The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-10-20
The Old Man Eloquent.


gress in December, 1889, in consequence of a
twofold delegation from New Jersey, the
house was unable for some time to complete
its organization. and presented to the country
and the world the perilous and discreditable
aspect of the people unable to form them
selves into a constitutional body. On first
assembling the House had no officers. and the
clerk of the preceding Congress acts. by
usage, as chairman OF the body until a
speaker is chosen. On this occasion, on
clerk declined to proceed in calling the roll,
and refused to entertain any of the motions
which were made for the purpose of extri-
eating the House from its embarrassment.
Many Of the most judicious members had
addressed the House in vain, and there was
nothing but confusion and disorder in pros
pect.
The fourth day opened. and still confusion
and disorder were triumphant But the
hour of disenthra llment was at hand. and
scene was presented which sent the mind
back to the days when Cromwell uttered the
you, Sir Harry Vane." and in an instan. dis
persed the famous rump parliament. MIR.
Adams from the opening Of this scere of con-
fusion and anarchy, had maintained pro-
found silence. He appeared to be engaged
most CT the time in writing. To a common
observer, he seemed to be reck less Of every
thing around him !; but nothing, not the
slightest incident, escaped him. The fourth
day Of the struggle had now commenced /;
MIR. Hugh Ii. Garland. the clerk was direct.
ed to call the roll again. lie commenced with
Maine. as was usual in those days, and was
proceeding toward Massachusetts. | turned
and saw that Mr.. Adams wns ready to get the
floor at the earliest moment possible. His
keen eye was rivettd on the clerk, his hands
clasped the front edge of his desk, where he
always placed them to assist him in rising.
He looked, IN the language of OLway, like the
" fowler eager for his prey
New Jersey = calculated Mr.. Hugh II.
Garland, "' and the clerk has to repeat that. "
MIR. Adams sprang to the floor.
g rise to interrupt the clerk, was his
first ejaculation.
"Scnce, silence" resoupdcd through the
hall. Hear him, hear him! near what he
has to say. Hear John Quincy Adams ~
was the unanimous ejaculation on all sides.
In an instant the profound silence reigned
throughout the hall-you might have heard a
leaf Of paper fall in any part of it-aEd every
eye was riveted on the venerable NeStor of
Massachusetts, the purest Of statesmen and
the noblest Of men lie paused for moment,
and having given Mr.. Garland whitening
look, he proceeded to address the multitude.
1T was not my intention" said he, " to
take any part in these extraordinary proceed
ngs had hoped that this House would
succeed in organizing itself, that a speaker
and clerk would be elected, and that the Or
binary business of legislation would be pro.
gressed in. This is not the time or place to
discuss the merits Of the conflicting claimants
for seats from New Jersey; that subject be-
longs to the House Of Representatives. which,
by the Constitution, is made the ultimate
arbi,es of the qualification of its members
But what spectacle we here present! We
degrade and disgrace our constituents and the
country. We do not, and cannot organize.
and why ? Because the clerk of this House
the more clerk whom we create, whom we
employ and whose existence depends upon
our will, usuIps the throne and sets US, the
representatives, the vicegerents of the whole
American people, at defiance, and holds US
in contempt And what is this clerk oil
yours? Is he to suspend, by his mere mega.
tive the functions of government. and put ar
end to this Congress- lie refuses to call the
roll. 1t is in your power to compel him te
call it if he will not do it Voluntarily"
Here he was interrupted by member, who
said he was authorized to say that compul.
sion could not reach the clerk, who vowed hi
would resign rather than call the state O.
New jersey.
"Well, sir, let him resign" continued Mr.
Adams, :" and we may possibly discover som'
way by which we may get along without the
aid of his all powerful talent, learning ant
| genius five cannot organize in any o:he
| way, if this clerk of yours will not consen
to our discharging the trusts contided to VI
| by our constituents, then let us initiate thu
example Of the Virginia House of Bureesses
which, when the Colonial Governor Dinwid
die ordered it to dispense. refused to obey
the imperious and insulting mandate, ant
! like men-"
The multitude could not contain or repres
their enthusiasm any longer. hut saluted tn
eloquent and indignant speaker. interrupted
him with loud and dcafening cheers which
The very genii of applause and enthusiasm
seemed to float in the atmosphere Of the ha u
and every heart expanded with an indescriba
| DIe PellnS OF pIiue Ahu eAuitdtIoH' L II
turmoil, the darkness, the very choas o
anarchy which had for three days pervade'
the American Congress was dispelled by tn
magic, tho talisInanic influence Of a singl
man, and once more the wheels Of govern
ment were set in motion.
Having by this powerful appeal brough
the yet unorganzed assembly to perception
Ct its hazardous position. he submitted
motion requiring the acting clerk to procee
to call the roll.
This and similar motions had already bee
made by other members. The difficulty was
that the clerk declined 10 entertain them
Accordingly Mr.. Adams was immediatel
interrupted by burs: Of voices demanding
How shall the question be put! Who wi
put the question Z" The voice ofMr. Adam
was heard above the tnnult: 81 intend
put the question myself " That wor
brought order out OF chaos. There was th
master mino.
As soon as the multitude had rccovere
itself, and the excitement Of irrepressible el
thusiasm had abated Mr.. Richard Barnwel
Rhett, OF South Carolina, leaped upon one {
the desks, waved his hand and exclaimed
81 move that the Hon. John Quinc
Adams take the chair Of the Speaker of TIL
House, and officiate as presiding officer Il
the House be organized by the election off
oo,ct;tntiopol Dfficcrs As MANY al