The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-31

this House. Has II come 70 thhs, that because, \
the opinion Of one individual, member of thi
House has not been diligent in the discharge OF hi
Duties that therefore his right TO represent the ope
4 Die who sent him here is TO be taken from him
might with equal Justice, demand Of every membe
1 Of this House what he has donsl what bill he ha
caused TO be passed? what he has done for the pro
lection and defence of the country In The state Of ian
minent peril of war which now thressens herr Sir
il the gendemsn's argument is good a. To one mem
ber is equally applicable TO others; and aecordin,
To his rule we should see many vacant seals here
Ii should blush TO listen TO such remarks and such
arguments even on the stump. WIZ only ssy fur
Their that have not thrust myself forward upon tn,
discussion Of every question Ihai nae come befor'
lthis House. may have been in some degree igno
rant Of the rules Of parliamentary proceeding. Prob
ably when l have been longer member Of Thu,
| body, shall have il in my power TO accomplish
more in abort time than ] can now. But say tc
the gentleman, and TO my constituents, that have
diligently and faithfully attended TO every matter
business that has been entrusted 10 me. Nothing
committed TO my charge has been neglected; and I
have not done so much as could d~riss. or ~ per
haps was expected from me- n IL 70 be Assibaled q
the lficultes thrown in my way by the attempt Of
the gentleman 10 deprive me Of that right which
claim that the people Of Florida have conferred upon
me.
Mr.. Speaker, feel the peculiar difficulty of my
position. The minds Of the members Of this House
are full of the question Of peace or war and il Is
noi therefore, 10 be supposed that they can give
that attention which could desire TO this little
troyersy between the gentleman and myself My
political position, also, is sarh as TO add 70 my en-
bsrrassment. | hope shall not be misunderstood
in these allusi9ns. My political sentiments differ
from those Of a large majority Of the members OF
this House. | know how natural il is that we
should incline to favor the views and pretensions OF
those whose sentiments agree with our own. The
wings OF this House suppose that prima Jaet am
n.
contrary, suppose that Mr.. BRocKESBRouoH 10 en-
titled TO it. / will not attribute any improper mo-
tive to any MEMBER l will only say thai l am so
situated as to he compelled to combat preudces in
the minds Of large majority Of the House. All
can do is to express the hope that gentlemen will
endeavor To discard all political feeling, and to do
Justice between / ask nothing more.
Every effort has been made, from the commence
ment Of this controversy, to prejudice me before the
House and the public. In the Florida democratic
papers, false and unfounded allegat have been
made against ne, and these have been reproduced
in the northern papers. 1t is said, that when | left
home knew that majority OF the votes received
the Office Of the secretary Of state were in favor Of
Mr.. BRoeKLsBRouGH. Such is not the fact. Simi-
lar publications have made in this city. The inhu-
ence Of the organ Of the democratic party has been
brought to bear in favor Of the contestant. The
House may probably recollect, that various com
municaiions OF that description appeared in the
become almost universal, that have no shadow OF
claim prcenson to represent the people Of Fior-
da here, but that am seeking, a mere technica-
ty, to impose myself upon the House the true
representative Of that people One-sided representa-
lions, the most unjust and unfair have been made
10 the members Of the House. The contestant, in
his remarks yesterday, said that he chad not gone
about taking members by the hand and endeavoring
to preoccupy their minds" Sir | approve OF
the sentiment; but ] appeal to the recollection Of
gentlemen here, whether the contestant has, in
his practice, illustrated the sentiment. On the
contrary il is in the recollection Of ALL that when
this question first arose many members avowed
that they had fully investigated the matter, and
that they were perfectly convinced that Mr. BRooK-
rspRoueH was elected and that | was not entitled
to my sea1 Where did they derive this informa-
ton; And il it be true, as the oosss<ns declares,
that he has not talked with members, how did they
arrive at such conclusion
Il is in this way, sir, that the influence OF most
distinguished member Of this House from Virginia,
Mr. BAYLr, has been brought to bear against me.
refer to the gentleman who represents the Accomac
district whom am sorry not to see him in his place.
All the influence Of that gentleman has been thrown
against me. He has declared before the House
that he has "fuy examined the case;'' that he 'ha,
no doubt' to the merits Of it, and that Mr.. BRocK
EspRoucH is elected. The gentleman had pre-
Judged my cause. He had derived his informs-
ton from one side only. At that time had not
spoken to him; he had heard nothing from me or
my friends and had thus thrown the weight Of his
influence into the scale of my opponent. The
gentleman indeed calls himselfmy friend. | should
be pleased to occupy such a relation. | will not
stop to inquire how far his acts comport with his
professions. The gentleman, however, has acted
hastily He, like others, has been deceived-one-
sided statements, and misplaced confidence in his
informant, have brought his mind to certain con-
clusion, which conclusion he has expressed in this
House. The gentleman has occupied seat on the
bench Of his native State Of Virginia. ! appeal
but, said Mr.. c. Checking himself) as the gentle
man is not in his seat, shall not say what pro.
posed.
For my own part have not deemed it delicate to
make any publications on this subject. have not
thought it consistent with justice, with honor, and
with those principles which should regulate the con-
duct Of gentlemen in honorable contest, to hold
private conversations with individual members with
a view to preoccupy their mind. And the members
of the committee will bear me witness that did not
speak with one Of them, except in the committee
room, until the report had been, determined upon;
and until this determination, the members of the
House knew nothing from me of the merits Of my
case. ...s ...
| regard the members of this House as my judges
and jurors, and l would as soon have thought OF
tampering with jury, of holding private CONVEX
sations with judge who was to pass upon my case,
az to make er parie and partial statements OF this
question to those who had to act judcialy upon it.
In this manner, repeat my case has been preju-
diced.
know the force of first impressions. know
how difficult it il for members to dspossess them
selves of such Impressions especially when they
have given utterance to them. But ask now that
gentlemen will give their calm and candid consdera
ton to the merits Of this question; that they will
dismiss all these impressions that have been made
upon them; that they will forget, if possible what
the relative political opinions of the two individuals
are; and that they will decide the case upon its mer-
its alone ask that justice, and nothing more than
justice, be done; and IL justice IS done, am satisfied
that the judgment Of this House will be in my ia
vor. would be willing to submit my cause on its
merits to the preudiced mind Of the gentleman
from Virginia, tMr. BArLY,l as man, as a law
yer, or as a judge. To these merits now come.
In the first place, claim my seat here by virtue
of the commission of the governor of Florda-au.
thorty similar to that under which every member
of this House claims his right to represent the peo-
pie here. That, at least, is primn Jacie evidence,
and was 30 decided by the House on the 9th of De-
cember; and before that be overcome, It will be
necessary for the contestant to show that he has
majority of all the legal votes cast at the cleo
| ton. ..
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