Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-02-12
The Old MAN Eloquent.
by AN OLD COLONY MAN.


grcss,in December, 1889 in consequence
of a twoiold delegation from New Jersey
the House was unable for some time tc
complete its organizition, AMI pres en- tee
to the country and the world the peril
Gus and dlscrcditablc aspect of the
assembled representatives of the people
unable to form themselves into IA con
stItutionll body. On first assembling.
the House has no officers, and the Clerk
Of the preceding Congress acts, BY
usage, as chairman of the body till Q
! Speaker is chosen. On this occas ion
after reaching the State of New jersey,
the acting Clerk declined to proceed in
calling the roll. and refused to entertain
any of the motions which were made
for the purpose Of cxricatng the House
from its ombarrassmcnts. Many Of the
able and most judicious mcmbers had
addressed the House in vain, and there
wa, nothing but confusion and disorder
in prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still con
fusion was trium ,,hant. But the hour
scene wa, presented which sent the min |
back to those days when Cromwell
uttered the cXclamation-ssSir Harry
Vane T. woe into yon, Sir Harry Vana r
and in an instant dispersed the famous
R1mp Parliament.
Mr.. Adlms, from the opening of this
scene Of confusion and anarchy, hal
maintained profound silence He
appeared to be engaged most of the
time in writing. TO II common observer,
he seemed to be reckless of everything
around him but nothing, not the
slightest incident escaped him. The
fourth day ofthc struggle had now COM
menced Mr. Hugh H. Garland, the
clerk, was directed to call the roll
again.
He commenced with Maine, as usual
in those days, and was proceeding to-
wards Massac hnsctts. | turned and saw
that Mr.. Adams WAS ready to get the
floor at tho.earicst moment possible
His eye WAS riyeted on the Clerk his
hands clasped tAe front edge of his desk
where he always placed them to assist
him in rising. lie looked, in the lansn-
age of Otway, like a
''--towler eager for his prey
New jersey !" CALCULATED Mr.. Hugh
II. Garland, land he clerk who has to
repeat that
Mr.. Adams sprans to the foo-.
Il rise to interrupt the clerk ~ was
his first ejaculation.
'Silenec-slencc : resoundcd through
the hall. Hear him hear him =
Hear what he has to say Hear John
Quincy Adams = was the unanimous
ejaculation on all sides.
In an instant the most profound still
ness rcigncd throughout the haIl-you
might have heard leaf of paper fall in
any part Of it-and every eye was
rivetet on the venerable Nestor of
MassacAusctts-thc purest of statesmen
and the noblest of men ! he paused
for moment, and having given Mr..
q 4rlaHd q
''-Hithcrius look .
he proceelel to address the multitu,le
"lt was not my intention, sud he,
''to take any part in these extraordinary
proc2c lings. | had hoped this IIonsc
would succeed Ia org niz ing itself; that
a Speaker and Clerk would be electe d
aud that the ordinary business of lersa-
ton would be progressed in. This is
not the time or place, 10 discuss the mcr-
is of conflicting claimants from New
Jers y; that subject belongs to the House
Of Representatives, which by the Con
stitutiUn, is made the ultimate arbtcr OF
the qualifications of its members. Put
what spectacle we hero present! We
degrade and disgrace our constituents
ana the country we DO not, and can
not orsan'zs ana why Because the
Clerk OF tins House the m re Clerk.
whom we ctca'e' "nom we employ, and
whose existence depchds upon our will,
osurPs the hf"ne' ana sets us the
representatives, the viceSeTents of tie
whole American people, at defiance. and
holds us IN contempt And what is
TINS Clerk OF yours Is he to suspend,
~ '''' 'i'N'0 'N7''''e' 'h9 functions OF
@ Gossn ~ H. ," t's a" o"'i 70 'n',
!. - N'''..' W 0"'' .''c io'i :
sl - :" r. .oul ip"o' " eo'hPei MN 'o =,
~ GI,' ~ !. Nv vi, ''o' '.' IL Noiah'ariiy'
i''io NJ wa. " 40 ,"'p'''P'su oy memoef'
" n. Nv '"iu i '''1' ne was au'hofiz2a 10 say
'i'' 'o'iiPolaioli c"uld not lclcH inc