Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-01

It's Candidate, after previously OBTAINING
his consent.
( FRaSoE.-The Gazette de France had re-.
ceived first warning from the minister Of
the Interior.
A Scene I'm the House OF Congress
Twenty Years Ago.
In view OF the present disorganized and
factious condition of the House OF Con-
gress. IL may be interesting and Instructive
TO look back upon the history of that body
twenty years ago. Those who suppose
that the present threatening and unfortu.
nate condition Of the House. owing to its
non-election of presiding officer. is new
thing, are mistaken.
On the opening of the Goth Congress- il
December, 1889, a two.fold delegation from
New Jersey appeared, and each claimed
seats. As customary, then and now, the
clerk of the preceding body was officiating
as presiding officer before the election Of
Speaker. From some motive, or stupidity
AID stubbornness, the acting clerk, in
calling the roll OF members, upon coming
10 New Jersey, invariably refused to pro-
coed with the call. He also declined 20
entertain any OF the motions made with
view 10 extricate the House IRON its diff
Guilty. Many Of the Oldest and sblest
members had addressed the House in vain.
Nothing but confusion and disorder ex.
listed.
The fourth day had opened with the
prospect Of continuance of the same state
Of affairs. We quote from the Life of
John Quincy Adams
Mr.. Adams, from the opening Of this
scene Of confusion and anarchy, had main.
tanned q profound silence. He appeared
to be engaged most of the time in writing.
To g. common observer, he seemed to be
reckless to everything around him; but
nothing. not the slightest incident, escaped
him. The fourth day of the struggle had
now commenced; Mr.. Hugh II. Garland,
the Clerk, vas directed TO call the roll
again.
He commenced with Maine, as was
usual in those days. and was proceeding
toward Massachusetts. turned, and saw
that Mr.. Adams vas 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 |
rising. He looked, in the language of
Otway. like the
g. fowler eager for his prey"
"New Jersey" calculated MIR. Hugh b. |
Garland, land the Clerk has to repeat |
that"
Mr.. Adams sprang to the floor.
81 rise to interrupt the Clerk" was his /
first ejaculation. rG
Silence, silence" resounded through |
the hall; "hear him, hear hImi hear what
he has to say! hear John Quincy Adamsl"
was the unanimous ejaculation on all
sides.
In an instant the most profound silence
reigned throughout the hall-you might
have heard a leaf Of paper fall in any part /
of it-and every eye was rivited on the
venerable Nestor Of Observation-Disclosures
purest of statesmen, aud the noblest of
men! He paused for moment. aud, hav.
ing gwen Mr.. Gsrlanda
60 whitening look,
he proceeded to address the multitude:
at was not my Intention" said he, ito
take any part in these extraordinary pro
ceedings. had hoped that this House
would succeed in organizing itself; that a
speaker and Clerk would be elected, and
that the ordinary business of legislation
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 Consti-
tuition, is made the ultimate srbiter of the
qualifications of its members. But what
a spectacle we here present. We degrade
and disgrace ourselves; We degrade and
disgrace our constituents and the country.
We do not, aud cannot organize, and WHY?
Because the Clerk Of this House, the mere
Clerk, whom we create and whom We en-
ploy, and whose existence depends upon
our will, usurps 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 of yours? Is he to control the des-
TIMES of sixteen million freemen? Is he
to suspend, by his mere negative, the func-
tons Of government, and put an end to
this Congress? He refuses to call the rolf
II is in your power to compel him to call
il, il he will not do Il voluntarily. Here
he was interrupted by a member, who said
he was authorized to say that compulsion
could not reach the Clerk, who had avowed
that he would resign, rather than call the
State of New Jersey.1 Well, sir, then let
him resign" continued Mr.. Adams, land
we may possibly discover some way by
which We can get along without the aid
of all his powerful talent, learning and ge-
MUS. If we cannot organize in any other
way-if this clerk Of yours will not con.
sent to our discharging the trusts conGded
/ to US by our constituents, then let US imi.
tate the example Of the Virginia House of
Burgesses, which, when the colonial Gov.
ernor Dinviddie ordered il 10 dispense, re-
/ fused to obey the imperious and insulting
mandate, and, like men"
/ "The multitude could not restrain or re-
press their enthusiasm any longer, but sa
! iuted the eloquent and indignant speaker,
and interrupted him with loud and deafen- !
/ ing cheers, which seemed to shake the cap |
| itol from its center. The very genii of |
applause and enthusiasm seemed to float |
in the atmosphere Of the hall, and every |
bresst expanded with an INDISPENSABLE |
feeling Of pride and exultation. The tur. |
moil, the darkness, the very chaos of IN
srchy which had for three successive days, |
pervaded the American Congress, was dis
PEELED by the magic, the tslismsnic clio
quence OF single man; and, once more, |
the wheels Of government and Legislation
were put in motion.
Having by this powerful appeal brought
the yet unorgaRized assembly TO percep.
ton Of its hazardous position. he So omitted
a resolution requiring the acting clerk to
proceed in calling the roll. This, and
similar motions, bad already been made by
the scting clerk declined to entertain them
Accordingly. Mr.. Adams was Immediately
interrupted by burst Of voices demanding
How shall the question be putt Who
will put the question: The voice OF Mr..
Adams was heard above the tumult, L will
put the question myselfP That word
brought order out Of chaos. There was
the master mind.
As soon as the multitude had recovered
itself, and the excitement Of irrePressible
enthusiasm had abated. Mr.. Richard Barn
well Rhett. Of South Uarolina. leaped upon
one of the desks, and waived his hand, and
exclaimed:
II move that the Honorable John Quincy
Adams take the chair Of the Speaker Of
this House, and officiste as presiding ofh
Ger till the House be organized by the cleo
ton Of its constitutional officers AS
many as are agreed 70 this will say ays-
those"
He had not az opportunity 10 completes
the sentence-"those who are not agreed
will say no-"for one universal, deafeu,ng,
! | thundsrinO oDs resuonded 10 thu nomina.