The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-10-29
The Old Man Eloquent.

On the opening of the XXXvIth Congress
in December, 1853, in consequence of two
fold delegation from New Jersey, the house
was unable, for some time, TO complete its or
ganization, and presented to the country and
the world the perilous ard discreditable aspect
of the people, unable to form themselves into
constitutional body. Or first assembling,
the House has no officers, and the Clerk of
the preceding Congress acts, by usage, as the
Chairman Of the body till Speaker is chosen.
On this occasion, after reaching the State of
New Jersey, the acting Clerk declined to pro-
ceed in calling the roll, and refused to enter
tain any of the motions which were made for
the purpose of extricating the House from its
embarrassment. Many of the able and judic-
ious members had addressed the House in vain,
and there was nothing but confusion and dis
order in prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still confusion
was triumphant. But the hour of disenthrall-
ment was at hand, and scene was presented
which sent the mind back to the days when
Cromwell uttered the exclamation-c Sir Har-
ry Vane woe unto you, Sir Harry Vane %
and in an instant dispersed the famous Rump
Parliament. --...... .. ... L.. ..... .....
MI. Adams, from the opering of this SC enc
of confusion and anarchy, had maintained
profouI silence. He appeared TO be engaged
most of the time in writing. To common
observer, he seemed to be reckless of every-
thing, arou,,d him but nothing. not the slight
est incident escaped him. The fourth dav of
the struggle had now commenced Mr.. Hugh
II. Garland, was directed to call .he roll again.
He commenced with Maine, as was usual in
those days, and was proceeding toward Mas
sachusets. l turned, and saw that Mr.. Ad-
ans was ready to get the floor at the earliest
moment possible. His keen eye was riveted
on the Clerk his hands clasped the front
edge Of his desk, where he s.ways placed them
to assist him in rising. He looked in the lam
guage of Otway, like the
"-owler eager, for his prey"
fNew Jerseyp' calculated Mr.. Hugh H.
Garland. " and the Clerk had to repeat that
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor! ......
"I rise to interrupt the Clerk" was his
first ejaculation. ..
Silence-silence % resounded through the
hall. Hear him-hear him! Hear what he
has to say! Hear John Quincy Adams % were
the numerous CALCULATIONS on all sides.
In an instant the most profound silence
reigned throughout the Hall-you might have
heard leaf of paper drop in any part of it
and every eye riveted on the venerable Nestor
of Observation-Disclosures purest of statesmen and
the noblest of men! He paused for a mo-
ment; and having given Mr.. Garland
"-withered look"
he proceeded to address the multitude;
1t was not my intention, said ne, e to take
any part In these extraordinary proceedings
had hoped that the House would succeed in
organizing itself that Speaker and Clerk
would be elected, and that the ordinary busi-
ness Of legislation would be progressed ia
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 Con-
sti'ution j, made the ultimate arbiter Of the
qualification of its members. Bu, what spec
tacIe we here present We degrade and dis
grace ourselves; we degrade and disgrace our
constituents and the country. We DO not and
cannot organizes; and why? Because the
Clerk Of this House, the mere Clerk, whom
we employ, and whose existence depends up
on our will, usurps the throne, and sets ms,
the Representatives, the the vice-regents of
the whole American people, at defiance, and
holds us in contempt! And what is this Clerk
of yours? Is he to suspend, by his mere neg
ative, the functions Of Government, and put
an end to this Congress ? He refuses to call
the roll! 1t il your power to compel lin to
call it il he will not do it voluntarily. Here
he was interrupted by q member who said
that he was authorized to say that the compul-
sion could not reach the Clerk, who avowed
that he would resign rather than call the State
of New Jersey.) Well, sir, let him resign,"
continued Mr.. Adams, sand we may possibly
discover some way by which we can get along,
without the aid Of his all powerful talent,
learning and genius. If we cannot organize
in any other waY-if this clerk of yours will
not consent to our discharging the trusts con.
fiied to US by our constituents-then let us I'm
itate the example Of the Virginia House of
Burgesses, which when the colonial Governor
Dinwiddie ordered it to disperse, refused to
obey the imperious and insulting mandate, and
like men"
The multitude could not retain or repress
their enthusiasm any longer, but saluted the
eloquent and Indignant speaker, and intercept
ell him with loud and deafening cheers, which
seemed to shake the capitol to its centre. The
very gent Of applause and enthusiasm seemed
to float in the atmosphere of the hall, and ey-
cry heart expanded with an indeseribable fee-
ling Of pride and exultation. The turmoil, the
the yery chaos of anarchy which