Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-03-13
WARRINGTON. March 5th.

WARRINGTON, March 5th.
The dark and disg'aceful act so long in
contemplation in the House is almost con.
done presume before the light Of morning
should have made tie appearance. The
subject came before the House at 6 o'clock
this evening, upon call for Report from
the Committee on Elections. Mr. Campbell
was ready to report under the Resolution
of the House instructing the Committee to
Report "for,hwith" who had the greatest
number of legal votes. The Report after
many Interruptions was read TO the House.
II gives no opinion as to which party has
the greatest number of lawful votes, but
states facts connected will, the election
familiar to all who have made themselves
acquainted with the Congressional EIec.
ton in New Jersey. Itstales that counting
legal and illegal votes The Van Buren, men
are entitled TO seats, and that throwing on,
the towns where the election was illegally
conducted and illegal votes thrown, the
commissioned members have the majority,
After discussing the word "lawful' al
length, and the word "forthwith, for the
purpose Of showing that the Committee
were governed by the latter instruction Of
the House, and after stating at still greater
length the number Of votes cast and for
whom cast, with the facts that the testi
mony has not yet been spread before the
bers design to place there, the Committee
conclude that as the claimants have the
greatest number Of votes, they are EMIT led
to their seats. They say, however, that,
nothing IN this Reso luton is intended TO
prevent the commissioned members from
presenting their claims before the Commit.
tee.
Mr., Petriken. after an hour had been
con sumed in the discussion of points of or.
der, introduced a Resolution which cen
templa'ed the Introduction Of the five
Van Buren, members forthwith! The
Resolution was, that they were entitled to
their seats. and should be sworn in by The
Speaker upon presenting themse Ives at the
Bar II was eight o'clock when Mr.. Pet
rken made this extraordinary move. The
Report of the Committee on Elections had
not been ordered to be printed and but a
small number of members had heard it read
by the Clerk. Mr. Fillmore, of New York
had submitted motion proposing re.
commitment to the Committee on Elec.
iions, with instructions to await the re-,
ceipt Of testimony from New Jersey, where
both parties now are taking testimony. By
some Loco Foco movement, Mr. Fillmore's
amendment was thrust out, and he, by a
party vote, was not allowed, though one
Of the COMMITTEES on Elections, to say one
word in exteDua' ION or defence. Time
passed rapidly, and an adjournment was
moved and lost, and the motion was re.
newed and again lost. AS far as one
could understand the party movement, the
deed was to be done, and done before the
adj ournment. The outrage. however, by
some of the Van Buren, men, was consd.
cred too gIarng to be committed with such
indecent haste, aud some of the Southern
Van Buren, men refused to aid in such n
midnight work others became frightened,
and at nine o'clock an adjournment was
carried. ! had supposed, when COM
menced my letter, that somewhere about
the hour of twelve, the resolution Of Mr..
Petrlken would have been adopt ed and the
House have consummated ono Of the
greatest outrages ever known in the hls,o'
~ of the Government. But though that
is to be done, it is not yet accomplished.