Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-14
THTRTY-FTRsT C0NGREss--2D SESSION
THURSDAY, JASrARY y, 1851.
SENATE.

Numerous reports private bills were made .
Mr. Psarce, leave introduceda Joint resolution rein
gushing to the State Maryland two OF the cannon CAP
,ured by the brigade under the command Of General Riley
a, the battle Of Contrcas, Mexico. Mr. r explained that
he introduced this resolution ut the request o; Cre a Riley
who desired to present these 10 his native State nc
Joint resolution then considered ana ordered 10 W
s ossed for q third reading. .
The bill 10 ascertain and settle private land aims in Ca
Mesrs Benton and Gwin continued the debate and the
bill and amendments were referred 10 the committee on the
The Senate proceeded the consideration OF Executive
business and shortly afterwards the Sense adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. THOMPSON from Tennessee submitted u resolution
having for object authorize the reduction OF the value
OF tho silver of the t. States either ny reducing It's
weight 0. increasing Of the alloy which 1t contains to
prevent rs expectation and rapid disappearance
Objections being made to suspendny the rules OF the
House. the resolution was withdrawn.
The House then took the New Hampshire contested
election which occupied the rest Of the day without dec
sion being arrived at
Committee Elections, addressed the House at much
length conending that the right Of the sitting member is
clear under roe law OF Ne" Hampshire and which is not
repuenant to tine Constitution If the L. States.
He was followed by Mr. Hubbard Of New Hampshire,
who gave succnc of the question at issue. he
argued that members who nre returned Congress- repre-
sent the entire which they belong and not any par
ticular dstric,hat election could be held under no
than that which Is in force at tho time OF holding
such elections and that the House possesses no power 10
override the decision Of State as Is asserted BY minority
of the committee and of the electors could Congress
command State by mandatory legislation.
Mr. Vandyke of New Jersey denied that State Ieglsa
had the power which had been exercise The present
instance of passing pos: faco law and thus destroy
ing rights which I'D previously existed II was owing TO
this principle that members of New Hampshire who had
been elected under the law Of 1916, connued 10 hold their
in the House II not the intention ne id OF the
New Hampshire Legislature 10 interfere with the present
Congress- but If /, We're they could not destroy the
rights Of electors He state that Gen. Wilson,
having vacated his seat for the district no represented HE
successor should stand precisely in his shoes This he in
sisted is with Mr. Morrison the sitting member
who claims his for district tferen from that which
his predecessor vacated.
Mr. McLane, of Maryland, argued length In favor Of
the sitting member He contended that there but
material issue in the cass-a the other topics introduced
the debate incidental No questioned the fact
that New Hampshire had the 10 provide for the cleo
ton OF the four representatives. which she entitled
by the constitution Of the United StatesThe only issue
then on the proper construction OF the law OF New Hamp
shire, fixing the time place and Of the election when
the sitting member elected Did that law provide for
that election or did 1t notl
Mr. McIane argued that It did, and that therefore the
sitting member entitled his He said that the
prior laws of New Hampshire repealed by the existing
Laws and If that did provide the election then there
was valid election. New Hampshire entitled TO
four representatives. and the duty of members
the election law literally and conscenousy that she
may by their action be left with representative less
than her constitutional quota
Mr. Duer of N T. said the only question TO be determn-
ed that of the right of the sitting member TO retain
which he Mr. d. insisted he was not entitled as he
elected BY tuency which, in part had voted Tor
another member already and In another disrct-thus
sutng floating constituency al variance with the prlncl-
Piles of the Constitution
Mr. Harris of ILL.,, said the of Congress of lSi8 had
passed by party in the other branch of Congress-
which had been since repeatedly dsreeaded bat did
conflict with power Of the House of Representatives 10
decide as to the validity of the of members There
were two questions said before the Housels Did the
sitting member from the State of New Hampshire, take bis
accordance vita the rcqu rements of the Constu
lion2 And IDLY Has ne been elected bp majority of those
who entitled to vote There other matter TO
quire There had been post acto law passed. as
had been stated by the member from New Iampshire the
sitting member had been consttutonay eturne he should
cheeruy vote his retaining his seat and would 60 in
the case of any other individual similarly situated
motion here made and carried TO adjourn and the
Hnnse stands adjourned till Tomorrow.