The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-01-16

impression produced upon all parties that
The new Speaker entered on the duties most
ausplcIously.
The reading Of the journal followed and
Immediately thereafter, MI. Dromgoole, Of
Va, offered resolution 10 the effect that
the rules and orders of the last House OF
Representatives should be adopted as the
rules and orders Of this House. The drltt
Of this was seen at once. 1t was TO esiab.
lish the rule Of voting RIGA roce; with
view Of operating on the election OF ffInter
and Clerk. MT. Lewis Williams OF y. e.,
instantly moved TO lay the resolution on the
table until the members should be sworn.
Mr.. VIM. Cost Johnson quoted the terms
of the Act requiring the oath or affirmation
10 be administered 10 the members, at the
beginning Of every Congress, before pro
ceeiing TO any other business.
Alter some conversation on this point, be.
tween MT. Dromgoole aud Mt. Johnson, the
question was taken 10 lay the motion on The
table.
MT. Nanderpoel, with a view Of bringing
all the retalners Of the Executive TO toe the
mark, demanded the ayes aud noes. He al
so tried to procure an order for a call Of the
House, but this was promptly refused.
The question was decided AYES ZIG /;
Nays ll6-a lie. This being the first oc.
cason Of the Speaker A." showing his hand y
much curiosity was excited, aud the mem.
bers and spectators bent eagerly forward TO
catch his words. He decided in the afr
native; and the resolution was therefore
laid on the table.
The Speaker then proceeded to admins.
Ter the oaths to the members the Clerk
calling them by States. When he came to
the State OF New Jersey, he called the name
of MT. Randolph. That gentleman chose
not to appear. After the other States had
been gone through, MT Randolph appearedi
and so also did his FIVE Wing colleagues
The Speaker administered the oath to Mr.
Randolph only; aud then announced the
fact tina, Aessrs. Aycrigg, Halstead, Max
well, Stratton, and Iorke, had appeared
with the commissions OF the Governor Of
New Jersey, and demanded to be sworn
TITS Speaker proceeded to say that were thus
a proceeding de aOro, the Chair would not
have hesi,ated, under his notions Of his du
", TO administer the oath to those gentle.
men, but as proceedings had already been
had on the subject in the House, and res.
olutlon acted upon, he felt it his duty 10 sub.
init the question, whether these members
thus appearing should be sworn?
MI. Wise wished to know whether airy
member present objected TO these gentlemen
beng sworn
VT. Dromgooe said the Speaker had sub
milted question to The House, and he pre-
sumed II was 10 be DECIDED.
MT. Wise. ask is there any one 70 ob.
jec,l If not, presume the Speaker need
not put any question. Mr.. Wise added that
he raised the question, only because the res
olutIon Of 40 unorganzed body, was not
binding on this House of Representatives,
and il may be here overthrow. He now
wished to escape the consequences of the
mere trickery which had prevailed few
days ago, by which q Sovereign State had
been deprived Of her representation. For
this purpose, be would move tina, these gen.
ilemen be not sworn.
The object Of Nj. Wise in presenting tbs
form Of the question was to avoid such a re
suit as flowed from his submitting All affirma
tive proposition which was los; BY lie ;
and not rejected By majority.
This movement gave great annoyance 10
the Van BGrcnites. They feared the eff
feet; aud instantly bent every effort to pre-.
vent the matter from being presented 10
that form. Nj. Dromgooie especially show
ed great anxiety. lie put construction up,
On the remarks Of the Chair to sui, hls own
purpose; aud then went on TO insist that
the House must consider aud decide on the
quesilon-' Shall these members be swornr
IT. Wise very properly reminded Nj.
Drongoole, that one Of the grounds for the
charge o. usurpaliou which had been hurled
against Mr. Adams, was, that be had assum.
ed to submit question to the House Cor It's
decision, instead Of waiting tlil the question
was raised by some member. This little
fac, was poser to MI Dromgoole. Il ad.
united Of 10 answer. Bot, nr. Wise con.
tended, the Speaker had not submitted a
question Of order 10 the House, but merely
asked for the opinion Of the House 10 a mat.
ter involving The gieat question offranchse.
The subject being left 10 the House ne ftr.
Wise had presented II Ia the Iofm he wish.
ed because he could mol expect any mem.
Der on the other side 70 do 1t.
The Speaker explained, that he had not
proposed any question 10 the House but
bad merely indicated the course that be
would pursue were be DOT relieved by mo
lion from some member. But as a member
had raised the question 10 proper form, be
would certainly entertain It.
Frank Thomas Of Nd, now attempted
another trick in order to defeat the decision
Of the question. He said, as no rites had
been adopted be was not prohibited by any
rule rom making the very same Proposi.
ton Which had been rejected when submit,
ted b. II. Drongoole. He therefore NOV.
Cd i4at Tie rules and orders Of the last
House be adopted as those Of the present
House. One puYu1se airned AT hy Thomas