Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-12-02
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sss6 CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsn1NGroS, Dec. i, 1856.
SENATE.-Alli members present, excepting
Bell, of N. H., Bell, of Tenn. Biggs, Butler,
Douglas, Houston, johnson, Jones, of Tenn,
Mallory, Reed, Sebastian, Sumner. Toonlhs,
Weller and Wright.
Tho usual committee was appointed to wait
on the President and inform him thata quorul.
of each house had assembled and We're ready to
receive any communicationhe might be pleased
to make.
A similar committee of the House acted in
conjunction with that of the Senate, and in
each branch report was made that the President
would communicate his annual message to Con-
gress Tomorrow meridian. Adjourned
Housg.-About 20U members present, Hold
ges, of Vt, GARRETT of Va, Allen and Morri-
son. of Ill, to fill vacancies, were qualified by
taking an oath to support the Constitutions =
Mr. Phelps presented the credentials of Whit
field, and moved he be sworn They were
read, Gov. Geary certifying to the fact that
Whitfield was elected delegate from Kansas on
the. first Monday in Oct.
Mr. Phelps asked the usual course to be pur- 5
sued sa'ss
Mr. Grow objected, and was about to state his
reasons when Phelps said it was known a VA 1
cancy had existed in the representation from
Kansas. Credentials had tbeen presented and
read, and this entitled Whitfield to have the
oaths administered him.. Last session the seats
of delegates from New Mexico, Nebraska and
Kansas were contested Their credentials were
received and the oath of office administered to
them severally and without objection being pro-
posed
Mr.. Grow-Iobjected.
Phelps-Imean without serious objection
The course proposed to be pursued, by the gen.
tleman n wi
one exception / refer to the New Jersey con-
tested election. ga
The Speaker observed that objection being
made it,would be the duty of the Chair to SUBJ Z
nit the question whether the gentleman from
Kansas be sworn as delegate
Mr.. Campbell of Ohio, suggested to Mr.. Grow
whether, as this is a short session and there
is much unfinished business, it would not be
better to allow the matter to pass over as itdid
last session onia simila. occasion. lie did not
see that anything could thus be lost
Mr.. Crow cannot accede to the request Mr..
Campbell. have done my duty.
Mr. Grow, in reply to Mr.. Phelps, said, the
course he proposed was not unprecedented, and
there We're strong cases in the books to Justify
1t, IN that New Jersey contested election, nei-
ther set of delegates We're admitted until the
committee on elections after two or three months y
reported. The House last session sent COM
mission to Kansas to investigate the affairs of
that Territory, and after full deliberation the
House desided that no valid election had been
held, and hence Mr.. Whitfield was elected from
his seat. What change has taken place in the
organic act of that Territory since last session
Its legislation stands as it did six months ago,
when the delegate was rejected.
The House was now askedto overturn its de-
cision and give validity to the tyrannous acts
forced upon an unwilling people by the arm of
Government being used to shield the inroads of
their rights from neghbpring States
i MIR. phenS SaiI hn nn1d ,,rnnar. tin,o In
ready to defend the validity of the legislature
and laws of Kansas. At the last session Whit
field was sworn in and the credentials referred
to the committee on elections, who reported nd.
versely to his taking his seat, and in favor of
| Reeder.a A vacancywas created, Whitfield was
elected to fill that vacancy, and is now here for
that purpose. Yet the gentleman from Penn
sylvania proclaimed this question was adjudica-
ted and decided last session. The gentleman
while voting against Whitfield, assigned as
reason for doing so, that he was elected under
Unconstitutional enactment; but he voted for
Reeder. to take his seat in absence of all law
| MIR. Grow explained-He had stated that the
people of Kansas were entitled to representation,
and he desired to bestow it in that way as prop
er,. under the peculiar circumstances.
| Mr.. Phelps, resuning said, Grows position
was that the people of Kansas are entitled to n
delegate, but who was here to contest the right
of Whitfield. II the gentleman from Pennsyl-
rania was DESTROYS to see them represented,
with what sense of justice could he oppose
Whitfield, there being no contestant of seat
Where was his love for the people of Kansas?
| The genteman's course wouldprevent such rep
esentation Let the delegate be sworn in. The
credentials can then be referred to com. on cleo
lions, and when report is made the House can
act as they believe justice requires.
The question was taken, shall Whitfield be
sworn, decided in the negative, 81 against l04.
Mr.. Grow moved reconsideration of the vote
| mt M nm pa fahI
| Unsuccessful motions were made to adjourn,
for a call of the House, etc
o'clock. Various gentlemen paired off, hum
ger and fatigue serving as excuses.
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, remarked that, as
number of gentlemen on his side had gone to
dinner, he thoughtit right the House should ad-
ljourn Rejected.
Mr.. Milison said he was not willing to be pun
ished by being kept here because Others chose
| to pair off.
| His motion for call of the House prevailed
| One hundred and thirty eight members an
swered to their names, the doors were closed
and excuses heard for the absentees, some of
humorous character exciting excessive laughter.
During these proceedings Mr. Wilson spoke of
the exposure of the reputation of Congress to
the ridicule of the people and the decision of
public press. He had alwaya attempted to pre-
vent struggles similar to that in which the
House is now engaged.
l :, Narions propositions were made, when the
House adjourned. -
FROM wASHINGToN. /,
/ Dec. lin the House the first business in
order will be call the roll, and then swear in
new members.
l When Gen. Whitfield presents himself to be
sworn in from Kansas, Mr.. Grow will offer n
resolution winch he has prepared, rejecting him
on the ground that the law under which he was
elected is unconstitutional, and therefore that he
is not entitled to his seat This will undoubt-
EedlS give rise to debate, which may continue
| for some days. &
The President will not send his message in
until Tuesday, even if Congress should inform
him that they are ready toireceiveit