The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
WEDNESDAY, Dec. l3 lS43.

:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, Dec. l3 lS43
A prayer offered up to the Throne of Grace by
the Rev. Mr. Tuston after which the Journal of yes
terday was read when
MIR. ADAMS rose AMI asked the House to excuse
him from serving upon the Committee of Manufac-
lures, from indIsposition a
He excused
Mr.. HARRISON announced the attendance of his
colleague EDWARD j. BLACK, who was qualified and
took his seat.
slr HOUSTON announced the attendance of his
colleague the Hon. r. CHAPMAN, who was qualified
and took his seat.
Mr.. ELLMER made motion to refer the memo
rals Of John NJ Bolts and VIM. L. Goggin Sc, to
the Committee on Elections
MIR. q DAVIS moved to refer also the question
denying the right Of seats those gentlemen claiming
them by general ticket to the Committee on EIec-
tons. 1908 ~
Some irregular conversation took place as 10 the
true question before the House when
Mr.. STEENROD moved to amend the motion of
the gentleman from Kentucky, by striking out the
words Committee on Elections" and inserting Csc
MIR. ELMER said he was not disposed to inter-
rupt the House by pressing the subject and withdrew
his notion
A motion was then made to amend the motion Of
MIR. SrEENRoD.
MT. IlhMLlN rose ana asked why should these
four States be singled out Is not this the grand in
quest of this nation' Is it arragning four States
of this Union at the bar of this House in its judicial
capacity' Such being his opinion, he moved still
further to amend the resolution by inserting TO the
whole House"
MIR. JAMESON rose and said there were no ind
yiduals here contestng the seats of the four States
enumerated He said he stood here sworn in sim
liar to every other member Of this House.
This being the state of the facts, why single out
these four States? Is TO prevent us from yndicat-
ing our rights This is the aim of the motion i,s,
made, but he should vote for the amendment Of the
gentleman from New Hampshire, to bring the oues-
ton before the House as Committee of the Whole
which would place them upon a fair footing but he
did object to ITS bengssent to select committee and
be thus ostraclsed at least until they made report
upon the law ard the facts.
Mr.. WELLER said he was anxious to settle
this vexed question: and he thought that the resou
ton Of the gentleman from Kentucky Mr. Davis)
the proper one, and he hoped it would be adopt
ed.
At this stage an irregular debate took place be
tween Messrs ELMER, Houston, and Thompson of
Mississippi, as to the proper course to be pursued
and to the true. question bef, re the House
Mr.. BELSER said he should vote for the motion
Of the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Steenrod be
cause he believed it was the proper course
Mr. DAVIS, OF New York, spoke in favor Of re-
ferring the subject 10 the Committee hch had been
already appointed for that purpose whose duty il would
be TO report their opinions 10 the House TO the aw
and the facts al the case. he believed the gentle
men claiming their seats constitutonay elect
ed and his vote should sustain them in their rights
MI BLACK, of Georgia, said he was opposed to
the views entertained by the gentleman from New
York and he should feel himself compelled 10 voie
ia ia vor of the motion OF Mr. Seenroi because he be-
leved II was the only course which would bring this
subject dir, ely before the Ilouse. For himself he
would scorn hold a seat this floor in dcropalon
ri 4. 4 -
fee, lrsnk and open discussion upon a question Of
such magnitude IL was not a political qu, stion in
the State of Georgia because gentlemen OF both p1Iit-
ca parties run upon the general ticket His ohiec-
ton ofre ernng h subject to the Com nitee of Fec
tons was not of political character but brcause nc
believed The business they would have to act upon
was of such com, Heated character as to prevent
speedy acri, upon this subject and he hoped The
anc ndmenl of the gentleman from virginia Mr.
Seenrod would be ado ted and bring this question
in its j. cial character recty before the House
with a full re port o. the facts.
MIR. SMITH, Of Indiana thought the proper course
to be pursued would be to refer the subject to the
Committee on the Judiciary, which had been raised
anterior TO the Committee on elections or a select
committee and therefore should vote against the
amendment Of the gentleman from Virginia, Mr..
Steenrod.
Mr.. JAMESON said, as the gentleman from New
Hampshire had Withdrawn his amendment and he
believed it in order to offer an amendment TO The
amendment he moved to amend the whole mat
ter by referring the subject to Committee of the
Whole House, which he believed to be the proper
course TO meet this question
Message from The Senate announcing the death
of the Hon SAMUEL McRoBERTsl
After the announcement MIR. JAMESON continued
and said this Judicial question, and not one OF
contested character No memorial had been present
ed to this House conlestng the seats OF the members
fsom the four States mentioned by the gentleman
from Kentucky, MIR. Davis, aud which he moved to
refer to tie Committee on Elections This subject,
being OF judicial character, did not belong, as he
conceived, 10 that committee, which alone was
sued to investigate elections OF contested charac.
ter where there were two sets of claimants. In this
case no such question arises-t is question involy
ing the sovereignty of the States, and entirely JUDI
cia in its character and from this view of the facts
he was Of opinion that the proper course TO pursue,
as to guarantee TO the States interested in this ques
ton their rights, to refer the whole subject to
Committee of the Whole House, where those nte.
rested would have an open and fair opportunity Of
indicating their rights. He here gave way for
Mr.. WENTWORTH, who rose and addressed
the House as follows
1t is with feelings Of extreme deljcacy that a
member and the youngest upon his floor, arise to-
address you at this early stage of session aud it
is a painful consideration that | mus, make my fret
speech fret not only his floor, but FIST on the
lour OF any legislative body whatevot-upon lune-
real subject. But | have lost f cod, and so have
you, sir And so has the State of Illinois and 50 our