Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-05-07
miscellaneous.
THE DIN MAN ELOQUENT.


On the opening Of the Twenty-siSth Com
rress in Dec, 1880. in consequence of a two
fold delegation from New Jersey, the House
was unable for some time to complete its or
ranization. and presented TO the country and
the world the pcrilous and discrcditablo as
pcct Of the people unable to form themselves
into a constitutional body. On tho first as
sembling the House has no officers, and the
Clerk Of the preceding Congress acts, by us
age, as Chairman of the body ill Speaker IS
chosen. On this occasion, on reaching the
State Of New Jersey, the acting Clerk de-
clinod to proceed in calling the roll, and re-
fused to entertain any Of the motions which
we're made for the purpose OF oNtrlcating the
House from its embarrassment. Many Of the
most iudoious members had addressed the
House in vain, and there was nothing but
confusion and disorder in prospect.
The fourth day opened, and still confusion
and disorder were triumphant But the hour
of disenthrallment was at hand, and a scene
vas presented which sent the mind back TO the
lays when Cromwell uttered tho exclamation,
Sir Harry Vane Woo unto you, Sir Ilar-
~ Nane !" and in an instant dispersed the
f,mous Rump Parliament.
Mr.. Adams, from the opening Of this scene
of confusion and anarchy, had maintained a
profound silence. He appeared to be cngag
cd most of the time in writing. To COM
mon observer, he seemed to be reckless Of
c,erything around him but nothing, not the
ghtest incident, escaped him. The fourth
day of tho struggle had now commenced
Mr.. Hugh II. Garland, the Clerk, was di
rooted to call the ROLL again. He commenced
18th Maine. as was usual in these days, and
vas proceeding towards Massachusetts.
tlrned. and saw that Mr. Adams was ready to
-st the floor at the carlst moment possible.
Us keen eye was rivcted on the Clerk his
l'1ds caspcd the front edge Of his desk,
where he always placed them to assist him In
ri ing. lie looked, in the language Of OFT
way, like the
Fowler eager hr Asirry."
New Jersey :" calculated Mr.. Hugh II.
@ rland. and the Clerk has TO repeat that
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor!
rise to interrupt the Clerk was his
FIRST ejaculation
Silcncc-silcncc e. rcsoundcd through the
hal. Hear him--hcar him Hear what he
hos to say Hear John Quincy Adams r.
re the unanimous CALCULATIONS ON all sides
n an instant, the most profound silence
gncd throughout the hall-you might have
berd leaf Of paper fall in any part of it,
= stor of Massachusetts, the purest states
ialn and the uohlest Of men lie paused for
@ moment; and having given Mr.. Garland
g. whitening look"
lac proceeded to address the multitude
1t was not my intention said ho to
';e any part in these extraordinary proceed
o;s ] had hoped that this House would
ocecd in organizing itsol-that a Speaker
"A L.. Il. Al a..
j iary business of legislation would be pro-
y ,ssed in. This is not the time or place to
q cuss the merits of the conflicting claimcnts
tr seats from New Jersey; that subject be-
1gs to the House Of Representatives, which,
ly the Constitution, is made the ultimate ar
0 ter of the qualifications of its members.
It, what spectacle we hero present We
grade and disgrace ourselves we degrade
SD disgrace our constituents and the coun-
IVY We do not and cannot organize and
Why? Because the Clerk of this Houso-the
iAirc Clerk whom we create, whom we en-
poy, and whose existence depends upon our
vll--usurps the throne, and sets US, the
personalities, the viccgcrants of the whole
merican people, at defiance. and holds us in
Contempt! And what is this Clork of yours
81 he to suspend, by his mere negative, the
functions of government, and put an end TO
MS Congress; He refuses TO call the roll
10 is in your power to compel him to call it,
i he will not do it voluntarily"
Here he was interrupted by member, who
ud he was authorized to say that compul-
eion could not reach the Clork who vowed he
would resign rather than call the State of New
Jersey
Well, sir, let him resign, Continued Mr.
ADAMS, and We may possibly discover some
way by which we may get along without the
id of his all-poweriul talent. learning, aud
Genius. If We cannot organize in any other
way--if this Clerk of yours will not consent
to our discharging the trusts conided to us by
our constitucnts--then let us initiate the oN-
ample of the Virginia House of Burgessos
which, when the Colonial Governor (Dinwid-
die) ordered it to disporse, refused TO obey
the imperious and insulting mandate, and
like mem
The multitude could not retain or rcpress
their enthusiasm any longer, but sautod the
eloquent and indignant speaker, and inter
rupted him with loud and deaiening cheers.
which seemed to shake the capitol TO its
centre. The very genii Of applause and en-
thusiasm seemed to float in the atmosphere
of the Hall, and every heart expanded with
an indescribable feeling of pride and exalta-
ton. The turmoil, the darkness. the very
chaos of anarchy, which had for three days
pervaded the American Congress, were dis
PEELED by the magic, the talismanic influence
of single man, and once more the wheels of
Government were set in motion
Having by this powerful appeal brought
the unorganzed assembly to a perception of
its hazardous position, he submitted a motion
requiring the acting Clerk to proceed to call
the roll.
This and similar motions had already been
made by other members The difficulty was
that the Clerk declined TO entertain them.
Accordingly, Mr.. Adams was Immediately in
terrupted by burst Of voices, demanding,-
How shall the question be put :" "Who
will put the question:" The voice of Nh.
Adams was heard above the tumult, " in
tend to put the question MYSELF; That
word brought order out of chaos There was
the master mind.
As soon as the multitude had recovered it.
self and the excitement Of irrepressibe en-
thusiasm had abated, Mr.. Richard Barnwoll
Rhett, of South Carolina, leaped upon one of
the desks, waved his hand and exclaimed
" move that the Hon. John Quincy Adj
ans take the Chair of the Speaker Of this
House, and otfciate as presiding officer till
the House be organized by the election Of its