Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-11

| Mr. Banks presented some documents on inc same
subject, which also ordered to be printed
! Mr. FILLMORE desired to know OF the Chairman
of the committee what evidence there was in possession
of the House upon which the resolution was to ope-
rate He had recollection that any had been oftered
and he did not understand that there was any mode by
which evidence could be before the House but by ITS
being presented to IT, He wished ALSO to know of the
chairman whether he proposed to refer TO the Commit
tee Of Elections the whole or the simple question
as 10 who entitled to be received IN the tlrst m
stance sitting members lie wished 10 kno" II 'he
gentleman proposed keep the seats from New Jersey
vacant until decision should be made as to who were
duly elected, until the committee should report who
were entitled take the seats sitting members under
| the returns.
| the Governor had already been presented 10 the
House. and the House had decided that the gentlemen
presenting them should not take their seats His ex-
pectatons, therefore, that the Committee of cleo
tons would not only consider who were duly elected,
but who were entitled TO the returns.
! Mr. FILLMORE said # that was the case, he would
venture to assert that the FIVE vacant seats of the men,
bers from New Jersey would remain vacant until the
Ist Of June next lie did not know whether the House
had gone far to rccede but he did hope that was
not vet beycnd its power to correct the into which
had fallen and to decide that persons must take
seats as Representatives from New Jersey. He would
prefer that this resolution should be worded as TO au
thorzc the committee to inquire who had the documen
tary evidence of membership; and afterwards they
IT, 1t seemed to him that this but justice TO New
Jersey, who had too long been deprived of her full
representation there and that the House had not ad-
vanced too far deprive itself of the power to do this
act Of justice.
Mr. JOHNSON of Tennessee said if gentlemen felt
as he did with regard the State of New Jersey being
deprived of her representation they would be satisfied
that this ought long ago to have been referred TO
the Committee of Elections. He thought it was time
the question was settled and therefore he moved the
previous question.
The CHAIR being about to put the question,
A discussion epsued involving the question whether
the rules had been suspended by general consent as
suggested by Mr. Briggs, the Chair being under the inn
preston that objection was made when he stated
that the rules would be considered suspended unless
objection were made, while Mr.. GARLAND Of Lou,
Mi ADAMS, and MIR COST JOHNSON denied that
they had consented-Mr. GARLAND stating that he
had expressly objected; after which,
The SPEAKER said that, although he had been un-
der the impression that objection was made to the
suspension of the rules and had stated the fact to
the House. vet, upon the evidence Of the gentleman
from Louisiana, (Mr GarlandD that he had objected
he would put the question, "shall the rules be
suspended"
Mr. BOTTS rose TO ask the chairman Of the COM
mittee accept modification Of his resolution; the