The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-07
PROGRESS OF TYRANNY. THE NEW
JERSEY CASE


Al the commencement Of the session OF Congress,
the Administration members refused TO permit hve
Of The New Jersey members holding the regular
commissions Of the Governor OF that State, 10 their
seats. Doubtless they thought then, that their party
would be strong enough. The Wings were kept out
Recently, they have changed their opinions, and
having learned that the Committee OF Elections
have permitted the commissioned members TO goto
New Jersey To take testimony, TO show the frauds
praclised and illegal votes given by the adminislra
lion party, they Immediately took the alarm. They
feared fihis testimony was permitted to be taken, II
would extinguish every ray Of hope TOR the Admin
tralion candidates. They therefore determined at
once to arrest the proceedings by which truth was
likely IL be brought to light and fraud exposed; and
therefore moved resolution in the House. requiring
the committee to report forthwith, who received the
greatest number of votes.
motion was made to amend this by requiring
the committee 10 report the greatest number Of iaa0-
flI votes. This, they opposed, and recorded their
names against ii. But the amendment prevailed by
the casting vote oflhe Speaker Again the friends OF
law and liberty triumphed. But now appears. by
report made BY majority Of the committee, that that
majority wholly disregarded the instructions Of the
House, and, though they had evidence before them,
showing uutucfOuS uHtUfOIM Uotts, yct tucJ "hoiJ
disregarded II, and reported simply on the votes
cast, without regard 10 the fact, whether they were
lacjul" or not.
Immediately upon this report being offered Mr..
FILLMORE, a member OF the committee, introduced
resolution, disclosing the extraordinary manner in
which The report had been made, and moved to re-
commit II for correction.
He was about to speak in support Of his resolution
when an attempt was made TO deprive him OF the
floor. The Speaker decided he was entitled to it,
They trembled at the disclosures he could make
They determined at all hazards, 10 suppress all de-
bate Ito cover up The foul deed, and seal the mouth
of every witness; and accordingly, appealed from
the decision Of the Speaker, giving Mr.. Fillmore
right to speak-reveTsed his decision, thereby GAG
oINa Mr. f., and Immediately moved a resolution,
that the non. commissioned members be admitted to
their seats; and on that motion, without reading
word Of evidence or suffering il to be read, without
suffering word OF debate, in the absence Of the
commissioned members, voted the non commission
ed members to the vacant seats.
This is more daring assumption and alarming
exercise OF tyrannical power than has ever before
been Witnessed in any legislative body in the United
States. II has no parallel except during the tuIbu-
lent times OF Cromwell or the lawless tyranny Of
the reign Of terror in France When has an Anne
rican sun ever before shown upon judicial tribunal
that has revoked every form fjustice-tha has first
sent the parties to procure testimony, and then in
their Absence and without notice, reacAerosly taken
up the case suppressed all the evidence on one side,
and given judgment. Such an outrage of all law
and all Justice would disgrace the dark dens OF the
Inquisitioni Can American freemen sumber
while the cannon that demoshes the last citadel Of
freedom hunders in their ears Let every citizen,
without regard to party distinctions rally in support
OF the Constitution and laws before it is forever too
late