The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-25
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES

The House having come 10 order at noon this day
and the Journal OF yesterday having been read
One of those perpexed and thurny debates on
points of order and the precedence Of business i'm
mediaely arose, OF which IL has been our painful
task 10 report so many since The present session
commenced. Without going into all the details will
be sufficient to skate that MIR. Chapm-n of Alabama,
contended that his motion entered on former day,
10 reconsider the vote Of the house laying the Ia
Bile motion to adop the rules VI order OF the last
Congress had precedence, this day, over the appeal
made yesterday by Mr. w. Cost Johnson from
decision OF the Chair that under the general rules Of
Parliamentary law, (although no express rules had
yet been adopted) The previous question might DC
moved. Bul, The Chair being OF different opinion,
MIR. Chapman moved thai by general consent The
rules Of last Congressbe adopted; this being loudly
objected 10, and Mr. @. being pronounced out OF T.
der, he took an appeal, which was debated Tor Some
time, I'LL, the house getting into some disorder, he
consented 10 Withdraw his appeal; and
Mr. ADAMS, who had the floor from yesterday
on Mr.. w. G. Johnsons appeal, proceeded 10 adj
dress the house, mol IN the point that the previous
question was not 10 order, but that neither that nor
any other question could be decided until House Of
Rspresentaiiy IS had been formed by the swearing
OF al The members appearing and producing regu-
lar legal credentials.
Mr. ADAMS had spoken about an hour when he
was interrupted by Mr.. Thomas, OF Maryland who
insisted that II was not In order go into the gene
raj question of the admission OF commissioned mem
beers. On this point another hong debate on order
took place, particular report Of which we omit
y
proceed, which he did until a quarter 10 three
O'clock.
The debate was continued by Mr.. RHETT in
reply to several gentlemen who had spoken and in
defence and yndicaon Of The course he had pur-
sued throughout this controversy.
MI kHErr having nearly concluded, referred TO
MS pledge 10 renew the motion made BY Mr. Chap
man, OF Alabama, and asked that gentleman what
was the form OF the motion he 10 make2
In The meanwhile, Mr.. EVANS OF Maine had
risen and claimed the floor and there was some
dispute whether it had been yielded By Mr.. Rhelt
finally
Mr. CHAPMAN obtained It, and moved 10 take
up the motion made by him some DAYS ago, to re-
consider the motion to lay Mr.. Dromgoole's resou.
hoo, adopting the rules OF the last Congress- upon the
table.
Mr.. EVANS demanded the foons and said he
would speak to that question
long debate on order followed in which
Messrs Chapman, Jameson, Everett, w c. John
son, iurney Wise, Sianly, Bell, Dromgooe, Briggs,
ana L. Wlliiams, took part; AFTER which Mr. Evans
proceeded for some time, when he was called TO order
by Mr. Chapman, and the dispute on order was re-
newed by Messrs Chapman Wise, Briggs, Tillng-
hast, Hubbard, and Rives.
MI EVANS again proceeded, until called 10 or
der by MIR Turney; and having once more resumed
he was called to order BY Mr.. Vanderpoel who IN, de
point Of order, which resulted in MIR. Eyanss of.
fering the following resolution:
Resoped, That the Speaker proceed to swear the
members from New Jersey who produce the legal cerli
hcate, or commission, according 10 the laws of New
Jersey.
On which he spoke without further interruption
until about half past FIVE o'clock
Mr. Evans having concluded
Mr. SHERROD WILLIAMS obtaired the floor
and observed that as lhisSqueson must ultimately b
decided on lis merits, he proposed that, by gener;
consent, The question be taken: otherwise, he shou
claim his right 10 the floor. He concluded by IN,
wing the previous question.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON moved 10 Law his motto,
together with the resolution Of Mr.. Evans, on Il
table. - :
Mr.. sHERROD WILLIAMS commended ,ha,;,
both were privileged questions under the rules, {
the house had any that first made should be put fir
and u there were no rules the same pfincpl
would apply.
The CHAIR decided that Mr. Williams motto
had tie priority.
Several members here moved call of The House
Mr.. w. Y. JOHNSON moved an adiournmep,
but Withdrew his molten, and, after some confusion
the yeas and nays we're demanded on The motion (,
call, and decided as f,llows-Ysas I4S NAYS 5S
So the call OF the House was ordered.
The House was then caed-when 1893 member,
having answered TO their names, the absences We
called; when 2l9 members having responded H.
doofs q tne hali were closed and The absences we
again Called.
Mr.. HAYES, OF Kentucky, and Mr. REED, of Ma.
sachuSe'ls were excused on the ground of indisp,
s'tion, as was Mr. RoasRs, of South Carolina
Mr.. w. q. JOHNSON moved TO send for the al
sent members. The motion prevailed. and thew we,
sent for accordingly.
The absente 5 were called third time and sew. .
raj having responded
MF. DAVIS, OF Indiana, moved that further mr., /,
ceedings In the call be suspended but the YEA, AM
nays being demanded, he withdrew his motion.
Mr.. EVANS modified his resolution SO as to read
as follows
Resolred That the Representatives of the 26th Con-
gress Of the United States, now present. do advise and
request the Speaker administer the oath required by
law 10 the i've gentlemen from the State of New Jersey
who have presented credentials 10 the Speaker and de-
maud to be sworn
The absences having been once more called and
all having answered 10 their Names it was again
moved 10 suspend the call, which was agreed 10 and
the doors were opened.
The resolution, as modified was again read
The previous question was put and carried and
the main question being the adoption of The reso
luton, the yeas and nays demanded, and being
taken, resulted as follows;
YEAS Messrs Adams Afford, John w, Allen SIN
II. Anderson, Andrews, Barnard, Bell Bidde. Black
Boad Bots Briggs, B.ockway, Arson Brown Calhoun
den, Clark, Colquin, James Cooper, Mark A. Cooper.
Corwin, Crabb, Cranston, Crockett, Curtis Cushins
Dawes Garret Davis Dawson, Debeny, Dennis DlIlet
Edwards Evans, Everett, Fillmore, James Garland Rice
Garland, Gates, Gentry, Giddings, Goggn, Goodo Gra
nam, Granger Graves, Green Gnnnel, Habersham,
Hall W. s HASTINGS Henry, John tIll Of Va. Hoffman
Johnson, King, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marvin 8 Mason
Mercer, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Calvary Morris
SyoI, NIsoei nse' osborne Palen, Peck Pope, Profit
SELL saitonstaih John Sergeant, Simoaton SHADE I'm,
man Smith, Sanly, storrs, Stuart TsI,atsrao WI "a
ddy Thompson, r,l,aaghaH. Toland Tnplet TrumbaI
under"ooa' T. :; Wagner, Warren, E. d. White. Jonn
Williams, c. H. Williams, $, Wniams, Wise~Ils
NAYs-Messrs. Judson Allen, HUGH J Arder.o,
Atherton, Banks, Beatty Beirne, BactweII pssl
Brewster Aaron v Brown, A. g. Brown Burke 'y 81
Butler, W: y. Butler, Bynum Car, CarraII S,.da
Chapman, Clifford, Coles, Conner, Craig Crar, Gosss'
Dana, Davee John Davis, w Davis De Ia Mh,ausss
Doan, Dois Drongooe, Duncan, Earl. Eastman liz
Fine Fisher, Floyd Torrance, Gabra,h, Cerry Gy'
i'm, Hammond, Hand John Hastings Hawkins, J. iii
Of n Carolina, Hllen, Holleman, Holmes, Hook, How
~ Ii. i.