Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-05
THIRTY-FOURrH CONGRESS- p d session
MONDAY, DECEMBER l, 1856.

receive any communication ne might be- pleased to
make. A similar committee OF the Hnuse acted in
conjunction with that o the Senate and in ZACH branch
the report was made that the President would cum
munlcate hia annual message Tomorrow at meridian
The Senate then adjourned
! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The Speaker called the House together at noon and
| l93 members ans''sred 10 h-ir names.
Messrs Hodges, of Vermont; Garnett, of Va, AL
len and Morrison, Of Illinois, to AL vacancies. were
qualified by taking the oath in support Of the Cons,
| tuition.
Mr.. Phelps presented the credentials of Sir. Whit
| held and moved he be sworn IN.
They were read, Gov. Geary certifying to the fact
! that Mr. Whitfield elected as The delegate from
Kansas on the first Monday in October.
MIR. Phelps a.ked the usua! course to be pursned.
MIR. Grow objected. and WAS sbout to stats his reu
SONS when hr: Phelps said j, was known that va
cancy had existed in the represent alton Of Kansas
| The credentials had b-en presented and read, and
this entitled Mr.. Whitfield to have his oath admins
Tered t0 him Last session ths seats Of the delegates
| from New Mexico, Nebraska and Kansas were con-
| tested. Their credentials We're received and the oath
OF office administered TO them severally without OBJ
jecton being interposed.
Mr.. Gro~.-l Utjected.
Mr.. Pheps.-l mean without serious objection.-
The course proposed to be pursued by the gentleman
| from pennsylvania WAS contrary 10 precedent with
one exception, and that exception to the rule-I refer
| to the New Jersey contested election.
| The Speaker observed that objection being made, it
|
to the House whether the gentleman from Kansas be
sworn in a delegate.
| Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio, suggested to Mr.. Grow,
whether, as thls isa short session, and much unf--
ed business had tU be attended to, il would not BIZ
better TO allow the matter To pass over, it did las.
session on similar occasion. He did not ,see that
| any thing could thus be lost.
| MIR. Grow.-l cannot accede to the request.
Mr.. CampbelI.-I have done my du :.
MIR. Grow, in reply to Mr. Phelps, said the couree
| a nOf H.p md
strong cases in the books to justify it, In that Of the
New jersey contested election neither SET Of dele.
gates admitted till the committee on elections
reported The House, last session, sent commission
to Kansas 10 inyesg the affairs OF that territory,
and after full dcberatiOn the House decided that
no valid election had been held, and hence Mr.. Whit
| field was elected from his seu What change had
taken place in the organic act Of the territory since
las, session Its legislation stands il did slI
months ago, when e delegate was rejected. The L.
gslature was usurpation; its acts were character.
lied by unprecedented tyranny, and unconstitutional
wrong. Its laws were the backest aud most odious
To be found among those OF desputsm. The House
was now asked TO overturn its decision and give va.
ldty 10 tyrannous acts forced unwilling people
by the arm of the Government being used 70 shield
the invaders of their rights from neghb0ring States.
Mr.. Phelps said he would a! a proper time be
ready to defend the validity Of the legislature and
laws OF Kansas. At the last session Mr. Whitfield
was sworn in. and his credentials referred to the COM
mtee on elections, who reported adversely to his Ia.
king seat. and in favor Of Mr.. Reeder A vacancy
was created. Mr.. Whitfield was elrc'ed 10 fill 'ha;
vacancy aud is now here for that purpose; yet the
gentleman from Prunsy. .vunia proclaimed that this
| question wgs adjudcated and dccued last session.
! The gentleman while voting against MIR. Whitfield
assigned rs reason for doing that he elected
! under the constitutional enactment, but he voted for
Mr. Rerde 10 tnke his seat in the absence Ot all law
Mr. Grow explained that he Lad stated tha; the
people of Kansas were entitled 10 representation
and he desired to besow it in that way as proper un.
der the peculiar circumstances.
Mr.. Phelps, resumEg. said Mr.. Grows position
was thar The people Of hai'hs are entitled ii
delegate. But who was here TO contest the right o
Mr.. Whitfield! II the gentleman from Pennsy lvana
was desirous 10 them represented, with wha
sense OF justice could he oppose Whitfield, there be
ing no contestant ut m" s5ali Where was his love
for the people "f Kansas! The gen'Icman's cOurs,
would prevent such representation Votes were ca,
for no Other person than Whitfield in October. Let
the delegate be sworn The credentials can then be
referred 10 the committee on elections and when
report is made, the House can act they belle
justice requires.
| The question was then taken, "shall Mr. Whitfield
be swornF' 1t was decided in the Negative -yel.
| Il, NAYS l04
| Mr. Grow moved reconsideration Of the vote ard
| to lay that motion on the table.
Unsuccessful motions made to adjourn, for a
call of the House etc, by the friends OF Mr.. Whit.
field, in order Is was said. 20 postpone action Nj.
Grow 8 motion until :he arrival Of absentees
AT four O'clock several gentlemen paired Off
! hunger and fatigue serving rs an excuse.
| Mr.. Campbell, OF Ohio, remarked that as number
of gentlemen on his side had gone TO dinner, he
thought it right that the House should adjourn, but
| his motion was rejected.
Mr.. Millson said he wa, not willing to be punished
by being left here because others chose to PAIR of
His motion for call Of the House then prevailed.
| One hundred and thirty yeigh, members answered
to their Names and the doors closed To hear eX-
| Guses Uf aDsenees. Some OF them were Of hu!nor-
ou- character creating excessive laughter.
During these proceedings, Mr. Millson apoke Of the
exposure Of the reputation of Congress to the rdcue
OF TIE people and the drrsion of the public press
He had always attempted to prevent struggles smi.
lar to that in which the House engaged.
| Various propositions were made--one by MIR.
Sneed, that the pending business be postponed, and
members proceed heretofore To select their seats
| by lot. lCres of "agreed, and laughter
| Mr.. Quitman thought that would be right. We are
endcavorng, he said, to ntIct some penalty on MEM
bers for not being in their seats, and don't know
better mode than to select our SEATS in their absence
| daughter. and cries of Good ~ "Agree1")
Mr.. Houst"n-I'll 90 in for that If You continue t.
keep the doors closed.
No action was taken on the proposition.
The sergeant of arms by order directed to bring
absentres to the bar of the House.
! Mr. Jones U tennessee, inquired whether while
the sergeant at executed that order those who
had been there all the time could not get their din
ners. Laughter
The Speaker responded negatively.
! While The clerk was calling the roll on a motion I"
| 40 ~ tiio ocIP'oH'
announcing the arrest and production of GER
tain absentees. Several gentlemen humorousy
moved 10 take up the criminal docket.
The absentees brought before the House were or.
| dered to be di'chargec from custody payment to
the sergeant at arms Of n fee Of 50 each
| Cries Of "fork over, and laughter.
| MIR. Mace, among them, WAS willing to be dis.
charged without payment of the fee; nnd 10 accept
as subsiitute "sotary confinement" He went
home at s. o'clock. as every orderly man should,
leaving members here going out and taking lunch,
and placing themselves in such condition that they
did not know what they driving at Laughter.
| Mr.. TraitOn did not think the House should TAKE:
advantage Of his honesty. He had JUS; returned from
dinner when the Sergeant alarms opened the door
| and let him in. He had not been arrested.
| Mr.. Lind-y thought the fee cheap and would cheer
| fully pay it.
! MIR. Houston-to those standing-sit down, want
| to See the prisoners.
| Mr. Cobb OF Georgia, would discharge them on
their giving pledge that they would hereafter yots
for all adjournment. Laughter.
AT quarter past seven the House adjourned by one
majority.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1856.