The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-01-09
Corrvspondenee Of the beas n Isao


- CONGRESS-
80 = a. baltimore Patriot.
~ 'nJ 81 surroroN, Dec. 6, 1883.
W. have had to-day an agreeable. ex-
.;t;ny and highly instructive discussion;
"a ssha, q better still, it has been TO the
.. .,r -. During the whole period Of my
ir. pr in Congress, | have seldom
,v;tnessed in one day. finer exhlbition OF
sha diversified powers which are lndis-
penssble to good debates. Wit ana nu-
mor--brilliant chaste, and Impressive me
toric- bold, masculine and commanding
oratory-and close and irresistible argu-
mentation, were displayed, in different de-
frees Of excellence, by the different spea-
fers;-among whom were Mr Granger
and Ogden and Vanderpoel, of New York,
Henry A. Wise, Stanly, OF North Caro-
lima, Frank Thomas, Of Nd, Blddie' OF
Pa. and White, of Kentucky. !.
The point to which the debate was 81.
yected. was distinctly fare: those members
Of New Jersey, who have the regular, au,
.her,;c,,ed certificates Of election, entitled
a votef,, And this was reached in the
simplest way imaginable. Mr. Adams is
Chairman. A proposition is made. The
mee,ine 20 to vote. The question rises
..who are to be recognized and counted as
members from New Jersey!" The Chair
decides that those who hold the regular
certificate of election must vote. The de.
cision is appealed from, and therefore the
debate arises.
when the House adjourned yesterday,
the question pending was on the adoption
of the following resolution, offered by M
Wise:
Resolred, That the Acting Clerk Of
this House shall proceed with the call Of
the Members from different States OF the
Union in the usual way, calling the names
Of such members from New Jersey as
hold the regular and legal commissions
from the Executive of that State.
M Rhett Of S. C. moved TO lay it on
the table, and intimated his Intention
should that motion prevail, TO propose an
other in the following words:
Resolred, That the House will pro-
coed 10 call the names Of gentlemen whose
right to seats are not disputed or contest
ed: and after the names of such members
are called, and before Speaker is elected
they shall, provided there be quorum o
such present, then hear and adjudge upor
the elections, returns and qualifications o.
all claimants to the seats contested on this
floor.
The question was to be decided with.
but debate, by tellers. MI Dromgoole
was one of the tellers. He was in diff.
fculty as to which set of claimants he
should count--he did not know them-he
could not decide the question, &c. &c.
M Adams promptly gave the decision
TO which have referred. He could no
give any other, without depriving SOW
ereign state Of her representation.
Great was the indignation of the Var
Burenites at this decision. Mr. Wander
peel Of N. York stormed. Thick and fas
came his harshest words against the opin.
ion of the venerable president of the meet
ing. ]: was .usurpation,' scratching from
the House its power of decision,' ant
what mot. The members did not like the
idea Of calling Mr. Adams usurper, ane
quickly called the irascible gentleman te
order. He proceeded, but sooh became
fiery as before. He appealed from the de
cision Of the Chair, and clinched his dec
lamation by declaring that to permit the
certified members to vote would be shock.
ing, unprecedented, &c. &c.
Mr. Rhett read the rule prohibiting
members to vote in case in which they
are interested.
MrAdams said it had no application to
this case. The rights Of a representative
are the, rights Of his constituents. not his
mere personal rights. This was poser.
Gen. Thompson, Of s. c. supported Nh
Adams in this view. Mr. Mercer, Of Va,
repelled the imputation of 'usurper' which
had been hurled against the Chairman.
The appeal itself was proof that the pow
or of decision had not been taken from the
House.
Stanley Of N. G. made sharp, cutting
speech, full Of. raillery at Vanderpoel's
professions of courtesy and decorum, con
trasted with his violent language, SO un
worthy one fresh from the Court of Queer
Victoria! Mr. Granger was strong adj
vocate Of the decision Of the Chair, ant
of the claims Of the New Jersey Wings
4 Vanderpoel came in for volley of sar
casrn from him also, about his newborn
love Of precedent. after having tramplet
upon its obligations; and his recent devo
ton to democracy. A striking part Of III
Il Granger's speech was that In which he re
counted the circumstances Of the contest
ed election case in the New York Legis
,lature-the case of Allen VS.. Fellows, re
speeding which M Wise had read to thu
House an article from the New Yorl
Times of Wednesday. M Granger com
mented on the case with much force ant
vivacity and called on the faithful to follow
the authority Of the head Of their political
church. D.