The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-12-18
United States Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

vi
SOME unlinpouant particular.
A long debate ensued and whilst il
nending, Mr.. Adams took occasion Ia address
the House al length, on the subject of its EN-
barrassmrnts. and The causes that had led to it.
H. dom. this. ne referred to a question that
he decided yesterday; that is. that the whig
claimants from New Jersey ought to be al
lowed 10 vote in the Convention. now existing.
In making this decision. he said he had been
misunderstood. II was supposed by some that
hr intended to say. that they ought to be al
loved TO vote 10 The House.-IIe made no such
decision hr advanced no such opinion. On
Ih- contrary. his opinion was decidedly the re-
verse or such proposition. He was OF opinion
that the gentlemen ought to be allowed to vote
herr but when there came TO be an organized
House, then this Convention would cease. and
the claimants from New Jersey could not vote
in the Bousc. until after the election Of a
Spe,ser: ill aflsr their claims had been deci-
ded, BY an organized aud competent House.
In tie course of the day. very great sensation
-as produced by The Hon. Philemon Dickin-
soa one Of the Democratic members from n.
Jersey, who attempted to address the House.
lie WAS instantly called Ia order on all sides,
but refused 10 take his seat, unless directed
To do so by the Chair.
TO ailay the storm that WAS rapidly gather.
Mr.. Dickinson. be allowed TO speak, by the
courtesy of the House.
Mr.. Vanderpool objected. He said that Mr..
Dickinson had as good right TO speak as any
man present. and he would not consent tina, he
should accept Of any thing by courtesy, which
the laws of the land and OF parliament afforded.
Mr.. Dickinson, who undoubtedly had as good
right to address the House as the whig claim
ants from New Jersey hal. unwilling to press
himself upon the indulgence Of the House, and
not being willing TO accept OF any courtesy"
at last resumed his seat
Doctor Duncan next got the floor, and com
rneuesd long and able speech in which he
preseoird to the House and to the country, the
New Jersey fraud in all its hdeousness A
fraud so gross so unblushng. and so infamous,
was never before exposed 10 the public eye;
and do not hesitate to say lhat.when DIR. Dun
can's speech is published aud read, il will salts
fy any nineteen men out of twenty that the
wings OF Y. Jersey have behaved most scandal
ously.
Dr. Duncan, at the solicitation OF Mr.. Craig
gave way Tor motion Of adj journmcnt, and the
House adjourned.
MONDAY.
,ir. Adams called the Convention to order,
and stated the question Of order before it. TO be
one which evolved tue night Of Mr.. Duncan,
cf Ohio, to read as part Of hisspeech various
documents in reference 10 the New jersey con
tested election, on which there an uniinish-
ed debate.
A long debate now ensued in which Messrs.
Granger and Vanderpool Of Nsw York. w.
Cost Johnson Of Maryland. and Messrs Col
qut'. Nisbet and Black Of Georgia participated.
In the course Of the debate. Mr.. Vauderpool
forced from Mr.. Randolph OF New Jersey the
unqualified fact, that at the late election in
IN II state the Democrats had majority Of the
suffrage.
Mr.. V. said that he had heard much about
"leapiDg over the law" bat he was induced 10
ask this question in order TO show that these
gentlemen. who were now such sticklers for
laws Of New Jersey were themselves sanction
ing a most palpable violation Of law; but ~
gentlemen objected 10 the question, il was
needless to press it. and more especially, as he.
IN common with every other gentleman on this
floor who could read the English language
could Snswer il. He had merely questioned
tue gentleman in ider to have the irresistible
conclusion OF thai genI1eman's mind, superad-
ei to the clear Interpretation OF statute OF his
own State. Let gentlemen read the law o!
New Jersey. aud they will look in vain there
Tor any authority on the part Of the mere re
turning officers, the clerks Of counties, or the
Governor and Prvy Council, TO enter the ha,
lot boxes. and reject votes on the ground tha
votes were disqualified They were mere re
.urnng officers. and could not arrest votes o,
their way TO this House. the only appellate
court. after the primary court. the board O
eAuvsssers, the keepers OF the ballot boxes, ha
passed upou their qualifications. No one ha
pretended, no gentleman could pretend. tina
ths couo,y clerks aud Governor and Priv
Council, could act in Judicial capacity. an
purge the polls. These, then. were most in
portaut admissions. made by the only undispu
Cd member from New Jersey, and the ardei
friend aud supporter ofthc claims of The Go,
srnor's members.
At 3 o'clock, Mr.. Underwood. OF ken,uck
brought the debate 10 a close, by demandin
the Prerious Question. which, beng seconds
the main question. Shall the documents
ysad 7" was put. and carried in the aihrmaii'
ayes. LOG: noes, l0l. This wasa tsst que
lion. and the administration carried it.
TUESDAY.
The question came up on the appeal of NJ
Vsuderpool, from the dseision OF the ;hai
The decision appealed from, Was, that the co
tes,esied GieulLsrs should vote.
After debate, the previous question was ca
ed for by Mr.. Wise. aud was finally put.
The House. on division reversed the d
cision OF The Chair. lQs TO ia. So it was
,ernined that the New Jersey members shou
not vote; and the question then came up
the motion to lay the resolution previously ,
fevsd by Mr. Wise, on the table.
Some confusioo followed; but the prsvio
question was called for aud put. On div
lou. the teIlen reported lis for laying I
resolution on the table, ard ia against it; n
Naylor. from Pennsylvania. whose seat 10 co
tested. voting in the negative.
The Char however declared lis in the
6rmative. and ] Is iu the negative. and, givi
the casting vote in the negative, declared {
motion TO be lost.
An appeal was taken from this decision.
the ground that. BY the previous vote. \
Nsylor could mol be counted.
Il vss replied. that tl,a, motion included