Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-21

, 10 was f,lly aware Of the fact, and III his legal
non riyen to hls Council reserves to the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES the constitutional right OF correcting
- return What does he say:
..But il will be asked, with force and propricty, IS
d,e TO lose his seat in Congress because county
~ does not make a return of the votes: Certainly
- If through In drertence by design, any votes
y not been returned by the clerks, II IS ~ the power
= IN. House Of Representatives, III their discretion
allow those votes, and give the seat TO that person
,hn with those votes, may be elected
=. an representative assemblies possess, and contnu
M r>crcsc the right of deciding who is entitled 10
, - them We give the certificates 10 the persons
who NAV appear, by casting up the clerk returns to
40, the greatest number of votes. We are by law
GTs,d So 10 do. But the House of Representatives
. "a further, and inquire whether any votes have not
, -,,rncd and counted and if such be the case may
ma. .lrm in their discretion. Our laws evidently
n,cplated such state of things, for they require
10 +,wnshp officers to make out duplicate certificate
| : .uch election and TO file the same with the town
I.-k 10 BE- used as occasion may require.
The House of Representatives will adopt the best
mans d. correcting the mistake through committee
=. investigations hut rs the suppression OF votes Is
,,ci upon the very record, and IS admitted even by
h opposition the return is contested, and upon
ch irresistible grounds the House will not permit
t Gcrrraors mtmbCrS, under the forms of Ccrtiti-
~ 10 take their seats and control the organYaton OF
~, Hons. But they will probably pursue their own
,j,r, in the case Of Moore and l.etchcr, and bid
f parties stand aside, until the election has been
,-ppcrv investigated.
| We received by las, evenings Petersburg mail the
| . American Statesman OF the morning, which con-
am. letter from Washington of "Wednesday. 1.-The
following i an extract
The debate sprung up the negative proposition
s-rd by Mr. Wise, uhai the claimants are not cnti-
lad 10 th,r seats, and is likely TO continue rs long rs
y. wind Of The Wing Orators holds out. In the
mean time the House, BY unfortunate casting vote OF
he Speaker has been deprived of the advantage winch
Nr Drolnsooe. forcsecing the difficulty that would
- nynpo>td 10 afford both TO the House and the
Saser, br the adoption Of The standing rules of order
;: inc las, House The debate must, therefore, be-as
,n Wh,rs were determined it should bc-dlsordcrly
and u,trminabie.
u, nav be asked, what Il the object that the Wings
hav. N view They have little nope of carrying
,c,r pom, and bringing their Jersey comparios by
fair vote They have lost the support winch they had
on tins question from Mr. Rhc and two or three 9th
rr Gentlemen: and the House would now give vote
81 about 1913 arains; the admission OF the Jersey men
upon the evidence OF their COMMISSION But they nope
10 weary us with much taking: 10 watch an "pportun-
Y when some of friends may be absent or SICK;
then 70 br;u IN t. New Jersey men, and immediately
10 secure tn, election Of their Clerk and Printers THIS
is the plot now; aud Heaven and earth Will be moved
10 effect IL The Opposition are vigant, united, drilled,
and prompt for action; and will always be ready TO avail
themselves of anv mistake, dsScpsicn, neglect, alb
sencc on the part of the Administration members
1T is much be hoped that no true Democrat viii
sleep on his post for moment leave IT. at so mpor
tant crisis
YESTERDAY the election for Clerk could have been
brought on, the Democratic candidate for that office
MIR Garand.) whose has been warmly APP
proved and trumphanv sustained, both BY the House
and by the country would have received one hundred
and t1-ea,-thrce votes certanlv-more than quorum
Of the whole Horse.Their only chance to defeat him,
is 10 avail themselves Of the absence Of OF his
t.ends-ii such thing occur, which is not al all
probable.
In the debate yesterday, the Wings brought out
their big gun-Mr John Sergeant veteran debater
and eminent lawyer. He replied TO- on the spur OF
the moment, BY General Dromgoole, who with great
ease and dex,rr,y unravelled and exposed his lnge-
NOUS sophsnS. and blew his old Federal notions. upon
whrch his argument was mainly founded, sky-high 1t
was one the mos, forcibe, well-,med and success.
:pl speeches thu, have heard this session.