The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-02

- I.
Mr. GOODE presented the credentials Of MUscoE r. H.
GARNET elected to represent the first congressional dis
tct Of Virginia supply the vacancy occaSoned by the
death OF Mr.. I. II. Bayly. j
Mr.. HARRIS OF Illinois presented the credentials OF
JAMES O. ALLEN member elect from the seventh congress
onal district Of that State who he remarked at the hrs
session was sent home by the House under somewhat
extraordinary process but who had been returned by bis
constituents by majority Of upwards OF three thou
sand
Mr. H. also presented the credentials OF JOHN l. D. Mon
RIsoa elected represent the eighth congressional dis
trict Of Illinois made vacant by the resignation Of VIM
A. Richardson.
Messrs HoDGEs, GARRETT, Allen and MORRISON then
presented themsely and the oath Of office was admins
tered to them.
Mr. ORR, OF South Carolina, moved that message be
returned 70 the Senate informing that body that quorum
House had answered to their Names and were ready
TO enter upon the duties OF the session. which NOR was
agreed to-
Mr. ORR also moved that cOr,,.ttee Of three be APP
pointed by the Speaker to wait upon the President of the
United States IN nJunction with similar committee 10
De aPpoiu by the Senate and inform him that quo
ru. the houses had assembled and peady to
receive any communication he might be pleased 70 make
The motion agreed to, and Messrs. ORR, CAMPBELL
of Ohio of Tennessee appointed the
said committee.
AT a subsequen, stage Of the proceedings,
Mr.. ORR, from the abovena committee, reported
that they had performed their duty and that the President
would send message TO the House tomorrow at II
o'clock.
DELEGATE FROM KANSAS.
Mr. PHELPS, of Missouri stated that he held in bis
hand the credsAas Of John W. WHITFIELD, elected no the
delegae of the Territory Kansas the presen sson
oath of oice might be administered to him. 80
Mr. GROW Of penhy lvauia addressed the Speaker but
was interrupted by
Mr. LETCHER of Virginia, who suggested that the
deutias be read.
The credentials were dinghy read aud certify that
JOHN w. WHITFIELD duly elected delegate for the
ond session OF the Thirty Congress from the Terri
tory of Kansas election held the 6rst Monday in
October 1856. They signed by the gov and
tested by the secretary OF the Territory.
Mr. PHELPS remarked that ne was only asking that the
usual course should te pursued in this lie had not
expected to find any objection did he know whether
the gentleman from Pennsy had risen for the purpose
of objecng the oath of Office being administered the
delegate from Kansas.
Mr.. GROW replied that when interrupted he had risen
for that purpose and unless the gentleman from Missouri
claimed the floor be would state his for doing
Mr.. PHELPS of the opinion that the credentials of
the delegate entitled him prna acte have the oath of
office administered to him At the commencement of the
present Congress not only the of the delegate
from Kansas contested but also those of the delegates from
New Mexico and Nebraska. In each the delegate
holding the credentials certified to by the governor and
attesed by the secretary OF The Territory he claimed
represent received and the oath Of Office admins
tered TO him without objection being inter- osed.
| Mr.. GROW. | objected
Mr. PHELPS replied that be without serious OBJ
cuon Inc course proposed to be pursued by the gentle
man from Pen wanna was contrary TO precedent with
one Exception, and that exception to the rule He
/ referred to the New Jersey ontesed-eection
| The SPEAKER stated that, as the gentleman from
/
rnnisered to the delegate from Kansas, it was the
duty OF the Chair submit to the House the question:
"Sha the oath OF office be administered the delegate
elect from the Territory of Kansas upon the credentials he
has presented
| Mr. CAMPBELL OF Ohio suggested to the gentleman
from Pennsy whether this short session. and
there large amount of unfinished business lying
over 1t would not be better to allow this question pass
it did the first session He did think any
thing could be lost by such course
| Mr. GROW. ! cannot accede to the request.
| Mr.. CAMPBELL. have done my duty.
Mr. GROW in reply TO Mr.. PHELPS said that the
be proposed unprecedented and that there
strong the books Justify it IN that of the New
Jersey contested election neither Of delegates
mitted till the Committee of Elections, after three
tbs reported The House at the last session. had
commission TO investigate the affairs Of that Territory and
after full deliberaon the House decided no valid
election had been held and hence Mr.. WHITFIELD was
elected from his seat What change had taken place in
the organic of the Territory since last Its
legislation stood it did six months ago when dele
gate rejected The legislature usurpation its
characterized by unprecedented tyranny and uncon
stitutonal wrongs It's laws the blacklist and most
odous TO be found among those Of desposm TIE House
asked to its decision and give validity
to tyrannous ac's forced on an unwilling people by the
OF government being used shield the invaders or
their rights from neighborng States
Mr. PHELPS said he would the proper time be read
TO defend the validity Of the legislature of Kansas OF
a majority Of its laws Last session Mr. WHITFIELD was
in and his credentials were referred TO the Commit
tee Of Elections who reported dversey his taking his
seat, and in favor Of Reeder. vacancy created Mr.
WHITFIELD elected to fill that vacancy and is now
pgnnHyl-
vania proclaimed that this question adudcsted and
decided last session The gentleman while voting against
WHITFIELD, assigned for doing that he was
elected under unconstitutional enactment but that be
mad voted for Gov Reeder take his the absence
Of all law
Mr.. GROW explained that he had stated that the people
Kansas entitled representation and he desired to
bestow il in that way.
Mr. PHELPS (resuming) said that the position Of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. GRow was that the
people OF Kansas entitled have delegate In Con-
gress Bat who was here TO contest the right OF Mr. WHIT
to his seat2 If the gentleman from Peunsy vauia
DESTROYS Kansas represented with what sense
Of justice could he oppose him, there being contestant
of his sea2 Where his love for the people Kansas
The geneman course would prevent such representation
Votes cast for other person than Mr. WHITFIELD In
October Let the delegate be sworn; after which bis Gro
denals be referred TO the Committee of Elections
and when report is made the House they be-
lieve justice requires.
The question taken, and decided in the negative
yeas 81, nays lO4-as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Aiken, Akers, Allen Barksdale, Bell
Bennett Of Mississippi Bocock Bowie, Boyce, Branch
lucky, Garlic Caskie Ciugman Cobb Of Georgia Cobb Of
Alabama Cox, Crawford, Cullen Denver, Dowde, Edmund
English Ethoridge Evans Faulkner Florence Foster
Fuller of Pennsylvania, Fuller Of Maine Garnct Goodo
Greenwood Harris Of Mary land Harris Of Alabama Harris
Of Illinois, Hickman, Hoffman Houston Iewett Jones Of
Tennessee, Jones Of Pennsyvan Ket Kelly, Kenneth
kidwe, Lake. Lecher, Lindey Lumpkn, II. Marshall oil
Kentucky, MarFhall Of Illinois, Maxwell McMulin Nc
Queen, Miller Of Indiana, Mlson, Moore, Morrison Orr
Packer, Paine, Peck, Porter, Powell Purycar, Quitman
Of Tennessee Smith Of Virginia. Smith Alabams Snoed
stephens Stewart Swopr, TrpPe Tyson Underwood, Vail
Walk Walker, Warner, Wells, Wheeler, whitney viii
liams, Winslow, and Hoiconer-o7.