Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-08-29

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Messrs. Claiborne and Gholson who in.
sisted that the people, though they had mean,
to choose them only for a sixty days term.
had saddied themselves with them for two
years and could not escape them!
Let us glance moment ut the rival cosc
Arch Yell IN July was chosen from Arkan-
sas for the Extra Session, and served through
1t. In October he was again chosen for the
regular NV" years at the regular Election. pre-
sented kis credentials founded OH that Elec-
tion, ana look his seat without question. Now
th'ssaGsC : eli voted To keep in Claiborne and
Gholson and shut out Prentiss andAYord, vet
he declared that II he had not received ma
Jority IN October, he would have relinquished
his seat!
! On The 3Oih OF January, the House, in reg
uiar session, passed resolution moved by
don. John Bell Of Tennessee, resembling that
which declared Messrs. Claiborne and Ghol-
son duly elected Members of the 25th Con-
gress: Yeas 1l9; Nays 112-7 majority a.
ga'hst The usurpers, in a House largely Van
Buren,. On the 17ih of that month resolu-
ton had been offered, as follows:
"Rcsoiced, That Messrs. s. S. Prenliss and
j. Word are not Members of the 25th
congress, and are not entitled TO seats in This
House as SUCH"
Inns resolution was in palpabe con,radic-
non 10 the common sense and honest judy
ment of every intelligent man in the land.
Certainly some Members OF Congress had
been chosen from that State; the House de-
clued that Messrs. Claiborne and Gholson were
not the men: who then but Pren,iss. and
Word! They had received large majority
OIL the votes, at the regular Election, appointed
ana held on the regular day, when Members
OF Congress were uniformly chosen the no.
lice Tor that Election expressly declared that
II was TO choose Members for the full term. as
that for the Special Election at which Messrs.
Claiborne and Gholsop had been chosen. spe-
cihed that 1t was an Election for the Extra
Session only. Now it is easy to see that here
was chance for the technical objection in
ierposed by Messrs. Claiborne and Gholson,
that Members could not be chosen for part
OF term, unless Tor the whole remainder Of
Il, and that Messrs. G.. and G. were SO elected
Tor the whole term. But it is manifest that
this is TO nterpose legal point to defeat
moral right and TO nullify the voice of the
People. If the election of Messrs. G.. and G.
was invalid-if Mississippi had no right to
choose Members Cor a par! of term-tbat
could not give TO her special election an in
leht ana effect never contemplated by it
coulu not defeat her clearly expressed pur.
pose IN choosing Messrs. Prentss and Word.
by much larger vote and larger majority.
ior the full term. All those considerations.
and many more, were pressed with unsurpass
ed cogency and eloquence, especially by Mr.
frenss, who was heard in vindication of his
right, through the debates on this occasion
until at last the House divided: Yeas lI7:
Nays ~: so the resolution was lost. until
James X. Polk, Speaker, gave the casting vote
IN The affirmative and turned the fairly chosen
Representatives of Mississippi out of the
House. The vote of Archibald Y ell, who held
his seat by just such certificate as Messrs.
Prentiss and Word offered, made the tie. and
James X. Polk united il by turning Mississip-
pr out of doors So the Governor was com
PEELED to order still another Election i'm April:
when Prentss and Word were triumphan,Iy
returned To their seats.
1t was on the occasion of James K
Folks giving this most unrighteous and anti
republican casting vote that Mr. CLAY is re-
ported by Gholson, (who appears TO have
been just mean enough to evcs-drop CONVEX
sation,) to have told Polk to Go home. where
he Belonged But Mr.. Clay spoke no word
within the hearing Of Polk-his deep indigna-
ton at the inquty he saw perpe,rated from
the Chair rose to his lips, but was only over
heard by those Immediately around him. We
rejoice TO know that it was no Member of
Congress, but an interoper, who would de-
scend to so paltry meanness as TO publish
what he had thus overheard.-Ky. Ina.