Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-12-12

leave the Government in the hands of the
CLERK who had taken it. Mr.. Wise and MIR.
Gushing, and several other members, then
spoke In regard to the application of the clerk,
when debate followed of some minutes as
to whether the house would or would not adj
Journ-whether the clerk had right to put
the question &c. No conclusion, however.
was arrived at, and the members separated
peaceably and by common consent, at late
hour of the evening.
Wednesday-The Clerk called the House
to order at IL o'clock, when the following
resolution was offered by Mr.. Wise:
Rcsofred, That the Representatives of the
Congress Of the United States, now assem-
bled, to relieve themselves from the embar-
easements and difficulties which at present
obstruct the organization of the House, pass
by the names of the New Jersey Members
and read the names of those whose seats are
not disputed; and that before choosing a
Speaker, the question of the contested seats
be settled.
MIR. Dromgoole expressed his appreciation
of the resolution, and Mr.. Rives said he could
not see any objection to the proposition, and
would be pleased to see it adopted with some
modification. Mr.. Hoffman remarked that
for two days we had been contendinu for the
rights OF sovereign state-for the rights of
men who come here with the seal of State
giving assurance Of their election. We are
passing said Mr.. III. from the rights of state
to the consolidation of House of Representa-
tives. If the members from New Jersey are
deprived of their seats for an instant, injustice
is done to the State. He contended therefore
that but one course should be pursued, and
that was the course pointed out by law. Mr..
Graves Of Kentucky, then offered resolution
as substitute for Mr.. Wise's, the purport of
which was to direct the clerk to read the
names of the members whose election had
been regularly certified. He contendcd that
the course pursued by the House was mon
strous-there was but step between it and
revolution. 1t was against reason, against
precedent, against jushce-in violation of
law, parliamentary usage, and every thing
else. If the course pursued by the Admins
tration and the Clerk were persisted in, no
man could foretel the consequences. You
sir, said Mr.. Graves, addressing himself to
the Clerk, ask leave to make a statement
statement of what?-a statement of what
you have done here in violation of lava
statement in excuse of a high-handed viola
ton ofpower-prepared, as am well assured,
in the councils of party. You, said Mr..
Graves to the Clerk, are responsible for this
| +b I 4
to do what you have done. Aye, sir, direct
ed, for you never would have dared to do it,
had you not been directed challenge YOU
to deny this Mr.. Clerk. Mr.. Craig, of Vir-
ginia, followed, deprecating the heat which
had been brought into the discussion. He
| then proceeded to examine the claims of the
| contestlng members, and enquired why those
having the nominal majority were not return
ed. Why, he wished to know, were not the
votes of Millsville and Amboy not included
in the general returns? Mr. Randolph ofN.
Jersey, said he could give the reason the re-
turns were not legally certified to by the Judg-
es, and especially for the better reason that
VIGOROUSLY illegal votes were cast, and
aliens, in violation of the constitution, were
allowed to vote. Mr.. Wise interposed, and
hoped that members would not lose SIGHT of
the question before the House. An examina-
ton of the claims of members could do no
good now. Mr.. Pickens followed approx
ing Mr.. Wise's resolution. He wished that
gentlemen could act in confidence with each
other, nothing doubling. He expressed his
confidence in the honesty ofthe Clerk. AS for
State sovereignty of which so much had been
said, he said his notion was that it rested not
in a Governor and Council, or State seal,
but in the people. Mr.. Bernard, of New
York, then entered into legal argument of
the question, in which he maintained the pro-
position with great ability, that to set aside
the regular certificate of election was Judi
cial act, which the clerk had no shadow of
authority to do, nor could even the House it.
self, until it was regularly organized.
The Clerk having come to the conclusion
that he could put question for adjournment,
the House rose somewhat more orderly than
it had done on the previous evenings.
INursday.-Mr. Hunt, of New York, pro-
posed the appointment of temporary Speak
er, as a measure which he thought would
lead to an organization of the House. Mr..
Randolph took occasion to reply to some re-
marks made the day before by Mr.. Pickens