The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-12
The said representatives from California were duly

The said representatives from California were duly
Mr.. JOHNSON. of Arkansas, made few remarks in
favor OF his motion TO take up from the Speakers table
The loGt resolution for the relief Of the heirs OF Colonel
Pierce M Butler, late agent among the Cherokees
Mr. J. having made that motion. il was agreed to-
WhereupoD,
The House duly concuned in the amendments thereto
The SPEAKER announced the first business in order
70 ne the consideration OF the report from the Committee
Oh Elections upon the contest for the seat from the fourth
congressional district Of Pennsylvania held by the hon.
oraole Mr. Romans; whereupon, t1lF
MT. STRONG Qhe chairman of the Committee of
Elecons) addressed the House favor OF the claim of
the sitting member. He held this 10 be simple ques
uon Of fac not oil law The advocates OF the contestant
did not claim that even if the House subscribed to the
correctness OF their showing he would be entitled to the
seat Their allegations were that frauds had been per-
pealed in favor OF the sitting member They held that
persons were returned as voting who had moi voted If
they had voted. then the sitting member was clearly
entitled to his seat; if not then the contestant is emit
tied to the benefit OF having that number Of votes de-
Quoted from the poll OF the sitting member though
sitting member. The laws of Pennsylvania require FIVE
offcers-a judge two inspectors, and two cIerks-to
swear TO the correctness OF the returns They had
to that effect Now, il was held by the minority that
that oath is moi to be relied on because il that they
tpouM make correct returnnot that they had made it,
the oath having been taken in advance Of the election
The Rough and Ready Club had committee OF FIVE,
OF whom was at all times supposed to be standing outside
Of the window. keeping the list There discrepancy
between tnelr t0Oee OF the SWORN
contestant asks that the House will set aside the return
made by the sworn officers, and take the true result
that made out by the partisan agents OF Rough and
Ready Club, no one OF whom had sworn that he be-
lieved his own list TO be accurate
Mr. ). next went on to show many of the difficulties
attending the attempt to keep correct list outside OF the
the election members Of the democratic outside window
committee, and other we'll known citizens, who had
voted, according TO other and satisfactory proof More
or less OF the contestants witnesses prove that
hundred and twenty-five more persons voted than he
sumes that there were votes thrown This would have
elected MT RoBnNs BY ninety.four majority But there
was satisfactory proof that these persons did vote,
he went on 10 show. Mr. LTTELL, the contestant gives
the names Of some of the socaed fraudulent votes,
declaring tina, they did not vote ata; yet few pages
further on in Mr. LIS argument their names are found
writ down as having voted for him.
Again. another list OF those who voted, kept by
of Mr. LITTEs friends, seventy of hetwo hundred and
recorded as having voted
Mr. s. connuing) took up other circumstances Of the
that Mr.. RoBBlNs had been fairly and duly elected
Mr. VAN DYKE then replied at length TO the speech
of MIR. STRONG
Mr. HARRIS, Of Tennessee after referring to the ne
cessy for proceeding TO the consideration OF other i'm
porant business which lying the Speakers table,
moved the previous question.
And the call for the previous question having been
II Mr. VAN DYKE asked the unanimous consent OF the
House permit to the resolution reported by
the minority OF the committee, amendment to the
resolution OF the majority
But, objection being made, leave was not granted
Mr. STEVENS moved TO reconsider the vote seconding
The CHAIRMAN (A1r. THOMPSON, of MISSISSIPPI in
the CHAIR decided that the motion to reconsider that vote
Mr. STEVENS appealed from that decision
Mr. BURT argued 10 show that The decision was
Mr. STRONG trusted that the objection against admit
ting the resolution proposed to be moved BY Mr. VAN
DYKE would be withdrawn; and il being withdrawn,
The Clerk reported to the House the resolution Of the
ha al
to the seat from the fourth congressional district OF Penn
sylvania; and then the amendment OF MIR VAN DYKE 10
strike out all thereof after the word Resoiced and insert
substitute declaring that Mr. ROBBINS had not been
legally elected and that the seat vacant, and further
directing the Speaker to take the usual measures for
new election.
The first question being on the amendment,
Mr. MOORE demanded the yeas and nays; which
being ordered It was not agreed toyeas o. nays no.
And then the original resolution was agreed to-
Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, moved 10 reconsider that
vote and thea to lay that motion on the table which last
motion was agreed To-
And SO MIR RoBBISs was duly declared entitled to his
Mr. MccLERNAND called for the regular order Of
business; when
to be the further consideration OF Mr. RICHARDSON'S
resolution, reported from the Ewing investigation select
committee; and then
Mr. BROWN, OF Mississippi, who was entitled 10 the
floor, continued hs remarks commenced on the day be-
tore defence OF the views set forth in the majority re-
port from this committee.
jusiifyng the OF himself and other Virginia demo-
cratic upon the subject OF this investigation
Mr. also argued against the conclusions OF the major
ity OF the committee, holding that the House had
power under the constitution to sit court OF appeal
upon the OF branch OF the executive department oil
the government.
Mr. DURHAM next took the floor. and spoke for an
hour, supporting the views Of the majority Of the
mittee
Mr.. OUTLAW, having next obtained the floor, de.
Tended the action and recommendations OF the minority u
the select committee.
Mr.. MILLSON, next obtaining the floor, yielded to a
motion to adjourn; which being agreed 10,
The House adjourned.