Litchfield enquirer., 1857-12-03
An Incident in the Life Of John Q.
Adams.

!
able, for some time, to complete its organiza-
tion and presented to the country and the
world the perous and dscreditable aspect OF
the assembled Representatives of the people
unable to form themselves into constitution
al body. On first assembling the House had
no officers, and the clerk of the preceding Con-
gress acts, by usage, as Chairman CT the body,
till speaker is chosen On this occasion, at
ter reaching the State of New Jersey the act
ing Clerk declined to proceed in calling the roll
and refused to entertain any of the motlens
which were made for the purpose of extrlcat!ng
the house from its embarrassment. Many OF the
able and most judicious members had addressed
the House in vain, and there was nothing but
confusion ard disorder in prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still confusion
was triumphant. Mr.. Adams, from the begin
Mug of this scene of confusion and anarchy
had maintained a profound silence. lie ap-
peared to be engaged most of the time in wri-
ting To common observer, be seemed to be
reckless of everything around him, but nothing
not the slightest incident, escaped him. The
fourth day OF the struggle had now commenced ;
Mr.. Hugh H. Garland, the Clerk, was direct
ed to call the roll again.
He commenced with Maine, as was usual
in those days, and was proceeding towards
New Jersey l turned and saw that Mr.. Ad-
ans was ready to get the floor at the earliest
period possible, as soon as that State was cal
led His keen eye Was riveted on the Clerk !;
his hands clasped the front edge of his desk,
where he always placed them to assist him III
rising
New Jersey !" calculated Mr.. H. Garland
and the Clerk has to repeat that"
Mr. Adams sprang to the floor!
81 rise to interrupt the clerk" was his first
exclamation
"Silence, silence" resounded through the
hall hear hin--hear John Quincy Adams 4!
hear what he has to say y was the unanimous
ejaculation OH all sides.
In an instant profound silence reigned
throughout the hall, and every eye was rlvlted
on the venerable member from Massachusetts.
He paused for moment and having given Mr..
Garland a whitening look, be proceeded to adj
dress the House.
:" 1t was not my intention" said he, "to
take any part in these extraordinary proceed
ings | had hoped that the House would sue
coed in organizing itself, that Speaker aud a
Clerk would be elected, and that the ordinary
business would be progressed in. This Is
not the time or place to discuss the merits OF
the conflicting claimants for seats from New
Jersey that subject belongs to the House OF
Representatives which by the Constitution is,
made the ultimate srbter Of the qualification
of it's members. But what spectacle We here
present We degrade and disgrace our con-
st;tuents and the country. We do not and ca n
not organize, ant. why? because the Clerk
of the House, the mere Clerk, whom We employ
aud whose existence depends upon our will
usurps the throne, and sets us, the Represent
ati,es the vicegerents of the whole American
peope at defiance and holds them at defiance,
and holds US in contempt And what is this
Clerk of yours Is he to suspend, by his mere
negative, the functions of Government, and put
all end to this Congress? He refuses to call
the roll 1t is in your power to compel him to
do it Voluntarily Interrupted by a member
saying that compulson did not reach the Clerk
who said that he would resign rather than call
the State of New Jersey.] Well, sir, then let
him resign, and we may possibly discover some
way by which we can get along without the
aid of his all-powertul talent, learning and gen
ius If we cannot organize III any other way
then let us initiate the examples of the Virgin
ia House of Burgesses, which when Gov. DIM
wdde orered it to dsperse, refused to obey the
insulting mandate, anu like ihei--
The multitude could not retain or repress
their enthusiasm any longer, but saluted the
eloquent and indignant speaker, and intercept
ted hun with loud and Geafeniug cheers, which
seemed to shake the Capitol to its centre.
The turmoil the darkness, the very chaos of an
archy, was dispersed by the magic eloqucnce
of single man, aud once more the whole OF
the wheels of Government and Legislation are
put in motion.
Having by this powerful appeal brought
the yet unorganized assembly to perception
of its hazardous position, he submitted mo-
ton requiring the Clerk to proceed to call the
roll This and similar motions had already
been made by other members. The difficulty
was, the acting Clerk declined to entertain
them. Accordingly, Mr.. Adams was inter
rupted by burst of voices demanding how
shall the question be put Who will put
the question The voice of Mr.. Adams was
heard above the tumut, d" | intend to put the
question myself y That word brought orocr
order out of chaos There was the master
mind
As soon as the multitude had recovered it.
self, aud the excitement of Irresponsible ell
thusiasm had abated, Mr. Robert Barnwel
Rhett, of South Carolina, leaped upon one Of
the desks, waved his hand and exclaimed
IL move that the honorable John q. AID
ans take the chair Of the Speaker of thi:
House, and ofliciate as presiding officer till thu
House be organized by the cleo ion OF Its
constitutional officers As many as vii
: agree to this will say, Ay those
He had not an opportunity to complete TIL
, sentence" those who are not agreed, VIII sa!
# No''-for one universal deafening Ay respo'
# ded to the nomination.
Hereupoo, it WAS moved and ordered tina