which they think
will take with the people, who may not fully I'M
derstand the legal and Constitutional grounds upon
which the regular New Jersey members rest tn cir
{ claims. The Globe says, the Van Buren, members
received majority Of the popular votes, and the
House ought, therefore, to consider them entitled
! to the seats. But how is the House to ascertain
this fact until it shall be duly organized, and have
power to investigate the subject? The members
may have heard, in conversation, that such was the
fact, they may have seen it in newspapers, or they
may be told so by the partzan Secretary of the
State of New Jersey, but shall the national legsla.
ture be organized upon such information as that
They are told also, and In a more authentic man.
ner, that the Governor and Privy Council of New
Jersey examined the official returns of the elections
added them up according to law, and finding these
persons, who now present themselves on the floor
OF the House duly elected, they gave them legal d
Constitutional certificates, bearing the Executive
signature, and the broad seal of 1.-The State. And
those certificates are unimpeached and will stand
the test of Loco Foco arts until the House, when
legally organized, shall examine their validity. Is
not this plain The fac! that these certificates
had been given 10 the disputed members was
made known the people of New Jersey at the
10 act upon this question at the ballot box, reeect-