Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-06
Political.
FOR TuE SPECTATOR.
THE NEW JERSEY CASE


DeeyicM and iyIhiamsrille Clubs. bu a mann
dsr.-( No. l.
do not think the public mind has yetbeen
fully Informed OH the enorrnity Of the action
THE last Congress, on the expulsion from
the House, of the New Jersey members.
Ana when 1t is obvious the motive ofthis dis
graceful conduct, was to secure majority.
ior the purpose Of passing the Sub Treasury
bill, measure which the official orTan NJ
Washington declares has revolution;zed tho
| government, and which is evidently frau,rh,
with destruction TO the best interests of the
country, II becomes the people to look this
matter full In the face, and to investiuate
closely Its true character. Truly the means
ana 'ie end were alike in enormity; and if
the people do not rebuke the authors of both
the government Is TO all intcnts and purposes.
| rec0iuti0Rizcd.
| Let 1t be remembered, that i'm the contest
gong ON for the Presidency, the friends of the
| administration still contend for the justice
and constitutionality Of the proceedings oc
Congress They yield not IA lot or tilile-
Tins ground was recently taken i'm am an;na-
ted discussion III Bath. And the assertion
may well be made, If such measures can
iInd advocates, any measures may, even I'M
oluSliing and undiSguised claims. to despotic
power. And ii those can be found. who can
consent to contend for such denominations.
W"at confidence can we give to their argu-
ments on other subjects ali uuo disco o,,,,,Ss
The proceedings of Congress (if CONGRESS-
1t could be called.) in the case of New Jersey
are without precedent in the history of cur
government. They were extraordinary. enor
nous, revolutionary, tyrannical and insultino
and should call forth from Maine to FIorids
and from the atlantic 10 the pacific. one bursi
oil Indignation. But as has been we'll re-
marked, the public mind is like a man in irav.
stunned by repeated blows. Before if can
recover from one blow at the constitution.
sion. QUILTS
Let 1t be borne in mind, that the erorn,;,,,
y. PiocecuiiigS III the New Jersey case con-
SistS not In the unconstitutional action of Com
gress, or. In the passage of any ipevned;omt
law-but was fell stroke at the very exis.
fence OF the government itself, bv the de-
S,9ccton OF one of its departments. the
mouse OF Representatives, and the dislran-
cHiSe!nento oil a SovereignState. The attemnt
was made to set aside the very government
iiseii to attain favorte measure.
ism mn Inc hs. discussion of this question, false
the true point evaded. The question is not,
which OF the two sets Of men claiming seats.
were truly elected; but which had at tie or
g"m7aflon cf Congress, the FIRST righi to their
seats. The question, which were really C.
iected, was matter for Congress to decide,
and the attempt to argue this point before the
people, only proves, that the design is, 10
mistiiy, and keep out of view the real ques-
Noh. Inc question is cunningly asked,
whether 6r0da seals should be suffered 10 COW
er injustice, and fraud! and very plausible
statement is made, to show the Injustice Of
! permitting Inen to take their seats, who ac-
cordIng to their showing, were not elected.
Al this is for effect. Broad seals should not
/ bepermItted to cover fraud or iniustice-men
who are not elected, should not be permitted
| 10 h0iG their seats. The constitution has mo-
Fided against both these difficulties; amply
provided. Was the constitutional course tn
! hen2 Was not the broad seal ola SOVEREIGN
| State and It's constitution both tra,npled IN
! der foot will repeat it; the real question
before us is tLiS: When member having
the fegG' commission. presents himself before
the bar OF the House as a Representative of
the people, can the clerk any other power
but the House deprive him Of his seat! And
now let us appeal 10 the constitution, tie law
and the testimony
At the opening OF the last Congress, the
following gentlemen presented their hegai
commissions before the Clerk to be enrolled
as members from the State Of ew Jersey.
VIZ j. Il. Aycrigg, j. y. 4. Maxwell VIM
llalsted, Charles 4. Straiton, and II. ]. \ ork
mere were five other gentlemen claimingthe
same seats, but without the LEGAL commits
slons. In the organization Of the House. the
clerk, when he came 10 the State Of n. Jer-
sey, refused to read the names OF the five first
mentioned, notwithstanding they presented
Their commissions, signed by the Governor,
covered with the broad seal of New Jersey,
on the plea that there were five others claim
ing the seats who held no commission, be-
? tween whom lie would not take it ON him TO
decide. The clerk could not be induced to
} enroll the FIVE members, the House was or
gained without them, andsubsequently they
: were entirely deprived of their seats. This
is concise history Of the transaction, which
Will not be disputed, but which is attempted
to be justified. "INe Crisis of the 28th OF
March uses the following language on the
subject "Our Party said, let all ten stand
ASIDE, tll we form House, and have the mat
T ter looked into; and after it has been fairly
examined let those who have the best righ
. take the seats. And again.-"Could any
| thing have been more absurd than TO admit
, elther OF these two sets Of Representatives
TO be sworn, without first EXAMINING which
mad the best right, when it was well known
Q that they would turn tie $caIe Leitccez, He j,c,
! great parties in Tire House." ] would call the
attention OF those who have an opportunity O
S seeing that notorious print, to the whole Of
c Tie article from which this extract is made
P But mark the admission, and the language
t Cur Party said - ''till we form House -
a without first examining" ''They would
r turn the scale between the two great parties =
t that's the rub In this whole mater, tht
constitutional provisions are kept carcfui,
Q out OF view, And now let US look 10 thost
n 1 rDrO q 4 1.